The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 15, 1994
Filed:
May. 15, 1992
Richard A George, Winona, MN (US);
Peerless Chain Company, Winona, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a container with a chain retaining opening. The container includes a side wall which defines an enclosed chamber for receiving a length of chain. An opening provides access to the enclosed chamber from an exterior of the container. The opening is sized to permit the free passage of the chain from the enclosed chamber to dispense the chain from the container. The opening includes structure for retaining the chain from free passage from the enclosed chamber when dispensing of the chain is not desired. The retaining structure includes at least one narrowed passage which defines a cross-sectional opening smaller than the widest part of the chain and larger than the smallest portion of the chain. When the chain is positioned in the narrowed passage, the chain cannot be dispensed from the container. A sloped surface provides a gravity feed from the opening to the narrowed passage. A second narrowed passage on an opposite side of the container adjacent the opening has a different shaped passage. A similar sloped surface slopes to the second narrowed passage. One narrowed passage is U-shaped and one is V-shaped. The container includes a body portion and a lid portion, with the lid portion including the opening and the various narrowed passages.