US4114194A — Ultrasonic cleaner

Claim 1

Independent Claim 296 words

An ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning relatively small articles comprising: a metallic receptacle for containing a liquid in which articles to be cleaned are immersed, said receptable having an open top periphery; ultrasonic transducer means secured to the bottom of the receptacle and a power circuit including a relatively high power transducer driving circuit for the ultrasonic transducer means; a lower housing portion containing the power circuit and ultrasonic transducer means; an upper housing portion having a cross-sectional area less than that of the lower housing portion and joined to the lower housing portion by a peripherally extending shoulder, said upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion to a height greater than the height of the receptacle, said upper housing portion containing the receptable therein and having a top rim which fits over the top periphery of the receptacle to define a top opening into the receptacle; a cover having an open end and a cross-sectional area greater than the upper housing portion and having a depth slightly less than the height of the upper housing portion, wherein the cover slides over the upper housing portion and substantially surrounds the upper housing portion when in place; means defining spaced projections disposed around said rim of said upper housing portion, wherein said means holds said cover in spaced relation with respect to said rim when the cover is in place over the upper housing portion; a magnet secured to the cover adjacent the open end thereof; and a low-power magnetic reed switch which is positioned adjacent said shoulder so that when said cover is in place over the upper housing portion, the magnet will close the magnetic reed switch and thereby allow said power circuit to energize said ultrasonic transducer means to operate the ultrasonic cleaner.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 296 words

An ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning relatively small articles comprising: a metallic receptacle for containing a liquid in which articles to be cleaned are immersed, said receptable having an open top periphery; ultrasonic transducer means secured to the bottom of the receptacle and a power circuit including a relatively high power transducer driving circuit for the ultrasonic transducer means; a lower housing portion containing the power circuit and ultrasonic transducer means; an upper housing portion having a cross-sectional area less than that of the lower housing portion and joined to the lower housing portion by a peripherally extending shoulder, said upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion to a height greater than the height of the receptacle, said upper housing portion containing the receptable therein and having a top rim which fits over the top periphery of the receptacle to define a top opening into the receptacle; a cover having an open end and a cross-sectional area greater than the upper housing portion and having a depth slightly less than the height of the upper housing portion, wherein the cover slides over the upper housing portion and substantially surrounds the upper housing portion when in place; means defining spaced projections disposed around said rim of said upper housing portion, wherein said means holds said cover in spaced relation with respect to said rim when the cover is in place over the upper housing portion; a magnet secured to the cover adjacent the open end thereof; and a low-power magnetic reed switch which is positioned adjacent said shoulder so that when said cover is in place over the upper housing portion, the magnet will close the magnetic reed switch and thereby allow said power circuit to energize said ultrasonic transducer means to operate the ultrasonic cleaner.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The ultrasonic cleaner of claims 1 wherein the transducer driving circuit has a power input in the range of 25 to 100 watts and wherein the power circuit includes means limiting the load to the reed switch to about 50 milliamperes, at less than 50 volts.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The ultrasonic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cover has a line formed around the inside of the enclosure which identifies the level to which the liquid should fill the cover in order to provide the proper volume of liquid for the receptacle portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The ultrasonic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the switch is mounted in a raised portion on said shoulder and wherein said raised portion is integrally formed with the casing and housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The ultrasonic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the enclosure formed by the cover expands toward the open end thereof forming a gap between the enclosure formed by the cover and the upper housing portion and wherein the magnet projects into the gap.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

The ultrasonic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the spaced projections on said rim are the heads of screws which project through the rim and through a lip projecting from the periphery of the receptacle to suspend the receptacle within the upper housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The ultrasonic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the upper housing portion, shoulder and lower housing portions are a unitary structure made of plastic and wherein the cover is made of plastic.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The ultrasonic cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cleaner is rectangular in cross-section.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-09-11	1982-03-13	1982-09-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-09-11	1986-03-13	1986-09-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-09-11	1990-03-13	1990-09-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ultrasonic cleaner

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