Patent US2661856A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3899043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine cover
Assignee: Steadley Co
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Filing: 1974-07-29
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1994-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A cover for various types of machines which operate at high noise levels comprises two or more shells of substantially rigid material shaped to the general configuration of the machine and having generally vertical side margins which are placed in registry and secured together to form a unitary enclosure. At least some of the shells have upper horizontal sections to overlie portions of the machine and complete the enclosure. The margins of the shells have outwardly extending flanges which are brought together and gripped by spring clips. Since the shells are rigid, they are free standing, not connected to the machine, and may be separated and slid away across the floor in moments to allow repair and maintenance. The total enclosure greatly reduces the volume of noise which would otherwise be transmitted to the surrounding area and prevents the spread of smoke and fumes. An exhaust conduit and fan carry away the pollutants. Various apertures are provided to allow access to the machine for inspection and adjustment and are covered by removable shields. At least one shield has a transparent area for visual inspection, and the shells are made of translucent material such as fiberglass to admit exterior shop light for such inspection, eliminating the need for interior auxiliary lighting.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy E Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:36
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S454/00; Y10S454/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A noise-reducing and pollution-controlling machine cover comprising: a plurality of free standing shells adapted to be secured together to enclose a processing machine; each shell being formed of substantially rigid translucent material with the major portion of its internal and external surface areas free of opaque attachments or coatings; the lower margin of each shell lying generally in a horizontal plane for supporting contact with a floor, with the upstanding side margins and upper margins lying in vertical planes and sized and shaped to register with the opposed margins of adjacent shells; means to detachably secure the shells together with their opposed corresponding margins in registry into a unitary noisereducing enclosure encompassing the machine and standing in self-supporting contact with the machine-supporting floor; apertures through the wall of at least one shell to provide access to the machine; and shields for each of said apertures to complete the enclosure; at least one of said shields having a transparent area for visual inspection of the machine; the translucent material of the shells serving to transmit exterior light to the interior of the enclosure to facilitate such visual inspection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A noise-reducing and pollution-controlling machine cover comprising: a plurality of free standing shells adapted to be secured together to enclose a processing machine; each shell being formed of substantially rigid translucent material with the major portion of its internal and external surface areas free of opaque attachments or coatings; the lower margin of each shell lying generally in a horizontal plane for supporting contact with a floor, with the upstanding side margins and upper margins lying in vertical planes and sized and shaped to register with the opposed margins of adjacent shells; means to detachably secure the shells together with their opposed corresponding margins in registry into a unitary noisereducing enclosure encompassing the machine and standing in self-supporting contact with the machine-supporting floor; apertures through the wall of at least one shell to provide access to the machine; and shields for each of said apertures to complete the enclosure; at least one of said shields having a transparent area for visual inspection of the machine; the translucent material of the shells serving to transmit exterior light to the interior of the enclosure to facilitate such visual inspection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1; in which elastomeric strips are arranged between the confronting margins of adjacent shells to compensate for surface irregularities and complete the sealing of the enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1; in which outwardly extending flanges are provided along the upstanding and upper margins of each shell; elastomeric sealing strips are arranged between the confronting flanges of adjacent shells; and removable fasteners are secured to the flanges at spaced points along their periphery to force them toward each other into clamping relation with the sealing strips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cover as claimed in claim 3; in which the removable fasteners are spring clips having portions formed to engage the exposed faces of adjacent flanges and yieldingly urge the flanges toward each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1; in which guide tabs are secured to the inner surfaces of at least some of the shells and extend out beyond the margins to engage the inner surfaces of the marginal portions of the adjacent shells to guide them together and to prevent displacement of either shell out of the common plane of the two shells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1; in which the shells are formed of translucent fiberglass material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
A cover as claimed in claim 6; in which the enclosure is sized and shaped to encompass a spring forming machine and comprises a first shell covering the front portion of the machine and at least a second shell covering a rear portion of the machine; the end walls of the shells having a vertical line of jointure at one side of the machine and having opposed cut-out portions in their margins defining between them an aperture for wire to be drawn into the machine, each cut-out portion being provided with a metal guard strip to prevent abrasion of the fiberglass material by contact with the moving wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cover as claimed in claim 7; in which an aperture is formed in the opposite end of the first shell to accommodate the extension beyond the cover of a delivery trough for the springs made by the machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
