US3221506A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Support structures
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1964-04-16
•
Granted: 1965-12-07
•
Expires: 1984-04-16
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Stratton Hal
- 👤 Robert F Bauer
- 👤 Almeron J Field
- 👤 Robert C Crooke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:08
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B15/00; E21B15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION EQUIPMENT OF PREDETERMINED VERTICAL HEIGHT AND WEIGHT FOR CARRYING OUT A DESIRED FUNCTION UNDERWATER, A PLATFORM, MEANS WITHIN THE PLATFORM TO STORE FLUID TO GIVE THE PLATFORM A POSITIVE BUOYANCY IN EXCESS OF ITS OWN WEIGHT AND THAT OF THE EQUIPMENT, MEANS FOR LANDING AND HOLDING THE EQUIPMENT ON THE PLATFORM, AND AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL TUBULAR COLUMN FASTENED AT ITS UPPER END TO THE PLATFORM AND ANCHORED AT ITS LOWER END IN THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER BODY, THE TUBULAR COLUMN BETWEEN THE BOTTOM AND THE PLATFORM BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER IN LENGTH THAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WATER DEPTH AND THE COMBINED VERTICAL HEIGHT OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE PLATFORM SO THAT THE EQUIPMENT SUPPORTED ON THE PLATFORM IS AT ITS UPPER EXTREMITY SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WATER BODY, THE TUBULAR COLUMN BEING UNDER TENSION IN RESPONSE TO THE POSITIVE BUOYANCY OF THE PLATFORM.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION EQUIPMENT OF PREDETERMINED VERTICAL HEIGHT AND WEIGHT FOR CARRYING OUT A DESIRED FUNCTION UNDERWATER, A PLATFORM, MEANS WITHIN THE PLATFORM TO STORE FLUID TO GIVE THE PLATFORM A POSITIVE BUOYANCY IN EXCESS OF ITS OWN WEIGHT AND THAT OF THE EQUIPMENT, MEANS FOR LANDING AND HOLDING THE EQUIPMENT ON THE PLATFORM, AND AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL TUBULAR COLUMN FASTENED AT ITS UPPER END TO THE PLATFORM AND ANCHORED AT ITS LOWER END IN THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER BODY, THE TUBULAR COLUMN BETWEEN THE BOTTOM AND THE PLATFORM BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER IN LENGTH THAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WATER DEPTH AND THE COMBINED VERTICAL HEIGHT OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE PLATFORM SO THAT THE EQUIPMENT SUPPORTED ON THE PLATFORM IS AT ITS UPPER EXTREMITY SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WATER BODY, THE TUBULAR COLUMN BEING UNDER TENSION IN RESPONSE TO THE POSITIVE BUOYANCY OF THE PLATFORM.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1968-12-06 | 1969-06-07 | 1969-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1972-12-06 | 1973-06-07 | 1973-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1976-12-06 | 1977-06-07 | 1977-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |