US4014458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-function container
Assignee: SANCHEZ ENTERPRISES Inc
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Filing: 1976-03-19
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Granted: 1977-03-29
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Expires: 1996-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A material handling container for use in storing parts in a factory having two hinged doors on one side, each pivotal about a centrally located horizontal axis. By rotating the doors to various raised and lowered positions, the container may be placed in any of three configurations, whereby it serves as a material hopper, a parts dispenser, or a laterally closed material storage bin.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy J. Berges
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D7/00; B65D7/12; B65D19/00; B65D19/02; B65D19/06; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/0209; B65D21/0215; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00024; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00059; B65D2519/00154; B65D2519/00164; B65D2519/00223; B65D2519/00233; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00492; B65D2519/00497; B65D2519/00502; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00577; B65D2519/00616; B65D2519/00626; B65D2519/00636; B65D2519/00641; B65D2519/00661; B65D2519/00671; B65D2519/00701; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/00805; B65D2519/00935; B65D2519/00955; B65D2519/00965; B65D2519/0097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
A three-function material handling container comprising, a bottom section, a wall structure extending upwardly from said bottom section and including extending side edge portions and a lateral opening therebetween, upper and lower doors extending across said lateral opening in said wall structure, hinge means for each door disposed on an axis substantially parallel to said bottom section, each of said hinge means pivotally connecting its associated door to said upwardly extending side edge portions of said wall structure at a level intermediate said bottom section and the top of said wall structure, a first latch means engageable between said lower door and at least one of said side edge portions beneath said hinge means so as to hold said lower door in a lowered position and said upper door being rotatable about said hinge means to a lowered position so as to leave an upper lateral opening in said container and enable said container to function as a hopper into which material may be laterally conveyed, a second latch means engageable between said upper door and at least one of said side edge portions above said hinge means so as to hold said upper door in a raised position so that said upper and lower doors held in their respective raised and lowered positions form with said wall structure a laterally closed material storage box, and said first latch means being detachable from its engagement between said lower door and said side edge portion so that said lower door is rotatable upwardly and outwardly about said hinge means so as to leave a lower opening in said container and enable said container to function as a gravity-feed material dispenser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
A three-function material handling container comprising, a bottom section, a wall structure extending upwardly from said bottom section and including extending side edge portions and a lateral opening therebetween, upper and lower doors extending across said lateral opening in said wall structure, hinge means for each door disposed on an axis substantially parallel to said bottom section, each of said hinge means pivotally connecting its associated door to said upwardly extending side edge portions of said wall structure at a level intermediate said bottom section and the top of said wall structure, a first latch means engageable between said lower door and at least one of said side edge portions beneath said hinge means so as to hold said lower door in a lowered position and said upper door being rotatable about said hinge means to a lowered position so as to leave an upper lateral opening in said container and enable said container to function as a hopper into which material may be laterally conveyed, a second latch means engageable between said upper door and at least one of said side edge portions above said hinge means so as to hold said upper door in a raised position so that said upper and lower doors held in their respective raised and lowered positions form with said wall structure a laterally closed material storage box, and said first latch means being detachable from its engagement between said lower door and said side edge portion so that said lower door is rotatable upwardly and outwardly about said hinge means so as to leave a lower opening in said container and enable said container to function as a gravity-feed material dispenser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
The material handling container as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said latch means includes an arm pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said hinge means on one of said upwardly extending side edge portions of said wall structure, a pin extending laterally from a side edge of one of said doors, and a hook means on said arm for engagement with said pin so as to hold said door in a fixed position against said side edge portion of said wall structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
The material handling container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pivotally mounted arm of said second latch means for holding said upper door has a flange extending substantially parallel to the axis about which said arm is pivoted, said flange being engageable with said lower door when rotated about said hinge means to a raised position adjacent said upper door, whereby both of said doors are held in raised positions by said second latch means when said container is functioning as a gravity-feed material dispenser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3270902A
Cited
US3392870A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-09-27 | 1981-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-28 | 1984-09-27 | 1985-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-28 | 1988-09-27 | 1989-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |