US3808408A — Counter probe assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 338 words

An assembly adapted to mark a surface to be examined and adapted to cause a counter to be advanced when a mark is made on the surface, comprising: a tubular housing; a rod means extending at least partially within said housing in axial alignment therewith; means rockably mounting said rod means intermediate its ends near the front end of said housing to said housing; marking means extending from the front end portion of said housing and connected to the front end portion of said rod means, said marking means being adapted to mark the surface; first electrical contact means fixedly mounted within said housing near the rear end portion thereof; second electrical contact means mounted on the rear end portion of said rod means in axial alignment with said housing spaced from said first contact means to engage said first contact means when said marking means engages the surface to cause said rod to move; a spring means surrounding an intermediate portion of said rod means rearwardly from its rockable connection with said housing to urge said rod means resiliently into axial alignment with said housing, said spring means having a cylindrical portion and having an end portion engaging said rod means; and first and second electrical conductors for supplying an electrical advance signal to the counter for advancing it, said first conductor being connected electrically in said housing and said Second conductor being electrically connected to said second contact means, said rod means being connected to said second contact means, said end portion of said spring means being mounted to be moved axially into each of a selected plurality of positions relative to said rod to enable the adjustment of the biasing tension of said spring means acting on said rod means, said spring means including an intermediate portion, said first contact means comprising a male contact element, said second contact means comprising a female contact element, said female contact element being cup-shaped with its open mouth loosely receiving said male element therewithin in a spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 338 words

An assembly adapted to mark a surface to be examined and adapted to cause a counter to be advanced when a mark is made on the surface, comprising: a tubular housing; a rod means extending at least partially within said housing in axial alignment therewith; means rockably mounting said rod means intermediate its ends near the front end of said housing to said housing; marking means extending from the front end portion of said housing and connected to the front end portion of said rod means, said marking means being adapted to mark the surface; first electrical contact means fixedly mounted within said housing near the rear end portion thereof; second electrical contact means mounted on the rear end portion of said rod means in axial alignment with said housing spaced from said first contact means to engage said first contact means when said marking means engages the surface to cause said rod to move; a spring means surrounding an intermediate portion of said rod means rearwardly from its rockable connection with said housing to urge said rod means resiliently into axial alignment with said housing, said spring means having a cylindrical portion and having an end portion engaging said rod means; and first and second electrical conductors for supplying an electrical advance signal to the counter for advancing it, said first conductor being connected electrically in said housing and said Second conductor being electrically connected to said second contact means, said rod means being connected to said second contact means, said end portion of said spring means being mounted to be moved axially into each of a selected plurality of positions relative to said rod to enable the adjustment of the biasing tension of said spring means acting on said rod means, said spring means including an intermediate portion, said first contact means comprising a male contact element, said second contact means comprising a female contact element, said female contact element being cup-shaped with its open mouth loosely receiving said male element therewithin in a spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 133 words

An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means rockably mounting said rod includes ball means on said rod means, said housing having an internal socket portion for engaging said ball means, a second spring being mounted within said housing for urging resiliently said ball means forwardly into engagement with said socket portion so that axial movement of said marking means relative to said housing causes said rod means to move a rearward direction axially against the force of said second spring to in turn cause said second contact means to engage said first contact means, whereby said second spring causes said ball means and thus said rod means to return forwardly until said ball engages said socket portion when the force causing the rearwardly-directed axial movement of said marking means is removed.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 261 words

An omnidirectional colony counting probe comprising an elongate hand holdable tubular body, a replaceable surface contactor and marker projecting from one end of said tubular body, means pivotally and resiliently mounting said surface contacting element on said body for limited oscillatory and axial movement with respect to said tubular body in response to contact and marking by said surface contactor and marker of a surface associated with colonies to be counted, and including a spring and an elongate shaft means extending inwardly of said tubular body from said one end, and spaced signal producing contactors, one mounted on said shaft means for movement therewith and the other fixedly mounted on said tubular body, said one being movable into contact with the other in response to the engagement of a surface by said surface contactor and marker regardless of the angle at which the tubular body is oriented with respect to said surface for providing a signal (1) that a solely axial movement has occurred, (2) that a solely oscillatory movement has occurred, and (3) that a combination of axial and oscillatory movements has occurred, and further comprising a separate stabilizer spring positioned about said shaft means and in contact with said shaft means to control the force required to oscillate said shaft means about said pivot mounting means, and means mounting said stabilizer spring in said body for movement axially of said tubular body into one of a plurality of selected positions lengthwise of said shaft means, including a slide means keyed to said tubular body and mounting said stabilizer spring.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 261 words

An omnidirectional colony counting probe comprising an elongate hand holdable tubular body, a replaceable surface contactor and marker projecting from one end of said tubular body, means pivotally and resiliently mounting said surface contacting element on said body for limited oscillatory and axial movement with respect to said tubular body in response to contact and marking by said surface contactor and marker of a surface associated with colonies to be counted, and including a spring and an elongate shaft means extending inwardly of said tubular body from said one end, and spaced signal producing contactors, one mounted on said shaft means for movement therewith and the other fixedly mounted on said tubular body, said one being movable into contact with the other in response to the engagement of a surface by said surface contactor and marker regardless of the angle at which the tubular body is oriented with respect to said surface for providing a signal (1) that a solely axial movement has occurred, (2) that a solely oscillatory movement has occurred, and (3) that a combination of axial and oscillatory movements has occurred, and further comprising a separate stabilizer spring positioned about said shaft means and in contact with said shaft means to control the force required to oscillate said shaft means about said pivot mounting means, and means mounting said stabilizer spring in said body for movement axially of said tubular body into one of a plurality of selected positions lengthwise of said shaft means, including a slide means keyed to said tubular body and mounting said stabilizer spring.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

An omnidirectional, hand holdable counting probe in accordance with claim 3 wherein said movable contactor defines a female member and said fixed contactor defines a male member disposed within said female member and normally being positioned in spaced relation within said female member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

An omnidirectional, hand holdable colony counting probe in accordance with claim 3 wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises spherical surface means mounted for oscillation within said tubular body and for movement axially inwardly of said tubular body.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-04-29	1977-10-29	1978-04-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-04-29	1981-10-29	1982-04-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-04-29	1985-10-29	1986-04-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Counter probe assembly

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