A noise-reducing and pollution-controlling machine cover comprising: a plurality of free standing shells adapted to be secured together to enclose a processing machine; the shells being substantially rigid to be self-supporting on a floor; at least the major part of the cover being formed of translucent material; the lower margin of each shell lying generally in a horizontal plane for supporting contact with a floor; the margins of the upstanding portions of each shell being sized and shaped to register with the opposed corresponding margins of adjacent shells; means to detachably secure the shells together with their opposed corresponding margins in registry into a unitary noise-reducing enclosure encompassing the machine and standing in self-supporting contact with the machine-supporting floor; apertures through the wall of at least one shell to provide access to the machine; and shields for the apertures to complete the enclosure; at least one of the shields having a transparent area for visual inspection of the machine; the translucent material serving to transmit exterior light to the interior of the enclosure to facilitate such visual inspection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
A noise-reducing and pollution-controlling machine cover comprising: a plurality of free standing shells adapted to be secured together to enclose a processing machine; the shells being substantially rigid to be self-supporting on a floor; at least the major part of the cover being formed of translucent material; the lower margin of each shell lying generally in a horizontal plane for supporting contact with a floor; the margins of the upstanding portions of each shell being sized and shaped to register with the opposed corresponding margins of adjacent shells; means to detachably secure the shells together with their opposed corresponding margins in registry into a unitary noise-reducing enclosure encompassing the machine and standing in self-supporting contact with the machine-supporting floor; apertures through the wall of at least one shell to provide access to the machine; and shields for the apertures to complete the enclosure; at least one of the shields having a transparent area for visual inspection of the machine; the translucent material serving to transmit exterior light to the interior of the enclosure to facilitate such visual inspection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cover as claimed in claim 9; in which the translucent material is fiberglass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A cover as claimed in claim 9; in which outwardly extending flanges are provided along the opposed corresponding margins of each shell; and removable fasteners are secured to the flanges at spaced points along their periphery; the fasteners comprising spring clips having portions formed to engage the exposed faces of adjacent flanges and yieldingly urge them toward each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
A noise-reducing and pollution-controlling machine cover comprising: a plurality of free standing shells adapted to be secured together to enclose a processing machine; the shells being substantially rigid to be self-supporting on a floor; at least two perimetrally adjacent shells having upstanding marginal wall sections lying in a common vertical plane when assembled, with their opposed corresponding margins juxtaposed along a line of jointure extending generally vertically; each corresponding margin being provided with an outwardly extending flange along the major portion of its length, with the confronting faces of the flanges lying substantially in a common vertical plane perpendicular to the common plane of the marginal wall sections; and quick detachable fasteners secured to the flanges at spaced points along their length to force the flanges toward each other to produce a unitary enclosure encompassing the machine and standing in self-supporting contact with the machine supporting floor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
147 words
A noise-reducing and pollution-controlling machine cover comprising: a plurality of free standing shells adapted to be secured together to enclose a processing machine; the shells being substantially rigid to be self-supporting on a floor; at least two perimetrally adjacent shells having upstanding marginal wall sections lying in a common vertical plane when assembled, with their opposed corresponding margins juxtaposed along a line of jointure extending generally vertically; each corresponding margin being provided with an outwardly extending flange along the major portion of its length, with the confronting faces of the flanges lying substantially in a common vertical plane perpendicular to the common plane of the marginal wall sections; and quick detachable fasteners secured to the flanges at spaced points along their length to force the flanges toward each other to produce a unitary enclosure encompassing the machine and standing in self-supporting contact with the machine supporting floor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
A cover as claimed in claim 12; in which the two perimetrally adjacent shells also include upper generally horizontal wall sections overlying the machine and lying in a common horizontal plane when assembled, with their opposed corresponding margins juxtaposed along a line of jointure extending generally horizontally; each corresponding margin being provided with an upwardly extending flange along the major portion of its length, with the confronting faces of the flanges lying substantially in a common vertical plane perpendicular to the common plane of the upper wall sections; and quick detachable fasteners secured to the flanges at spaced points along their length to force the flanges toward each other to produce a unitary enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cover as claimed in claim 12; in which the quick detachable fasteners are spring clips having portions formed to engage the exposed faces of adjacent flanges and yieldingly urge the flanges toward each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cover as claimed in claim 12; in which apertures are provided through the wall of at least one shell to provide access to the machine; and shields are provided for each of the apertures to complete the enclosure; at least one of said shields having a transparent area for visual inspection of the machine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
A cover as claimed in claim 12; in which guide tabs are secured to the inner surfaces of at least some of the shells and extend out beyond the margins to engage the inner surfaces of the marginal portions of the adjacent shells to guide them together and to prevent displacement of either shell out of the common plane of the two shells.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
A cover as claimed in claim 12; in which an air inlet port is provided in a lower side wall of the cover; a filter is mounted in the inlet port; an air outlet port is provided in the top of the cover; an exhaust conduit is connected to the outlet port; and an exhaust fan is mounted in the conduit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |