US3729096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for processing herbs and the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-02
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1992-06-02
Abstract
Abstract In order to separate the leaves of a herb or herblike plant from the seeds and twigs thereof, a longitudinally slatted cylindrical container is filled with the unprocessed plants, and the cylinder is then disposed in an outer container such that it may be rotated about its axis. The separation between adjacent slats is predetermined to be no larger than the smallest seeds which might be expected within the unprocessed mixture. As the cylinder is rotated, the leaves drop into the outer cylinder leaving the seeds and any twigs within the cylinder. For fabrication purposes, the cylinder may actually take the form of a very slightly tapered truncated cone, which shape provides draft for removal of the cylinder from its fabrication mold.
Inventors
- 👤 M Fitzner
- 👤 J Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:24
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B1/00; B07B1/18; B07B1/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for separating the leafy portions of herbs and herblike plants from the seeds and twigs thereof comprising: a. an outer container, said outer container including: 1. a lower container portion opening upwardly; 2. an upper container portion opening downwardly; 3. said lower and said upper portions being configured and dimensioned about the peripheries of their openings to fit together whereby said lower container portion supports said upper container portion; 4. said lower and upper container portions, when jointed together, having a generally cylindrical journal opening through one side thereof at the interface therebetween; b. an inner container, said inner container including: 1. an array of circumferentially equally distributed slat members; 2. an imperforate end member; 3. an axle member extending outwardly from said imperforate end member and disposed coaxially with respect to said array of circumferentially distributed slat members; 4. crank means coupled to said axle for rotating said inner container; and 5. a removable cap member normally closing off the end of said inner container opposite the end member 9.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for separating the leafy portions of herbs and herblike plants from the seeds and twigs thereof comprising: a. an outer container, said outer container including: 1. a lower container portion opening upwardly; 2. an upper container portion opening downwardly; 3. said lower and said upper portions being configured and dimensioned about the peripheries of their openings to fit together whereby said lower container portion supports said upper container portion; 4. said lower and upper container portions, when jointed together, having a generally cylindrical journal opening through one side thereof at the interface therebetween; b. an inner container, said inner container including: 1. an array of circumferentially equally distributed slat members; 2. an imperforate end member; 3. an axle member extending outwardly from said imperforate end member and disposed coaxially with respect to said array of circumferentially distributed slat members; 4. crank means coupled to said axle for rotating said inner container; and 5. a removable cap member normally closing off the end of said inner container opposite the end member 9.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
6 words
an upper container portion opening downwardly;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
6 words
an upper container portion opening downwardly;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the maximum spacing between adjacent ones of said slat members is 0.05 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
4 words
an imperforate end member;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
4 words
an imperforate end member;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said slat members are held In circular-in-crossection juxtaposition by means of at least one circular support ring to which each slat member is fixed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
an axle member extending outwardly from said imperforate end member and disposed coaxially with respect to said array of circumferentially distributed slat members;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
an axle member extending outwardly from said imperforate end member and disposed coaxially with respect to said array of circumferentially distributed slat members;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
said lower and said upper portions being configured and dimensioned about the peripheries of their openings to fit together whereby said lower container portion supports said upper container portion;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
said lower and said upper portions being configured and dimensioned about the peripheries of their openings to fit together whereby said lower container portion supports said upper container portion;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
crank means coupled to said axle for rotating said inner container; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
crank means coupled to said axle for rotating said inner container; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
said lower and upper container portions, when jointed together, having a generally cylindrical journal opening through one side thereof at the interface therebetween; b. an inner container, said inner container including:
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
said lower and upper container portions, when jointed together, having a generally cylindrical journal opening through one side thereof at the interface therebetween; b. an inner container, said inner container including:
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 which includes a plurality of said spaced apart support rings, said support rings being integral with said slats.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said array of slat members describes a truncated cone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
a removable cap member normally closing off the end of said inner container opposite the end member 9.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
a removable cap member normally closing off the end of said inner container opposite the end member 9.
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) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |