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:
Nov. 09, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 25, 2003
Christopher J. Verdigets, Ponchatoula, LA (US);
David C. Weiser, River Ridge, LA (US);
Ryan Lemaire, Lafayette, LA (US);
Laitram, L.L.C., Harahan, LA (US);
Abstract
An edge module for a modular plastic conveyor belt providing a self-closing retention system for retaining headless hinge rods in modular plastic conveyor belts. The edge module has a chamber in an outer edge portion of the module that slidably receives a rod retention member, such as a plug. The plug slides along the chamber from a closed position occluding a hinge rod passageway through interleaved hinges of consecutive rows of belt modules to an open, unoccluding position. A spring in the chamber urges the plug back toward the closed position. The plug is moved to the open position in two ways: by the force of a hinge rod against an oblique face during insertion of the rod into a belt; or manually by a tool engaging an easily accessible indentation in the plug.