US4534464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture and use of closely spaced attachments
Assignee: Nypro Inc
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Filing: 1982-12-08
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Granted: 1985-08-13
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Expires: 2002-12-08
Abstract
Abstract An assembly of closely spaced attachments, a method of manufacturing an assembly of closely spaced attachments and a method of applying interleaved attachments to objects. The assembly has alternating attachments having different types of heads and having different lengths. The shorter attachments may be subsequently stretched to engage the longer attachments. In this manner the spacing between attachments can be decreased. One result of using such an assembly with a conventional dispensing device is that the advancing mechanism of the device can advance attachments two at a time by only contacting a single position at every other attachment in the assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon B. Lankton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:50
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G09F3/08; G09F3/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/82; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/46; Y10T24/4691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An assembly of attachments comprising a plurality of attachments having parts of a first type with enlarged faces, with each part joined by a elongated connector to a dispensing member; a plurality of attachments having parts of a second type with enlarged faces, different than said parts of said first type, with each part joined by an elongated connector to a dispensing member; and means for integrally connecting said attachments to one another by way of their dispensing members; the attachments of said first type alternating with and immediately following those of said second type with their enlarged faces in different planes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An assembly of attachments comprising a plurality of attachments having parts of a first type with enlarged faces, with each part joined by a elongated connector to a dispensing member; a plurality of attachments having parts of a second type with enlarged faces, different than said parts of said first type, with each part joined by an elongated connector to a dispensing member; and means for integrally connecting said attachments to one another by way of their dispensing members; the attachments of said first type alternating with and immediately following those of said second type with their enlarged faces in different planes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dispensing member of each second type of attachment is joined directly to a dispensing member of each first type of attachment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 1 wherein each dispensing member of a first type of attachment is joined to a dispensing member of the second type of attachment by way of a mounting element for the two types of attachments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 1 wherein each dispensing member of a first type of attachment is joined to a dispensing member of the second type of attachment by way of an auxiliary mounting element the length of said assembly that is disposed between a main mounting element for the attachments of said first type and the dispensing members of the two types of attachments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 1 wherein the attachments are selectively connected to one or more mounting assembly length elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 1 wherein said parts of said first type of attachments includes means for engaging and non-integrally holding a part of said second type of attachment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 6 wherein the holding means comprises a plurality of interlocking protuberences.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 1 molded from thermoplastic material and the attachment of said second type is shorter and thereafter stretched to make it substantially the same length as the attachment of said first type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly of attachments in accordance with claim 1 wherein the attachment of the first and second type are molded from thermoplastic material and are thereafter stretched unequally to substantially the same overall length.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of manufacturing an assembly of attachments which comprises the steps of: (a) molding a first attachment having a dispensing member with a connector extending to a further member at the opposite end of said connector; (b) molding a second attachment which is shorter than said first attachment and having a further member which is engageable with said further member of said first attachment and being joined to said first attachment; and (c) stretching said second attachment until its further member engages that of said first attachment.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
The method of manufacturing an assembly of attachments which comprises the steps of: (a) molding a first attachment having a dispensing member with a connector extending to a further member at the opposite end of said connector; (b) molding a second attachment which is shorter than said first attachment and having a further member which is engageable with said further member of said first attachment and being joined to said first attachment; and (c) stretching said second attachment until its further member engages that of said first attachment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said first attachment is molded simultaneously with said second attachment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 further including the molding of a mounting element to which said attachments are selectively joined.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 further including the molding of an auxiliary mounting element to which said attachments are selectively joined.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 further including the molding of a support member to which the further members of the attachments are selectively joined.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
93 words
The method of applying attachments to objects which comprises the steps of (a) inserting a clip of attachments into a dispensing device, the clip including a first and second plurality of interleaved attachments selectively connected to a mounting element; (b) advancing and dispensing a first said one of said attachments; and (c) advancing and dispensing a succeeding one of said attachments; said advance of each first and succeeding attachments being made by contact of the advancing mechanism of said dispensing device with only a single position at every other attachment of said clip.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
93 words
The method of applying attachments to objects which comprises the steps of (a) inserting a clip of attachments into a dispensing device, the clip including a first and second plurality of interleaved attachments selectively connected to a mounting element; (b) advancing and dispensing a first said one of said attachments; and (c) advancing and dispensing a succeeding one of said attachments; said advance of each first and succeeding attachments being made by contact of the advancing mechanism of said dispensing device with only a single position at every other attachment of said clip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said clip includes a mounting element and the advance of said attachments is made by engagement of said advancing mechanism with a neck extending from said mounting element to one but not both of said attachments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the advancing mechanism moves a fraction of its regular advance position when the dispensing device is used with standard clips of attachments.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |