Patents by Inventor Elmer B. Offutt

Elmer B. Offutt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5010660
    Abstract: Apparatus for washing and vacuum drying long necked laboratory flasks is presented. The apparatus includes a cabinet which presents a washing and drying compartment and a pump and rotary spray arm. A special rack which can be rolled into and out of the compartment includes a central manifold and a plurality of distribution arms extending radially from the manifold. Upright spindle tubes extend from the distribution arms to receive the inverted flasks such at that the tubes extend through the narrow necks of the flasks with the open ends of the tubes located within the bodies of the flasks. A diaphragm coupling allows water to be pumped to the manifold for delivery to the spindle tubes during washing and rinsing cycles. The tubes spray the water directly inside of the flask bodies for thorough washing and rinsing. A vacuum conduit extending from the manifold carries a seat which engages a gasket to couple the manifold with a vacuum blower when the rack is moved into the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Labconco Corporation
    Inventors: Larry G. Hambleton, Claude L. Sears, Elmer B. Offutt
  • Patent number: 4820351
    Abstract: A method for washing and vacuum drying long necked laboratory flasks. The apparatus includes a cabinet which presents a washing and drying compartment and a pump and rotary spray arm. A special rack which can be rolled into and out of the compartment includes a central manifold and a plurality of distribution arms extending radially from the manifold. Upright spindle tubes extend from the distribution arms to receive the inverted flasks such at that the tubes extend through the narrow necks of the flasks with the open ends of the tubes located within the bodies of the flasks. A diaphragm coupling allows water to be pumped to the manifold for delivery to the spindle tubes during washing and rinsing cycles. The tubes spray the water directly inside of the flask bodies for thorough washing and rinsing. A vacuum conduit extending from the manifold carries a seat which engages a gasket to couple the manifold with a vacuum blower when the rack is moved into the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Labconco Corporation
    Inventors: Larry G. Hambleton, Claude L. Sears, Elmer B. Offutt
  • Patent number: 4708153
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for washing and vacuum drying long necked laboratory flasks. The apparatus includes a cabinet which presents a washing and drying compartment and a pump and rotary spray arm. A special rack which can be rolled into and out of the compartment includes a central manifold and a plurality of distribution arms extending radially from the manifold. Upright spindle tubes extend from the distribution arms to receive the inverted flasks such at that the tubes extend through the narrow necks of the flasks with the open ends of the tubes located within the bodies of the flasks. A diaphragm coupling allows water to be pumped to the manifold for delivery to the spindle tubes during washing and rinsing cycles. The tubes spray the water directly inside of the flask bodies for thorough washing and rinsing. A vacuum conduit extending from the manifold carries a seat which engages a gasket to couple the manifold with a vacuum blower when the rack is moved into the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Labconco Corporation
    Inventors: Larry G. Hambleton, Claude L. Sears, Elmer B. Offutt
  • Patent number: 4369897
    Abstract: Product storing and dispensing apparatus for the improved handling of products such as gum and mints is provided and especially suited for use in multi-product, selective vending machines of types that store and dispense a variety of products from compartmented drawers, which must be withdrawn for practical reloading with products. The improved apparatus conserves space and minimizes the weight of the structure to be moved during loading by substituting for the conventional drawer unit a lower assembly that carries the operating mechanism for selective product dispensing and may remain within the machine during loading and an upper assembly that merely receives products, is shiftably mounted on the lower assembly and alone need be withdrawn during loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Fawn Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Elmer B. Offutt, Edward Babich, William G. Gillett