US3970103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retractable gas line connecting apparatus
Assignee: Oxequip Health Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-02
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Granted: 1976-07-20
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Expires: 1994-01-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for connecting a ceiling terminating gas line to an item of equipment at floor level, which includes, a tubular outer member having a gas inlet end for connection to the ceiling outlet and a gas outlet end, a tubular piston rod, of substantially the same length as the outer tube, telescopically mounted in the outer tube with one end extending from the outlet end of the outer tube and having an internal diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter in the outer tube, an annular piston mounted on the opposite end of the piston rod in the annular space between the piston rod and the outer tube which presents an annular piston surface to the opening of the gas inlet end of the outer tube and a spring mounted in the annular space between the piston rod and the outer tube having a biasing force greater than the force exerted on the piston by the gas entering the inlet end of the outer tube so that the piston is normally urged toward the inlet end of the outer tube when the apparatus is connected to the gas source. A unitary structure is provided to accommodate a plurality of different sources of gas in which a plurality of coupling elements equal in number to the number of gas lines to be served are mounted in a ceiling mountable frame structure and an equal number of the retractable piston tubes are suspended from the ceiling couplings. A section of flexible hose can also be connected between the ceiling couplings and the retractable piston tubes.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert E. McKee, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G12/00; A61G12/002; A61G12/004; F; F16; F16L; F16L27/00; F16L27/12; F16L27/127; F16L27/1274; F16L29/00; F16L29/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6966; Y10T137/6969; Y10T137/6977
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
Apparatus for connecting a plurality of gas supplying service lines terminating at ceiling level to a plurality of gas utilizing items of equipment located at floor level comprising: a. a ceiling and a mounting structure imbedded in said ceiling; b. a plurality of gas service lines extending from above said ceiling and downwardly through said mounting structure, said service lines having terminal ends located below said ceiling, c. a cover plate neatly covering said mounting structure and a portion of said downwardly extending service lines, d. means for holding said cover plate against the ceiling, e. a fixed outlet coupling mounted on the lower end of each service line, f. a removable outlet coupling attached to the lower end of each fixed outlet coupling, g. at least some of said removable outlet couplings containing a valve, h. a plurality of tubular outer members each having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end, i. a plurality of flexible tubes each having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of each flexible tube being joined to the gas inlet end of each tubular outer member and the inlet end of each flexible tube being joined to one of said removable outlet couplings, j. an elongated tubular piston rod telescopically mounted within each of said tubular outer members within the outlet end of each tubular piston rod extending through the outlet end of each of said tubular outer members, k. piston means mounted on the inlet end of each of said tubular piston rods in the annular space between each of said tubular piston rods and each said tubular outer member and presenting an annular piston surface to the gas inlet end of said tubular outer member, l. spring means mounted in said annular space between each piston rod and each tubular outer member and adapted to apply a biasing force to urge said piston toward said inlet end of said tubular outer member, and m. means for coupling the outlet end of each said piston rod to an item of equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
Apparatus for connecting a plurality of gas supplying service lines terminating at ceiling level to a plurality of gas utilizing items of equipment located at floor level comprising: a. a ceiling and a mounting structure imbedded in said ceiling; b. a plurality of gas service lines extending from above said ceiling and downwardly through said mounting structure, said service lines having terminal ends located below said ceiling, c. a cover plate neatly covering said mounting structure and a portion of said downwardly extending service lines, d. means for holding said cover plate against the ceiling, e. a fixed outlet coupling mounted on the lower end of each service line, f. a removable outlet coupling attached to the lower end of each fixed outlet coupling, g. at least some of said removable outlet couplings containing a valve, h. a plurality of tubular outer members each having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end, i. a plurality of flexible tubes each having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of each flexible tube being joined to the gas inlet end of each tubular outer member and the inlet end of each flexible tube being joined to one of said removable outlet couplings, j. an elongated tubular piston rod telescopically mounted within each of said tubular outer members within the outlet end of each tubular piston rod extending through the outlet end of each of said tubular outer members, k. piston means mounted on the inlet end of each of said tubular piston rods in the annular space between each of said tubular piston rods and each said tubular outer member and presenting an annular piston surface to the gas inlet end of said tubular outer member, l. spring means mounted in said annular space between each piston rod and each tubular outer member and adapted to apply a biasing force to urge said piston toward said inlet end of said tubular outer member, and m. means for coupling the outlet end of each said piston rod to an item of equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus adapted to interconnect (1) a termination gas line extending downwardly through a ceiling to (2) an item of gas utilizing equipment located on the floor beneath the ceiling, comprising in combinaton: a. a tubular outer member having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end; b. a tubular piston rod of substantially the same length as said tubular outer member telescopically mounted in said tubular outer member with a first end thereof extending outwardly from said outlet end of said tubular outer member and having an internal diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter of said tubular outer member; c. piston means mounted on the other end of said piston rod in the annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member and presenting an annular piston surface to the opening of said gas inlet end of said tubular outer member; d. spring means mounted in said annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member which exerts a biasing force on said piston greater than the force exerted on said piston at the gas inlet end of said tubular outer member, whereby said piston is urged toward said inlet end of said tubular outer member when the apparatus is connected to said gas line; e. a fixed coupling means mounted in the ceiling for coupling said inlet end of said tubular outer member to a termination gas line; and f. means for coupling said first end of said piston rod to an item of equipment located on the floor beneath said ceiling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus adapted to interconnect (1) a termination gas line extending downwardly through a ceiling to (2) an item of gas utilizing equipment located on the floor beneath the ceiling, comprising in combinaton: a. a tubular outer member having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end; b. a tubular piston rod of substantially the same length as said tubular outer member telescopically mounted in said tubular outer member with a first end thereof extending outwardly from said outlet end of said tubular outer member and having an internal diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter of said tubular outer member; c. piston means mounted on the other end of said piston rod in the annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member and presenting an annular piston surface to the opening of said gas inlet end of said tubular outer member; d. spring means mounted in said annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member which exerts a biasing force on said piston greater than the force exerted on said piston at the gas inlet end of said tubular outer member, whereby said piston is urged toward said inlet end of said tubular outer member when the apparatus is connected to said gas line; e. a fixed coupling means mounted in the ceiling for coupling said inlet end of said tubular outer member to a termination gas line; and f. means for coupling said first end of said piston rod to an item of equipment located on the floor beneath said ceiling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the inlet end of said tubular outer member is connected to said fixed coupling through a section of flexible tubing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the inlet end of said tubular outer member is connected to said fixed coupling through a removable coupling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said removable coupling is distinctively shaped for a particular gas service.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said removable coupling carries a valve and the inlet end of said tubular outer member includes means for opening said valve when said tubular outer member is connected to said removable coupling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 which includes an annular flange and a cover plate that is adapted to be held against the ceiling above the fixed coupling by means of said annular flange.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the means for coupling the first end of the piston rod to the item of gas utilizing equipment includes a bayonet-type connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination which comprises a. a ceiling and a mounting structure imbedded in the ceiling, b. a plurality of gas service lines extending downwardly from said ceiling and through said mounting structure, c. a cover plate neatly covering said service lines and said mounting structure, d. means for holding said cover plate against the ceiling and above the terminal ends of said service lines, e. a plurality of differential piston extenders wherein each of said differential piston extenders comprises
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination which comprises a. a ceiling and a mounting structure imbedded in the ceiling, b. a plurality of gas service lines extending downwardly from said ceiling and through said mounting structure, c. a cover plate neatly covering said service lines and said mounting structure, d. means for holding said cover plate against the ceiling and above the terminal ends of said service lines, e. a plurality of differential piston extenders wherein each of said differential piston extenders comprises
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
174 words
a tubular outer member having an inlet end and an outlet end; 2. a tubular piston rod of substantially the same length as said tubular outer member telescopically mounted in said tubular outer member with a first end thereof extending from said outlet end of said tubular outer member and having an internal diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter of said tubular outer member, 3. piston means mounted on the other end of said piston rod in the annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member and presenting an annular piston surface to the opening of said inlet end of said tubular outer member, 4. spring means mounted in said annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member which exerts a biasing force on said piston greater than the force exerted on said piston at the inlet end of said tubular outer member, whereby said piston is urged toward said inlet end of said tubular outer member when the extender is connected to a gas service line,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
174 words
a tubular outer member having an inlet end and an outlet end; 2. a tubular piston rod of substantially the same length as said tubular outer member telescopically mounted in said tubular outer member with a first end thereof extending from said outlet end of said tubular outer member and having an internal diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter of said tubular outer member, 3. piston means mounted on the other end of said piston rod in the annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member and presenting an annular piston surface to the opening of said inlet end of said tubular outer member, 4. spring means mounted in said annular space between said piston rod and said tubular outer member which exerts a biasing force on said piston greater than the force exerted on said piston at the inlet end of said tubular outer member, whereby said piston is urged toward said inlet end of said tubular outer member when the extender is connected to a gas service line,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
means for coupling said first end of said piston rod to an item of gas utilizing equipment, and f. a plurality of removable attaching means for coupling a plurality of said differential piston extenders to said service lines, each removable attaching means having an outlet end and an inlet end wherein the outlet end of each of said removable attaching means is distinctively formed for each service line so as to prevent improper equipment attachments to said service lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
means for coupling said first end of said piston rod to an item of gas utilizing equipment, and f. a plurality of removable attaching means for coupling a plurality of said differential piston extenders to said service lines, each removable attaching means having an outlet end and an inlet end wherein the outlet end of each of said removable attaching means is distinctively formed for each service line so as to prevent improper equipment attachments to said service lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the inlet end of said tubular outer member is connected to said removable attaching means through a section of flexible tubing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein each of said service lines terminates in a fixed coupling mounted below said ceiling level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said cover plate is held against the ceiling above said fixed couplings by means of an annular flange passing over and engaging said fixed couplings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said removable attaching means comprise a plurality of removable couplings, the inlet end of said removable couplings being adapted to engage said fixed couplings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said removable coupling carries a valve and the inlet end of said tubular outer member includes means for opening said valve when said tubular outer member is connected to said removable coupling.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the means for coupling the first end of the piston rod to an item of gas utilizing equipment includes a valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the means for coupling the first end of the piston rod to the item of gas utilizing equipment includes a bayonet-type connector.
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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) | 1979-07-20 | 1980-01-19 | 1980-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-20 | 1984-01-19 | 1984-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-20 | 1988-01-19 | 1988-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |