| Portable bailer -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Portable bailerUSPTO Application #: 20080044295Title: Portable bailer Abstract: A portable bailer is used to remove liquid such as water from a watercraft, such as an open-topped powerboat or rowboat. The bailer features an electrically actuated liquid pump contained within a one-piece protective external molded housing also containing a suitable battery such as a suitable rechargeable battery in close proximity to the liquid pump and operative to provide power to the liquid pump upon actuation. The liquid pump and battery are located intermediate an elongated input section and an elongated output section of respective indeterminate lengths. A portion in close proximity to the distal end of the output section is formed into an inverted J-like configuration operative to direct the pumped liquid outwardly over the gunnel of the watercraft. (end of abstract)
Agent: Laura Mary Goliat - Richfield, OH, US Inventor: Laura Mary Goliat USPTO Applicaton #: 20080044295 - Class: 417234 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080044295. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention is directed generally to a portable bailer. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a portable bailer used to remove liquid such as water from watercraft such as an open-topped powerboat or rowboat. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a portable bailer including an electrically-operated liquid pump in close proximity to a power source such as a battery pack. The pump and battery pack are enclosed within a one-piece protective external molded housing intermediate elongated input section and an elongated output section of respective indeterminate lengths, with a portion in close proximity to a distal end of the output section formed into an inverted J-like configuration operative to direct the liquid over the gunnel of the watercraft. The pump is actuated by a manual switch preferably mounted on an external handle secured to or integral with an external surface of the molded housing. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0002]Various electrically-operated pump assemblies have been proposed in the past for use in the removal of liquids such as water from watercraft. The majority of these, however, are intended for use in applications in which weight, compactness, and simplicity of operation are not primary factors. These prior art devices typically utilize float switches that may be permanently secured to the floor of the vessel, or may float on the surface of the water in the vessel. None of these prior art devices are suitable for use in watercraft such as an open-topped powerboat or rowboat where ease of operation, durability, portability, light-weightedness, and speed of removal of liquid from the watercraft is essential. One example of prior art can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,323 in which an automatic bailer is disclosed for removing water from a white water canoe. This bailer, however, differs from the bailer of the present invention by utilizing a float-actuated pump and not having a battery and pump in close proximity located within a single, external molded housing located intermediate elongated input and output sections of respective indeterminate lengths, as associated with the portable bailer of the present invention. The prior art bailer also utilizes a 12-volt battery located outside the housing surrounding the pump rendering the combination extremely heavy and difficult to move. Also another prior art publication is Canadian application CA 2484798 for a cordless dockside boat bailer which differs from the proposed bailer. It differs by having a bilge pump located at the distal end of the input section and having an output section intermediate the battery and the pump and also having external electrical wiring between the battery and the pump highly subject to damage. Also of interest, the following U.S. patents are listed for general information: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,493,982; 5,257,590; and 5,211,363. Also of interest are the following Canadian patents: CA 542062; CA 667804; CA 519585; and CA 445313. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003]It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable bailer. [0004]Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrically-operated, battery-powered, portable bailer. A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable bailer that utilizes a liquid pump and battery in close proximity to each other within an external one-piece molded housing. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a portable bailer in which the external housing is disposed intermediate elongated input and output sections of indeterminate length extending therefrom. An additional object of the present invention is to utilize a portable bailer which is light-weight, easy-to-handle, and less subject to damage by having the pump and battery contained in close-proximity to each other within a protective one-piece molded housing. [0005]The portable bailer, in accordance with the present invention, includes an electrically-operated liquid pump that is connected to a power source such as a battery pack. (preferably a rechargeable battery pack). The portable bailer, in accordance with the present invention, preferably includes a one-piece molded external housing surrounding the pump and battery that are in close proximity to each other and are disposed intermediate input and output sections extending therefrom of respective indeterminate lengths and having passageways therethrough that are respectively in liquid communication with the liquid pump. [0006]The portable bailer of the present invention is preferably manually-operated through provision of an electrical switch preferably located upon an external handle either secured to or integral with an outer surface of the molded external housing. The switch is preferably a slide or a push button-type switch but may also be a toggle, or a rocker-type switch, or another suitable switch. The use of such a manual switch keeps the portable bailer simple and enables one to turn the pump on when the watercraft has accumulated water, and to turn the pump off when the watercraft has been bailed out. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007]While the novel features of the portable bailer in accordance with the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, a full and complete understanding of the present invention may be had by referring to the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: [0008]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention; [0009]FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable bailer of FIG. 1; [0010]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention having a pair of spaced-apart electrical recharging contacts; [0011]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention having a replaceable filter at the input end; [0012]FIG. 5 is a partial backside view of yet another embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention having a battery access door on the backside, taken along site lines 5-5 in FIG. 4; [0013]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention having a replaceable plug and filter disposed at a distal end of the inlet section; [0014]FIG. 7 is an exploded partial view of the embodiment of the replaceable filter and plug combination in the portable bailer of the invention as shown in FIG. 6; [0015]FIG. 8 is a partial front view of yet another embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention having at least one light-emitting diode operative to indicate the charging state of the battery; [0016]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention having a releasably-securable inlet section; and [0017]FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention having releasably-secured input and output sections and further including a replaceable filter between the liquid pump and battery housing and the inlet section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018]In FIG. 1, portable bailer 30 has a one-piece protective external molded housing comprising intermediate Section 2 surrounding a liquid pump and a power source such as a battery in close proximity to each other and from which extend an outlet or output Section 3 having an indeterminate length L.sub.2 and having a portion in close proximity to a distal end 14 formed into a substantial inverted J-like configuration. Section 3 has a liquid passageway 21 therethrough in liquid communication with the liquid pump. Bailer 30 also has an input or inlet Section 4 having an indeterminate length L.sub.1 and having a distal end 10. Inlet Section 4 has a liquid passageway 22 therethrough in liquid communication with the liquid pump. Although shown in the Figures as having a substantially tubular cross-sectional configuration, inlet Section 4 and/or outlet Section 3 may have any cross-sectional configuration provided that the bailer of the invention operates in the manner desired. Bailer 30 is also provided with a handle 5, operative to enable a person to hold the bailer of the invention by hand and is either secured to or molded integrally with the protective molded housing enclosing the liquid pump and the battery. Bailer 30 of FIG. 1 is also provided with an electrical switch member 6 that is preferably mounted on handle 5 for ease of operation. Handle 5 may also be mounted upon an external surface of the molded housing wherever suitable for actuation. Although switch 6 is preferably a slide or push-button type switch, it may be any type of electric switch deemed suitable for the actuation of the liquid pump such as a rocker-arm or toggle type switch provided it is operable to actuate the liquid pump upon actuation of the switch. Bailer 30 is also provided with a battery compartment access door 8. Although shown in FIGS. 1-4, 8, and 10 as located on the front side of the bailer of the invention, the battery compartment access door may be located at any suitable location on the outer surface of the molded housing such as, for example shown on the backside of Section 2 facing away from handle 5 in FIGS. 6 and 9. [0019]Also shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the portable bailer of the invention wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of either or both inlet Section 4 and outlet Section 3 is grooved or corrugated to provide a bellows-like configuration operative to enhance flexibility such referenced by numerals 25 and 25A. Continue reading... Full patent description for Portable bailer Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable bailer patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Portable bailer or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: In-line jet pumps and methods of use Next Patent Application: Air compressor with removable manifold Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Portable bailer patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.76044 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , |
||
