US4940204A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instrument having flexible stand
Assignee: Fluke Corp
•
Filing: 1989-09-28
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2009-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A flexible stand permits an instrument housing or holster to which it is attached to be supported on a horizontal surface at any of a number of different viewing angles, to be hooked to a pipe or conduit, or to be suspended from a nail or the like. The stand comprises a skeletal member that is formed of a pair of annealed cartridge brass wires separated from each other and maintained parallel by a pair of plastic bridge members. The skeletal member is coated with thermoplastic polyester material, to form an assembly that is flexible, is non-brittle and exhibits substantially no mechanical memory so that it retains the shape to which the stand is manually formed by the user. One end of the stand is pivotally attached to the meter housing or holster, and an abutment member on the stand contacts a portion of the housing or holster to prevent further pivoting when the stand is pivoted to a particular angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Nelson
- 👤 Heimen Wong
- 👤 Roger M. Trana
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D18/00; G01D11/00; G01D11/24; F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; F16M11/06; F16M11/10; F16M13/00; F16M13/005; F16M13/02; F16M13/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A stand for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: an elongated skeletal member extending outwardly from said housing and being formed of a material that is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory; a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and means for retaining one end of said stand to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A stand for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: an elongated skeletal member extending outwardly from said housing and being formed of a material that is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory; a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and means for retaining one end of said stand to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stand of claim 1, wherein said retaining means includes means for pivotally attaching said one end of said stand to said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The stand of claim 2, wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of pivot pins extending outwardly from said one end of said stand, said pivot pins being adapted to be seated in receptacles formed in said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stand of claim 2, wherein said skeletal member is formed of annealed cartridge brass wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stand of claim 1, including stand retaining tabs extending outwardly from opposite sides of said thermoplastic polyester material and adapted to be releasably retained in corresponding recesses formed in said material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The stand of claim 1, including an abutment member formed on a planar surface of said thermoplastic polyester material near one end of said stand adjacent said housing, said abutment member being positioned such that said abutment member contacts a portion of said housing and limits further pivoting of said stand when said stand is pivoted to a predetermined angle with respect to said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The stand of claim 1, including a series of parallel ribs formed on a planar surface of said thermoplastic polyester material, said series of ribs being adapted to form a non-slip region of said material when said stand is hooked around a pipe or conduit, or the like.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stand of claim 1, wherein said stand includes an aperture formed therein for hanging said stand on a nail, stud, or the like.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A stand for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: an elongated skeletal member extending outwardly from said housing and being formed of a material that is flexible, is nonbrittle and has substantially no mechanical memory, wherein said skeletal member includes a pair of lengths of annealed cartridge brass wire separated from each other and maintained parallel by a pair of bridge members provided respectively at opposite ends of said lengths of wire; a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and means for retaining one end of said stand to said housing wherein said retaining means includes means for pivotally attaching said one end of said stand to said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
A stand for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: an elongated skeletal member extending outwardly from said housing and being formed of a material that is flexible, is nonbrittle and has substantially no mechanical memory, wherein said skeletal member includes a pair of lengths of annealed cartridge brass wire separated from each other and maintained parallel by a pair of bridge members provided respectively at opposite ends of said lengths of wire; a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and means for retaining one end of said stand to said housing wherein said retaining means includes means for pivotally attaching said one end of said stand to said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stand of claim 9, wherein said bridge members are formed of plastic molded around the ends of said lengths of wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A holster for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a housing of said measurement instrument; and a stand for supporting said receptacle on or to a support member, said stand comprising (a) an elongated skeletal member extending outward from said receptacle and being formed of a material that is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory; (b) a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and (c) means for retaining one end of said stand to said receptacle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A holster for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a housing of said measurement instrument; and a stand for supporting said receptacle on or to a support member, said stand comprising (a) an elongated skeletal member extending outward from said receptacle and being formed of a material that is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory; (b) a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and (c) means for retaining one end of said stand to said receptacle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The holster of claim 11, wherein said retaining means includes means for pivotally attaching said one end of said stand to said receptacle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The holster of claim 12, wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of pivot pins extending outwardly from said one end of said stand, said pivot pins being adapted to be seated in recesses formed in said receptacle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The holster of claim 12, wherein said skeletal member is formed of annealed cartridge brass wire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The holster of claim 11, including stand retaining tabs extending outwardly from opposite sides of said thermoplastic polyester material and adapted to be releasably retained in corresponding recesses formed in said material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The holster of claim 11, including an abutment member formed on a planar surface of said thermoplastic polyester material near one end of said stand adjacent said receptacle, said abutment member being positioned such that said abutment member contacts a portion of said receptacle and limits further pivoting of said stand when said stand is pivoted through a predetermined angle with respect to said receptacle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The holster of claim 11, including a series of parallel ribs formed on a planar surface of said thermoplastic polyester material, said series of ribs being adapted to form a non-slip region of said material when said stand is hooked around a pipe or conduit, or the like.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The holster of claim 11, wherein said stand includes formed therein for hanging said stand on a nail, stud, or the like.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The holster of claim 18, wherein collars in said receptacle form said recesses for receiving said pins, said collars tightly wrapping said pins to cause friction therebetween so that the angle between said stand and said receptacle once manually set by the user tends to be temporarily retained.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
A holster for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a housing of said measurement instrument; and a stand for supporting said receptacle on or to a support member, said stand comprising (a) an elongated skeletal member extending outward from said receptacle and being formed of a material that is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory, wherein said skeletal member includes a pair of lengths of annealed cartridge brass wire separated from each other and maintained parallel by a pair of bridge members provided respectively at opposite ends of said lengths of wire; (b) a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and (c) means for retaining one end of said stand to said receptacle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
A holster for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a housing of said measurement instrument; and a stand for supporting said receptacle on or to a support member, said stand comprising (a) an elongated skeletal member extending outward from said receptacle and being formed of a material that is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory, wherein said skeletal member includes a pair of lengths of annealed cartridge brass wire separated from each other and maintained parallel by a pair of bridge members provided respectively at opposite ends of said lengths of wire; (b) a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member; and (c) means for retaining one end of said stand to said receptacle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The holster of claim 20, wherein said bridge members are formed of plastic molded around the ends of said lengths of wire.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
103 words
For an instrument housing or holster, a stand for supporting the housing or holster on or to a support member, said stand comprising: a framework formed of a pair of equal lengths of metal wire spaced apart and parallel to each other, and upper and lower bridge members for supporting, respectively, the upper and lower ends of said pair of wires; pivot pins formed on said upper bridge member for pivotally mounting said upper bridge member to said housing or holster; and a thermoplastic polyester material formed on said framework; whereby said stand is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
103 words
For an instrument housing or holster, a stand for supporting the housing or holster on or to a support member, said stand comprising: a framework formed of a pair of equal lengths of metal wire spaced apart and parallel to each other, and upper and lower bridge members for supporting, respectively, the upper and lower ends of said pair of wires; pivot pins formed on said upper bridge member for pivotally mounting said upper bridge member to said housing or holster; and a thermoplastic polyester material formed on said framework; whereby said stand is flexible, is non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
88 words
A stand for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a skeletal member extending from said housing, said skeletal member including at least two substantially equal lengths of wire equally spaced from each other and at lest one bridge member coupled to each of said lengths of wire, wherein said wire is flexible, non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory; means for pivotally attaching a first end of said stand to said housing; and means for releasably retaining a second end of said stand to said housing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
88 words
A stand for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a skeletal member extending from said housing, said skeletal member including at least two substantially equal lengths of wire equally spaced from each other and at lest one bridge member coupled to each of said lengths of wire, wherein said wire is flexible, non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory; means for pivotally attaching a first end of said stand to said housing; and means for releasably retaining a second end of said stand to said housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
The stand of claim 23, wherein said means for pivotally attaching said first end of said stand to said housing includes a pair of pivot pins extending outwardly from said first end of said stand and being adapted to be seated in receptacles formed in said housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
The stand of claim 23, wherein said means for releasably retaining said second end of said stand to said housing includes a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeletal member and retaining tabs extending outwardly from said thermoplastic material and adapted to be releasably retained in corresponding recesses provided in said housing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
116 words
A holster for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a housing of said measurement instrument; and a stand for supporting said receptacle on or to a support member, said stand comprising (a) a skeletal member extending from said receptacle, said skeletal member including at least two substantially equal lengths of wire equally spaced from each other and at least one bridge member coupled to each of said lengths of wire, wherein said wire is flexible, non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory, (b) means for pivotally attaching a first end of said stand to said receptacle, and (c) means for releasably a second end of said stand to said receptacle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
116 words
A holster for supporting the housing of a measurement instrument, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a housing of said measurement instrument; and a stand for supporting said receptacle on or to a support member, said stand comprising (a) a skeletal member extending from said receptacle, said skeletal member including at least two substantially equal lengths of wire equally spaced from each other and at least one bridge member coupled to each of said lengths of wire, wherein said wire is flexible, non-brittle and has substantially no mechanical memory, (b) means for pivotally attaching a first end of said stand to said receptacle, and (c) means for releasably a second end of said stand to said receptacle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The stand of claim 26, wherein said means for pivotally attaching said first end of said stand to said receptacle includes a pair of pivot pins extending outwardly from said first end of said stand and being adapted to be seated said receptacle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
57 words
The stand of claim 26, wherein said means for releasably retaining said second end of said stand to said receptacle includes a thermoplastic polyester material covering at least a portion of said skeleton member and retaining tabs extending outwardly from said thermoplastic polyester material and adapted to be releasably retained in corresponding recesses provided in said receptacle.
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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) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-01-08 | 1994-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-09 | 1998-01-08 | 1998-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |