US4019629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressurized tennis ball container
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-02-13
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Granted: 1977-04-26
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Expires: 1995-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A pressurized tennis ball container has a cover which fits onto a standard metal tennis ball can. The cover includes a hand pump having a sliding seal which opens to permit rapid refilling of the hand pump cylinder with air during the upstroke of the piston, an air pressure indicator, which indicates the pressure within the can, a pressure release member to release the air pressure within the can to facilitate opening the cover, and an improved diaphragm valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert B. Dubner
- 👤 Harold Bienenfeld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:23
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B39/00; A63B39/02; A63B39/025; F; F16; F16K; F16K7/00; F16K7/12; F16K7/14; F16K7/17; F16K15/00; F16K15/14; F16K15/16; F16K15/161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A cover assembly for use with a metal tennis ball can to form a pressurized tennis ball container, comprising a transparent cover member sized to overlie the top of said can and having a integral pump cylinder upstanding therefrom, a pump piston extending into said pump cylinder, piston seal means mounted on said piston including a sealing ring slidably mounted on said piston and providing a wiping seal between said piston and said pump cylinder for preventing the flow of air past said piston on the downstroke of said piston and with said means opening to permit airflow past said piston on the upstroke of said piston to refill said cylinder, valve means disposed to permit the flow of air from said cylinder into said tennis ball can and to prevent the flow of air in the reverse direction, means for mounting said cover member on said tennis ball can, pressure release mounted on said cover member for venting pressure from said tennis ball cans, and pressure indicator means on said cover for indicating the attainment of a selected pressure within the can upon which said cover member is mounted by operation of said pump piston, said pressure indicating means including a transparent cylinder formed integrally with said transparent cover member and upstanding therefrom, said transparent cylinder having a closed top end and an open bottom end communicating with the interior of said can, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and visible therethrough, and a reference line on said cylinder at a location to indicate the attainment of said selected pressure within said can when said piston registers with said reference line, said pressure indicator means providing a continuous visual indication of the pressure within said can until said pressure is released by said pressure release means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A cover assembly for use with a metal tennis ball can to form a pressurized tennis ball container, comprising a transparent cover member sized to overlie the top of said can and having a integral pump cylinder upstanding therefrom, a pump piston extending into said pump cylinder, piston seal means mounted on said piston including a sealing ring slidably mounted on said piston and providing a wiping seal between said piston and said pump cylinder for preventing the flow of air past said piston on the downstroke of said piston and with said means opening to permit airflow past said piston on the upstroke of said piston to refill said cylinder, valve means disposed to permit the flow of air from said cylinder into said tennis ball can and to prevent the flow of air in the reverse direction, means for mounting said cover member on said tennis ball can, pressure release mounted on said cover member for venting pressure from said tennis ball cans, and pressure indicator means on said cover for indicating the attainment of a selected pressure within the can upon which said cover member is mounted by operation of said pump piston, said pressure indicating means including a transparent cylinder formed integrally with said transparent cover member and upstanding therefrom, said transparent cylinder having a closed top end and an open bottom end communicating with the interior of said can, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and visible therethrough, and a reference line on said cylinder at a location to indicate the attainment of said selected pressure within said can when said piston registers with said reference line, said pressure indicator means providing a continuous visual indication of the pressure within said can until said pressure is released by said pressure release means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
A cover assembly according to claim 1 in which said pressure release means comprises a threaded aperture extending through said cover member and communicating with the interior of said can, a manually-operable release member having an enlarged head overlying the outer surface of said cover member and having a threaded shank engaging said threaded aperture, and a gasket underlying said enlarged head and engaging the upper surface of said cover member when said release member is tightened against said gasket, said release member being adapted to be manually untightenend to vent pressure from said can through said threaded aperture, thereby permitting said cover member to be removed from said can.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cover assembly according to claim 1 in which said cover member includes an integral peripheral flange having an internally threaded portion, and in whcih said means for mounting said cover member includes can adapter means comprising a split ring having an externally- threaded portion fitting said internally threaded portion of said peripheral flange, said split ring being sized for slidable mounting on the outer surface of said can, and being extensible in diameter to permit removal from and replacement on said can, said cover member also mounting a resilient gasket positioned to engage the top edge of said can.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
A cover assembly according to claim 1 in which said valve means comprises a flexible diaphragm having a hole offset from the center thereof, a recess in the bottom surface of said cover member beneath said pump cylinder, an air passage aperture in said cover member located centrally in said recess and in communication with the bottom of said pump cylinder, a retaining ring disposed to hold the periphery of said diaphragm in contact with the inner surface of said recess, said air passage aperture being aligned with the center of said diaphragm and spaced from the offset hole in said diaphragm, whereby increased air pressure in said cylinder causes air to flow through said air passage aperture and to impinge on the center of said diaphragm to flex said diaphragm away from the inner surface of said recess, with the misalignment of said hole and said air passage preventing the flow of air in the reverse direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cover assembly according to claim 4 which said inner surface of said recess has a convex contour.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A cover assembly according to claim 1 in which the piston of said pressure indicator means comprises a rigid piston body and an O ring secured to said body and having a peripheral portion forming a sliding seal with the inner surface of said transparent hollow cylinder and disposed to rise within said transparent hollow cylinder responsive to increased air pressure within said cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cover assembly according to claim 6 further including a small quantity of oil disposed on top of said indicator piston for lubrication of said sliding seal and increased visibility of said indicator piston through the transparent cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cover assembly according to claim 6 in which said cover member and said transparent hollow cylinder are an integral unit molded of a clear plastic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cover assembly according to claim 1 in which said piston seal means comprises an integral depending extension on the lower end of said piston having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said piston and forming a shoulder therewith, said sealing ring being slidably mounted on said piston extension, said sealing ring having a central mounting hole of appreciably larger diameter than said piston extension which passes through said mounting hole, and having a thickness less than the length of said piston extension, with said sealing ring making sealing contact with said shoulder on the downstroke of said piston and being carried downwardly by said piston through said cylinder for pressurizing air within said cylinder, said sealing ring sliding away from said shoulder on the upstroke of said piston, thereby permitting air to flow between said sealing ring and said piston extension to refill said cylinder.
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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) | 1980-04-25 | 1980-10-25 | 1981-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-25 | 1984-10-25 | 1985-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-10-25 | 1989-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |