IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0072093
(2002-02-08)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Vogue Election Products & Services, LLC
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대리인 / 주소 |
Cook, Alex, McFarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
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A collapsible ballot box for collecting ballots from an electronic ballot tabulating machine includes a base assembly, and front and rear support assemblies pivotally attached to the front and rear ends of the base assembly. The three assemblies are foldable into compact and generally parallel-space
A collapsible ballot box for collecting ballots from an electronic ballot tabulating machine includes a base assembly, and front and rear support assemblies pivotally attached to the front and rear ends of the base assembly. The three assemblies are foldable into compact and generally parallel-spaced portions for transport and storage. In its storage state, the ballot box is a compact unit with wheels and a handle that can be comfortably transported and/or stored. The ballot box is easily transformed from the storage state to an upright voting state wherein the ballot tabulating machine is positioned at a convenient height for the voter by unfolding the assemblies. In its set-up or voting state, the ballot box receives ballots from the tabulating machine and stores them in one or more secure ballot compartments. An auxiliary ballot compartment can be provided in the front support assembly for receiving unmarked ballots.
대표청구항
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A collapsible ballot box for collecting ballots from an electronic ballot tabulating machine includes a base assembly, and front and rear support assemblies pivotally attached to the front and rear ends of the base assembly. The three assemblies are foldable into compact and generally parallel-space
A collapsible ballot box for collecting ballots from an electronic ballot tabulating machine includes a base assembly, and front and rear support assemblies pivotally attached to the front and rear ends of the base assembly. The three assemblies are foldable into compact and generally parallel-spaced portions for transport and storage. In its storage state, the ballot box is a compact unit with wheels and a handle that can be comfortably transported and/or stored. The ballot box is easily transformed from the storage state to an upright voting state wherein the ballot tabulating machine is positioned at a convenient height for the voter by unfolding the assemblies. In its set-up or voting state, the ballot box receives ballots from the tabulating machine and stores them in one or more secure ballot compartments. An auxiliary ballot compartment can be provided in the front support assembly for receiving unmarked ballots. media having an aperture therethrough, said container including means for retaining said disc-shaped media against movement within said cavity; wherein said container includes an external surface and an internal surface, and further including a support structure extending from said internal surface, wherein said structure is adapted to be inserted through said aperture so as to support and positively receive and retain said disc-shaped media; a storage device for receiving and storing materials other than said disc-shaped media, said storage device having internal and external walls and an opening therein, and further wherein a protuberance is provided on and extends from said internal wall about said opening to said storage device, wherein said protuberance comprises a lip rim and wherein said container further includes an external skirt member extending about said opening, said skirt member being of substantially the same size and shape as the area defined by said raised lip rim, wherein said skirt member is adapted to be received by said raised lip rim so as to secure said container to said storage device; and means provided on said container for removably attaching said container to said storage device by engaging said internal protuberance. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said support structure further includes at least one projection adapted to engage and retain said disc-shaped media. 5. The device of claim 3, further including a sealing member, wherein said sealing member includes an opening therein corresponding to said support structure and said support structure includes at least one flexible projection disposed at the end thereof, wherein said support structure is adapted to receive and retain said disc-shaped media and said sealing member, and said flexible projection engages and retains said sealing member on said support structure. 6. The device of claim 5, further including a safety seal for securing said container to said storage device. 7. A packaging device comprising: at least one disc-shaped media having an aperture therethrough; a container including a cavity having an opening therein for receiving at least one disc-shaped media, said container including means for retaining said disc-shaped media against movement within said cavity; a rigid object of the type having at least one substantially planar surface; means provided on said container for removably attaching said container to said substantially planar surface of said rigid object, wherein said means comprises a skirt member disposed on said container about said opening, and further wherein said container is attached to said rigid object by means of engaging both said skirt member and said rigid object. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said container includes means to snappingly engage said rigid object. 9. The device of claim 7, wherein said container includes means to slidably engage said rigid object. 10. The device of claim 7, wherein said container comprises a sleeve that protects and surrounds said rigid object against access prior to removal of said sleeve. 11. A method for packaging disc-shaped media together with materials other than said disc-shaped media, said method comprising the steps of: providing a storage device for receiving and storing said materials other than said disc-shaped media, said storage device having internal and external walls and an opening therein, and further wherein a raised lip rim is provided on and extends from said internal wall about said opening to said storage device; providing a device for packaging said at least one disc-shaped media comprising: a container including a cavity having an opening therein for receiving at least one disc-shaped media having an aperture therethrough, said container including means for retaining said disc-shaped media against movement within said cavity; and a skirt element provided on said container disposed about said opening, said skirt element being adapted to engage said raised lip rim to allow removable attachment of said container to said storage device; inserting said disc-shaped media into said cavity of said container about said means for retaining; removably attaching said container to said storage device by engaging said skirt member with said raised lip rim. 12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of attaching a safety seal about said container and said storage device. ially perfectly compressible connecting member comprises a first connecting member and a second connecting member, each having a distal end affixed to the dragging unit and a proximal end, said proximal end of said first connecting member being affixed to a first anchor point and said proximal end of said second connecting member being affixed to a second anchor point, said first and second anchor points being positioned on a portion of the apparatus other than the dragging unit; and wherein said dragging unit has a dragging length defined by a shortest distance between an anterior edge and a posterior edge, the anterior edge and posterior edge being defined relative to a preferred direction of motion of the tractor; and wherein said first connecting member has a length less than the difference between a first wheel distance and said dragging length; and wherein said second connecting member has a length less than the difference between a second wheel distance and said dragging length; and wherein said first wheel distance is defined by a shortest distance between said first anchor point and a point at which a wheel of the tractor contacts the ground when the apparatus is affixed to the tractor and said second wheel distance is defined by a shortest distance between said second anchor point when the apparatus is affixed to the tractor. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises a crossbar transverse to a preferred direction of motion of the tractor. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising lead and trailing arms coupled to said mounting element, and wherein each of said at least one connecting member is affixed to one of said lead and trailing arms. 11. An apparatus suitable to be affixed to a tractor, comprising: a dragging unit; a mounting element, adapted be affixed to the tractor; at least one connecting member adapted to affix said dragging unit to said mounting element; said at least one connecting member being substantially perfectly compressible; an actuator coupled to the tractor and adapted to move said dragging unit between at least a first position and a second position; and a gauge bar adapted to indicate to a user when the dragging unit is in said first position; wherein the apparatus is configured to position said dragging unit so as to contact a piece of the ground before a tire of the tractor. 12. An apparatus suitable to be affixed to a tractor, comprising: a dragging unit; a mounting element, adapted be affixed to the tractor; and at least one connecting member adapted to affix said dragging unit to said mounting element; said at least one connecting member being substantially perfectly compressible; wherein said dragging unit comprises a plurality of dragging elements affixed to one another by rotatable couplings so as to be free to rotate relative to one another about an axis parallel to the ground and perpendicular to a preferred direction of motion of the tractor; and wherein the apparatus is configured to position said dragging unit so as to contact a piece of the ground before a tire of the tractor. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said dragging elements comprise at least one piece of angle iron. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said dragging elements are affixed to one another by at least one joint bar. 15. An apparatus suitable to be affixed to a tractor, comprising: a dragging unit; a mounting element, adapted be affixed to the tractor; at least one connecting member adapted to affix said dragging unit to said mounting element; said at least one connecting member being substantially perfectly compressible; an actuator adapted to move said dragging unit between at least a first position and a second position; and a gauge bar adapted to indicate to a user when the dragging unit is in said first position; wherein the apparatus is configured to position said dragging unit so as to contact a portion of the ground before a
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