US3893387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compactor having improved cabinet structure
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1974-06-05
•
Granted: 1975-07-08
•
Expires: 1994-06-05
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a domestic refuse compactor cabinet which obviates the need for an internal stress-bearing frame. The cabinet is also designed without self-contained, stress-bearing columns. The reaction forces generated during compacting are accommodated by stressing the planar cabinet sides and back.
Inventors
- 👤 William A Eckerle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:06
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B15/00; B30B15/04; B30B9/00; B30B9/30; B30B9/3003; B30B9/3032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A compactor of the type comprising a cabinet having a top, a bottom, opposed sides, a closed back, an open front and a door closing the open front; means for mounting an open-topped refuse receiving container to said door for movement through the open front between positions in and out of the cabinet; and means for compressing refuse in the container, including a downwardly movable platen adapted to enter the open top of the container when the container is in the cabinet; a floor, inside the cabinet, having a central section for supporting the container during refuse compression and a downturned edge extending at least along both sides and the back of the cabinet; a one-piece sheet metal member, generally U-shaped in horizontal cross section, providing opposed side walls each lying substantially in a single plane constituting the cabinet sides and a planar back wall constituting the closed cabinet back, the upper and lower portions of the side and back walls being reverted to provide an upper and lower groove respectively extending at least along both sides and the back of the cabinet and opening respectively downwardly and upwardly, the downturned floor edge cooperating with the lower groove; and a top wall having a central section for reacting against the compression means during refuse compression and an upturned edge extending at least along both sides and the back of the cabinet and cooperating with the upper groove thereof; the cabinet being free of convolutions forming stress-bearing columns in the side walls and back.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A compactor of the type comprising a cabinet having a top, a bottom, opposed sides, a closed back, an open front and a door closing the open front; means for mounting an open-topped refuse receiving container to said door for movement through the open front between positions in and out of the cabinet; and means for compressing refuse in the container, including a downwardly movable platen adapted to enter the open top of the container when the container is in the cabinet; a floor, inside the cabinet, having a central section for supporting the container during refuse compression and a downturned edge extending at least along both sides and the back of the cabinet; a one-piece sheet metal member, generally U-shaped in horizontal cross section, providing opposed side walls each lying substantially in a single plane constituting the cabinet sides and a planar back wall constituting the closed cabinet back, the upper and lower portions of the side and back walls being reverted to provide an upper and lower groove respectively extending at least along both sides and the back of the cabinet and opening respectively downwardly and upwardly, the downturned floor edge cooperating with the lower groove; and a top wall having a central section for reacting against the compression means during refuse compression and an upturned edge extending at least along both sides and the back of the cabinet and cooperating with the upper groove thereof; the cabinet being free of convolutions forming stress-bearing columns in the side walls and back.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The compactor of claim 1 wherein the floor comprises a corrugated stiffening member under the floor central section, and the top wall central section is generally planar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The compactor of claim 2 wherein the cabinet floor is generally planar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The compactor of claim 3 wherein the Cabinet walls are generally planar and sections of the upper and lower grooves reside in common planes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The compactor of claim 4 wherein the cabinet further comprises means preventing bowing of the planar side walls adjacent the open front when the platen is out of the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The compactor of claim 5 wherein the bowing preventing means comprises a metal strap secured to the planar side walls adjacent the open front.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The compactor of claim 6 wherein the one-piece sheet metal member comprises coplanar vertical flanges, integral with the side walls and perpendicular thereto, on opposite sides of the open cabinet front.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The compactor of claim 7 wherein the one-piece sheet metal member comprises pairs of upper and lower horizontal channels adjacent the open cabinet front extending toward each other from the cabinet sides and providing an upper and lower groove section respectively communicating with the upper and lower grooves of the side walls; the downturned floor edge extending along at least part of the cabinet front into the lower groove section; and the upturned top wall edge extending along at least part of the cabinet front into the upper groove section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3589277A
Cited
US3654855A
Cited
US3741108A
Cited
US3680475A
Cited
US3772984A
Cited
US3786744A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |