Patent US3941331A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3941331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Casing for apparatus provided with a flexible or articulated windable element
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-02-22
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Granted: 1976-03-02
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Expires: 1994-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A device, conveniently in the form of a reel, for the housing of apparatus which is provided with a flexible or articulated windable element comprises a casing having two or more hollow components within which the apparatus is housed and around which the windable element is wound in such a manner as to constrain the components of the casing in the abutting positions which form the casing.
Inventors
- 👤 Georges L. Croullebois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:20
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D85/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A casing, for the housing of apparatus which is provided with a windable element, said casing comprising a central core with a surface of revolution defining an inner volume for said housing of apparatus, said core being formed of two hollow half-cylinders, each of said half-cylinders comprising two plane faces, said half-cylinders may be brought together to a closed position of said casing along a plane containing the common longitudinal axis of said half-cylinders and which may be moved relative to each other to an open position of said casing, two substantially circular cheeks formed of two contiguous half-cheeks having a mean radius greater than that of the said half-cylinders, each one of the four said half-cheeks being integral with one of the two plane faces of one of the two hollow half-cylinders of the said central core, an aperture located through the surface of revolution of said central core at a point where the said surface of revolution intersects the said plane, said aperture emerging in said inner volume, said aperture allowing passage of the said windable element the winding of which about the surface of revolution of the central core maintaining the casing in its closed position enclosing the said apparatus, the unwinding of the said windable element allowing the two hollow half-cylinders to break up, which allows egress of the said apparatus from within said casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A casing, for the housing of apparatus which is provided with a windable element, said casing comprising a central core with a surface of revolution defining an inner volume for said housing of apparatus, said core being formed of two hollow half-cylinders, each of said half-cylinders comprising two plane faces, said half-cylinders may be brought together to a closed position of said casing along a plane containing the common longitudinal axis of said half-cylinders and which may be moved relative to each other to an open position of said casing, two substantially circular cheeks formed of two contiguous half-cheeks having a mean radius greater than that of the said half-cylinders, each one of the four said half-cheeks being integral with one of the two plane faces of one of the two hollow half-cylinders of the said central core, an aperture located through the surface of revolution of said central core at a point where the said surface of revolution intersects the said plane, said aperture emerging in said inner volume, said aperture allowing passage of the said windable element the winding of which about the surface of revolution of the central core maintaining the casing in its closed position enclosing the said apparatus, the unwinding of the said windable element allowing the two hollow half-cylinders to break up, which allows egress of the said apparatus from within said casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A casing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the half cheeks are contiguous in an identical plane to that in which the half-cylinders are continguous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A casing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the half cheeks are contiguous in a longitudinal plane which is different from the plane in which the half-cylinders are contiguous, which makes it possible to engage the two parts of the casing in one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A casing as claimed in claim 1 for use in the laying of mooring lines wherein the apparatus is a grapnel or other device to be submerged, said windable element is a flexible or hinged cable, the casing in said closed position having an intrinsic negative floating ability in closed position containing said apparatus and an intrinsic positive floating ability when it is substantially empty.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A casing as claimed in claim 4 wherein the two hollow half-cylinders are connected by at least one articulated joint for its binding with the other half-cylinder, said articulated joint being disposed so that the casing is slidably connected to the said windable element, said articulated joint being composed of two staples and at least one ring, said staples being each integral with one half-cylinder and said ring connecting together the said staples.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A casing as claimed in claim 1 for use in a device for the recovery at sea of containers dropped from aircraft wherein the said casing comprises said cheeks and wires, said wires linking said cheeks and wires and said wires being of a strength such that they break when the windable element wound on the casing unwinds at positions such that the surface of revolution of the central core of the casing has a maximum radius less that that between any one of the said wires and the major axis of the casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A casing as claimed in claim 6 wherein said wires are fixed in apertures formed in the thickness of the cheeks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A casing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of the contact surface of the half-cheeks diametrically opposite the end adjacent to the aperture in the half-core through which the said windable element may issue is curved in the direction in which the casing rotates when the windable element unwinds.
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) | 1979-03-02 | 1979-09-01 | 1980-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-02 | 1983-09-01 | 1984-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-02 | 1987-09-01 | 1988-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |