US3772984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compactor
Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
•
Filing: 1971-09-02
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A trash compactor with a housing having a head space at its top, a trash container at its bottom and a trash loading space between the head space and the trash container, a trash loading port in the side of the housing aligned with the trash loading space, a pressure platen and a lazy tong or scissors extension linkage mounted at the top of the housing and operable to move the platen between one or more advanced positions in which the extension linkage spans across the trash loading space and the platen is imposing compacting pressure on trash within the container, and a retracted position in which the extension linkage and platen are withdrawn into said head space, thus leaving the intervening trash loading space open for loading trash into the container through said loading port and without having to withdraw the container from the housing for loading purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 R Karls
- 👤 J Enright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:47
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B9/00; B30B9/30; B30B9/3003; B30B9/3007; B30B1/00; B30B1/006; B30B9/306; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/0961; Y10T292/0962; Y10T292/0963; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582; Y10T74/20588; Y10T74/20594
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A trash compactor comprising a housing having a head space at the top of the housing into which a pressure platen may be withdrawn, a trash container at the bottom of the housing and a trash loading space between the head space and the container, a trash loading port in the side of the housing aligned with the trash loading space, a pressure platen, an extension mechanism connected at one end to the platen, a mount in the head space to which the other end of the extension mechanism is connected, said extension mechanism comprising two sets of laterally spaced lazy tongs which are disposed entirely within said head space when retracted, means to actuate the extension mechanism to move the platen between one or more advanced positions in which the extension mechanism spans across said trash loading space and the platen is in said container for compacting trash therein, and a retracted position in which the extension mechanism and platen are withdrawn entirely into said head space, thus leaving the intervening trash loading space open for loading trash into the container through said loading port and without removing the container from the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A trash compactor comprising a housing having a head space at the top of the housing into which a pressure platen may be withdrawn, a trash container at the bottom of the housing and a trash loading space between the head space and the container, a trash loading port in the side of the housing aligned with the trash loading space, a pressure platen, an extension mechanism connected at one end to the platen, a mount in the head space to which the other end of the extension mechanism is connected, said extension mechanism comprising two sets of laterally spaced lazy tongs which are disposed entirely within said head space when retracted, means to actuate the extension mechanism to move the platen between one or more advanced positions in which the extension mechanism spans across said trash loading space and the platen is in said container for compacting trash therein, and a retracted position in which the extension mechanism and platen are withdrawn entirely into said head space, thus leaving the intervening trash loading space open for loading trash into the container through said loading port and without removing the container from the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the mount comprises an elongated track at the top of the housing and carriage means between said track and the extension mechanism, an exit port in a side of the housing with which said track is aligned whereby the extension mechanism, platen, and carriage may be withdrawn as a unit from said housing through said exit port and in the direction of track elongation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 2 in which a lead screw interconnects the ends of corresponding links of said lazy tongs, and a motor turns said lead screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the mount comprises a track at the top of the housing and carriage means between said track and the extension mechanism, corresponding ends of said lazy tongs being provided with rollers fitted into said track and constituting said carriage means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said sets of laterally spaced lazy tongs are respectively interconnected by torque arms to transmit forces from one set to the other and balance twisting forces imposed thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the side walls of the housing have vertically aligned guides, said lazy tongs having guide fOllower means engaged in said guides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the side of the housing having the trash loading port is provided with a trash loading door for said port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the side of the housing having the trash loading port also has a container loading port, a service door hinged along one edge of the housing to close the container loading port, said service door having an opening aligned with the trash loading port, and a trash loading door hinged to the service door along an edge of said opening whereby the loading port may be opened when the service door is closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 8 in which said edge of said opening is horizontal, whereby the trash loading door swings outwardly and downwardly to form a loading chute into the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the platen has a pressure face with a raised pattern to impose shattering force on frangible trash.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said housing has downwardly tapered walls about said container, said container having complementary downwardly tapered flexible sides supported by said walls during compaction of trash within said container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said platen is provided with a flexible apron having a draped portion which precedes the platen into the container to retain trash therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said container has an upper rim, said housing having side walls having a seat aligned with said rim.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said housing comprises side panels with turned flanges forming corner frame posts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention of claim 1 in combination with a door for said trash loading port, said door having an inwardly projecting panel which overhangs the rim of the trash container when the door is closed, thus to push trash into the container as the door closes and which also serves to guide trash into the trash container as the pressure platen advances.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 15 in which said panel comprises a sloping ramp which is inclined toward and overhangs the rim of the trash container when the door is closed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said housing has walls for which the trash container has complementary walls, a bag in the trash container, said bag having a reverse fold outside the container and clamped between the container walls and the housing walls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 17 in which the container has a rim about which the bag is snubbed to resist being drawn into the container by action of the platen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
89 words
A trash compactor comprising a housing having a trash container, a ram above the container and two sets of laterally spaced tandem connected scissors linkages by which the ram is mounted in the housing, torque arms laterally connecting corresponding links of said sets whereby said interconnected links are constrained to move in unison and twisting forces imposed on the spaced linkage sets tend to be balanced, a motor and drive means connecting the motor to the scissors linkage for advancing the ram into the container to compact trash therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
A trash compactor comprising a housing having a trash container, a ram above the container and two sets of laterally spaced tandem connected scissors linkages by which the ram is mounted in the housing, torque arms laterally connecting corresponding links of said sets whereby said interconnected links are constrained to move in unison and twisting forces imposed on the spaced linkage sets tend to be balanced, a motor and drive means connecting the motor to the scissors linkage for advancing the ram into the container to compact trash therein.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 19 in which said drive means comprises a lead screw with reverse pitch threads, nuts on said scissors linkage respectively engaged with the reverse pitch threads on said lead screw.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 20 in combination with a track mount, said scissors linkage comprising a first linkage set having ends slidable along said track mount.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 19 in which said torque arms comprise a hollow tube rigidly fixed to corresponding innermost links of said sets and a coaxial cross rod within said hollow tube is rigidly fixed to corresponding outermost links of said sets.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
101 words
A unitary ram assembly adapted for mounting in a trash compactor and comprising a ram platen, two sets of laterally spaced tandem connected scissors links connected at one end to the ram platen, torque arms laterally coNnecting corresponding links of said sets whereby said interconnected links are constrained to move in unison and twisting forces imposed on the spaced linkage sets tend to be balanced, a drive screw connected to the other end of said tandem connected scissors links, a motor connected to the drive screw and a mounting bracket by which said unitary assembly is releasably connected to the compactor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
A unitary ram assembly adapted for mounting in a trash compactor and comprising a ram platen, two sets of laterally spaced tandem connected scissors links connected at one end to the ram platen, torque arms laterally coNnecting corresponding links of said sets whereby said interconnected links are constrained to move in unison and twisting forces imposed on the spaced linkage sets tend to be balanced, a drive screw connected to the other end of said tandem connected scissors links, a motor connected to the drive screw and a mounting bracket by which said unitary assembly is releasably connected to the compactor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 23 in which the link ends to which the drive screw is connected are also provided with rollers adapted to engage in a mounting track on the compactor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 23 in which said other end of the tandem connected scissors links is provided with threaded nuts, said drive screw having reverse pitch threads respectively threaded to said nuts.
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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) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |