US3783994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clip structure and conveying means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-09
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1991-09-09
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a conveying system for restaurants or the like for moving containers, e.g. bottles, from a storage and loading area to a point of use in the restaurant. This system includes spaced-apart first and second stations, conveying means movable between the first and second stations, the conveying means comprising an endless belt, spaced-apart rotatable means on which said endless belt is mounted, and drive means for rotating at least one of the rotatable means, and a plurality of spaced-apart retaining clip means mounted on the endless belt. Each clip means is adapted to releasably retain a container therein, the clip means comprising a pair of spaced-apart U-shaped members mounted in opposed relationship, each of said members comprising opposed tapering arms adapted to retain the body of a container and an intermediate arcuate arm connected to the tapering arms with the intermediate arcuate arm being adapted to retain the neck or top portion of the container.
Inventors
- 👤 D Tomalty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:43
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F10/00; A47F10/06; B; B65; B65G; B65G15/00; B65G15/30; B65G15/58; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A conveying system adapted for conveying containers or the like through a first station wherein the containers may be loaded onto the conveying system and which is at a point removed from a point of removal of the containers at a second station at which the containers may be removed from the conveying system for use, said system coMprising: first and second stations, said stations being spaced-apart from each other with one of said stations being adapted to permit loading of a supply of containers or the like onto said conveying system and the other of said stations being adapted to permit discharge of said containers from said system for use, conveying means movable between said first and second stations, said conveying means comprising an endless belt, spaced-apart rotatable means on which said endless belt is mounted, and drive means for rotating at least one of said rotatable means, and a plurality of spaced-apart retaining clip means mounted on the outer side of said endless belt and carried thereby, each clip means being adapted to releasably retain a container therein, said clip means comprising a pair of separate spaced-apart U-shaped members mounted in opposed relationship, each of said members comprising opposed inwardly tapering arms adapted to engage and retain the body of a container and an intermediate arcuate arm connected between upper portions of said tapering arms and adapted to retain the neck or top portion of the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A conveying system adapted for conveying containers or the like through a first station wherein the containers may be loaded onto the conveying system and which is at a point removed from a point of removal of the containers at a second station at which the containers may be removed from the conveying system for use, said system coMprising: first and second stations, said stations being spaced-apart from each other with one of said stations being adapted to permit loading of a supply of containers or the like onto said conveying system and the other of said stations being adapted to permit discharge of said containers from said system for use, conveying means movable between said first and second stations, said conveying means comprising an endless belt, spaced-apart rotatable means on which said endless belt is mounted, and drive means for rotating at least one of said rotatable means, and a plurality of spaced-apart retaining clip means mounted on the outer side of said endless belt and carried thereby, each clip means being adapted to releasably retain a container therein, said clip means comprising a pair of separate spaced-apart U-shaped members mounted in opposed relationship, each of said members comprising opposed inwardly tapering arms adapted to engage and retain the body of a container and an intermediate arcuate arm connected between upper portions of said tapering arms and adapted to retain the neck or top portion of the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conveying system as defined in claim 1, including an enclosure having therein said first and second stations at spacedapart areas of said enclosure, said conveying means extending between said first and second stations in said enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conveying system as defined in claim 1, wherein said enclosure includes cooling means adapted to cool the containers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conveying system as defined in claim 1, wherein said clip means are mounted in spaced-apart transversely extending rows on said endless belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A conveying system as defined in claim 1, wherein said clip means are mounted on a supporting base, each supporting base including a plurality of clip means aligned in a row thereon, a plurality of said supporting bases being mounted in a spaced-apart transverse direction on said endless belt means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conveying system as defined in claim 1, including a control system for intermittently operating said drive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
A conveying system as defined in claim 1, wherein said clip means further comprises: a plurality of spaced-apart transversely aligned supporting bases fixed to the other side of said endless belt; a mounting plate secured to the outer surface of each supporting base and including a pair of U-shaped channels formed on each side thereof, and wherein each of said inwardly tapering arms which retain the body of a container includes an inwardly directed flange, each flange being generally one-half the length of a respective U-shaped channel formed in said mounting plate and adapted to be inserted in one end thereof, whereby the U-shaped channels formed in the mounting plates serve to support the opposed U-shaped members of each clip means in spaced-apart relationship.
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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) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |