US3855119A

US3855119A - Gold pan

Info

Publication number: US3855119A
Application number: US00388549A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Stephenson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-08-15
Filing date: 1973-08-15
Publication date: 1974-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-17

Abstract

An improved gold pan in which a riffle is integrally formed in the sloping side wall of the pan with the riffle spiraling downwardly and inwardly from a point adjacent the rim to a point adjacent the edge of the flat bottom portion of the pan. The riffle has a pronounced overhang on its lower edge to catch and hold back the heavy gold dust nuggets while permitting the overburden, (i.e., rocks, large grains of sand, etc.). The pan is used in a conventional manner by the miner.

Description

United States Patent [191 Stephenson [111 3,855,119 [4 1 Dec. 17, 1974 1 GOLD PAN [76] Inventor: Russell D. Stephenson, 155 W. Snell St., Sonora, Calif. 95370 [22] Filed: Aug. 15, 1973 21 Appl. N0.: 388,549

[52] US. Cl. 209/447,220/83 [51] Int. Cl B03b 3/00 [58] Field of Search 220/83; 259/4; 209/447, 209/506 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 646.382 3/1900 Collins 209/447 664066 12/1900 Tobin 209/447 l 444 752 .2/1923 Ord 209/447 2.178390 10/1939 Boekel r 209/447 2.771.755 9/1956 Costanzo 220/83 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 480,612 6/1961 Francew, 220/83 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.

Assistant Examiner.l0seph Man-Fu Moy Attorney, Agent, or FirmBlair & Brown [5 7 ABSTRACT An improved gold pan in which a riffle is integrally formed in the sloping side wall of the pan with the riffle spiraling downwardly and inwardly from a point. adjacent the rim to a point adjacent the edge of the flat bottom portion of the pan. The riffle has a pronounced overhang on its lower edge to ,catch and hold back the heavy gold dust nuggets while permitting the overburden, (i.e., rocks, large grains of sand, etc.). The pan is used in a conventional manner by the miner.

A v 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 GOLD PAN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved gold pan of the present invention has a circular flat bottom wall and a relatively long upwardly and outwardly sloping side wall extending integrally upwardly from the bottom wall. A riffle extends spirally inwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the side wall to peripheral edge of the bottom wall. The riffle has a curved overhang opening toward'the center of the pan to catch and hold the heavier gold dust or nuggets during the panning of gold. The overburden of rock and sand is permitted to escape the pan while the gold is retained therein.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a gold pan having a gold retaining riffle formed therein.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

which extends spirally inwardly and downwardly. from the peripheral edge .13 of the side-wall 12 to the peripheral edge 16 of the bottom wall 11. The riffle is undercut at 17 opening toward the center of the gold pair 10. I

In the use and operation of the invention a miner will scoop up a pan full of material from the bottom of a stream and while still holding it underwater gently shake it to and fro with the riffle portion facing the front of the pan. This action will dislodge rocks and large grain sand without loosing the gold dust or nug nipulated completely out of the water with the result again being the same.

The riffle is illustrated in the drawings particularly in FIG. 1 as spiraling inwardly and downwardly in a counter clockwise direction and. it should be understood that the direction of the riffle can be reversed to FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters indicate like partsthroughout the of the invention. 7

a clockwise direction if desired. In practical use of the gold pan of the instant invention a, considerable greater quantity of gold was recovered then when using an ordinary pansince all of the gold was retained Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations .may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1

What is claimed is:

1. In a gold pan, a circular generally flat bottom wall and an upwardly and outwardly sloping side wall integrally secured to the bottom wall along the peripheral edge thereof, said side wall having an outer peripheral edge, a deep spiral riffle integrally formed in said side several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates genv erally an improved gold pan constructed in accordance with the invention.

The improved gold pan 10 is normally formed integrally of metal and includes a circular flat bottom wall 11 and an upwardly and outwardly sloping side wall 12 integrally extending from the peripheral edge of the flat bottom wall 11. The side wall 12 has an outer peripheral edge 13 which forms the edge of the gold pan 10. The side wall 12 is thickened at 14 to form'a riffle 15 wall and extending spirally inwardly and downwardly from points adjacent the peripheral edge of said side wall to a point adjacent the peripheral edge of said bottom wall, and said riffle having an overhang opening toward the center of the gold pan, said riffle being formed by a portion of the side wallthat is of gradually increasing thickness adjacent said riffle. I

2. A device as claimed in claim I wherein the major portion of the riffle is spaced inwardly and away from the outer peripheral edge of the side wall so that the rif-v fle has a non-parallel relationship to the oute r peripheral edge of the side wall.

in the pan

Claims

1. In a gold pan, a circular generally flat bottom wall and an upwardly and outwardly sloping side wall integrally secured to the bottom wall along the peripheral edge thereof, said side wall having an outer peripheral edge, a deep spiral riffle integrally formed in said side wall and extending spirally inwardly and downwardly from points adjacent the peripheral edge of said side wall to a point adjacent the peripheral edge of said bottom wall, and said riffle having an overhang opening toward the center of the gold pan, said riffle being formed by a portion of the side wall that is of gradually increasing thickness adjacent said riffle.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the major portion of the riffle is spaced inwardly and away from the outer peripheral edge of the side wall so that the riffle has a non-parallel relationship to the outer peripheral edge of the side wall.