IP Library Granted Patent US 7,257,356
Granted Patent B2
US 7,257,356 · App. 11/532,646 · Granted Aug 14, 2007

Ergonomic toner cartridge

Assignee: Cartridge Corporation of America, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,257,356
App. No.
11/532,646
Granted
Aug 14, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toner cartridge with a handle formed centrally in a trailing end of the cartridge. The handle is dished to comfortably accept a hand and is adapted such that a user will recognize that said handle is dedicated to receiving the user's hand. The cartridge is therefore installed and removed without binding since the user's hand is centered as a result of the placement of the user's hand in said handle.

Claims (21)

1. A removable toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus comprising:

a wastebin;

a hopper;

a flat mounting surface adapted to receive a first circuit board;

a blocking structure that prevents placement of a replacement circuit board into overlying relation to said first circuit board;

a microswitch actuating tab formed on a wall of said wastebin;

a hopper torque tab receptacle adapted to receive a hopper torque tab formed in said hopper thereby limiting lateral movement between said hopper and said wastebin when a lateral force is applied to said hopper; and

a handle in the center of an end of the cartridge;

said handle adapted to direct a user's hand to the center of the cartridge when inserting or removing said cartridge from the cartridge receiving cavity of a printer.

2. The toner cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising an arch extending transversely across said waste bin's trailing end; said arch rising to a height sufficient to accommodate a user's fingers when said user's thumb is positioned on said handle.

3. A removable toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus comprising:

a wastebin;

a hopper;

a flat mounting surface adapted to receive a first circuit board;

a blocking structure that prevents placement of a replacement circuit board into overlying relation to said first circuit board;

a microswitch actuating tab formed on a wall of said wastebin;

a hopper torque tab receptacle adapted to receive a hopper torque tab formed in said hopper thereby limiting lateral movement between said hopper and said wastebin when a lateral force is applied to said hopper;

a handle in the center of an end of the cartridge;

said handle adapted to direct a user's hand to the center of the cartridge when inserting or removing said cartridge from the cartridge receiving cavity of a printer; and

an arch extending transversely across said waste bin's trailing end;

said arch rising to a height sufficient to accommodate a user's fingers when said user's thumb is positioned on said handle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2010
From: CARTRIDGE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
To: ADVANCED CARTRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 023950/0372 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2006
From: MILLER, STEVEN
To: CARTRIDGE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 018489/0184 →
Continuity (2)
Division 1074232300 · Dec 19, 2003
Related Publication 20070014592A1 · Jan 18, 2007