Patent US3942430A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3942430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Trash compactor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-10
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Granted: 1976-03-09
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Expires: 1994-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A compactor assembly for compacting matter including a housing, a compactor plate within the housing movable between a retracted position and a compacting region for compacting matter wherein the compactor plate is inclined with respect to the path of motion in the retracted position and moves toward the perpendicular with respect thereto in the compacting region, the compactor plate including collapsible means for permitting collapse thereof as it approaches the perpendicular. In one preferred embodiment, the compactor plate includes stapling means for stapling adjacent layers of matter together during the compaction process wherein the stapling means includes a plurality of movable teeth.
Inventors
- 👤 David Roger Day
- 👤 Lucian Grant McElroy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:59
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B9/00; B30B9/30; B30B9/3082; B30B9/3003; B30B9/3039; B30B9/3042; B30B9/3046; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S100/00; Y10S100/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A compactor assembly for compacting matter comprising: a housing, compactor plate means within said housing movable along a path of motion between a retracted position and a compacting region for compacting matter wherein said compactor plate means is inclined with respect to the path of motion in said retracted position and moves toward the perpendicular with respect thereto in said compacting region, said compactor plate means including a leading edge and a trailing edge, said edges being in continuous contact with opposite surfaces of said housing, and means mounting said edges for permitting relative movement therebetween to reduce the distance between said edges as said compactor plate means approaches the perpendicular whereby said edges contact the walls of said housing throughout the movement of said compactor plate means, and power means for moving said compactor plate means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A compactor assembly for compacting matter comprising: a housing, compactor plate means within said housing movable along a path of motion between a retracted position and a compacting region for compacting matter wherein said compactor plate means is inclined with respect to the path of motion in said retracted position and moves toward the perpendicular with respect thereto in said compacting region, said compactor plate means including a leading edge and a trailing edge, said edges being in continuous contact with opposite surfaces of said housing, and means mounting said edges for permitting relative movement therebetween to reduce the distance between said edges as said compactor plate means approaches the perpendicular whereby said edges contact the walls of said housing throughout the movement of said compactor plate means, and power means for moving said compactor plate means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means is collapsible and includes resilient means for urging expansion of said compactor plate means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said compactor plate means includes a body member and a retractable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said body member includes an internal cavity for telescopically receiving said retractable member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said resilient means includes at least one spring member disposed between said body member and said retractable member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said compactor plate means includes guide means for guiding the movement between said body member and said retractable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said guide means includes a plurality of guide slots in said retractable member and a plurality of guide pins in said body member in cooperating engagement with said guide slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said retractable member includes a plurality of spring-receiving bores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said body member includes a plurality of spring retaining pins in axial alignment with said spring-receiving bores.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said compactor plate means includes stapling means for stapling adjacent layers of matter together, said stapling means including a plurality of movable teeth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said stapling means includes a support plate member and a plurality of elongated apertures in said support plate member, each aperture receiving one of said movable teeth for limiting the extent of movement thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said movable teeth includes a first cam surface engageable with the matter being compacted for moving said teeth in a first direction and a second cam surface engageable with the matter for moving said teeth in a second direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said stapling means includes a plurality of support bars for supporting said teeth in parallel rows.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said teeth in each row face in a direction opposite to that of immediately adjacent rows such that adjacent rows move in opposite directions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said rows of teeth extend transversely of the path of motion of said compactor plate means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said power means includes control means for controlling the movement of said compactor plate means, said control means including first power shutoff means for stopping the motion of said compactor plate means when it reaches the retracted position and second power shutoff means for stopping the motion of said compactor plate means in the compacting region when the compactor plate means becomes perpendicular at a predetermined location in said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said control means includes pressure responsive means responsive to a predetermined level of pressure exerted by said compactor plate means on the matter for returning the compactor plate means to the retracted position from the compacting region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said power means includes a rotary actuator means and linkage means for connecting said actuator means to said compactor plate means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said rotary actuator means is hydraulically driven and said power means includes fluid pump means for providing fluid to said rotary actuator means and valve means for controlling the direction of flow through said rotary actuator means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compactor plate means includes stapling means for stapling adjacent layers of matter together, said stapling means including a plurality of movable teeth.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said stapling means includes a support plate member and a plurality of elongated apertures in said support plate member, each aperture receiving one of said movable teeth for limiting the extent of motion thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein each of said movable teeth includes a first cam surface engageable with the matter being compressed for moving said tooth in a first direction and a second cam surface engageable with the matter being compressed for moving said tooth in a second direction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said teeth include deforming means for deforming matter laterally with respect to the path of motion of the compactor plate means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said stapling means includes a plurality of support bars for supporting said teeth in parallel rows.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said teeth in each row face in a direction opposite to that of immediately adjacent rows such that adjacent rows move in opposite directions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said rows of teeth extend transversely of the path of motion of said compactor plate means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
79 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said power means includes control means for controlling the movement of said compactor plate means, said control means including first power shutoff means for stopping the motion of said compactor plate means when it reaches the retracted position and second power shutoff means for stopping the motion of said compactor plate means in the compacting region when the compactor plate means becomes perpendicular at a predetermined location in said housing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said control means includes pressure responsive means responsive to a predetermined level of pressure exerted by said compactor plate means on the matter for returning the compactor plate means to the retracted position from the compacting region.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein said power means includes rotary actuator means and linkage means connecting said actuator means to said compactor plate means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said rotary actuator means is hydraulically driven and said power means includes fluid pump means for providing fluid to said rotary actuator means and valve means for controlling the direction of flow through said rotary actuator means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
81 words
A compactor plate assembly comprising: a movable compactor plate member, stapling means carried by said compactor plate member for stapling adjacent layers of matter together, said stapling means including a plurality of movable teeth, support bars for supporting said teeth, a support plate member, a plurality of elongated apertures in said support plate member, each aperture receiving one of said movable teeth for limiting the extent of travel thereof during relative motion between said support bars and said support plate member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
81 words
A compactor plate assembly comprising: a movable compactor plate member, stapling means carried by said compactor plate member for stapling adjacent layers of matter together, said stapling means including a plurality of movable teeth, support bars for supporting said teeth, a support plate member, a plurality of elongated apertures in said support plate member, each aperture receiving one of said movable teeth for limiting the extent of travel thereof during relative motion between said support bars and said support plate member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assemly as set forth in claim 31 wherein each of said movable teeth includes a first cam surface engageable with the matter for moving said tooth in a first direction and a second cam surface engageable with the matter for moving said tooth in a second direction.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said teeth include deforming means for deforming matter laterally with respect to the path of motion of the compactor plate means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said teeth in each row face in a direction opposite to that of immediately adjacent rows such that adjacent rows move in opposite directions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 34 wherein said rows of teeth extend transversely of the path of motion of said compactor plate means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
109 words
A compactor assembly for compacting matter comprising: a housing, compactor plate means within said housing movable between a retracted position and a compacting region for compacting matter wherein said compactor plate means is inclined with respect to the path of motion in said retracted position and moves toward the perpendicular with respect thereto in said compacting region, said compactor plate means including a body member, a retractable member retractably associated with said body member, and resilient collapsible means acting between said body member and said retractable member for permitting collapse of said compactor plate means as it approaches the perpendicular, and power means for moving said compactor plate means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
109 words
A compactor assembly for compacting matter comprising: a housing, compactor plate means within said housing movable between a retracted position and a compacting region for compacting matter wherein said compactor plate means is inclined with respect to the path of motion in said retracted position and moves toward the perpendicular with respect thereto in said compacting region, said compactor plate means including a body member, a retractable member retractably associated with said body member, and resilient collapsible means acting between said body member and said retractable member for permitting collapse of said compactor plate means as it approaches the perpendicular, and power means for moving said compactor plate means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
135 words
A compactor plate assembly for compacting matter comprising: a housing, compactor plate means within said housing movable between a retracted position and a compacting region for compacting matter wherein said compactor plate is inclined with respect to the path of motion in said retracted position and moves toward the perpendicular with respect thereto in said compacting region, said compactor plate means including a body member, a retractable member retractably associated with said body member, said members defining a leading edge and a trailing edge, said edges being in continuous contact with opposite surfaces of said housing, and resilient collapsible means acting between said body member and said retractable member for permitting the distance between said edges to diminish as said compactor plate means approaches the perpendicular, and power means for moving said compactor plate means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
135 words
A compactor plate assembly for compacting matter comprising: a housing, compactor plate means within said housing movable between a retracted position and a compacting region for compacting matter wherein said compactor plate is inclined with respect to the path of motion in said retracted position and moves toward the perpendicular with respect thereto in said compacting region, said compactor plate means including a body member, a retractable member retractably associated with said body member, said members defining a leading edge and a trailing edge, said edges being in continuous contact with opposite surfaces of said housing, and resilient collapsible means acting between said body member and said retractable member for permitting the distance between said edges to diminish as said compactor plate means approaches the perpendicular, and power means for moving said compactor plate means.
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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) | 1979-03-09 | 1979-09-08 | 1980-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-09 | 1983-09-08 | 1984-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-09 | 1987-09-08 | 1988-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |