US3565225A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fruit decelerating chute
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-11-15
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A moderately flexible tube several feet in length includes inner walls of resilient material. Rubber fingers are arranged radially within the tube in alternating, staggered tiers, each tier being approximately semicircular in plan. Fruit introduced into a funnel member at the upper end of the tube, the funnel also including fingers, descends through the tube in a cushioned, cascading, back-and-forth path, emerging from the bottom of the tube undamaged.
Inventors
- 👤 George W Fay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:41
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/24; A01D46/243; B; B65; B65G; B65G69/00; B65G69/16; B65G69/165; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0202; B65G2201/0211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A fruit decelerating chute comprising: a. a tubular conduit of resilient hose material, said conduit having interior wall surfaces of resilient material and extending from an upper intake portion to a lower discharge portion; b. a plurality of flexible fingers mounted on said conduit and extending perpendicularly from said interior wall surfaces into the interior of said conduit into interfering relation with fruit moving therethrough, said flexible fingers being arranged in a plurality of tiers, each of said tiers being substantially semicircular in plan, said tiers being formed in alternating arrangement effective to direct fruit descending through said chute in an alternating side-to-side pathway; and c. a fruit channeling funnel mounted on said upper portion of said conduit, said funnel including a plurality of flexible fingers mounted on the inner walls of said funnel and extending interiorly into the path of picked fruit deposited in the mouth of said funnel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A fruit decelerating chute comprising: a. a tubular conduit of resilient hose material, said conduit having interior wall surfaces of resilient material and extending from an upper intake portion to a lower discharge portion; b. a plurality of flexible fingers mounted on said conduit and extending perpendicularly from said interior wall surfaces into the interior of said conduit into interfering relation with fruit moving therethrough, said flexible fingers being arranged in a plurality of tiers, each of said tiers being substantially semicircular in plan, said tiers being formed in alternating arrangement effective to direct fruit descending through said chute in an alternating side-to-side pathway; and c. a fruit channeling funnel mounted on said upper portion of said conduit, said funnel including a plurality of flexible fingers mounted on the inner walls of said funnel and extending interiorly into the path of picked fruit deposited in the mouth of said funnel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A fruit decelerating chute as in claim 10 wherein each of said fingers is substantially T-shaped in longitudinal section and wherein the elongated shank of each of said fingers extends through a corresponding opening in said funnel and in said hose walls and wherein the base portion of each of said fingers abuts the outer surface of said funnel and said hose walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A fruit decelerating chute comprising: a. a tubular conduit of resilient hose material extending from an upper intake portion to a Lower discharge portion; b. a plurality of radial flexible fingers mounted on the walls of said conduit and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, said fingers being arranged in a plurality of tiers, each tier being substantially semicircular in plan and arranged in an alternating pattern effective to guide fruit descending through said chute in an alternating side-to-side pathway; and c. a fruit channeling funnel mounted on said upper portion of said conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A fruit decelerating chute comprising: a. a tubular conduit of resilient hose material extending from an upper intake portion to a Lower discharge portion; b. a plurality of radial flexible fingers mounted on the walls of said conduit and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, said fingers being arranged in a plurality of tiers, each tier being substantially semicircular in plan and arranged in an alternating pattern effective to guide fruit descending through said chute in an alternating side-to-side pathway; and c. a fruit channeling funnel mounted on said upper portion of said conduit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1226916A
Cited
US670222A
Cited
US846751A
Cited
US1133436A
Cited
US1334643A
Cited
DE660426C
Cited
US3448847A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |