US4495857A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Labyrinth ventilator
Assignee: CTI International Inc
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Filing: 1984-04-23
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Granted: 1985-01-29
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Expires: 2004-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A labyrinth ventilator is formed of a unitary structure including a housing formed of a front wall and perimetric walls, the back of the housing being open for communication with an air breather opening in a sidewall of a container. Air inlet apertures are located in the perimetric wall at the bottom of the housing. A set of transverse vanes, which serve as baffles to the flow of air, are positioned in alternating fashion along the interior of the housing to provide for a sinuous passage for the flow of air. A seal is secured within a channel disposed in the top and side portions of the rear edge of the housing for excluding rain at the junction between the ventilator and a container sidewall.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/34; B60H1/3407; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/74; B65D88/741
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A labyrinth ventilator to be placed upon the sidewall of a container at the site of at least one air breather opening in the sidewall, said ventilator being formed as a unitary structure comprising: a housing having a front wall and a perimetric wall extending from a periphery of said front wall towards an open rear portion of said housing, there being a set of air inlet apertures disposed in said perimetric wall and extending transversely along a bottom of said housing; a set of baffles including a lower baffle and an upper baffle extending transversely within said housing from one side of said housing to the opposite side of said housing, said lower baffle extending from said front wall part way toward said rear portion to provide a space for air flow between said lower baffle and said container sidewall upon emplacement of said ventilator on said container sidewall, said upper baffle having an air-flow opening at said front wall, said upper baffle extending to said rear portion to block a flow of air along said container sidewall, thereby to provide a sinuous path to airflow; means for securing said ventilator to said container sidewall; and wherein the extension of each of said baffles toward said open rear portion is in a direction sufficiently close to a normal to said front wall to permit said baffles and said housing to be formed integrally in a single molding operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A labyrinth ventilator to be placed upon the sidewall of a container at the site of at least one air breather opening in the sidewall, said ventilator being formed as a unitary structure comprising: a housing having a front wall and a perimetric wall extending from a periphery of said front wall towards an open rear portion of said housing, there being a set of air inlet apertures disposed in said perimetric wall and extending transversely along a bottom of said housing; a set of baffles including a lower baffle and an upper baffle extending transversely within said housing from one side of said housing to the opposite side of said housing, said lower baffle extending from said front wall part way toward said rear portion to provide a space for air flow between said lower baffle and said container sidewall upon emplacement of said ventilator on said container sidewall, said upper baffle having an air-flow opening at said front wall, said upper baffle extending to said rear portion to block a flow of air along said container sidewall, thereby to provide a sinuous path to airflow; means for securing said ventilator to said container sidewall; and wherein the extension of each of said baffles toward said open rear portion is in a direction sufficiently close to a normal to said front wall to permit said baffles and said housing to be formed integrally in a single molding operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 1 wherein each of said baffles is formed as a planar vein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 2 wherein one of said baffles is oriented perpendicularly to said front wall, and a second of said baffles is inclined to said normal to said front wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a gasket disposed along a rear edge of said housing for sealihg a junction between said ventilator and said container sidewall upon emplacement of said ventilator on said container sidewall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 4 wherein said perimetric wall terminates at the rear of said housing in a circumferential flange, said flange including a channel for reception of said gasket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 5 wherein said perimetric wall comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and opposed sidewalls joining said top wall and said bottom wall, said apertures are disposed in said bottom wall, said lower baffle and said upper baffle are each formed as veins, said lower baffle is inclined relative to a plane of said upper baffle, and wherein one of said baffles is perpendicular to said front wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 6 wherein said securing means further comprises fluted recesses located at the junction of said perimetric wall with said flange, said recesses providing access for fastening devices to fasten said ventilator to said container sidewall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 6 wherein said securing means further comprises an extension of said flange, said extension providing access for fastening devices for fastening said ventilator to said container sidewall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 6 further comprising a third baffle positioned above said upper baffle and extending part way between said front wall and the rear of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 6 wherein said gasket extends along the rear of said top wall and the rear of each of said side walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A labyrinth ventilator according to claim 6 wherein said bottom wall is inclined relative to said normal to said front wall, and said air inlet apertures are directed parallel to said normal.
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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) | 1988-01-29 | 1988-07-30 | 1989-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-29 | 1992-07-30 | 1993-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-07-30 | 1997-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |