Support means for releasably suspending container

Claim 2

A hanger apparatus for releasably suspending rigid containers having open mouths comprising: a. a support rod, b. a resilient insert fixed at one end of the support rod and being forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container, said resilient insert comprising a frusto-conic insert end portion which has a centralizing aperture extending axially therethrough, and a centralizing sleeve extending therefrom back toward the support rod about the support rod longitudinal axis, with the centralizing aperture continued through the sleeve, and a resilient ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion extending from the base of the frusto-conic end portion about the support rod longitudinal axis, and c. release means slidably mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert for engaging the container on a downward stroke, whereby the container is moved free of the insert.

Claim 3

The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion has a predetermined number of symetric slots therein extending from the support rod end to beyond the greatest diameter section thus defining a plurality of resilient arms for the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion.

Claim 4

The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein the greatest diameter section of the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion of the insert is slightly larger than the container open mouth dimension, said resilient insert being forceably insertable into the container open mouth whereby it retains and supports said container.

Claim 5

The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein a back-up spring is provided spaced between the support rod and the ellipsoidal spheroid shaped portion of said resilient insert, said back-up spring comprising a base portion with a centralizing aperture therethrough, a plurality of extending arms from the base extending back about the support rod longitudinal axis and symmetrically spaced therefrom, with the back-up spring extending arms disposed proximate the resilient arms of the resilient insert.

Claim 6

A conveyor apparatus for releasably suspending and transporting rigid containers having open mouths comprising: a. a generally vertically disposed rod supported by the conveyor; b. a compressible resilient insert tapered downwardly from a dimension larger than the container opening to a dimension less than the container opening fixed at the downwardly directed end of the support rod, said resilient insert being forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container upon relative movement between the axially aligned resilient insert and the container; c. release means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve having an inTernal bore larger in diameter than the compressible resilient insert but smaller in diameter than the container concentrically mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert by means disposed near the upper end of the cylindrical sleeve, said cylindrical sleeve being axially slideable along the support rod downward over the resilient insert and freely movable upward under the urging of the container as the resilient insert enters the mouth of the container; and d. means for selectively applying a downward force to said cylindrical sleeve to move the same downward over the resilient insert while in engagement with the container to strip the container from said insert.

Claim 7

A conveyor apparatus for releasably suspending and transporting rigid containers having open mouths comprising: a. a generally vertically disposed rod supported by the conveyor; b. a compressible resilient insert tapered downwardly from a dimension larger than the container opening to a dimension less than the container opening fixed at the downwardly directed end of the support rod, said resilient insert being forceably insertable into the open mouth of the container upon relative movement between the axially aligned resilient insert and the container; c. release means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve having an inTernal bore larger in diameter than the compressible resilient insert but smaller in diameter than the container concentrically mounted on the support rod above the resilient insert by means disposed near the upper end of the cylindrical sleeve, said cylindrical sleeve being axially slideable along the support rod downward over the resilient insert and freely movable upward under the urging of the container as the resilient insert enters the mouth of the container; and d. means for selectively applying a downward force to said cylindrical sleeve to move the same downward over the resilient insert while in engagement with the container to strip the container from said insert.

Claim 8

The apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein the resilient insert, and the generally cylindrical sleeve are preferably formed of a high-temperature resistant, electrically insulating, non-reactive material.

Claim 9

The apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein conductive means for contacting the suspended container are provided for maintaining the container at a predetermined potential.

Claim 10

The apparatus as specified in claim 7, wherein said conductive means comprises a coiled metallic spring disposed about the longitudinal axis of the support rod, one end of the coiled spring is electrically connected to the support rod, and the other end is disposed to contact the container when the resilient insert is inserted into the open mouth of the container.