US4331335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hardware elements storage dispenser and game device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-12-17
•
Granted: 1982-05-25
•
Expires: 1999-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Improvements in storage dispensers for metallic objects having magnetic properties; a storage dispenser for paper clips and the like made up of a hollow vertical hopper with a downwardly slanted floor and an opening on one side, there being magnetic retainer means on an extension of the inclined floor; honeycomb or cellular structures for storing and dispensing metallic objects having magnetic properties; inclined floor storage and dispensing constructions with magnetic retainer means; devices receiving, storing and readily making available for dispensing therefrom of metallic objects with magnetic properties; games utilizing one or more cubicles, cells or openings having inclined floors therein with magnetic retainer means adapted to receive, retain and sometimes reject metallic objects with magnetic properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Starkweather
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:29
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F1/00; A47F1/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/818; Y10S211/00; Y10S211/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A device for storing and dispensing objects with magnetic properties comprising, in combination: an open face, rectangular, hollow cubicle having three normally vertical, rectangular wall panels joined one to another, at one vertical edge thereof at right angles to one another, to provide two side and one rear walls thereof, a floor panel of rectangular form connected at three side edges thereof to the three wall panels, said floor panel normally uniformly inclined from the horizontal at a substantial yet limited angle, with its raised edge connected to the rear wall above the lower edge thereof and its two side edges to the side wall panel lower edges, the forward and lowermost surface portion of the floor magnetized to retain objects with magnetic properties thereon, a portion of said floor rearward of said magnetized portion being not magnetized, the portion of the floor which is not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard next to the rear wall outwardly on said floor to the magnetized zone where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
A device for storing and dispensing objects with magnetic properties comprising, in combination: an open face, rectangular, hollow cubicle having three normally vertical, rectangular wall panels joined one to another, at one vertical edge thereof at right angles to one another, to provide two side and one rear walls thereof, a floor panel of rectangular form connected at three side edges thereof to the three wall panels, said floor panel normally uniformly inclined from the horizontal at a substantial yet limited angle, with its raised edge connected to the rear wall above the lower edge thereof and its two side edges to the side wall panel lower edges, the forward and lowermost surface portion of the floor magnetized to retain objects with magnetic properties thereon, a portion of said floor rearward of said magnetized portion being not magnetized, the portion of the floor which is not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard next to the rear wall outwardly on said floor to the magnetized zone where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as in claim 1, including a retaining member blocking a portion of the open side wall of the cubicle above the magnetized portion of said floor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as in claim 1 including a normally substantially horizontal top wall comprising a rectangular panel connected at three side edges thereof to the top edges of the side wall panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
200 words
A game device comprising in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to the front face of said board, each compartment member made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment uniformly inclined downwardly at a substantial yet limited angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least some of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, said some floors each also being provided with a portion thereof which is not magnetized, the portions of the partially magnetized compartment floors which are not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard adjacent the backing board outwardly on each said floor to the magnetized zones where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
200 words
A game device comprising in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to the front face of said board, each compartment member made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment uniformly inclined downwardly at a substantial yet limited angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least some of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, said some floors each also being provided with a portion thereof which is not magnetized, the portions of the partially magnetized compartment floors which are not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard adjacent the backing board outwardly on each said floor to the magnetized zones where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein the compartments are separate from one another and spaced apart on the backing board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein the said compartments are next and adjacent to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein each compartment is defined by a single continuous wall providing a floor, sidewalls and a top, said wall secured at one end thereof to the backing board said one face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein each compartment member is separate from the others and at least one of said compartment members is removably and movably secured to said backing board face.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A game device comprising, in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment inclined somewhat downwardly from an angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least one of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, the slopes of the floors of two compartment members varying, one from the other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A game device comprising, in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment inclined somewhat downwardly from an angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least one of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, the slopes of the floors of two compartment members varying, one from the other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein two of the compartment members are of different size from one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein two of the compartment members are of different shape, one from the other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein two compartment members are of different size and shapes, one from the other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
169 words
A game device comprising, in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment inclined somewhat downwardly from an angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least one of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, at least some of the compartments being of different size, one from the other, at least some of the compartments being of different shape, one from the other, and at least some of the floors thereof being of different slopes, one from the other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
