Patents Assigned to Metro Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5673983
    Abstract: A medication cart features a frame assembly formed from a plurality of vertical support posts and wall panels secured to the posts. Each support post has a plurality of equally-spaced, radially extending flanges running the longitudinal length of the post. The medication cart contains, in addition to an array of drawers and bins, a multi-level cassette assembly. An internal locking mechanism secures the cassette assembly when it is positioned in the medication cart, and an external locking mechanism secures the cassette assembly outside of the medication cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Carlson, David A. Reppert, Michael B. Burns, Jonathan M. Daugherty, Kenneth A. Stevens, Craig F. Orlove
  • Patent number: 5660122
    Abstract: An adjustable mounting system includes a tab having a plurality of holes formed thereon at first regular intervals horizontally across the tab, a member having a plurality of openings formed thereon at second regular intervals different from the first regular intervals. A fastener detachably connects the member and the tab by passing through one of the plurality of holes and one of the plurality of openings aligned with one of the plurality of holes. Panels have recessed portions formed on their surfaces between raised portions having a bisected-diamond shape. Planar articles, such as printed circuit boards and the like can be inserted in the recessed portions and held either horizontally or at an angle. The panels are removably mounted to a frame using the adjustable mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Willard J. Sickles, Jeffrey C. Olson, Andre F. Kabacinski
  • Patent number: 5651596
    Abstract: A modular drawer includes a drawer frame having a back panel, first and second side panels and a front panel secured together to form an open, bottomless frame. A drawer insert, having vertical walls and a bottom surface, is supported within the drawer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Carlson, David A. Reppert, Michael B. Burns, Douglas J. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 5647650
    Abstract: A modular storage and support assembly uses a platform system that includes vertically disposed support posts. The support post has an extended tubular body and a plurality of symmetrically spaced, radially extending flanges running the length of the tubular body. Each flange has a first portion extending radially from the post and a second portion at the terminal end of the first portion. A slot is defined between each pair of adjacent flanges for receiving vertical panels or other inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Daugherty, Kenneth A. Stevens
  • Patent number: 5645257
    Abstract: An adjustable support apparatus includes a vertical standard having a rail, a support member having an edge abutting the standard and a surface formed to fit flush with the rail, and a securing device for securing the support member to the standard. Preferably, the standard includes a channel into which the edge of the support fits. The rail couples to a corresponding bracket on the securing device. The securing device may be mounted on the support member through holes respectively located in the securing device and the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Ward
  • Patent number: 5601038
    Abstract: A supplemental shelving system for removably mounting shelves in an existing shelving structure features a pair of supporting grids vertically suspended from a horizontal shelf in the existing shelving structure, at least one removable shelf and S-shaped hooks for supporting the removable shelf from the supporting grids. The supporting grids are formed of a plurality of vertical and horizontal grid rails rigidly secured to each other. The hooks are secured to the horizontal grid rails and support the removable shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Welch, Cheryl L. Kniffin
  • Patent number: 5593461
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a caster includes the step of integrally forming a caster horn having a web portion with a bearing cup and a pair of opposed leg portions. The web portion and the leg portion define a U-shaped, wheel-accomodating space. The bearing cup is disposed on a surface of the web portion opposite from the U-shaped wheel-accommodating space. A first end of a stem is then pressed into a bearing assembly such that the stem is vertically rotatable with respect to the caster horn. The bearing assembly is seated in the bearing cup. The bearing assembly may be secured to the bearing cup by means of a retainer and a plurality of fasteners. The fasteners engage the caster horn, covering the bearing cup while allowing access to a second end of the stem. A wheel is rotatably supported within the U-shaped wheel-accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Reppert, James A. Kinion
  • Patent number: 5531167
    Abstract: A shelving system includes a horizontal polygonal base shelf assembly and a substantially identical horizontal top shelf assembly, a plurality of vertical support posts, and one or more intermediate shelf assemblies positioned between the top shelf assembly and the bottom shelf assembly. Each intermediate shelf assembly is supported by hanger brackets which are removably secured to the support posts. Each hanger bracket is provided with a locking clip for securing the intermediate shelf and the hanger bracket to the support posts. In this manner, each intermediate shelf assembly can be quickly installed and removed without the necessity of disassembling the other components of the shelving system, and the installed intermediate shelf can be securely mounted in the shelving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stevens, Bradley J. Carlson
  • Patent number: 5501345
    Abstract: A garment holder assembly supports garments while being disposed in either of two different attitudes. The assembly includes an elongated rigid support structure with a plurality of spaced, interior dividers. A hook extends from one or more dividers to support the garment holder assembly in a horizontal attitude. A link secured to one end of the support structure can be connected to a hook for supporting the assembly in a vertical attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Hilstolsky, Westcoat Beakley, Raymond A. Longo, William H. Scott
  • Patent number: 5482168
    Abstract: A modular wall-mounted storage system includes at least one shelf, at least one horizontal bar, at least one pair of shelf brackets, and at least one pair of vertical uprights. Each shelf bracket includes structure for supporting a shelf and structure for engaging at least one horizontal bar. Each vertical upright includes a slotted support structure for receiving and supporting at least one horizontal bar at a variety of vertical and horizontal locations thereof, wherein each horizontal bar may be received and supported on a pair of vertical uprights at a variety of vertical and horizontal locations relative to each vertical upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Welch, Michael A. Ward
  • Patent number: 5423251
    Abstract: A modular "knock-down" type shelving system having adjustable height shelves includes a plastic support post having a generally right equilateral triangular cross-section. The support post is composed of pultruded thermosetting plastic having unidirectional E Glass fibers extending therethrough and a thermoplastic coating bonded to the outer surface thereof. The inner surface of the interior side of the support post is bowed outwardly. As a result, when a wedge member is disposed on the interior side of the post and the support post and wedge member combination supports by wedge action a sleeve comprising an end beam and a collar, the interior side of the support post is urged outwardly and is supported by the wedge member. The collar is locked to the end beam when a tongue of the collar passes through a slot in the end beam into a rotatable lock in a blind hole in the bottom of the end beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Kolvites, Robert J. Cohn, John H. Welsch, Willard J. Sickles, David T. Balazek, Rodney E. Brancher
  • Patent number: 5415302
    Abstract: A shelving system includes a horizontal polygonal base shelf assembly and a substantially identical horizontal top shelf assembly, a plurality of vertical support posts, and one or more intermediate shelf assemblies positioned between the top shelf assembly and the bottom shelf assembly. Each intermediate shelf assembly is supported by hanger brackets which are removably secured to the support posts. Accordingly, each intermediate shelf assembly can be quickly installed and removed without the necessity of disassembling the other components of the shelving system. Optionally, an overlay may be placed on one or more of the shelf assemblies. The overlay is removably secured at its perimeter to the shelf assemblies by means of a snap-on trim panel. The overlay and trim panel may have different selected textures, patterns, and colors to provide an inexpensive, easily changeable informational and decorative display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Carlson, David A. Reppert
  • Patent number: 5390393
    Abstract: A caster includes a U-shaped caster horn having a top web portion and two contiguous downwardly-extending leg portions to define a unitary, U-shaped member providing a wheel accommodating space. A wheel is rotatably supported in the space such that the caster horn partially covers the wheel, The caster horn features a fouling-resistant bearing cup integrally formed thereon for receiving and retaining a bearing assembly, which secures one end of an structure-supporting stem. A swivel cap with a hole formed in the center thereof is placed over the cup while allowing an opposite end of the stem to protrude therethrough. A brake mechanism supported by the caster horn may be operated to inhibit or prevent rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Reppert, James A. Kinion
  • Patent number: D366749
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Carlson, Jonathan M. Daugherty
  • Patent number: D366750
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan M. Daugherty
  • Patent number: D374323
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Carlson, Jonathan M. Daugherty
  • Patent number: D374601
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Olson
  • Patent number: D377429
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Olson
  • Patent number: D380455
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Willard J. Sickles, Jeffrey C. Olson, Andre F. Kabacinski
  • Patent number: D385444
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Welch, Willard J. Sickles, John G. Nackley