US3920145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-siphoning device for fluid containers
Assignee: STONE Manufacturing Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-20
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A device that prevents the siphoning of liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet passage. A threaded elongated bolt has a head at one end and an alignment means including a nut located at the other end thereof. An expandable holding means is disposed on the threaded bolt between the head and the nut. Biasing means expands the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt so that the holding means frictionally engages the inner surface of the tubular inlet passage. The alignment means disposed on the end of the threaded bolt opposite the head end guides the device into position within the inlet passage. An expandable space filling means is disposed on the threaded bolt to prevent the passage of the tube beyond the device into the fluid container.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Mcgregor
- 👤 Sterling M Boldreaux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R15/00; B60R15/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet pasageway, said device comprising: a. a threaded elongated bolt member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on the threaded bolt, c. tightening means for effecting movement of the holding means along the bolt member, d. spring-loaded biasing means for expanding the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, e. spacer means disposed on the bolt member for providing a mechanical force which will override the spring-loaded biasing means after the device is disposed within the inlet passageway, f. alignment means disposed on the end of the threaded bolt opposite said head end for guiding the device into position within the inlet passage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet pasageway, said device comprising: a. a threaded elongated bolt member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on the threaded bolt, c. tightening means for effecting movement of the holding means along the bolt member, d. spring-loaded biasing means for expanding the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, e. spacer means disposed on the bolt member for providing a mechanical force which will override the spring-loaded biasing means after the device is disposed within the inlet passageway, f. alignment means disposed on the end of the threaded bolt opposite said head end for guiding the device into position within the inlet passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said expandable holding means includes a plurality of outwardly biased wing members that are movable between an expanded position and a retracted position, said wing members being effective to maintain a frictional contact between the device and the inside walls of the inlet passageway so that the device may be placed in the inlet passageway without falling directly into the fluid container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said expandable holding means includes the wing members of a toggle bolt, said biasing means includes the spring member of said toggle bolt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said wing members swing outwardly in a direction away from the head end of the threaded bolt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring-loaded biasing means includes a helical spring longitudinally disposed around the bolt member and being effective to cause a force to be exerted against the holding means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring-loaded biasing means includes an expander element and a coil spring longitudinally disposed around the threaded bolt, said expander element being disposed between the coil spring and the holding means, said coil spring being effective to produce a force against the holding means via said expander element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring-loaded biasing means includes an expander element contiguous to said holding means and a coil spring, said spacer means being effective to transfer the mechanical force provided by said tightening means to the holding means via the expander element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the coil spring and the spacer means are disposed between the head and the expander element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the spacer means comprises a tubular segment that is disposed around the coil spring located on the bolt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the spacer means has a length that is effective to bottom out the threaded bolt means in the tightening means without fully compressing the coil spring acting against the expander element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said alignment means comprises a disc member disposed between two nuts that are located at the end of the bolt member opposite the head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as defined in claim 11 wherein the nuts are laterally displaced with respect to each other by an amount sufficient to allow the disc member to fit loosely therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said alignment means includes a pin member extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt member to maintain the holding means in alignment with respect to said bolt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein an expandable space filling means is disposed on the threaded bolt, and said biasing means includes an expander element acting on said space filling means to cause the space filling means to expand outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means includes two sets of wing members, each set being disposed on the threaded bolt and extending in transverse directions with respect to each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as defined in claim 15 wherein one of said sets is disposed between the head of the bolt and the other set of wing members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said biasing means includes a first coil spring and expander element disposed on one side of the floating set of wing members and a second coil spring and expander element disposed between the first and second set of coil members, said spacer means including a tubular spacer element disposed around each spring and having a length effective to prevent complete compression of the spring when the threaded bolt is tightened.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
173 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet passage, said device comprising: a. a threaded elongated bolt member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on the threaded bolt, c. tightening means for effecting movement of the holding means along the bolt member, d. biasing means for expanding the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, e. said biasing means including an expander element having openings therein and being contiguous to said holding means, and f. alignment means disposed on the end of the threaded bolt opposite said head end for guiding the device into position within the inlet passage, g. said alignment means comprising a pin member and a disc member having an opening and being disposed between two nuts that are located at the end of the bolt member opposite the head, h. said pin member extending between the opening in the disc member and an opening located in said expander element.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