169 words
A game device comprising, in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment inclined somewhat downwardly from an angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least one of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, at least some of the compartments being of different size, one from the other, at least some of the compartments being of different shape, one from the other, and at least some of the floors thereof being of different slopes, one from the other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
A game device comprising, in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment inclined somewhat downwardly from an angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least one of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, at least some of the floor being of different slope, one from the other and the quantity of magnetization thereon varies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
A game device comprising, in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing a plurality of separate, floored receptacles extending from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment inclined somewhat downwardly from an angle normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom with the outer upper surface of at least one of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, at least some of the floor being of different slope, one from the other and the quantity of magnetization thereon varies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein the depth of at least one of the compartments varies from the depth of another compartment.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
219 words
A device for receiving, holding and dispensing objects with magnetic properties therefrom, comprising, in combination: (1) a backing board adapted to be supported in a normally vertical position, (2) said board having a back face on one side thereof and a front face on the other side, (3) at least one open faced compartment member secured to the front face of said board, said member made up of at least one wall member extending outwardly from the front face of said backing board and providing at least a lower floor portion and sidewall portions rising upwardly from the lateral limits of said floor, thereby providing a floored receptacle extending outwardly from the front face of the backing board, (4) the floor of said compartment member uniformly including downwardly at a substantial yet limited angle from the backing board outwardly away therefrom, with the outer, upper surface of said floor magnetized to retain magnetic objects thereon, said floor being provided with a portion rearwardly of said magnetized surface which is not magnetized, the portion of said compartment member floor which is not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard outwardly on said floor to the magnetized zone where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
219 words
A device for receiving, holding and dispensing objects with magnetic properties therefrom, comprising, in combination: (1) a backing board adapted to be supported in a normally vertical position, (2) said board having a back face on one side thereof and a front face on the other side, (3) at least one open faced compartment member secured to the front face of said board, said member made up of at least one wall member extending outwardly from the front face of said backing board and providing at least a lower floor portion and sidewall portions rising upwardly from the lateral limits of said floor, thereby providing a floored receptacle extending outwardly from the front face of the backing board, (4) the floor of said compartment member uniformly including downwardly at a substantial yet limited angle from the backing board outwardly away therefrom, with the outer, upper surface of said floor magnetized to retain magnetic objects thereon, said floor being provided with a portion rearwardly of said magnetized surface which is not magnetized, the portion of said compartment member floor which is not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard outwardly on said floor to the magnetized zone where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as in claim 16 wherein the compartment is defined by a single, continuous wall providing a floor, side walls and a top wall for said compartment, said single continuous wall secured at one end to the baseboard front face.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 16 wherein the said compartment is removably and movably secured to said baseboard front face.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 16 wherein the compartment member itself has a backing wall which is secured to the front face of the backing board.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as in claim 19 wherein the back face of the backing wall of the compartment member is magnetized and the front face of the backing board, in at least a portion thereof, is also magnetic for removability and movability of said compartment on the front face of said backing board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
180 words
A honeycomb device for storing and dispensing magnetic type articles comprisong: (1) a normally vertical backing member having front and rear faces, (2) a plurality of partition members fixed to the front face of the backing member in such manner as to provide a multiplicity of compartments thereon having open outboard ends thereto, (3) each compartment formed by said partition members and having a floor, side walls and a top wall defining each said compartment, (4) the floor of each compartment uniformly inclined downwardly at a substantial yet limited angle from the horizontal as it extends outwardly from the backing member, at least the outboard top surfaces of a plurality of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic elements thereon, portions of said floors inwardly of said outboard top surfaces being not magnetized, the portions of said magnetized compartment floors which are not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard outwardly on said floor to the magnetized zones where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
180 words
A honeycomb device for storing and dispensing magnetic type articles comprisong: (1) a normally vertical backing member having front and rear faces, (2) a plurality of partition members fixed to the front face of the backing member in such manner as to provide a multiplicity of compartments thereon having open outboard ends thereto, (3) each compartment formed by said partition members and having a floor, side walls and a top wall defining each said compartment, (4) the floor of each compartment uniformly inclined downwardly at a substantial yet limited angle from the horizontal as it extends outwardly from the backing member, at least the outboard top surfaces of a plurality of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic elements thereon, portions of said floors inwardly of said outboard top surfaces being not magnetized, the portions of said magnetized compartment floors which are not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard outwardly on said floor to the magnetized zones where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 21 wherein the compartments are rectangular in form viewed from the front thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 21 wherein the normally vertical backing member is flat.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as in claim 21 wherein all of the compartments are substantially the same size and shape and the slope of the floors therein are substantially the same.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
