US5339996A — Portable mini silo system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 182 words

A portable mini silo system for delivering dry mortar blends to batch mixers, comprising: a silo having a peripherally continuous side wall which terminates at an upper end in a closed upper wall, said side wall having a lower area which tapers downwardly and terminates at a lower end in a restricted opening; loading means associated with said closed upper wall for loading dry mortar blend into said silo; unloading means associated with said restricted opening for unloading dry mortar blend from said silo into a batch mixer; and telescopic leg elements peripherally spaced about the silo for supporting the silo in an upright position, said leg elements being constructed for telescopic collapse enabling portable movement of the silo and telescopic extension for supporting said silo a predetermined distance above a supporting surface; a collapsible ladder attached to one of the telescopic leg elements for collapse and extension as said one telescopic leg element is collapsed and extended, said collapsible ladder extending upwardly a sufficient distance to enable a user to load dry mortar blends into said silo through said loading means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 182 words

A portable mini silo system for delivering dry mortar blends to batch mixers, comprising: a silo having a peripherally continuous side wall which terminates at an upper end in a closed upper wall, said side wall having a lower area which tapers downwardly and terminates at a lower end in a restricted opening; loading means associated with said closed upper wall for loading dry mortar blend into said silo; unloading means associated with said restricted opening for unloading dry mortar blend from said silo into a batch mixer; and telescopic leg elements peripherally spaced about the silo for supporting the silo in an upright position, said leg elements being constructed for telescopic collapse enabling portable movement of the silo and telescopic extension for supporting said silo a predetermined distance above a supporting surface; a collapsible ladder attached to one of the telescopic leg elements for collapse and extension as said one telescopic leg element is collapsed and extended, said collapsible ladder extending upwardly a sufficient distance to enable a user to load dry mortar blends into said silo through said loading means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 167 words

A portable mini silo system for delivering dry mortar blends to batch mixers, comprising: a silo having a peripherally continuous side wall which terminates at an upper end in a closed upper wall, said side wall having a lower area which tapers downwardly and terminates at a lower end in a restricted opening; telescopic leg elements peripherally spaced about the silo for supporting the silo in an upright position, said leg elements being constructed for telescopic collapse enabling portable movement of the silo and telescopic extension for supporting said silo a predetermined distance above a supporting surface; a collapsible ladder attached to one of the telescopic leg elements for collapse and extension as said one telescopic leg element is collapsed and extended; and a platform attached to the side wall of the silo below the closed upper wall at the upper end of the silo, said collapsible ladder also being attached to said platform to enable a user to climb the ladder and stand on the platform.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 167 words

A portable mini silo system for delivering dry mortar blends to batch mixers, comprising: a silo having a peripherally continuous side wall which terminates at an upper end in a closed upper wall, said side wall having a lower area which tapers downwardly and terminates at a lower end in a restricted opening; telescopic leg elements peripherally spaced about the silo for supporting the silo in an upright position, said leg elements being constructed for telescopic collapse enabling portable movement of the silo and telescopic extension for supporting said silo a predetermined distance above a supporting surface; a collapsible ladder attached to one of the telescopic leg elements for collapse and extension as said one telescopic leg element is collapsed and extended; and a platform attached to the side wall of the silo below the closed upper wall at the upper end of the silo, said collapsible ladder also being attached to said platform to enable a user to climb the ladder and stand on the platform.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 246 words

A portable mini silo system for delivering dry mortar blends to batch mixers, comprising: a silo having a peripherally continuous side wall which terminates at an upper end in a closed upper wall, said side wall having a lower area which tapers downwardly and terminates at a lower end in a restricted opening; telescopic leg elements peripherally spaced about the silo for supporting the silo in an upright position, said leg elements being constructed for telescopic collapse enabling portable movement of the silo and telescopic extension for supporting said silo a predetermined distance above a supporting surface; a collapsible ladder attached to one of the telescopic leg elements for collapse and extension as said one telescopic leg element is collapsed and extended; a platform attached to the side wall of the silo below the closed upper wall at the upper end of the silo, said collapsible ladder also being attached to said platform to enable a user to climb the ladder and stand on the platform; a pivoting loading door mounted to the closed upper wall of the silo for loading dry mortar blend into the silo, said pivoting loading door being laterally offset in the closed upper wall adjacent the platform to facilitate loading and checking the contents of the silo when a user stands on the platform; and a valve cooperating with the restricted opening at the lower end of the silo for selectively dispensing dry mortar blend into a batch mixer as desired.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 246 words

A portable mini silo system for delivering dry mortar blends to batch mixers, comprising: a silo having a peripherally continuous side wall which terminates at an upper end in a closed upper wall, said side wall having a lower area which tapers downwardly and terminates at a lower end in a restricted opening; telescopic leg elements peripherally spaced about the silo for supporting the silo in an upright position, said leg elements being constructed for telescopic collapse enabling portable movement of the silo and telescopic extension for supporting said silo a predetermined distance above a supporting surface; a collapsible ladder attached to one of the telescopic leg elements for collapse and extension as said one telescopic leg element is collapsed and extended; a platform attached to the side wall of the silo below the closed upper wall at the upper end of the silo, said collapsible ladder also being attached to said platform to enable a user to climb the ladder and stand on the platform; a pivoting loading door mounted to the closed upper wall of the silo for loading dry mortar blend into the silo, said pivoting loading door being laterally offset in the closed upper wall adjacent the platform to facilitate loading and checking the contents of the silo when a user stands on the platform; and a valve cooperating with the restricted opening at the lower end of the silo for selectively dispensing dry mortar blend into a batch mixer as desired.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 3 wherein the telescopic leg elements are laterally outwardly offset from the silo to provide additional clearance below the silo for operation and use of a portable batch mixer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 4 wherein vertical struts are mounted between the silo and the telescopic leg elements to both laterally offset and reinforce the telescopic leg elements relative to the silo.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 5 and including horizontal struts extending between and attached to adjacent fixed leg portions of the telescopic leg elements.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 6 and including diagonal struts extending between the fixed leg members and horizontal struts.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 7 wherein said fixed leg portions comprise tube members which receive sliding leg portions of said telescopic leg elements.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 8 wherein the platform is also attached to fixed leg portions of adjacent telescopic leg elements.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 9 wherein a guard rail extends upwardly from the platform along one side and a vertical strut between the silo and an adjacent telescopic leg element serves as a guard rail along another side of said platform.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

The portable mini silo as defined in claim 10 wherein said valve is connected to a manual operating arm that is located at the rear of a batch mixer mounted between the telescopic leg elements.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

The portable mini silo system as defined in claim 11 and including horizontally mounted fork lift tubes extending on opposite sides of said silo and mounted to said horizontal struts between said telescopic leg members.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-08-22	1998-02-21	1998-08-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-08-22	2002-02-21	2002-08-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-08-22	2006-02-21	2006-08-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Portable mini silo system

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