US4070786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fish receiving hopper
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-12-06
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Granted: 1978-01-31
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Expires: 1996-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A fish receiving hopper in cooperation with an ice chest, live well or other fish storage container or vessel, which includes a molded shell adapted to fit on the top of the ice chest, live well, or alternative vessel, which shell carries a downwardly extending chute and a cooperating hinged door adapted to open when a fish is tossed onto the chute and slides downwardly by the force of gravity to strike the hinged door. The fish storage hopper may be removably fitted to or hinged to the ice chest, live well, or other fish storage vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Dunham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:55
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K97/00; A01K97/04; A01K97/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A fish receiving hopper for use with a fish storage container comprising a shell-like cover, a downwardly extending chute disposed in the top of said shell-like cover and having a bottom terminus edge, and a substantially vertically oriented door having the top edge hinged to said shell-like cover and the bottom edge normally co-extensive with and adjacent said bottom terminus edge of said chute in closed configuration, whereby when a fish is caused to slide down said chute and contact said door, said door is displaced from said bottom terminus edge and swings open to permit said fish to fall into said storage container and returns to said closed configuration by operation of gravity after passage of said fish.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A fish receiving hopper for use with a fish storage container comprising a shell-like cover, a downwardly extending chute disposed in the top of said shell-like cover and having a bottom terminus edge, and a substantially vertically oriented door having the top edge hinged to said shell-like cover and the bottom edge normally co-extensive with and adjacent said bottom terminus edge of said chute in closed configuration, whereby when a fish is caused to slide down said chute and contact said door, said door is displaced from said bottom terminus edge and swings open to permit said fish to fall into said storage container and returns to said closed configuration by operation of gravity after passage of said fish.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising contact sealing means on said terminus edge of said chute to releasably seal the interface between said terminus edge and said bottom edge of said door which is normally co-extensive with said terminus edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising cooperating releasable fastening means carried by said terminus edge of said chute and said bottom edge of said door which is normally co-extensive with said terminus edge, to releasably secure said bottom edge of said door to said terminus edge of said chute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 3 wherein said cooperating releasable fastening means is at least one magnet secured to said terminus edge of said chute and at least one door clip in registration with said at least one magnet and secured to said bottom edge of said door which is normally co-extensive with said terminus edge of said chute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising: a. contact sealing means on said terminus edge of said chute to releasably seal the interface between said terminus edge and said bottom edge of said door which is normally co-extensive with said terminus edge; and b. cooperating releasable fastening means carried by said terminus edge of said chute and said bottom edge of said door which is normally co-extensive with said terminus edge, to releasably secure said bottom edge of said door to said terminus edge of said chute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising a piano hinge joining said top edge of said door to said shell-like cover, and at least one chest hinge joining said shell-like cover to said fish storage container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising: a. contact sealing means on said terminus edge of said chute to releasably seal the interface between said terminus edge and said bottom edge of said door which is normally co-extensive with said terminus edge; b. at least one magnet secured to said terminus edge of said chute and at least one door clip in registration with said at least one magnet and secured to said bottom edge of said door to releasably secure said bottom edge of said door to said terminus edge of said chute; and c. a piano hinge joining said top edge of said door to said shell-like cover, and at least one chest hinge joining said shell-like cover to said fish storage container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising a layer of insulation on said door to minimize heat transfer through said door.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising insulation in said shell-like cover to minimize heat transfer through said shell-like cover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 1 further comprising: a. contact sealing means on said terminus edge of said chute to releasably seal the interface between said terminus edge and said bottom edge of said door which is normally co-extensive with said terminus edge; b. at least one magnet secured to said terminus edge of said chute and at least one door clip in registration with said at least one magnet and secured to said bottom edge of said door to releasably secure said bottom edge of said door to said terminus edge of said chute; c. a piano hinge joining said top edge of said door to said shell-like cover, and at least one chest hinge joining said shell-like cover to said fish storage container; d. a layer of insulation on said door to minimize heat transfer through said door; and e. insulation in said shell-like cover to minimize heat transfer through said shell-like cover.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 10 wherein said fish storage container is an ice chest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fish receiving hopper of claim 10 wherein said fish storage container is a live well.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-30 | 1981-08-01 | 1982-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-30 | 1985-08-01 | 1986-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-30 | 1989-08-01 | 1990-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |