Patents Examined by Erica B. Harris
  • Patent number: 6854611
    Abstract: A lock for preventing inadvertent removal of a first frame component from a second frame component of an adjustable storage system. The lock includes a housing having a distal end extending into the first frame component, a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and being movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the housing, with the distal end thereof extending into the second frame component when the shaft is in the extended position and not extending into the second frame component when the shaft is in the retracted position, a head being slender and elongated, joined to the proximal end of the shaft, and extending radially outwardly therefrom, radially outwardly through the housing, when the shaft is in the extended position and the retracted position, and a spring joined between the head and the housing and biasing the shaft into the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Excel Storage Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Powell
  • Patent number: 6837387
    Abstract: A modular product display is formed from a first upper module and one or more intermediate modules supporting a plurality of exhibiting grates. The grates may include a grate sliding system to facilitate, i.e., restocking and which helps to keep the exhibited products the frontal part of the grate display so a consumer may easily reach the products contained in the modular product display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Sabritas, S.De R.L. De C.V.
    Inventor: Ramon De La Fuente
  • Patent number: 6820758
    Abstract: The locking connector interconnects a shelf-supporting beam to an upright of a knock-down storage rack. The locking connector includes a plunger which is connected to the connector and which is slidable between locking and unlocking positions. The plunger, when in the locking position, is within one of a number of openings formed in the upright with resulting locking of the upright to the connector. When the plunger is in the unlocking position, it is outside the opening thus allowing the upright to be separated from the connector. The first embodiment of the locking connector includes a resilient rod which is biased into a groove formed in the shank of the plunger when the plunger is in the locking position. The rod prevents the plunger from moving from the locking position unless a force, opposed to the bias of the rod, is applied to the plunger to cause the rod to withdraw from the groove. The second embodiment of the locking connector includes a housing which surrounds and protects the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: North American Steel Equipment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Trevor May, Rolf Fabricius, Stephan Davis
  • Patent number: 6820755
    Abstract: A beauty and hair accessories organizer for holding and neatly storing hair managing tools and beauty aids. The beauty and hair accessories organizer includes a support member having a front side and a back side and being adapted to be mounted to a structure in a building; and also includes a storage rack member being securely attached to the front side of the support member; and further includes a plurality of cup-like members being attached to the storage rack for supporting and holding hair managing items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Mike P. Ranjit
  • Patent number: 6811045
    Abstract: A shelf for a refrigerator includes a plate, a cross support, a side support, and a frame. The plate includes first and second surfaces. The frame is adhered to a first surface of the plate and forms a sealed spill containment area. The second surface of the plate adhered to a cross support or side support for an easily manufactured and assembled spillproof shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Masker, Richard Anthony Stich, Milton Edward Rickert, Richard Alan Dillingham, Ellen Buell Throdahl, Lisa Carol Steelsmith
  • Patent number: 6811043
    Abstract: A slotwall panel storage system has a slotwall panel with a plurality of generally “T” shaped slots forming a plurality of generally “T” shaped slats and a hanger bracket for removably mounting a device on the slotwall panel. The hanger bracket includes a support portion, a first generally “J” shaped hook on one edge of the support portion and a second generally “J” shaped hook on an opposite edge of the support portion. A hook or storage device is attached to the support portion of the hanger bracket. The hanger bracket can have a spring arm for frictionally locking the hanger bracket on the slotwall panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Travis Michael Perkins, Thomas Wesley Arent, Todd Christopher Starr, Tyree Edward Sampson, Kenneth J. Rasche, Steven Edward Tolliver, Brent A. Junge, Duane A. Schmidt, Brian J. Stewart, Mark Allen Stout
  • Patent number: 6805250
    Abstract: A shelf assembly incorporates a divider apparatus for separating products on a shelf into adjacent rows. The shelf is formed from a series of spaced longitudinal wires and underlying, spaced support members extending transversely across the wires between opposite sides of the shelf. The divider apparatus has a plurality of divider panels each extending between the front and rear ends of the shelf at spaced intervals, each divider panel having an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edge of each divider panel extends downwardly through the shelf through a gap between a selected adjacent pair of wires, and has notches to engage over the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Inventor: V. John Ondrasik
  • Patent number: 6772890
    Abstract: A display panel includes a plurality of horizontal grooves that each have a throat open to the panel face and extend to an inner cavity for receiving an s-shaped hanger end portion of a bracket adapted to support articles. The groove has a compact cross-sectional shape including reduced opening and inner cavity widths and increased panel wall and throat wall thicknesses at the opening. The throat wall may be inclined to transfer compressive load forces from the panel wall engaged by the upper extremity of the hanger end portion. The inner cavity may have a bulbous shape and be provided with a reinforcing liner. Compact hanger end portions include central portions of increased length, and optionally inclined, to be fully supported along the throat wall. The compact hanger end portions may be provided by reshaping standardized bracket hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Commercial and Architectural Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney S. Campbell, Randy Breyer
  • Patent number: 6769554
    Abstract: A hair care appliance holder holds multiple hair dryers and curling irons in an orderly fashion. A base member has a plurality of openings, each opening receiving one of the appliances. A cord storage mechanism is associated with each of the openings for holding the electrical cord of the appliance being held within the opening. Each opening has a socket associated with it such that the plug of the appliance's electrical cord is received within the socket in order to establish electrical communication between the appliance and a source of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Elizabeth S. Udofiah
  • Patent number: 6766911
    Abstract: A display rack and bottle are provided with one defining a keyway and the other defining a key. When the key is in the keyway, the bottle label faces forward. Removing a bottle does not alter the relationship between the key and keyway ensuring that the bottle labels always face forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC.
    Inventor: Mark A. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6755310
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a can dispenser, including: a housing with a base unit and one or more stacking units removably disposed on the base unit, the base unit and the one or more stacking units defining together a plurality of vertical, arcuate, can-containing channels therein; edges of the vertical, arcuate, can-containing channels in the base unit extending to less than diameters of cans in the vertical, arcuate, can-containing channels so that the cans can be removed therefrom; and edges of the vertical, arcuate, can-containing channels in the one or more stacking units extending past diameters of cans in the vertical, arcuate, can-containing channels to hold the cans in place therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventors: Whit Hilton, Nancy Hilton Usher
  • Patent number: 6749073
    Abstract: A utility rack for organizing and storing a variety of clothing and accessory items commonly worn and used by law enforcement personnel. The utility rack includes several apparel supports and accessory supports, and more specifically, the utility rack includes a shoe-rack, radio support, microphone mount, apparel hook, hat-rack, utility belt hanger, vest hanger, and storage box all carried on an elongated post affixed to a base with adjustable footing for leveling the rack. The apparel supports and accessory supports are disposed at various levels along the height of the post for organizing the clothing and accessory items in a functional arrangement generally related to the manner in which the items are usually donned and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Amanda L. McNab
  • Patent number: 6745905
    Abstract: A refrigerator tray holds containers of individual beverages for dispensing the beverages one at a time. The tray has a ventilated support panel surrounded about its periphery by a frame of sidewalls. The support panel fits in the sidewalls so that the panel slants downward toward the front to gravity feed the beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC.
    Inventor: David Bernstein
  • Patent number: 6736277
    Abstract: An adjustable rack mount assembly for a computer rack includes a support member, a bracket positionable beside the support member for supporting one end of the support member in the rack, a pin configured to extend from the support member through a slot in the bracket for positioning the support member relative to the bracket, and a spring clip engageable with an end of the pin for retaining the pin in the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig Edward Lauchner, Joseph W. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 6726035
    Abstract: A retail display assembly generally comprises a display member, a display support, and first and second mounting brackets. The display support is attached to the display member and includes a first horizontal member and first and second vertical members attached to opposing ends of the first horizontal member. The first mounting bracket is attached to a first end of the display support and is structured for attachment to the vertical support. The second mounting bracket is attached to a second end of the display support and is structured for attachment to the vertical support. The second mounting bracket is horizontally adjustable along the display support to vary the distance between the first and second mounting brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Zadak
  • Patent number: 6726037
    Abstract: A merchandising display card for displaying products is a sheet that includes a number of slits that are adapted to receive tabs from the packaging of the products to be displayed. Each slit has a boss projecting into it. The boss is adapted to engage in a slot in the packaging tab. When the sheet is hung for display, the product is maintained thereon by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Conros Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok Velji Chandaria
  • Patent number: 6726040
    Abstract: A sectional rack that can be assembled without using any tool and type of fastener includes oblong-sectioned vertical posts having horizontal slots symmetrically provided on two opposite sides, and externally, gradually, downwardly expanding connecting members adapted to firmly attach to the vertical posts through engagement of ribs provided on inner wall surfaces of the connecting members with the horizontal slots on the vertical posts, and horizontal shelves having an internally gradually downward expanded short sleeve provided at each corner and being adapted to connect to the vertical posts by seating the short sleeves over the connecting members attached to the vertical posts. Further, channels are optionally hung on the vertical posts to support drawer-type baskets thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Protrend Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Henry Chen
  • Patent number: 6726038
    Abstract: A shelf for a rack is adapted to be secured between two vertical supports and is composed of a plate (22) having multiple securing holes (221) and various storage devices detachably mounted on the plate (22). The storage devices have multiple feet to mount in the securing holes (211) and fasten to the plate to compact space between adjacent shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Wen-Shan Ko
  • Patent number: 6722510
    Abstract: A wine rack includes a base, a plurality of arc-shaped partitioning plates, and at least one connecting rod. The base has an arc-shaped top. Longitudinal grooves are defined in the arc-shaped top and extend along a longitudinal direction of the base that is orthogonal to the arc-shaped top. Each arc-shaped partitioning plate has a first end adjacent to the base and a second end distal to the base. The first end of each arc-shaped partitioning plate is securely engaged in one of the longitudinal grooves, with each arc-shaped partitioning plate being located in a radial direction with respect to the arc-shaped top of the base. The second end of each arc-shaped partitioning plate has at least one hole. Storage spaces are defined by the arc-shaped partitioning plates and the base for receiving wine bottles. The connecting rod extends through the hole of the second end of each arc-shaped partitioning plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Ping-Fang Sen
  • Patent number: 6719155
    Abstract: A magnetic tool rack includes a magnet container that is internally divided into several compartments for separately holding small-size intense magnets therein and has two covers attached to upper and lower sides thereof, giving the whole rack an integral appearance. The magnetic tool rack may be mounted to a wall via brackets fixed to the magnet container at predetermined positions for magnetically holding different hand tools. The magnet container is made of a plastic material through integral injection molding to show one or more colors, and designs and patterns may be printed on a front side of the magnet container to create changes in the appearance of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Tsung Chang