Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Utilizing fluid pressure – Venturi effect
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-10
2001-01-09
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Utilizing fluid pressure
Venturi effect
C294S002000, C007S151000, C007S167000, C016S111100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170894
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for lifting and moving glass panes and, more particularly, to hand-held devices which have suction cups for engaging the glass panes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Lifting and moving glass panes are important operations in a wide variety of work environments. Glass panes are particularly susceptible to breakage, and the devices used to lift and move the glass panes must be designed to handle the glass panes gently. For many years it had been known that suction cups are especially useful for engaging glass panes in a gentle manner. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to devices which employ suction cups for lifting and moving glass panes, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,127,154, 2,209,424, 2,287,576, 3,913,964, and 5,375,895. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 2,127,154 discloses a hand-held implement that employs a pair of suction cups for engaging glass panes. The handle is hollow and partially includes springs connected to the suction cups. However, no means are provided for gaining access to the hollow handle to use the hollow interior as a storage area for articles to be stored. In this respect, it would be desirable if a hand-held implement having a suction cup were provided that had means for gaining access to a hollow handle for storing articles in the hollow handle.
Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,209,424, 2,287,576, 3,913,964, and 5,375,895 have a common characteristic in not providing a hollow handle for a hand-held implement having a suction cup for handling glass panes. Moreover, each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,209,424 and 2,287,576 discloses a relatively complex mechanical mechanism for releasing suction from the suction cups. For purposes of simplicity and economy, it would be desirable if a hand-held implement containing a suction cup were provided which employs a very simple device for releasing suction from the suction cup.
Still other features would be desirable in a hand-held glass pane lifter apparatus. For example, in the service of maintaining fire extinguishers, a fire extinguisher is often retained in a cabinet that has a glass pane blocking normal access to the fire extinguisher. The glass pane is often retained in position with a padlock. In emergency conditions, to access the fire extinguisher, the glass pane is broken. However, to perform routine maintenance on the fire extinguisher, the lock must first be unlocked so that the glass pane can be slid upward to access the fire extinguisher. Sometimes the locks need lubrication before they operate properly. In this respect, it would be desirable if a hand-held glass pane lifter were provided with a handle that stored a container of lock lubricant.
When a glass pane protecting a fire extinguisher is broken, it must be replaced. To do so, the technician often must custom cut a piece of glass to replace the broken glass pane. In this respect, it would be desirable if a hand-held glass pane lifter were provided with a handle that stored a glass cutter.
Moreover, with the handle of a hand-held glass pane lifter containing a container of lock lubricant and/or a glass cutter, a kit would be provided for accessing fire extinguishers housed in enclosures that employed glass panes locked in position with padlocks.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use hand-held implements that employ suction cups for lifting and moving glass panes, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a glass pane lifter apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) provides a hand-held implement which has a suction cup and which has means for gaining access to a hollow handle for storing articles in the hollow handle; (2) employs a very simple device for releasing suction from the suction cup; (3) has a handle that stores a container of lock lubricant; (4) has a handle that stores a glass cutter; and (5) provides a kit for accessing fire extinguishers housed in enclosures that employ glass panes locked in position with padlocks. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique glass pane lifter apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a glass pane lifter apparatus which includes a hollow handle which includes an access opening. An elbow member includes a first elbow end that connects to the access opening of the hollow handle, and a suction cup unit is connected to the elbow member. The access opening includes internal threads, and the first elbow end includes external threads complimentary to the internal threads of the access opening. The elbow member includes a second elbow end, and the suction cup unit includes an elbow connector connected to the second elbow end. A suction cup is connected to the elbow connector. The second elbow end includes external threads, and the elbow connector includes internal threads complimentary to the external threads of the second elbow end. The suction cup includes a suction release tab.
The elbow member is a right-angled elbow. The hollow handle includes a finger reception contoured region. A chisel member is connected to the hollow handle. The chisel member projects from the hollow handle at an end of the hollow handle opposite to the access opening. A container of lubricant is retainable inside the hollow handle. In addition, a glass cutter is retainable inside the hollow handle.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the hollow handle and the elbow member are combined in a unitary handle/elbow unit. The access opening is located on the handle/elbow unit at an end opposite to the suction cup unit. A chisel member is connected to the handle/elbow unit. The chisel member projects from the handle/elbow unit in close proximity to the access opening. The chisel member is attached to a cap member which is screwed onto the handle/elbow unit for covering the access opening. The suction cup unit is connected to the handle/elbow unit at a threaded connection on the handle/elbow unit.
An absorbent pad assembly is attached to the handle/elbow unit at an end opposite to the access opening. The absorbent pad assembly includes a pad holder portion which is connected to the handle/elbow unit, and a pad is retained by the pad holder portion. The handle/elbow unit includes a clip-engagement flange, and the pad holder portion includes retention clips for engaging the clip-engagement flange.
In addition, a belt clip assembly is attached to the cap member. The belt clip assembly includes a manually slidable latch and a latch retention member for receiving the manually slidable latch. The manually slidable latch operates by a spring-loaded snap action on the latch retention member.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the 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
Baker Rhonda
Spelic Carl
LandOfFree
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