173 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet passage, said device comprising: a. a threaded elongated bolt member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on the threaded bolt, c. tightening means for effecting movement of the holding means along the bolt member, d. biasing means for expanding the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, e. said biasing means including an expander element having openings therein and being contiguous to said holding means, and f. alignment means disposed on the end of the threaded bolt opposite said head end for guiding the device into position within the inlet passage, g. said alignment means comprising a pin member and a disc member having an opening and being disposed between two nuts that are located at the end of the bolt member opposite the head, h. said pin member extending between the opening in the disc member and an opening located in said expander element.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
191 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet passage way, said device comprising: a. a threaded elongated bolt member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on a threaded bolt, c. tightening means for effecting movement of the holding means along the bolt member, d. biasing means for expanding the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, e. alignment means disposed on the end of the threaded bolt opposite said head end for guiding the device into position within the inlet passage, and f. an expandable space filling means being disposed on the threaded bolt, g. said biasing means including a first expander element contiguous to said holding means, a second expander element contiguous to said space filling means, and a coil spring which acts on said second expander element to bias the spring filling means toward the first expander element, h. said spacer means being effective to transfer the mechanical force provided by said tightening means to the holding means via the expander elements when the threaded bolt has bottomed out.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
191 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet passage way, said device comprising: a. a threaded elongated bolt member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on a threaded bolt, c. tightening means for effecting movement of the holding means along the bolt member, d. biasing means for expanding the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, e. alignment means disposed on the end of the threaded bolt opposite said head end for guiding the device into position within the inlet passage, and f. an expandable space filling means being disposed on the threaded bolt, g. said biasing means including a first expander element contiguous to said holding means, a second expander element contiguous to said space filling means, and a coil spring which acts on said second expander element to bias the spring filling means toward the first expander element, h. said spacer means being effective to transfer the mechanical force provided by said tightening means to the holding means via the expander elements when the threaded bolt has bottomed out.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 19 where said first expander element is located between the holding means and the space filling means, said spacer means includes a washer located between the space filling means and the first expander element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as defined in claim 19 wherein the expandable space filling means includes a plurality of fin members being bendable between a contracted position and an expanded position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 21 wherein at least two of the fin members are bendable to an alignment holding position to maintain the radial position of the expandable holding means with respect to the bolt member.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of a liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet passageway, said device comprising: a. an elongated member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on the elongated member, c. means for spring biasing the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and frictionally maintaining contact against the inside wall surface of said inlet passageway, and d. means providing a mechanical force to the holding means after said device is in place within the inlet passageway, e. said mechanical force providing means being effective to override the spring biasing means causing the holding means to be maintained in contact with said inside wall surface via a mechanical force.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for preventing the siphoning of a liquid from a fluid container having a tubular inlet passageway, said device comprising: a. an elongated member having a head at one end thereof, b. expandable holding means disposed on the elongated member, c. means for spring biasing the holding means outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and frictionally maintaining contact against the inside wall surface of said inlet passageway, and d. means providing a mechanical force to the holding means after said device is in place within the inlet passageway, e. said mechanical force providing means being effective to override the spring biasing means causing the holding means to be maintained in contact with said inside wall surface via a mechanical force.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as defined in claim 23 wherein the elongated member comprises a threaded bolt and the holding means is adapted to be moved along the bolt member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as defined in claim 23 wherein the spring biasing means includes an expander element and a coil spring longitudinally disposed around the elongated member, said expander element being disposed between the coil spring and the holding means, said coil spring being effective to produce a spring biasing force against the holding means via said expander element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as defined in claim 23 wherein the spring biasing means includes an expander element contiguous to the holding means and a coil spring disposed around the elongated member, said mechanical force providing means includes a spacer means, the coil spring and the spacer means being disposed between the head and the expander element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 26 wherein the spacer means comprises a tubular segment that is disposed around the coil spring located on the bolt.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 23 wherein the elongated member comprises a thread toggle bolt, said expandable holding means includes the wing members of said toggle bolt, said spring biasing means includes the spring member of said toggle bolt.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 28 wherein said wing members swing outwardly in a direction away from the head end of the threaded toggle bolt.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device as defined in claim 23 wherein an expandable space filling means is disposed on the elongated member, and said spring biasing means includes an expander element acting on said space filling means to cause the space filling means to expand outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt.
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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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |