US 11,299,351 B2Granted

Telescoping rotatable tool

AssigneeBergkamp Incorporated

InventorsAlan R. Bergkamp, Jason J. Bergkamp, Caleb Abell, Adam Ray

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Abstract

A telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft has a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft has a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft. The first shaft includes at least one helical-shaped groove extending along an interior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of the second shaft. The guide element is configured to engage with the groove, such that as the second shaft extends from and retracts within the first shaft, the second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first shaft.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus configured to contain and move material, said apparatus comprising:

a containing structure that defines a material-receiving volume and is configured to contain material within the volume;
and
a telescoping rotatable tool disposed at least partly within the volume and operable to move material within the volume,
wherein said telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft,
wherein said first shaft includes a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of said first shaft;
and
wherein said second shaft includes a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of said second shaft,
wherein said second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by said first shaft,
wherein said second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of said second shaft,
wherein said guide element is configured to engage with said first shaft, such that as said second shaft extends from and retracts within said first shaft, said second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to said first shaft.

7 more elements

A method of using an apparatus to contain and move material, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the apparatus, which comprises a containing structure and a telescoping rotatable tool,
wherein the containing structure defines a material-receiving volume and is configured to contain material within the volume,
wherein the telescoping rotatable tool is disposed at least partly within the volume and is operable to move material within the volume,
wherein the telescoping rotatable tool comprises a first shaft with a first material-engaging element extending exteriorly therefrom, and a second shaft with a second material-engaging element extending exteriorly therefrom, wherein the second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft,
wherein the second shaft includes an engagement element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft, and wherein the engagement element is engaged with the first shaft;
and
causing the second shaft to extend from the interior space of the first shaft,
wherein as the second shaft is extended, the engagement element causes the second shaft to rotate with respect to the first shaft.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/151,452Filed 18 Jan 2021 · continuation
Priority: 25 Apr 2019
Published: US 2021/0139248 A113 May 2021
Granted: 12 Apr 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

B65G 33/265
Screws: with a continuous helical surface
B65G 33/30
Screws: with a discontinuous helical surface
A01F 12/46
Parts or details of threshing apparatus: mechanical grain conveyors
B65G 33/32
Details: adaptations of bearings or couplings for supporting and connecting screws

Family

Application62/838,540Us provisional application · filed 25 Apr 2019
Application16/858,378Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Apr 2020
US 2021/0139248 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 May 2021
US 10,894,666 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2020/0339359 A1Published application
US 11,299,351 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.