Patents
US 10557740 B2: Bin level indicator
- Granted
- 2020-02-11
- Filed
- 2018-06-01 application 15996159
- Type
- Utility · 22 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
A bulk material storage bin has an upright wall supporting a plurality of vertically spaced indicators providing a person with visual information regarding the level of the bulk material in the bin. The indicators have bright color and dark color surfaces that are selectively displayed to provide a person with information of the level of bulk material in the bin. An actuator located in the bin cooperates with a motion transmission apparatus to move visual members to an ON position displaying the bright color when the bulk material engages the actuator and to an OFF position displaying the dark color when the actuator is free of bulk material. The motion transmission apparatus includes a rod movably retained on an O-ring held on a mount device secured to the side wall of the bin. A yoke supporting an endless flexible member mounted on the rod is connected to the visual members whereby movement of the rod moves the visual members between the ON and OFF positions.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg200211.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTJ ENTERPRISES, INC 3 patents | US company or organization | Roseau, MN | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas C. Johnson | Roseau, MN | 6 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| G01F | Measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level; metering by volume | G01F23/0007 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| E04H | Buildings or like structures for particular purposes; swimming or splash baths or pools; masts; fencing; tents or canopies, in general | E04H7/22 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| B65D | Containers for storage or transport of articles or materials, e.g. bags, barrels, bottles, boxes, cans, cartons, crates, drums, jars, tanks, hoppers, forwarding containers; accessories, closures, or fittings therefor; packaging elements; packages | B65D90/48 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-11 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | JOHNSON, THOMAS C. signed 2018-06-05 | LTJ ENTERPRISES, INC. ROSEAU, MN | 46040/232 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.