US3894657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball dispensing device
Assignee: QUALITY METAL PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-04
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A ball dispensing device which includes a hopper having a turntable in the bottom thereof. The turntable includes a plurality of vertically oriented cylindrical openings with each opening being large enough to accommodate a single ball only with clearance. A lower wall extends under the turntable and covers the bottom thereof except for a discharge opening formed within the wall. A cover plate overlies a sectorial part of the turntable so that balls housed within the hopper fall into the cylindrical openings in the table and are carried by the table over the lower wall, under the cover plate and over the discharge opening where the balls fall through the discharge opening and into a suitable dispenser. A flexible deflector is carried by the cover plate for the purpose of deflecting the balls carried upon the turntable from the leading edge of the cover plate during rotation of the table.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland L Eckmayr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:50
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B47/00; A63B47/002; G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/44; A63B2047/004; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
A ball dispenser comprising a hopper having sloping walls terminating in a circular lower opening, said hopper adapted to receive a plurality of balls, a circular turntable fitting within said lower opening, a lower horizontal wall located adjacently below said table and under said lower opening, said lower wall having a discharge opening therein, means connecting said discharge opening to a depository through which balls in passing through the discharge opening from said hopper are guided to the depository, means for rotating said table about a vertical axis within said lower opening, said table having a plurality of upright cylindrical openings formed therein, each cylindrical opening having a diametrical dimension sufficient to accommodate a single ball only with clearance and being positionable over and in alignment with said discharge opening during rotation of said table, a rigid cover plate mounted adjacently above said table and overlying said discharge opening, said cover plate covering at all times a part of said table and those cylindrical openings in said table part, the remainder of said openings in said table not covered by said cover plate being exposed within said hopper to rEceive said balls, said cover plate having a leading edge located adjacent one side of said discharge opening and under which the cylindrical openings in said table pass during rotation of the table, means for actuating said table rotating means to cause the cylindrical openings in said table to pass first under said cover plate leading edge and then over said discharge opening whereby the balls carried within said openings will fall individually through said discharge opening, flexible deflector means mounted adjacently ahead of said cover plate leading edge and over said table for contacting those balls carried upon said table to cause said carried balls to be deflected away from said cover plate leading edge as said table is rotated wherein said deflecter means is carried by said cover plate and extends along the leading edge thereof and said deflector means is a helical spring, said spring generally paralleling said leading edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
A ball dispenser comprising a hopper having sloping walls terminating in a circular lower opening, said hopper adapted to receive a plurality of balls, a circular turntable fitting within said lower opening, a lower horizontal wall located adjacently below said table and under said lower opening, said lower wall having a discharge opening therein, means connecting said discharge opening to a depository through which balls in passing through the discharge opening from said hopper are guided to the depository, means for rotating said table about a vertical axis within said lower opening, said table having a plurality of upright cylindrical openings formed therein, each cylindrical opening having a diametrical dimension sufficient to accommodate a single ball only with clearance and being positionable over and in alignment with said discharge opening during rotation of said table, a rigid cover plate mounted adjacently above said table and overlying said discharge opening, said cover plate covering at all times a part of said table and those cylindrical openings in said table part, the remainder of said openings in said table not covered by said cover plate being exposed within said hopper to rEceive said balls, said cover plate having a leading edge located adjacent one side of said discharge opening and under which the cylindrical openings in said table pass during rotation of the table, means for actuating said table rotating means to cause the cylindrical openings in said table to pass first under said cover plate leading edge and then over said discharge opening whereby the balls carried within said openings will fall individually through said discharge opening, flexible deflector means mounted adjacently ahead of said cover plate leading edge and over said table for contacting those balls carried upon said table to cause said carried balls to be deflected away from said cover plate leading edge as said table is rotated wherein said deflecter means is carried by said cover plate and extends along the leading edge thereof and said deflector means is a helical spring, said spring generally paralleling said leading edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The ball dispenser of claim 1 wherein said table rotating means causes said table to rotate at a constant speed, said actuating means being operable for a selected period of time wherein said period of actuating means operation is directly proportional to the number of balls falling through said discharge opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The ball dispenser of claim 1 wherein said table includes an upper surface, said upper surface spaced from said lower wall a distance which is less than the diameter of a said ball whereby each ball when within a said cylindrical opening and contacting said lower wall will project above said upper surface to contact other of said balls within said hopper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |