Patent US5222622A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5222622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detachable connection between a container and a utensil
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-07-01
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Granted: 1993-06-29
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Expires: 2012-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A reusable apparatus for detachably connecting a utensil to a container. A rim protrudes from the container. An outer portion of the rim has either a male connector or a female connector. The utensil has a shaft which includes either a male or female connector, depending upon the type of connector of the rim of the container. The male connector has a cross-section with an inner thickness that is less than a maximum outer thickness. The female connector has two cantilever prongs which form a longitudinal opening that lockingly mates with the male connector. The utensil of this invention can be attached, detached and again attached to the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence L. Laske, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:08
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G19/00; A47G19/02; A47G19/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A reusable apparatus for detachably connecting a utensil to a container, the apparatus comprising: a rim protruding from at least a portion of the container, an outer portion of said rim having a male connector, said male connector having a connector cross section with an inner thickness less than a maximum outer thickness; and the utensil having a shaft, two cantilever prongs extending from said shaft and forming a longitudinal opening, said longitudinal opening having an opening cross section lockingly mateable with connector cross section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A reusable apparatus for detachably connecting a utensil to a container, the apparatus comprising: a rim protruding from at least a portion of the container, an outer portion of said rim having a male connector, said male connector having a connector cross section with an inner thickness less than a maximum outer thickness; and the utensil having a shaft, two cantilever prongs extending from said shaft and forming a longitudinal opening, said longitudinal opening having an opening cross section lockingly mateable with connector cross section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said male connector has a longitudinal channel and said male connector has said inner thickness at said longitudinal channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cantilever prongs each have a tip portion and said tip portions converge toward each other in an outwardly direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each said tip portion is enlarged and said enlarged tip portion is mateable within said longitudinal channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said cantilever prongs are deflectable in a direction away from each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a connector outer edge of said male connector is flush with a rim outer edge of said rim.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said male connector has a raised surface projecting outward from a face surface of said male connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 7 wherein an inner surface of one said cantilever prong has an indentation and said indentation is mateable with said raised surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an inner surface of one said cantilever prong has an indentation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A reusable apparatus for detachably connecting a utensil to a container, the apparatus comprising: a rim protruding from at least a portion of the container, two cantilever prongs extending outward from said rim and forming a longitudinal opening, said longitudinal opening having an opening cross section; and the utensil having a shaft forming a male connector, said male connector having a connector cross section with an inner thickness less than a maximum outer thickness, said male connector having a connector cross section lockingly mateable with said opening cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A reusable apparatus for detachably connecting a utensil to a container, the apparatus comprising: a rim protruding from at least a portion of the container, two cantilever prongs extending outward from said rim and forming a longitudinal opening, said longitudinal opening having an opening cross section; and the utensil having a shaft forming a male connector, said male connector having a connector cross section with an inner thickness less than a maximum outer thickness, said male connector having a connector cross section lockingly mateable with said opening cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said male connector has a longitudinal channel and said male connector has said inner thickness at said longitudinal channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said cantilever prongs each have a tip portion and said tip portions converge toward each other in an outwardly direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each said tip portion is enlarged and said enlarged tip portion is mateable within said longitudinal channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said cantilever prongs are deflectable in a direction away from each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 10 wherein a prong outer edge of each said cantilever prong is flush with a rim outer edge of said rim.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said male connector has a raised surface projecting outward from a face surface of said male connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 16 wherein an inner surface of one said cantilever prong has an indentation and said indentation is mateable with said raised surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said male connector further comprises said shaft having a channel around at least a portion of a periphery of said shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said channel extends along a length of said shaft for a distance approximately equal to a width of a widest said cantilever prong.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A reusable apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said male connector extends outward from said shaft.
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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) | 1996-06-28 | 1996-12-28 | 1997-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-28 | 2000-12-28 | 2001-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-28 | 2004-12-28 | 2005-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |