l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l I l l l

. USOO5287973A
United States Patent [ 1 9] [ 1 1 ] Patent N u m b er : 5, 287, 973
B ank ier [ 4 5] D ate o f Patent: F eb . 22, 1 994
[ 54 ] B AN AN ACARRI ER 2, 289, 21 2 7/1 94 2 Rinnel a .
3, 1 27, 994 4 /1 964 Cam pb el l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 1 /1 4 4
[ 75] I nv ento r : Jack D . B ank ier , N o r th b r o o k , 1 1 1 . 3, 750 , 553 3/1 973 To nju m _
. ' . ~ . . 4 , 0 0 6, 559 2/1 977 Car l yo n, Jr . .
[ 73] Assig nee. 31 1 1 1 1 1 1 61 Co m panies, I nc. , G l env iew , 4 , 50 1 , 20 1 2/l 985 F inn" ct aL .
' 4 , 736, 856 4 /1 988 Al neng et a1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 1 /1 31
1 A . . : 1 0 1 5
[ 2 1 ppl N o 8 Pr im ar yExam iner -Ro b er t W. G ib so n, Jr .
[ 22] F il ed! Jil l - 28, 1 993 Atto r ney, Ag ent, o r F ir m -H il l , Steadm an & Sim pso n
Rel ated US. Appl icatio n u m [ 57] _ AB STRACT
[ 62] D iv isio n o f Sci . N o . 74 4 , 4 1 5, Au g . 1 3, 1 991 , Pat. N o . Ab anana car r ier , par ticu l ar l y a b anana car r ier is pr o
5, 1 99, 580 . v ided f o r tr anspo r ting b ananas o n a pl u r al ity o f tr ays
[ 51 ] I nt Cl 5 A4 7F 7/0 0 f r o m th e pick ing ? el ds to th e pack ing ar ea. Th e b anana
[ 52] Us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 6/557. car r ier is par ticu l ar l y adapted to b e h u ng in r o l l ing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 21 1 /1 26, f ash io n o n a cab l cw aynetw o r k ar r ang ed in th e pick ing
[ 58] F iel d o f Sear ch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 6/557; 21 1 /1 1 5, 1 1 6, ? el ds- Th e " ays ar e Wang ! in stack ed spaced aPan
21 1 /1 1 3, 1 1 8, 1 0 7, 1 26, 1 27, 1 31 , 1 4 4 f ash io n o n th e b anana car r ier . Each tr ay pr o v ides q u ar
_ ter panel sl o ped su r f aces, cir cu m scr ib ed b y dr ainag e
[ 56] Ref er ences cu ed tr o u g h s w h ich co m m u nicate to a dr ainag e h o l e l o cated
U. S. PATEN T D OCUMEN TS in a centr al po r tio n o f each tr ay.
727, 1 0 7 5/1 90 3 D o nal dso n .
1 , 74 0 , 520 1 2/ 1 929 Mu r ph y . 1 9 Cl aim s, 4 D r aw ing Sh eets
US. Patent F eb . 22, 1 994 Sh eet 1 o f 4 5, 287, 973
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B AN AN ACARRI ER
Th is is a div isio n o f appl icatio n Ser . N o . 74 4 , 4 1 5, ? l ed
Au g . 1 3, 1 991 , no w US. Pat. N o . 5, 1 99, 580 .
B ACKG ROUN D OF TH EI N VEN TI ON
Th is inv entio n r el ates to a cab l ew ay system u sed in
ag r icu l tu r al ? el ds to pr o v ide tr anspo r tatio n o f h and
h ar v ested cr o ps f r o m th e ? el ds to th e pack ing ar ea. I n
par ticu l ar , th is inv entio n r el ates to a tr ay ar r ang em ent
f o r a b anana car r ier w h ich h ang s f r o m th e cab l ew ay
system f o r ef f ectiv el y tr anspo r ting b ananas.
Cab l ew ay system s ar r ang ed th r o u g h o u t pick ing
? el ds o r f ar m s f o r h andl ing and tr anspo r ting pr o du ce
ar e k no w n. I t is al so k no w n to tr anspo r t b ananas al o ng
a cab l ew ay system b yh ang ing th e entir e b anana b u nch
f r o m th e cab l ew ay f o r tr anspo r t.
I t h as b een f o u nd h o w ev er , th at tr anspo r ting th e
b ananas in th is m anner b y h ang ing th e entir e b u nch
r esu l ts in a co nsider ab l e am o u nt o f dam ag ed o r l o st
b ananas, b y th e tim e th e b u nch r each es th e pack ing
ar ea. Th e b anana b u nch es can sw ing into statio nar y
o b jects w h il e b eing tr anspo r ted, su ch as su ppo r ts f o r th e
cab l ew ay, cau sing b ananas to b r u ise o r separ ate f r o m
th e b u nch .
SUMMARYOF TH EI N VEN TI ON
Th e pr esent inv entio n pr o v ides f o r an ef f ectiv e b a
nana car r ier w h ich m o u nts to an o v er h ead cab l ew ayf o r
tr anspo r ting b ananas f r o m th e f ar m to th e pack ing ar ea.
Th e inv entio n r edu ces dam ag e to th e b ananas b y de
cr easing l o ads and str esses inh er ent in th e pr io r ar t
m eth o d o f tr anspo r t. Th e inv entio n r edu ces th e po ssib il
ity o f b r u ised o r l o st b ananas al o ng th e f ar m to pack ing
ar ea r o u te.
I n th e pr esent inv entio n, a nu m b er o f tr ays ar e pr o
v ided h ang ing in stack ed, co axial f ash io n f r o m th e ca
b l ew ay. I n th e ? el d, th e b anana b u nch is b r o k en do w n
and separ ated into sm al l er g r o u ping s o r h ands o f
b ananas and ar r ang ed o n th e co axial l y stack ed tr ays in a
spr ead o u t f ash io n su ch th at b ananas ar e no t cr u sh ed
u nder th eir o w n w eig h t and ar e pr o tected f r o m dam ag e
b yim pact al o ng th e cab l ew ay. Additio nal l y, as o ppo sed
to tr anspo r ting b ananas b y h ang ing b y th e b u nch , th e
b anana car r ier pr ev ents th e dr o pping o f f and l o ss o f
b ananas en r o u te to th e pack ing ar ea.
Th e tr ays pr o v ide in a space co nser v ativ e ar r ang e
m ent, su f ? cient and ef f ectiv e pl atf o r m space f o r ar r ang
ing a b u nch o f b ananas. Each tr ay pr o v ides a pl u r al ity
o f ch annel s f o r dr aining l atex o r sap and w ater f r o m th e
ar r ang ed b ananas du r ing tr anspo r t. Th u s, th e w eig h t o n
th e ar r ang em ent is m inim iz ed as w el l as m ak ing pack ing
o per atio n m o r e cl ean and ef f ectiv e.
Th e car r ier pr o v ides tr ays co nstr u cted b y l ig h t
w eig h t f o r m ed m ater ial , r edu cing h o r sepo w er r eq u ir ed
to tr anspo r t th e car r ier o n th e cab l ew ayand m ak ing th e
car r ier easyto m o v e ab o u t. Th e car r ier al so can pr o v ide
an ef f ectiv e sto r ag e m eans f o r h o l ding b ananas.
B RI EF D ESCRI PTI ON OF TH ED RAWI N G S
F I G . 1 is a per spectiv e v iew o f a cab l ew ay system
and a pl u r al ity o f b anana car r ier s o f th e pr esent inv en
tio n r iding th er eo n;
F I G . 2 is an el ev atio nal v iew o f o ne b anana car r ier o f
th e pr esent inv entio n;
F I G . 3 is a sectio nal v iew tak en g ener al l y al o ng l ine
I I I -I I I o f F I G . 2;
n
25
30
4 0
4 5
65
2
F I G . 4 is a sectio nal v iew tak en g ener al l y al o ng l ine
I V--I V o f F I G . 2; and
F I G . 5 is a sectio nal v iew tak en g ener al l y al o ng l ine
V-V o f F I G . 2;
F I G . 6 is a pl an v iew o f an al ter nate em b o dim ent o f a
b anana car r ier ; and
F I G . 7 is a sectio nal v iew o f th e al ter nate em b o di
m ent o f F I G . 6 tak en g ener al l y al o ng l ine VI I -VI I .
D ETAI L ED D ESCRI PTI ON OF TH E
PREF ERRED EMB OD I MEN TS
F I G . 1 sh o w s an o v er h ead cab l ew ay system g ener
al l y at 1 0 . Th e cab l ew aysystem 1 0 co m pr ises a cab l e 1 4
su ppo r ted al o ng its l eng th b y su ppo r t ar ch es 1 8 an
ch o r ed into th e g r o u nd at b ases 20 . Th e cab l e 1 4 is h u ng
o f f th e su ppo r t ar ch es 1 8 b y su ppo r t b r ack ets 24 . Th e
cab l e 1 4 is tensed at its end 30 b y an end po st 34 . Th e
end po st 34 is r o tatab l y su ppo r ted o n a f o u ndatio n 36. A
diag o nal cab l e 4 0 attach es an u pper po r tio n o f th e end
po st 34 to an ear th anch o r 4 4 . Th e ear th anch o r 4 4 can
b e o f sev er al types su itab l e f o r th e l o cal so il co nditio ns.
Aspik e 4 6 is sh o w n b u t a b u r ied co ncr ete anch o r can
ju st as w el l b e u sed. Mo u nted at th e end 30 o f th e cab l e
1 4 is a h ydr au l ic r am 4 8 w h ich can b e h ydr au l ical l y
pr essu r ed to cr eate su f ? cient tensio n f o r th e cab l e 1 4 to
o per ate.
Ro l l ing f r o m th e cab l e 1 4 is a h ang ing tr acto r 54
pr o v iding an o per ato r seat 58, and a diesel eng ine/h y
dr au l ic pu m p 60 po w er ing tw o h ydr au l ic dr iv e m o to r s
62 f o r pr o pel l ing th e h ang ing tr acto r al o ng th e cab l e 1 4 .
Th e diesel eng ine/h ydr au l ic pu m p 60 is co nnected to
th e seat 58, w h ich al so h ang s in r o l l ing f ash io n o n th e
tr ack 1 4 , b ya pu l l r o d 68. Th e pu l l r o d 68 al so attach es
al o ng its l eng th to sev er al b anana car r ier s 76.
Al so sh o w n in F I G . 1 is a typical b anana tr ee 80
h o l ding a b u nch 82 o f b ananas. Atypical b u nch 82 h as
1 0 to 1 4 h ands 1 0 0 sh o w n in F I G . 3. Ah and is a g r o u p
ing o f b ananas.
Each b anana car r ier 76 h o l ds th er eo n a pl u r al ity o f
tr ays 86, in th is case th r ee tr ays 86 ar e sh o w n. Atypical
b u nch 82 o f b ananas can b e h el d o n o ne car r ier 76. A
pl u r al ity o f b u nch es 82 o f b ananas h av e b een separ ated
into h ands and ar r ang ed o n th e tr ays 86. B ysepar ating
th e b u nch and ar r ang ing th e b ananas o nto th e car r ier
76, th e b ananas ar e su ppo r ted spr ead o u t su ch as to
r edu ce w eig h t o n th e l o w er b ananas, and al so pr o tects
th e b ananas f r o m im pact su ch as ag ainst th e su ppo r t
ar ch es 1 8, and pr ev ents b ananas f r o m f al l ing o f f th e
b u nch du r ing tr anspo r t f r o m th e ? el d to th e pack ing
ar ea.
F I G . 2 sh o w s a b anana car r ier 76 in m o r e detail . Th e
b anana car r ier 76 is su ppo r ted o n a r o l l er 90 (sh o w n in
detail in F I G . 1 ) . Th e r o l l er 90 is pr o g r essed al o ng th e
cab l e 1 4 b y th e pu l l r o d 68. Th e b anana car r ier 76 is
su ppo r ted f r o m th e r o l l er 90 b y a h o o k 92 eng ag ed
th er eo n. Th e h o o k 92 is m o u nted to a su ppo r t sh af t 96
w h er eo n is m o u nted th e th r ee tr ays 86. Al th o u g h th r ee
tr ays 86 ar e sh o w n, any nu m b er o f tr ays h ang ing f r o m
a sh af t 96 ar e enco m passed b y th e pr esent inv entio n.
Wh er e m o r e th an 1 2 h ands ar e pr esent o n th e b u nch a
f o u r tr ay car r ier can b e u til iz ed. Th e tr ays 86 ar e sh o w n
to h av e a r el ativ el y th in pr o ? l e al l o w ing adeq u ate dis
tance b etw een tr ays f o r l o ading b ananas.
I n an adv antag eo u s ar r ang em ent o f th e b anana car
r ier th e to p m o st tr ay 86 is a 32 inch diam eter tr ay, th e
m iddl e tr ay 86 is a 34 inch tr ay w ith a th in sk ir t th ick
ness S1 , and th e b o tto m m o st tr ay is a 34 inch diam eter
tr ay w ith a th ick sk ir t th ick ness S2. Th is pr o v ides ad
5, 287, 973
3
v antag eo u s spacing and cl ear ances f o r l o ading th e b a
nanas.
F I G . 3 sh o w s th e w o r k ing su r f ace o f th e tr ay 86 w ith
a h and o f b ananas 1 0 0 l aying th er eo n. Th e tr ay 86 h as
ar r ang ed th er eo n a pl u r al ity o f endsto ps 1 0 4 ar o u nd its
per iph er yto h el p r etain b ananas o nto th e tr ay. Th e tr ay
86 pr o v ides f o u r q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6 h av ing su ppo r t
su r f aces 1 0 6a, separ ated b y f o u r spo k e tr o u g h s o r cr o ss
tr o u g h s 1 0 8. Wh en b ananas ar e f r esh l y cu t, a l atex o r
sap l eak s o u t o f th e cu t stal k o r stem . Th e l atex is dif f i
cu l t to cl ean o f f th e b ananas o nce depo sited th er eo n.
Th e cr o ss tr o u g h s pr o v ide dr ainag e ch annel s f o r th is
l atex and ar e f o r m ed h av ing a b o tto m f l o o r 1 0 8a l o w er
th an said su ppo r t su r f aces 1 0 6a o f said q u ar ter panel s
1 0 6 at any adjacent po int. L iq u id co l l ecting o n q u ar ter
panel s 1 0 6 can f l o w into th e cr o ss tr o u g h s 1 0 8. Each
cr o ss tr o u g h 1 0 8 inter sects f o r ? o w w ith an ar cu ate
tr o u g h 1 1 0 , each o f w h ich inter sects f o r f l o w w ith a
sh o r t tr o u g h 1 1 2 w h ich em pties into a center b o w l 1 1 4 .
Su r r o u nding th e q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6, and f l o w inter sect
ing w ith th e cr o ss tr o u g h s 1 0 8, is a per iph er al tr o u g h
1 20 . Th e per iph er al tr o u g h 1 20 and th e ar cu ate tr o u g h s
1 1 0 h av e ? o o r el ev atio ns 1 20 a, 1 1 0 a l o w er th an th e
adjacent su ppo r t su r f ace 1 0 6a. Th e b o tto m ? o o r s 1 0 80
can sl o pe sm o o th l yf r o m th e f l o o r el ev atio ns 1 20 a at th e
per iph er al tr o u g h to th e f l o o r el ev atio n 1 1 0 a at th e
ar cu ate tr o u g h s. .
Th u s, th e per iph er al tr o u g h 1 20 , th e cr o ss tr o u g h s
1 0 8, and th e ar cu ate tr o u g h s 1 1 0 , al l can co l l ect ? u ids
f o r g u iding th o se ? u ids into th e sh o r t tr o u g h 1 1 2 and
ev entu al l y into th e b o w l 1 1 4 . Th e b o w l 1 1 4 h as th er ein
l o cated a dr ain h o l e 1 26 f o r passing th o se ? u ids su ch as
th e b anana l atex o u t o f th e tr ay 86.
I t is seen in F I G . 3 th at th e h and o f b ananas 1 0 0 ? ts
ef f ectiv el y o v er an ar ea appr o xim atel y th e ar ea o f a
q u ar ter panel 1 0 6 except r o tated 4 5 w ith a stem end o f
th e b ananas ? tting into o r o v er th e cr o ss tr o u g h 1 0 8 at
a nar r o w end 1 0 6b o f th e q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6 and f r ee
ends o f th e b ananas f anning o u t to w ar d a w ider end
1 0 60 o f th e q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6. B ypu tting th e cu t stem
o f th e h and 1 0 0 o v er th e tr o u g h 1 0 8 any l atex seeping
th er eo u t depo sits dir ectl y into th e tr o u g h . I f th e h ands
ar e ar r ang ed w ith th e cu t stem f acing o u tw ar dl y th e
per iph er al tr o u g h 1 20 can co l l ect th e l atex dir ectl y f r o m
th e cu t ster n ar r ang ed th er eo v er .
Al so sh o w n in F I G . 3 ar e f o u r T-sh aped f o r m atio ns
1 30 f o r m ed r aised ab o v e th e q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6, w ith a
h ead 1 32 o f each f o r m atio n 1 30 de? ning th e b o w l 1 1 4
and th e sh o r t tr o u g h s 1 1 2. Additio nal l y, each q u ar ter
panel 1 0 6 h as f o r m ed th er eo n tw o ab u tm ent k no b s 1 34 .
Th e T-sh aped f o r m atio n 1 30 and th e ab u tm ent k no b s
1 34 r etain th e b ananas 1 0 0 o nto th e q u ar ter panel and
k eep th e b ananas f r o m encr o ach ing into th e b o w l 1 1 4
and th er eb y cl o g g ing dr ainag e o f th e tr ay 86.
Th e cr o ss tr o u g h s 1 0 8 f o r m ed into th e tr ay 86 ser v e
th e f u r th er f u nctio n o f f o r m ing stif f ening m em b er s o r
r ib s to str eng th en th e tr ay 86. Th e T-sh aped f o r m atio ns
1 30 al so str eng th en th e tr ay and str eng th en th e b o w l
1 1 4 o f th e tr ay w h er ein h ig h str esses can accu m u l ate
du e to th e h ang ing w eig h t o f th e tr ay o nto th e sh af t 96.
I n f act, th e per iph er al tr o u g h 1 20 , th e ar cu ate tr o u g h s
1 1 0 , and th e end sto ps 1 0 4 b eing f o r m ed o nto o r b eneath
th e tr ay su r f ace al l ser v e to str u ctu r al l y r ig idif y th e tr ay
as o ppo sed to a th in ? at su r f ace.
F I G . 3 sh o w s a pad 1 0 7 su b stantial l y co v er ing th e
q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6 o n to p o f th e su ppo r t su r f ace 1 0 60 .
Th is pad 1 0 7 can co m pr ise a q u ar ter inch th ick po l y
f o am m ater ial o r any o th er su itab l e m ater ial w ith a
20
25
35
4 0
50
60
65
4
su itab l e th ick ness. Th e pu r po se o f th e pad 1 0 7 is to
pr o v ide a cu sh io n f o r pr o tecting th e b ananas w h ich ar e
pl aced u po n th e su ppo r t su r f ace 1 0 60 . B ypr o v iding th is
cu sh io n, th e b ananas ar e f u r th er pr o tected f r o m b r u is
ing . Th e . cu sh io n pr ef er ab l y is sel ected to al l o w dr ain
ag e o f th e l atex th er eth r o u g h and into th e apper taining
tr o u g h s. Al th o u g h th e pad 1 0 7 is sh o w n, th e b anana
tr ay 86 can b e pr o v ided w ith o u t any su ch pad 1 0 7.
F I G . 4 sh o w s th e q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6 b eing sl o ped
to w ar d th e b o w l 1 1 4 f r o m an o u tside diam eter o f th e
panel s to w ar d an inside diam eter o f th e panel s. Th e end
sto ps 1 0 4 ar e sh o w n r aised ab o v e th e q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6.
Th e per iph er al tr o u g h 1 20 , th e ar cu ate tr o u g h 1 1 0 ar e
sh o w n r ecessed b el o w th e su r f ace 1 0 6a o f th e q u ar ter
panel 1 0 6. L ik ew ise, th e b o w l 1 1 4 is sh o w n r ecessed
b el o w th e su r f aces 1 0 60 o f th e q u ar ter panel s 1 0 6. Th e
sh af t 96 is sh o w n in m o r e detail . I n th e pr ef er r ed em
b o dim ent th e sh af t 96 co m pr ises an o u ter pl astic m em
b er su ch as m ade b y pl astic pipe co m po nents as ar e
r eadil y av ail ab l e. An o u ter pipe 1 4 0 is to pped w ith a cap
1 4 2, th e cap 1 4 2 h av ing a h o l e 1 4 3 th er eth r o u g h , f o r
r eceiv ing th e h o o k 92 at a th r eaded end po r tio n 92a.
Th e th r eaded end po r tio n 92a o f th e h o o k 92 ? ts
th r o u g h th e h o l e 1 4 3 and a nu t 92b m o u nts th er eo n
ab u tting th e end cap 1 4 2. Th u s, th e h o o k 92 can su ppo r t
th e end cap and th e o u ter pipe 1 4 0 g l u ed th er eto .
I n th e b o w l 1 1 4 th er e is m o u nted centr al l y a r einf o r c
ing w ash er 1 50 a w h ich is r iv eted th r o u g h th e b o w l 1 1 4
to a m ating r einf o r cing w ash er 1 50 1 7 l o cated o n a b o t
to m side o f th e b o w l 1 1 4 . Th e r einf o r cing w ash er 1 50 a
and th e m ating r einf o r cing w ash er 1 5% can b e identical
pieces. I n th is em b o dim ent f o u r r iv ets 1 52 ar e u sed
th r o u g h th e b o w l 1 1 4 to m ate th e tw o w ash er s 1 50 a,
1 5% . Th e pipe 1 4 0 ter m inates at th e b o w l 1 1 4 in a ? r st
co u pl ing 1 56 g l u ed to th e pipe 1 4 0 w ith a do w nw ar d
extending th r eaded po r tio n 1 56a w h ich pr o ceeds
th r o u g h a centr al aper tu r e 1 58 f o r m ed th r o u g h b o th th e
r einf o r cing w ash er s 1 50 a, 1 50 b and th e b o w l 1 1 4 .
