US3878803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Can float pontoon
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-29
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1994-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A pontoon structure consisting of a number of individual hollow open ended cylindrical plastic tubes each equipped with threaded sections on their opposite ends for receiving sealing caps thereon to make the interior tube portions watertight, each tube having inserted thereinto a plurality of aligned empty beer and beverage cans to provide buoyant rigidity thereto, the tubes fixed side by side extending between retaining discs and having a pointed dome shaped cap forming the front end of the pontoon. A steel rod extends the length of the pontoon and interconnects the discs to the dome shaped nose cone to provide rigidity to the pontoon structure.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Leverton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 17:37
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/04; E02B3/06; E02B3/062; E02B3/064; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A pontoon structure intended to use empty beer and beverage cans in the structure thereof, the pontoon structure comprising: a hollow dome shaped nose cone; a nose cone retaining disc having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface having a plurality of radially disposed circumferally spaced apart circular recesses formed therein; a first retaining disc being of a flat configuration having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface having a plurality of radially disposed circular recesses disposed therein with each recess associated with a recess of the nose cone retaining disc and being disposed on the front surface in a position corresponding thereto; an elongated rigid rod extending axially between the centers of the nose cone retaining disc and the first retaining disc to retain the discs interconnected a spaced distance apart from each other and in parallel concentric overlying relationship with each other; a plurality of hollow elongated plastic tubes, each tube being identical to each other tube, the tubes being of a length to extend between the retaining discs with the ends thereof received in associated ones of the disc recesses with the tubes thus being fixed in side-by-side relationship; and a compartment extending axially completely through each tube, the compartment being of a size and configuration adapted to receive therein a plurality of axially aligned empty beer and beverage cans in end-to-end relationship for the rigidifying of the tube structure while maintaining the buoyancy of the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A pontoon structure intended to use empty beer and beverage cans in the structure thereof, the pontoon structure comprising: a hollow dome shaped nose cone; a nose cone retaining disc having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface having a plurality of radially disposed circumferally spaced apart circular recesses formed therein; a first retaining disc being of a flat configuration having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface having a plurality of radially disposed circular recesses disposed therein with each recess associated with a recess of the nose cone retaining disc and being disposed on the front surface in a position corresponding thereto; an elongated rigid rod extending axially between the centers of the nose cone retaining disc and the first retaining disc to retain the discs interconnected a spaced distance apart from each other and in parallel concentric overlying relationship with each other; a plurality of hollow elongated plastic tubes, each tube being identical to each other tube, the tubes being of a length to extend between the retaining discs with the ends thereof received in associated ones of the disc recesses with the tubes thus being fixed in side-by-side relationship; and a compartment extending axially completely through each tube, the compartment being of a size and configuration adapted to receive therein a plurality of axially aligned empty beer and beverage cans in end-to-end relationship for the rigidifying of the tube structure while maintaining the buoyancy of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
246 words
A pontoon structure intended to use empty beer and beverage cans in the structure thereof, the pontoon structure comprising: a hollow dome shaped nose cone; a nose cone retaining disc having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface having a plurality of radially disposed circumferally spaced apart circular recesses formed therein; a first retaining disc being of a flat configuration having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface having a plurality of radially disposed circular recesses disposed therein with each recess associated with a recess of the nose cone retaining disc and being disposed on the front surface in a position corresponding thereto; an elongated rigid rod extending axially between the centers of the nose cone retaining disc and the first retaining disc to retain the discs interconnected a spaced distance apart from each other and in parallel concentric overlying relationship with each other; a plurality of hollow elongated plastic tubes, each tube being identical to each other tube, the tubes being of a length to extend between the retaining discs with the ends thereof received in associated ones of the disc recesses with the tubes thus being fixed in side-by-side relationship; and a compartment extending axially completely through each tube, the compartment being of a size and configuration adapted to receive therein a plurality of axially aligned empty beer and beverage cans in end-to-end relationship for the rigidifying of the tube structure while maintaining the buoyancy of the tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
246 words
A pontoon structure intended to use empty beer and beverage cans in the structure thereof, the pontoon structure comprising: a hollow dome shaped nose cone; a nose cone retaining disc having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface having a plurality of radially disposed circumferally spaced apart circular recesses formed therein; a first retaining disc being of a flat configuration having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface having a plurality of radially disposed circular recesses disposed therein with each recess associated with a recess of the nose cone retaining disc and being disposed on the front surface in a position corresponding thereto; an elongated rigid rod extending axially between the centers of the nose cone retaining disc and the first retaining disc to retain the discs interconnected a spaced distance apart from each other and in parallel concentric overlying relationship with each other; a plurality of hollow elongated plastic tubes, each tube being identical to each other tube, the tubes being of a length to extend between the retaining discs with the ends thereof received in associated ones of the disc recesses with the tubes thus being fixed in side-by-side relationship; and a compartment extending axially completely through each tube, the compartment being of a size and configuration adapted to receive therein a plurality of axially aligned empty beer and beverage cans in end-to-end relationship for the rigidifying of the tube structure while maintaining the buoyancy of the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
The pontoon structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein each tube comprises: an axially elongated hollow open ended cylindrical body member having opposed identical ends; screw threads formed integrally with each end of the body member about the interior of the side wall surfaces thereof; a pair of identical cap members, each cap member consisting of a flat circular head portion and an exteriorly threaded shank portion formed concentric therewith and extending outwardly therefrom to define a shoulder portion on the head portion; and each cap having its shank portion threadedly received in an associated end of the body member with the ends of the body member engaging the shoulder portions of the cap to retain the interior compartment of the body member in a watertight manner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The pontoon structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the retaining discs is provided with a threaded opening extending through the central axis thereof; and wherein the rod is provided with threaded ends thereon, each end of the rod threadedly received in a threaded opening of the discs to interconnect the discs together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
The pontoon structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein the nose cone retaining disc further comprises a sleeve like collar member disposed concentric with the front surface of the disc and extends outwardly therefrom; screw threads disposed about the circumference of the sleeve member; and wherein the dome shaped nose cone is provided with screw threads extending circumferally about the interior surface thereof adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, the nose cone threadedly received on the sleeve member with the nose cone peripheral edge engaging an annular collar portion of the back surface of the disc defined between the exterior of the sleeve member and the periphery of the disc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |