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 Title: |
US4205483:
Delayed return devices
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Clark, Lloyd D.; San Francisco, CA 94131
Pressman, David; San Francisco, CA 94109
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1980-06-03
/ 1978-01-09
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| Application Number: |
US1978000867763
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A63H 29/10;
A63H 33/00;
E05F 1/00;
E05F 1/02;
IPC-7:
A63H 29/10;
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| ECLA Code: |
A63H29/10; A63H33/00; E05F1/00B6; E05F1/02; P05Y201/21; P05Y201/256; P05Y201/264; P05Y900/200;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
446/167;
220/810;
220/831;
Original:
046/041;
046/155;
220/335;
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| Field of Search: |
046/155,41,42,116,100,1 R,134,130
220/334,335
040/406
049/029,30,387
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| Priority Number: |
| 1978-01-09 |
US1978000867763 |
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| Abstract: |
A device in which a displaced member will automatically return to its rest position after a delay comprises a container partially filled with a viscous fluid. The container is mounted so that it can be moved between a first, stable (rest) position and a second, semistable position in which the fluid will flow slowly away from its rest position. When the fluid has moved away from its rest position sufficiently, it will cause the center of gravity of the container to shift to one side of a pivot, whereupon the container will make an automatically delayed return to its first position. The container is employed as a box lid which will close automatically a predetermined time after being opened so that it can be used as an interval timer and/or a scent release mechanism. The container is also mounted in a human novelty figure in such a manner that if it is tipped over it will return automatically to an upright position after a predetermined delay.
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Kinsey, Russell R.; Yu, Mickey
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 10 claims |
We claim:
1. A device which contains an enclosure which automatically returns to a stable position a predetermined interval after said enclosure is moved to a different, semistable position, said device comprising:
- A. said enclosure and a viscous fluid partially filling said enclosure, and
- B. means for mounting said enclosure to said device so that, while said device is positioned on a planar, horizontal surface:
- (1) said enclosure can be moved to either said stable or said semistable positions,
- (2) said enclosure, when in said stable position:
- (a) will remain thereat indefinitely regardless of the position of said fluid in said enclosure, and
- (b) said enclosure will be so oriented with respect to said horizontal surface that said fluid will flow to a predetermined rest position and shape in one portion of said enclosure,
- (3) said enclosure, when moved to said semistable position:
- (a) will remain thereat so long as said fluid remains in its rest position and shape in said one portion of said enclosure, but
- (b) said fluid gradually will flow away from said rest position and shape and thereby shift the center of gravity of said enclosure so as to cause said enclosure to return automatically to its original stable position when said center of gravity has shifted a predetermined amount; and
- (4) after returning to its original stable position, the fluid in said enclosure will flow back to its rest position and shape in said one portion of said enclosure so as to reset said device automatically,
- said fluid having a sufficient viscosity and said enclosure being shaped so that, at least at one predetermined temperature, when said enclosure is in said stable position and said fluid has assumed its rest position and shape in said one portion of said enclosure and said enclosure is then moved to said semistable position, it will remain in said semistable position for said predetermined interval before returning to said stable position.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
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| Description: |
Show description
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| Forward References: |
Show 4 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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