B el o w th e m ating r einf o r cing w ash er 1 50 b , a seco nd
co u pl ing 1 60 w ith a f em al e th r eaded po r tio n 1 60 a ex
tending u pw ar dl y, eng ag es w ith th e m al e th r eaded po r
tio n 1 560 o f th e ? r st co u pl ing . Th u s, th e tr ay is captu r ed
b etw een th e ? r st co u pl ing 1 56 and th e seco nd co u pl ing
1 60 . A seco nd pipe 1 64 is g l u ed into th e seco nd co u
pl ing 1 60 and extending do w nw ar dl y. I nser ted inside
th e ? r st pipe 1 4 0 and extending do w nw ar dl y th r o u g h
th e ? r st and seco nd co u pl ing s and th r o u g h th e seco nd
pipe 1 64 is a steel r o d o r pipe 1 68 w h ich pr o v ides b end
ing r ig idity to th e sh af t 96 al o ng its l eng th .
F I G . 4 al so sh o w s th e pad 1 0 7 m o u nted o n to p o f th e
su ppo r t su r f ace 1 0 6a to pr o v ide a cu sh io n f o r th e b a
nanas pl aced th er eo n. Th e cu sh io n can b e adh esiv el y
attach ed to th e su ppo r t su r f ace 1 0 6a o r h av e appr o pr i
ate cu t-o u ts f o r r eceiv ing appu r tenances o f th e tr ay to
ef f ectiv el y r etain th e pad 1 0 7 o nto th e su ppo r t su r f ace
1 0 60 .
F I G . 5 sh o w s th e sh af t 96 in m o r e detail sh o w ing
po r tio ns o f tw o tr ays 86 ar r ang ed th er eal o ng . I nto th e
seco nd co u pl ing 1 60 w h ich is l o cated at a b o tto m tr ay
86 o f th e b anana car r ier 76, a sto p pl ate 1 70 is inser ted.
Th e steel r o d 1 68 is r etained into th e b anana car r ier 76
b ysetting u po n th is sto p pl ate 1 70 . Th e steel r o d 1 78 is
o th er w ise no t r eq u ir ed to b e attach ed to th e end caps o r
th e pl astic pipes 1 4 0 , 1 64 , and 1 74 sh o w n in F I G . 5.
F I G . 6 sh o w s an al ter nate em b o dim ent o f th e b anana
car r ier 20 0 . Sh o w n is a to p tr ay 20 4 h av ing f o u r q u ar ter
panel s 20 6. Th e q u ar ter panel s ar e b o r der ed b y r adial
tr o u g h s 20 8, a per iph er al tr o u g h 21 0 , and a centr al
5, 287, 973
5
cir cu l ar ar ea 20 9. Additio nal l y, inter m ediate tr o u g h s
21 2 can b e ar r ang ed o n th e q u ar ter panel s 20 6 to assist
in dr aining b anana l atex do w n into th e centr al ar ea 20 9.
Th e r adial tr o u g h s 20 8 f u nctio n to r em o v e b anana l atex,
w ater o r o th er ? u ids f r o m th e per iph er al tr o u g h 21 0
do w n into th e centr al ar ea 20 9 and al so can r eceiv e
? u ids f r o m th e q u ar ter panel s al o ng th e l eng th o f th e
r adial tr o u g h s 20 8. Su r r o u nding th e centr al cir cu l ar
ar ea 20 9, w h ich is r ecessed l o w er th an th e to p su r f ace
20 6a o f th e q u ar ter panel s 20 6, ar e l o cated el ev atio ns
21 6. Th e el ev atio ns 21 6 ar e spaced ar o u nd a per im eter
o f th e centr al cir cu l ar ar ea 20 9 in b etw een r adial
tr o u g h s 20 8 and centr al tr o u g h s 21 2. Th e el ev atio ns 21 6
r estr ain b ananas f r o m enter ing and cl o g g ing th e centr al
ar ea 20 9. Adr ainag e h o l e 220 is pr o v ided in th e centr al
ar ea 20 9 to dr ain th e accu m u l atio n o f l atex w ater o r
o th er ? u ids.
F I G . 7 sh o w s in m o r e detail th e str u ctu r e o f th e b a
nana car r ier 20 0 . Po r tio ns o f tw o tr ays 20 4 ar e sh o w n
al th o u g h th r ee o r m o r e tr ays can b e u til iz ed al so . Th e
h o o k 92 w ith th e nu t 92b ar e r etained f r o m th e pr ev io u s
em b o dim ent. Th e b o o k and nu t ar e captu r ed b y a cl o
su r e cap 24 2 h av ing an o pen f em al e th r eaded end 24 21 ) .
Th e cl o su r e cap h as at a seco nd end o r to p end an aper
tu r e 24 20 f o r r eceiv ing th e h o o k th er eth r o u g h to b e
captu r ed th er ein. Apipe sectio n 24 0 h av ing a th r eaded
? r st end 24 0 a and a th r eaded seco nd end 24 G b is ar
r ang ed f r o m th e cl o su r e cap th r o u g h a centr al aper tu r e
1 51 o f th e centr al cir cu l ar ar ea 20 9. Sim il ar to th e pr ev i
o u s em b o dim ent r einf o r cing w ash er s 1 50 a, 1 5% ar e
u til iz ed o n o ppo site sides o f th e centr al ar ea 20 9. Th e
pipe sectio n is th r eaded into th e cl o su r e cap 24 2 to b e
h el d th er eb y. Th e seco nd th r eaded end 24 0 1 ; is inser ted
th r o u g h th e aper tu r e 1 51 and captu r ed b eneath th e
centr al ar ea 20 9 b y a th r eaded co u pl ing 260 th r eaded
o nto th e seco nd end 24 0 b . A l o o k nu t 256 is em pl o yed
o n to p o f th e centr al ar ea 20 9 and th r eaded o nto th e
pipe sectio n 24 0 . Th u s, th e l o ck nu t 256 and th e
th r eaded co u pl ing 260 tig h tl y captu r e th e centr al ar ea
20 9 and th e r einf o r cing w ash er s 1 50 0 , 1 50 b th er eb e
tw een. Th e th r eaded co u pl ing 260 h as th r eaded th er e
into a seco nd pipe sectio n 274 ar r ang ed axial l y w ith th e
? r st pipe sectio n 24 0 . Th e seco nd pipe sectio n is in
ser ted th r o u g h th e aper tu r e 1 51 and captu r ed o n eith er
side, to p and b o tto m , o f th e centr al ar ea 20 9 o f th e
b o tto m tr ay 20 4 w ith l o ck w ash er s 256.
I n th e pr ef er r ed em b o dim ent, th e pipe is ' 1 inch
th r eaded pipe. Th e cl o su r e cap 24 2 is actu al l y a %
inch -i inch pipe r edu cer . Th e h o o k o r eye b o l t is a 3
inch eye b o l t.
I n a pr ef er r ed em b o dim ent, th e tr ays ar e f o r m ed and
m o l ded f r o m pl astic w h ich m ak es th em co st ef f ectiv e,
l ig h tw eig h t, du r ab l e and r u st-f r ee. Th e v ar io u s tr o u g h s,
el ev atio ns, and f o r m atio ns f o r m ed th er eo n per f o r m
dr ainag e and b anana r etaining f u nctio ns and al so ser v e
to str eng th en th e pl astic tr ay as discu ssed ab o v e. Th e
pipes 1 4 0 , 1 64 , 1 74 and th e pl u r al ity o f end caps and
co u pl ing s, ar e al l co m m er cial l y av ail ab l e pl astic pipe
? tting s. Th e pipes 24 0 , 274 can b e steel , g al v aniz ed
steel , stainl ess steel , al u m inu m , o r o th er m etal . Th e
r einf o r cing w ash er s 1 50 a, 1 5% ar e m etal str u ctu r al
el em ents. H o w ev er , th e inv entio n is no t l im ited to th e
par ticu l ar l y descr ib ed m ater ial s o f co nstr u ctio n as o th er
appr o pr iate m ater ial s o f co nstr u ctio n su ch as steel , al u
m inu m o r o th er m etal s, pl astic, w o o d o r canv as is en
co m passed b y th e pr esent inv entio n.
Al th o u g h th e pr esent inv entio n h as b een descr ib ed
w ith r ef er ence to a speci? c em b o dim ent, th o se o f sk il l in
e-A
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
50
55
65
6
th e ar t w il l r eco g niz e th at ch ang es m ayb e m ade th er eto
w ith o u t depar ting f r o m th e sco pe and spir it o f th e in
v entio n as set f o r th in th e appended cl aim s.
I cl aim as m yinv entio n:
1 . Ab anana car r ying tr ay co m pr ising :
a su r f ace f o r ar r ang ing b ananas th er eo n;
a r ecessed centr al ar ea, said su r f ace sl o ped to w ar d
said centr al ar ea;
a dr ainag e h o l e ar r ang ed in said centr al ar ea th r o u g h
said tr ay; and
a tr o u g h f o r m ed into said su r f ace and sl o ped to w ar d
said centr al ar ea, said tr o u g h co m m u nicating f o r
? o w into said centr al ar ea.
2. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 f u r
th er co m pr ising th r ee additio nal tr o u g h s, said tr o u g h
and said th r ee additio nal tr o u g h s ar r ang ed r adial l y ex
tending f r o m said centr al ar ea to an o u tside per im eter o f
said su r f ace, div iding th e su r f ace into f o u r panel seg
m ents.
3. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 ,
w h er ein said tr ay co m pr ises at l east o ne additio nal
tr o u g h f o r m ed into said su r f ace, ar r ang ed sl o ping
to w ar d said centr al ar ea o f said tr ay, said tr o u g h and
said at l east o ne additio nal tr o u g h div iding said su r f ace
into panel seg m ents.
4 . A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 3,
w h er ein said su r f ace is cir cu m scr ib ed b y a per iph er al
tr o u g h , said per iph er al tr o u g h ar r ang ed to dr ain into
said tr o u g h and said at l east o ne additio nal tr o u g h .
5. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 3,
w h er ein said tr ay is cir cu l ar in sh ape and said panel
seg m ents co m pr ise f o u r q u ar ter panel s o f said tr ay.
6. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 5,
w h er ein said tr ay f u r th er co m pr ises a pl u r al ity o f end
sto p m em b er s ar r ang ed ar o u nd a per iph er y o f said tr ay.
7. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 5,
w h er ein each said q u ar ter panel co m pr ises at its inner
side r aised f o r m atio ns f o r r etaining said b ananas l aying
th er eo n.
8. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 5 f u r
th er co m pr ising a r einf o r ced centr al aper tu r e f o r r eceiv
ing a m eans f o r h ang ing said tr ay th er ef r o m .
9. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 f u r
th er co m pr ising a cu sh io n pad o v er l ying said su r f ace.
1 0 . A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 9,
w h er ein said cu sh io n pad co m pr ises a po l yf o am pad
adh esiv el y secu r ed to said su r f ace.
1 1 . A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 ,
w h er ein said tr ay f u r th er co m pr ises a pl u r al ity o f end
sto p m em b er s ar r ang ed ar o u nd a per iph er yo f said tr ay.
1 2. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 ,
w h er ein said su r f ace co m pr ises a pl u r al ity o f r aised
f o r m atio ns spaced apar t and su r r o u nding said r ecessed
centr al ar ea f o r r etaining said b ananas o n said su r f ace
and o u t o f said r ecessed centr al ar ea.
1 3. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 2,
f u r th er co m pr ising f o u r inter m ediate tr o u g h s, each in
ter m ediate tr o u g h l o cated centr al l y w ith in each o f said
f o u r panel seg m ents and extending r adial l y f r o m said
r ecessed centr al ar ea to said o u tside per im eter o f said
su r f ace.
_ 1 4 . A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 3,
w h er ein said su r f ace is cir cu m scr ib ed b y a per iph er al
tr o u g h , said per iph er al tr o u g h ar r ang ed f o r ? o w co m
m u nicating into said tr o u g h and said th r ee additio nal
tr o u g h s.
1 5. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 4 ,
w h er ein said tr ay f u r th er co m pr ises a pl u r al ity o f end
5, 287, 973
7
sto p m em b er s ar r ang ed ar o u nd a per iph er y o f said pe
r iph er al tr o u g h ; and w h er ein each o f said f o u r panel
seg m ents co m pr ises at its r adial l y inw ar d side, r aised
f o r m atio ns f o r r etaining said b ananas into said f o u r
panel seg m ents.
1 6. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 5
f u r th er co m pr ising a r einf o r ced centr al aper tu r e f o r
r eceiv ing a m eans f o r h ang ing said tr ay th er ef r o m .
1 5
20
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35
4 5
50
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8
1 7. A b anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 6
f u r th er co m pr ising a cu sh io n pad o v er l ying said su r
f ace.
1 8. Ab anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 1 f u r
th er co m pr ising a r einf o r ced centr al aper tu r e f o r r eceiv
ing a m eans f o r h ang ing said tr ay th er ef r o m .
1 9. Ab anana car r ying tr ay acco r ding to cl aim 2 f u r
th er co m pr ising a cu sh io n pad o v er l ying said su r f ace.
it t t i i