US3704724A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid level sensing/control systems
Assignee: MEDICAL DEV CORP
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Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises a fluid level sensing and/or control system whereby the rise of a given, electrical-parameter affecting fluid to a given level within a container, can be sensed and/or utilized advantageously to actuate a given object. Where such object is an indicator unit, then the same may have an input responsive to fluid level rise at a given level, to alter the electrical characteristic of such input. In one form of the invention, electrically conductive means communicate with the interior of the container of the system, at a predetermined level or area thereof, such that when the fluid level rises at this level, the fluid itself may complete or otherwise affect an associated circuit, through such electrically conductive means, to the indicator employed. The indicator may be miniaturized to provide a signal generator responsive to fluid level rise for generating an audible or other signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Legrand K Holbrook
- 👤 David S Ostler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/36; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3624; G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/24; G01F23/241; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7306; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8342
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
In combination, a medical, body-fluid, liquid-receiving container having a bottom, an inlet opening, a vacuum opening, and a pair of spaced electrical terminals affixed to, extending outside of, and communicating with the interior of said container, at least one of said terminals being spaced above said bottom, indicator means electrically coupled to said terminals and responsive to electrical current flow therebetween, through the liquid received by said container when said liquid Rises to contact both of said terminals, to emanate a warning signal that a predetermined liquid level within said container has been reached, and a patient body-fluid exhaust tube connected to said inlet opening and structually and functionally isolated from said indicator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
In combination, a medical, body-fluid, liquid-receiving container having a bottom, an inlet opening, a vacuum opening, and a pair of spaced electrical terminals affixed to, extending outside of, and communicating with the interior of said container, at least one of said terminals being spaced above said bottom, indicator means electrically coupled to said terminals and responsive to electrical current flow therebetween, through the liquid received by said container when said liquid Rises to contact both of said terminals, to emanate a warning signal that a predetermined liquid level within said container has been reached, and a patient body-fluid exhaust tube connected to said inlet opening and structually and functionally isolated from said indicator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises means for impressing a potential difference across said terminals, and means responsive to current flow between said terminals, through said liquid, to effect such warning signal emanation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
In combination, a vacuum opening liquid-receiving container having a bottom, an inlet opening, and a pair of spaced electrical terminals affixed to, extending outside of, and communicating with the interior of said container, at least one of said terminals being spaced above said bottom, and indicator means electrically coupled to said terminals and responsive to electrical current flow therebetween, through the liquid received by said container when said liquid rises to contact both of said terminals, to emanate a warning signal that a predetermined liquid level within said container has been reached, and wherein said indicator means includes a holder having a pair of mutually spaced electrical input means, said electrical terminals of said container being constructed and mutually spaced to be releasably supported by said electrical input means, to effect both electrical contact therewith and physical support thereby, said container being so disposed at said electrical terminals upon said electrical input means of said holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
In combination, a vacuum opening liquid-receiving container having a bottom, an inlet opening, and a pair of spaced electrical terminals affixed to, extending outside of, and communicating with the interior of said container, at least one of said terminals being spaced above said bottom, and indicator means electrically coupled to said terminals and responsive to electrical current flow therebetween, through the liquid received by said container when said liquid rises to contact both of said terminals, to emanate a warning signal that a predetermined liquid level within said container has been reached, and wherein said indicator means includes a holder having a pair of mutually spaced electrical input means, said electrical terminals of said container being constructed and mutually spaced to be releasably supported by said electrical input means, to effect both electrical contact therewith and physical support thereby, said container being so disposed at said electrical terminals upon said electrical input means of said holder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said input means comprises a pair of electrically conductive arms, said terminals electrically engaging said arms when said container is supported by said holder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said input means comprises a pair of electrically conductive arms configured to form an opening, said container being configured to fit into said opening and, when so disposed therein, being in supportive engagement with said arms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
In combination, a medical, body-fluid, liquid-receiving container having an inlet opening, a vacuum opening, a bottom, and a pair of terminals at least one of which is spaced from said bottom, conduit means for providing fluid communicating between the interior of said container and an external object and electrical indicator means directly connected to said terminals and responsive to the presence of electrically conductive fluid within said container and contacting said terminals, for effecting an energized warning, detectable by the human senses, that a predetermined fluid level has been reached.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
In combination, a medical, body-fluid, liquid-receiving container having an inlet opening, a vacuum opening, a bottom, and a pair of terminals at least one of which is spaced from said bottom, conduit means for providing fluid communicating between the interior of said container and an external object and electrical indicator means directly connected to said terminals and responsive to the presence of electrically conductive fluid within said container and contacting said terminals, for effecting an energized warning, detectable by the human senses, that a predetermined fluid level has been reached.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
