Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Separating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-04-17
Nguyen, Tuan N. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Separating means
C209S702000, C209S707000, C209S911000, C211S104000, C211S170000, C248S202100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216879
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sorting pans and more particularly pertains to a new fold down sorting pan for providing a surface for sorting small objects.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of sorting pans is known in the prior art. More specifically, sorting pans heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,058; U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,316; U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,982; U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,659; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 271,731; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,580,796.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new fold down sorting pan. The inventive device includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting to a wall or countertop. A support arm is pivotally coupled to the mounting portion. A tube is coupled to a bottom of the support arm. An extension arm extends from the tube. A pan is coupled to the extension arm.
In these respects, the fold down sorting pan according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a surface for sorting small objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of sorting pans now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new fold down sorting pan construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a surface for sorting small objects.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new fold down sorting pan apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the sorting pans mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new fold down sorting pan which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sorting pans, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a mounting portion adapted for mounting to a wall or countertop. A support arm is pivotally coupled to the mounting portion. A tube is coupled to a bottom of the support arm. An extension arm extends from the tube. A pan is coupled to the extension arm.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new fold down sorting pan apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the sorting pans mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new fold down sorting pan which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sorting pans, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new fold down sorting pan which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new fold down sorting pan which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new fold down sorting pan which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such fold down sorting pan economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fold down sorting pan which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new fold down sorting pan for providing a surface for sorting small objects.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fold down sorting pan which includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting to a wall or countertop. A support arm is pivotally coupled to the mounting portion. A tube is coupled to a bottom of the support arm. An extension arm extends from the tube. A pan is coupled to the extension arm.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fold down sorting pan that has a tapered open front end that may be oriented downwardly to pour the objects being sorted into a container.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4627672 (1986-12-01), DeBruyn
patent: 5117982 (1992-06-01), Shotthafer et al.
patent: 5308158 (1994-05-01), Vogelgesang et al.
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