152 words
A honeycomb device for storing and dispensing magnetic type articles comprising: (1) a normally vertical backing member having front and rear faces, (2) a plurality of partition members fixed to the front face of the backing member in such manner as to provide a multiplicity of compartments thereon having open outboard ends thereto, (3) each compartment formed by said partition members and having a floor, side walls and a top wall defining each said compartment, (4) the floor of each compartment inclined downwardly from the horizontal as it extends outwardly from the backing member whereby an object placed thereon will tend to move from inboard outwardly on said floor. at least the outboard top surfaces of a plurality of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic elements thereon, the compartments differing from one another in size and the slope of the larger compartment floors differing from the slope of the smaller compartment floors.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
152 words
A honeycomb device for storing and dispensing magnetic type articles comprising: (1) a normally vertical backing member having front and rear faces, (2) a plurality of partition members fixed to the front face of the backing member in such manner as to provide a multiplicity of compartments thereon having open outboard ends thereto, (3) each compartment formed by said partition members and having a floor, side walls and a top wall defining each said compartment, (4) the floor of each compartment inclined downwardly from the horizontal as it extends outwardly from the backing member whereby an object placed thereon will tend to move from inboard outwardly on said floor. at least the outboard top surfaces of a plurality of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic elements thereon, the compartments differing from one another in size and the slope of the larger compartment floors differing from the slope of the smaller compartment floors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
152 words
A honeycomb device for storing and dispensing magnetic type articles comprising: (1) a normally vertical backing member having front and rear faces, (2) a plurality of partition members fixed to the front face of the backing member in such manner as to provide a multiplicity of compartments thereon having open outboard ends thereto, (3) each compartment formed by said partition members and having a floor, side walls and a top wall defining each said compartment, (4) the floor of each compartment inclined downwardly from the horizontal as it extends outwardly from the backing member whereby an object placed thereon will tend to move from inboard outwardly on said floor, at least the outboard top surfaces of a plurality of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic elements thereon, said floors including portions which are not magnetized, the portions of the floors which are not magnetized having less frictional resistance than the magnetized portions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
152 words
A honeycomb device for storing and dispensing magnetic type articles comprising: (1) a normally vertical backing member having front and rear faces, (2) a plurality of partition members fixed to the front face of the backing member in such manner as to provide a multiplicity of compartments thereon having open outboard ends thereto, (3) each compartment formed by said partition members and having a floor, side walls and a top wall defining each said compartment, (4) the floor of each compartment inclined downwardly from the horizontal as it extends outwardly from the backing member whereby an object placed thereon will tend to move from inboard outwardly on said floor, at least the outboard top surfaces of a plurality of said floors magnetized to retain magnetic elements thereon, said floors including portions which are not magnetized, the portions of the floors which are not magnetized having less frictional resistance than the magnetized portions.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
200 words
A device for storing and dispensing objects with magnetic properties comprising in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing plurality of individual, floored receptacles extending outwardly from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment uniformly inclined at a substantial yet limited angle downwardly from normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom, with the outermost upper surface of each said floor magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, each said floor being provided with a portion rearwardly of said outermost upper surface which is not magnetized, the portions of the compartment floors which which are not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard outwardly on each said floor to the magnetized zones where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
200 words
A device for storing and dispensing objects with magnetic properties comprising in combination: a backing board adapted to be supported in normally vertical position, said board having front and back faces, a plurality of open faced compartment members secured to one face of said board, each made up of at least one wall member providing a substantially flat floor and side walls rising upwardly from the lateral limits of each such floor, thereby providing plurality of individual, floored receptacles extending outwardly from the said one face of said backing board, the floor of each such compartment uniformly inclined at a substantial yet limited angle downwardly from normal to the backing board and extending outwardly away therefrom, with the outermost upper surface of each said floor magnetized to retain magnetic objects on said floor, each said floor being provided with a portion rearwardly of said outermost upper surface which is not magnetized, the portions of the compartment floors which which are not magnetized also having a low surface frictional resistance, whereby objects placed thereon will tend to continuously move from inboard outwardly on each said floor to the magnetized zones where they will be held from further movement by magnetic force.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein the compartments are separate from one another and spaced apart on the backing board.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein a plurality of said compartments are defined each by a single, continuous wall providing a floor, side walls and a top, said walls secured at one end thereof to the backing board said one face.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein a plurality of said compartment members are removably and movably secured to the backing board said one face.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein the slope of the floors of two compartment members vary, one from the other.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein two of the compartment members are of different sizes one from another.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein two of the compartment members are of different shape, one from the other.
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) | 1985-05-24 | 1985-11-23 | 1986-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-24 | 1989-11-23 | 1990-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-24 | 1993-11-23 | 1994-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |