Patent US3720402A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3720402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic cleaning device for fragile heat-sensitive articles
Assignee: Soniclens Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-09
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1991-07-09
Abstract
Abstract The described device includes a glass receptacle for the articles to be cleaned, e.g. soft contact lenses. A piezoelectric crystal is secured to the bottom of the receptacle. An annular heat sink, e.g. of aluminum, surrounds the receptacle. The circuitry for operating the crystal, and an automatic timer for turning off the device after completion of an established cleaning time are disposed in a housing upon which the receptacle is mounted. The receptacle is normally filled with a cleansing solution such as saline solution, and the articles to be cleaned may be placed in a foraminous container to permit their easy retrieval from the receptacle.
Inventors
- 👤 M Cummins
- 👤 T Hankins
- 👤 R Best
- 👤 F Biesecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C13/00; G02C13/008; A; A61; A61L; A61L12/00; A61L12/02; A61L12/026; B; B08; B08B; B08B3/00; B08B3/04; B08B3/10; B08B3/12; B24; B24B; B24B31/00; B24B31/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S134/00; Y10S134/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An ultrasonic cleaning device for fragile, heat-sensitive articles, comprising: a. a receptacle for cleansing fluid; b. a piezoelectric crystal connected to said receptacle for imparting ultrasonic vibrations thereto; c. means for exciting said crystal to produce ultrasonic vibrations on the order of 60 - 100 khz.; and d. heat sink means surrounding said receptacle and being capable of preventing temperature rise of said solution to about 20*C. above ambient temperature and the temperature of said solution to a maximum of about 55*C.; said crystal and said exciting means being disposed within a housing and said heat sink means and most of said receptacle being disposed exteriorly of the housing, the heat sink means being a finned tube extending around the whole portion of the receptacle exposed outside the housing, the outside of the receptacle being secured to the inside of the finned tube and the bottom of the finned tube being secured to the top of the housing peripherally of means defining an opening in the housing; the portion of the receptacle which lies within the housing entering the housing through said opening; and the connection of the piezoelectric crystal to the exterior of the bottom of the receptacle being disposed within the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An ultrasonic cleaning device for fragile, heat-sensitive articles, comprising: a. a receptacle for cleansing fluid; b. a piezoelectric crystal connected to said receptacle for imparting ultrasonic vibrations thereto; c. means for exciting said crystal to produce ultrasonic vibrations on the order of 60 - 100 khz.; and d. heat sink means surrounding said receptacle and being capable of preventing temperature rise of said solution to about 20*C. above ambient temperature and the temperature of said solution to a maximum of about 55*C.; said crystal and said exciting means being disposed within a housing and said heat sink means and most of said receptacle being disposed exteriorly of the housing, the heat sink means being a finned tube extending around the whole portion of the receptacle exposed outside the housing, the outside of the receptacle being secured to the inside of the finned tube and the bottom of the finned tube being secured to the top of the housing peripherally of means defining an opening in the housing; the portion of the receptacle which lies within the housing entering the housing through said opening; and the connection of the piezoelectric crystal to the exterior of the bottom of the receptacle being disposed within the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is a 15 milliliter beaker composed of laboratory glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1 further including a timing device operatively connected to said means for exciting, and for terminating the excitation after the time period for which the timing device has been set has expired.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
229 words
An ultrasonic cleaning device for fragile, heat-sensitive articles, comprising: a. a receptacle for cleansing fluid; b. a piezoelectric crystal connected to said receptacle for imparting ultrasonic vibrations thereto; c. means for exciting said crystal to produce ultrasonic vibrations; d. heat sink means surrounding said receptacle and being capable of preventing temperature rise of said solutioN to about 20*C. above ambient temperature and the temperature of said solution to a maximum of about 55*C.; e. a timing device operatively connected to said means for exciting, and for terminating the excitation after the time period for which the timing device has been set has expired; said timing device, said crystal and said exciting means being disposed within a housing and said heat sink means and most of said receptacle being disposed exteriorly of said housing; the receptacle being a 15 milliliter beaker composed of laboratory glass; about five-sixths of the height of the beaker lying outside the housing and the heat sink consisting of a finned aluminum tube extending about the whole exposed portion of the beaker; the outside of the beaker being secured to the inside of the finned tube and the bottom of the finned tube being secured to the top of the housing peripherally of means defining an opening in the housing; the portion of the receptacle which lies within the housing entering the housing through said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
229 words
An ultrasonic cleaning device for fragile, heat-sensitive articles, comprising: a. a receptacle for cleansing fluid; b. a piezoelectric crystal connected to said receptacle for imparting ultrasonic vibrations thereto; c. means for exciting said crystal to produce ultrasonic vibrations; d. heat sink means surrounding said receptacle and being capable of preventing temperature rise of said solutioN to about 20*C. above ambient temperature and the temperature of said solution to a maximum of about 55*C.; e. a timing device operatively connected to said means for exciting, and for terminating the excitation after the time period for which the timing device has been set has expired; said timing device, said crystal and said exciting means being disposed within a housing and said heat sink means and most of said receptacle being disposed exteriorly of said housing; the receptacle being a 15 milliliter beaker composed of laboratory glass; about five-sixths of the height of the beaker lying outside the housing and the heat sink consisting of a finned aluminum tube extending about the whole exposed portion of the beaker; the outside of the beaker being secured to the inside of the finned tube and the bottom of the finned tube being secured to the top of the housing peripherally of means defining an opening in the housing; the portion of the receptacle which lies within the housing entering the housing through said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said crystal when excited by said means produces vibrations on the order of 60-100 khz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the piezoelectric crystal is connected to the exterior of the bottom of the beaker within the housing.
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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) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |