US3885987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for cleaning and sanitizing ear sets
Assignee: Flight Services Unlimited Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-13
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-12-13
Abstract
Abstract Ear sets to be cleaned and sanitized are placed through a series of manual and automated operations which (1) chemically sanitizes the ear sets, as well as cleans them with water; (2) dries the ear sets and removes water from the interior parts thereof, as well as the ear set lines; and (3) wraps the ear sets and packages them in sealed bags.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin L Keister
- 👤 Joseph A Machuszek
- 👤 Joseph M Machuszek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:12
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B7/00; B08B7/04; A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/16; A61L2/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A PROCESS FOR CLEANING AND SANTIZING EAR SETS HAVING EAR TIPS, YOKE PORTIONS, EAR SET LINES, AND EAR SET LINE PORTIONS, COMPRISING IN SEQUENCE THE STEPS OF: CLEANING THE EAR TIPS OF SAID SETS IN A CHEMICAL BATH, SPRAYING THE EAR SETS WITH A LIQUID CHEMICAL SPRAY TO SANITIZE SAID EAR SETS, PASSING THE EAR SETS THROUGH WARM AIR TO REMOVE LIQUID CHEMICAL DEPOSITED THEREON DURING BOTH THE BATH CLEANING AND THE SPRAYING AND DRY THE OUTER PORTIONS THEREOF, PASSING THE EAR SETS THROUGH AN OVEN HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE TURE SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT FURTHER SANITIZATION OF THE EAR SETS, PASSING THE EAR SETS BY VACUUM AND BLOWER LINES TO EXTRACT LIQUID FROM INSIDE THE EAR SETS AND THE EAR SET LINES,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A PROCESS FOR CLEANING AND SANTIZING EAR SETS HAVING EAR TIPS, YOKE PORTIONS, EAR SET LINES, AND EAR SET LINE PORTIONS, COMPRISING IN SEQUENCE THE STEPS OF: CLEANING THE EAR TIPS OF SAID SETS IN A CHEMICAL BATH, SPRAYING THE EAR SETS WITH A LIQUID CHEMICAL SPRAY TO SANITIZE SAID EAR SETS, PASSING THE EAR SETS THROUGH WARM AIR TO REMOVE LIQUID CHEMICAL DEPOSITED THEREON DURING BOTH THE BATH CLEANING AND THE SPRAYING AND DRY THE OUTER PORTIONS THEREOF, PASSING THE EAR SETS THROUGH AN OVEN HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE TURE SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT FURTHER SANITIZATION OF THE EAR SETS, PASSING THE EAR SETS BY VACUUM AND BLOWER LINES TO EXTRACT LIQUID FROM INSIDE THE EAR SETS AND THE EAR SET LINES,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said ear sets are mounted on a continuously moving conveyor after the step of cleaning the ear tips and passed on the conveyor through the chemical spray, passed through warm air, passed through the oven and passed by the vacuum and blower lines, the sets then being manually removed from the conveyor for wrapping and packaging.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the ear sets are suspended on said conveyor which comprises a motor driven cable having brackets attached thereto, said ear sets being suspended from said brackets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ear tips are cleaned by rubbing them against a brush mounted in the chemical bath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the oven is maintained at a temperature of 180*-185*F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the warm air for removing the liquid chemical and drying the ear sets is supplied from conduit outlets positioned on opposite sides of the ear sets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the step of passing the ear sets by vacuum line inlets comprises passing the open end portions of the ear set lines over a trough, said trough having a vacuum line mounted therein to draw moisture out of said ear set lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the step of passing the ear sets by vacuum line inlets additionally includes passing the yoke portions of the ear sets past vacuum line inlets and wherein additionally the ear tips of the ear sets are passed by blower line outlets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US797298A
Cited
US1761812A
Cited
US2399267A
Cited
US2415445A
Cited
US3291563A
Cited
US3708263A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |