Supports – Stand – Receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-30
2002-12-10
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Receptacle
C248S311200, C248S313000, C248S131000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06491265
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention relates to a new and improved lock/release method and a self-locking/bi-directional, turn-release fixture. More specifically, the field relates to a bi-directional striker actuated release for such a locking fixture, and particularly to such a fixture that will release a locked device by a slight turn applied to the locked device in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.
The specific field of the invention as described herein relates to an environment of travel containers for a vehicle, but other environments such as spice racks, shipboard use holders, toys and the general latch/release field will equally benefit from the principles of this novel invention
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
In today's society, our fast paced and hectic travel requirements, have made drinking coffee and other liquids in a vehicle an everyday occurrence. Every commuter has noticed, in an adjacent expressway lane, that his fellow commuter is drinking morning coffee on the way to work. Service and comfort stations, generally catering to such travel demands, display a wide variety of travelling containers. The particular lock/release fixture of this invention, while it is no means so limited, is described in such a travelling container environment.
A search was done and that search has disclosed a number of related references, some of marginal relevance, which will be discussed hereinafter. The references disclose a diverse number of method and apparatus for travel mugs and fixtures for holding same. Generally speaking, the search reveals that various designs of travel mugs and bases for use in a vehicle, together with some way for stabilizing a container in place on a base are well known. Additionally, some of the prior art seeks to provide structure aimed at preventing spillage.
None of the search references, however, demonstrate the integrated, novel features of this invention which provide a simple way to self lock a travel mug by placing the mug unto a mug-holding fixture, together with a simple release of that mug for removal from its locked position. A divided latch keeper pair is bi-directionally spring loaded for self latching and a spreadable release in either rotational direction.
The prior art developed by the search included the following patents:
4,040,549
August 9, 1977
Sadler
5,172,457
December 22, 1992
Allen et al
5,390,887
February 21, 1995
Campbell
4,756,497
July 12, 1988
Lan
4,801,060
January 31, 1989
Thompson
5,029,720
July 9, 1991
Bridges
4,915,239
April 10, 1990
Persch
1,759,140
May 20, 1930
Silberger
Des. 344,385
February 15, 1994
Przytulla
Des. 293,954
January 26, 1988
Moore
Des. 271,342
November 8, 1983
Templeton
Des. 276,499
November 27, 1984
Kamada et al
Each of the patents will now be reviewed, taking the patents of the search in the order listed above:
4,040,549
August 9, 1977
Sadler
Sadler shows two protruding ears located near the bottom of a mug in combination with a coin holder cap which fits over a base. An upstanding circular track receives a cup bottom and has located therein a pair of opposed tapered slots for engagement with the cup ears for holding the cup in place. Turning the cup frictionally holds the cup in place to prevent spillage. This reference discloses cup holding, but does not suggest a centrally located nut nor the split keeper latching and/or unlatching features of the present invention.
5,172,457
December 22, 1992
Allen et al
Allen et al discloses a funiary urn that is seated in cross-shaped uprights and is attached to a base by a central bolt 64. (Please see FIG. 4.) This airtight container is not for the same purpose and is clearly distinguishable from the present invention. Note in particular that there is no teaching, desire, nor need to turn about ⅛th of a turn—right or left—for unlocking purposes.
5,390,887
February 21, 1995
Campbell
Campbell shows an adjustable circular base with upstanding velcro straps for holding a beverage container. Campbell also shows a base structure having hooks and elastic bands for attachment to a carpet or seat of a vehicle. Other than some superficial resemblance as to shape, this reference is not relevant to the structure or concepts of the present invention.
4,756,497
July 12, 1988
Lan
Lan discloses a suction cup base that provides a non-turnover support system for a cup, glass, etc. A flexible cupule 2 hooks with a series of containers 31 and 32 that receive an object 5 to be held. Both the structure and method of the present invention are markedly different than that disclosed by Lan. In particular, there is no teaching or suggestion in Lan of any form of self locking and/or unlocking by turning, much less any split striker latching operation for a bi-direction rotational release.
4,801,060
January 31, 1989
Thompson
Thompson discloses a wedge shaped base to hold a drinking vessel upright on sloping seats. A notch and recess lock is shown in FIG. 8 of Thompson. This approach does not suggest a self locking/slight-turn-unlocking feature of the present invention.
5,029,720
July 9, 1991
Bridges
Bridges shows a raised track 31, FIG. 4, having a guiding bead 32 on a base 33 for guiding the bottom of a cup 10 into a recess in base 33. The cup has an outer ring 21 near its bottom 34 as shown in FIG. 1. The purpose of the Bridges ring 21 and guide track 31 is to center a cup over the recess so that it can drop safely into that recess. This art, centered as it is on guiding for a free drop of the cup, does not teach or suggest any split striker keeper latching or self locking and/or unlocking by a small turn in either direction as provided by the present invention.
4,915,239
April 10, 1990
Persch
Persch discloses a bottle dispenser for specially shaped bottles 4 having a tapered foot 5. The Persch base 1 has two rotating disks with apertures in each, and these disks, or stars, as Persch calls them, form a locking device for grasping the bottle near the tapered foot of the bottle. A blind bore 25, pressure spring 27 and ball 26 stops the rotating stars in either a removal or locked position for the bottles.
1,759,140
May 20, 1930
Silberger
Silberger discloses a conventional lazy susan type spice rack having a central spindle and two tiers for holding spices that can be rotated into position for easy handling. This reference is not relevant to the present invention.
Des. 344,385
February 15, 1994
Przytulla
Des. 293,954
January 26, 1988
Moore
Des. 271,342
November 8, 1983
Templeton
Des. 276,499
November 27, 1984
Kamada et al
These four design patents are mostly relevant for showing types of container designs that have been patented by others. None of them are particularly relevant to the structure of the present invention.
In my pending parent Application the Examiner did a search and found many of my claims allowable over the following references:
3,633,863
January 11, 1972
Abbey
2,850,079
September 2, 1958
Prushnock et al
5,071,096
December 10, 1991
Hartman et al
5,022,549
June 11, 1991
Beaver
5,490,653
February 13, 1996
Ingwersen
5,143,338
September 1, 1992
Eberlin
5,054,733
October 1991
Shields
In summary, the conceptual approach underlying this invention relies upon different operating principles than those disclosed by the above listed art. A divided striker keeper is not disclosed nor is there any reliance in the art on turning a held object in order to initiate a desired release by use of a spring loaded divided keeper. None of the references teach or suggest that a bi-directional turn of a held object will cause cammed unloading of a latching spring in order to cause a pair of latch keeper halves to release a held object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a self latching, object-holding fixture that is designed to self latch. Further, it is designed to self release an object when the object is turned slightly in either rotational direction. The inventive fixture has a shaped housing with the object being held, having a mated opening of a similar matching shape. Placing the object and the matching housing together causes the object
King Anita
Stan Jones Patents
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