Pipes and tubular conduits – Thawing and freeze protection – Electric
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2001-05-15
Hook, James (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Thawing and freeze protection
Electric
C138S035000, C219S229000, C219S477000, C219S643000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230745
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable water line heating device and more particularly pertains to a new pipe heating device for conveniently thawing out pipelines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a portable water line heating device is known in the prior art. More specifically, a portable water line heating device 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. 4,726,394; U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,407; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 274,601; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,186; U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,583; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,376.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new pipe heating device. The inventive device includes a scissor-like member including a first elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and also including a second elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion which is hingedly attached to the intermediate portion of the first elongate member; and also includes a first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely attached to the first end of the first elongate member; and further includes a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely attached to the first end of the second elongate member with each of the side edges of the second semi-cylindrical member being in contactable relationship with a respective one of the side edges of the first semi-cylindrical member; and also includes a heating means for heating the first and second semi-cylindrical members.
In these respects, the pipe heating device 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 conveniently thawing out pipelines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable water line heating device now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new pipe heating device construction wherein the same can be utilized for conveniently thawing out pipelines.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new pipe heating device which has many of the advantages of the portable water line heating device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new pipe heating device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable water line heating device, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a scissor-like member including a first elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and also including a second elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion which is hingedly attached to the intermediate portion of the first elongate member; and also includes a first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely attached to the first end of the first elongate member; and further includes a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely attached to the first end of the second elongate member with each of the side edges of the second semi-cylindrical member being in contactable relationship with a respective one of the side edges of the first semi-cylindrical member; and also includes a heating means for heating the first and second semi-cylindrical members.
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 pipe heating device which has many of the advantages of the portable water line heating device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new pipe heating device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable water line heating device, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new pipe heating device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new pipe heating device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe heating device 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 pipe heating device economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe heating device 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 pipe heating device for conveniently thawing out pipelines.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pipe heating device which includes a scissor-like member including a first elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and also including a second elongate member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion which is hingedly attached to the intermediate portion of the first elongate member; and also includes a first semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely attached to the first end of the first elongate member; and further includes a second semi-cylindrical member having ends, side edges and being securely attached to the first end of the second elongate member with each of the side edges of the second semi-cylindr
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