In combination, a container having an inlet opening, a vacuum opening and an annular wall providing an upper lip, and a pair of mutually spaced, doubled-back, electrically conductive strips disposed over said lip, depending within said container, and constructed for electrical contact with external electrical circuit means, and an electrically operated indicator as said electrical circuit means, engaging said strips, for emanating a signal to an operator, detectable by his senses, that a predetermined fluid level intercepting said conductive strips within said container has been reached, said indicator including a direct-coupled battery circuit closed by fluid within said container when engaging said conductive strips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
In combination, a container having an inlet opening, a vacuum opening and an annular wall providing an upper lip, and a pair of mutually spaced, doubled-back, electrically conductive strips disposed over said lip, depending within said container, and constructed for electrical contact with external electrical circuit means, and an electrically operated indicator as said electrical circuit means, engaging said strips, for emanating a signal to an operator, detectable by his senses, that a predetermined fluid level intercepting said conductive strips within said container has been reached, said indicator including a direct-coupled battery circuit closed by fluid within said container when engaging said conductive strips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said container includes downwardly facing, support shoulder means, said electrically conductive strips being disposed transversely over said shoulder means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said container is provided, at said shoulder means, with depending, raised protuberance means, said conductive strips being disposed over said protuberance means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
In combination, an electrically operative signal-emitting indicator unit constructed for support by an external object and having electrical input circuit means including electrically conductive, outwardly extending, arcuAte arm means, a container having an inlet opening, a vacuum opening constructed for vertically medial support by said arcuate arm means and having electrical terminals communicating with the interior thereof and also disposed exterior thereof, said terminals being dimensioned to be in physically cooperative and electrical contact with said arm means, whereby said electrical input circuit means will be closed via said arcuate arm means and terminals when electrically conductive fluid within said container reaches the latter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
In combination, an electrically operative signal-emitting indicator unit constructed for support by an external object and having electrical input circuit means including electrically conductive, outwardly extending, arcuAte arm means, a container having an inlet opening, a vacuum opening constructed for vertically medial support by said arcuate arm means and having electrical terminals communicating with the interior thereof and also disposed exterior thereof, said terminals being dimensioned to be in physically cooperative and electrical contact with said arm means, whereby said electrical input circuit means will be closed via said arcuate arm means and terminals when electrically conductive fluid within said container reaches the latter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said container is provided with a lip, said terminals comprising mutually spaced, doubled-back conductive strips disposed over said lip of said container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said container includes downwardly facing shoulder means, said conductive strips traversing said shoulder means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said downwardly facing shoulder means includes fulcrum protuberance means disposed beneath said conductive strips.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
In combination, support structure defining a post and a base supporting said post, support means extending outwardly from said post, container structure releasably engaging and, thereby, being supported by said support means, said container structure including a bottom and also mutually spaced electrical terminals communicating with the interior of said container structure, at least one of said terminals being disposed above said bottom, and electrical indicator means fixedly disposed with respect to said post and in electrical conductivity with said terminals for effecting a warning signal during the continued rise of fluid within said container structure, said container structure being constructed to permit such continued rise.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
In combination, support structure defining a post and a base supporting said post, support means extending outwardly from said post, container structure releasably engaging and, thereby, being supported by said support means, said container structure including a bottom and also mutually spaced electrical terminals communicating with the interior of said container structure, at least one of said terminals being disposed above said bottom, and electrical indicator means fixedly disposed with respect to said post and in electrical conductivity with said terminals for effecting a warning signal during the continued rise of fluid within said container structure, said container structure being constructed to permit such continued rise.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
126 words
In combination, a pair of liquid-receiving vacuum-operated containers each defining an interior, having a bottom, and being provided with a pair of electrical means communicating with said interior, at least one of said electrical means of each of said containers being disposed above said bottom, support means constructed to support said containers, electrical indicator means for producing an intelligence signal upon liquid rise within said containers to said electrical means, and electrical circuit means for electrically coupling in parallel said electrical means of each of said containers with said indicator means, said containers and support means being constructed and arranged such that predetermined movement of a selected one of said containers will interrupt said electrical coupling of such container''s electrical means with said electrical indicator means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
126 words
In combination, a pair of liquid-receiving vacuum-operated containers each defining an interior, having a bottom, and being provided with a pair of electrical means communicating with said interior, at least one of said electrical means of each of said containers being disposed above said bottom, support means constructed to support said containers, electrical indicator means for producing an intelligence signal upon liquid rise within said containers to said electrical means, and electrical circuit means for electrically coupling in parallel said electrical means of each of said containers with said indicator means, said containers and support means being constructed and arranged such that predetermined movement of a selected one of said containers will interrupt said electrical coupling of such container''s electrical means with said electrical indicator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |