Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-04
2001-10-02
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3753)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Processes
C141S364000, C141S375000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296024
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX, IF ANY
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to fluid transfer apparatus and methods. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for recovering or salvaging viscous fluids from bottles or containers. The invention has particular utility in recovering viscous fluids from used, nearly-empty, and nearly unusable bottles into a usable bottle.
2. Background Information
Known methods for recovering and/or using viscous fluids from a bottle or container includes inverting the bottle to drain the viscous fluid out through the neck of the bottle, and further includes cutting the bottle or other container open and scraping the viscous fluid from the inside walls.
The known devices and methods for recovering viscous fluids are believed to have significant limitations and shortcomings. Specifically, it is difficult to balance some types of bottles on their neck because of their size, shape or environment. In addition, cutting a container open to scrape out the remaining or leftover fluid is messy and dangerous because of the risk of cutting oneself with a knife. Furthermore, it may not be possible to dispense the viscous fluid from the bottle when there is a low volume of the fluid, regardless of whether the viscous fluid has settled into the neck of the bottle.
Applicant's invention provides an apparatus and method for recovering viscous fluids which is believed to constitute an improvement over existing technology.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for recovering viscous fluid from a container. The apparatus generally comprises a cylindrically-shaped or tubular sleeve with an open top and an open bottom. The sleeve has an inner diameter shaped to conform to the outer surface of a container neck to form a seal with the container. The sleeve is preferably constructed from an elastic material that forms a seal with the bottle by expanding around and snugly retracting around the neck of a bottle. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is constructed from foam rubber. The foam rubber construction also provides the sleeve with the rigidity and strength to support and balance a bottle by its neck. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for recovering viscous fluid which generally comprises the steps of gathering a salvage container for a specific fluid and a recovery container for the same fluid; inserting the bottom end of the viscous fluid recovery sleeve around the neck and neck opening of the recovery member, and inverting and placing the neck opening of the salvage container into the top end of the recovery sleeve. The recovery sleeve provides fluid communication between the neck opening of the salvage container and the neck opening of the fluid recovery container, and supports the salvage container in an inverted position over the recovery container. Gravity controls the flow of the viscous fluid from the salvage container to the recovery container.
Significant features of the invention include both the shape and the elasticity of the device, the ease of manufacture, and the ease of use to recover viscous liquid from a salvage container to a recovery container. Additionally, the present invention provides significant savings by using a low cost means for recovering and using product that normally would cling to and be disposed with the container.
The features, benefits and objects of this invention will become clear to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, claims, if any, and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3266533 (1966-08-01), McHale
patent: 3615150 (1971-10-01), Indrunas
patent: 3877499 (1975-04-01), Fluster
patent: 3945617 (1976-03-01), Callery
patent: 4057940 (1977-11-01), Wemmer
patent: 4313477 (1982-02-01), Sebalos
patent: 4347879 (1982-09-01), Blaser
patent: 5421371 (1995-06-01), Lauer
patent: 5642763 (1997-07-01), Kurtz
patent: 5884678 (1999-03-01), Chudy
patent: 5918650 (1999-07-01), Borden
patent: 5950698 (1999-09-01), Cristea et al.
Jacyna J. Casimer
Oestreich Michael
Skinner and Associates
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