Patents Examined by Erica B. Harris
  • Patent number: 6644482
    Abstract: An optical disk holding apparatus consists of a hanging unit and a holding unit. The hanging unit includes a plate member slightly larger than the optical disk, a snap clip located on the plate member for clipping the optical disk and a hanging hook extending from the plate member. The holding unit includes at least an elevated carrying member. The optical disk may be clipped by the snap clip and held on the hanging unit. The hanging unit may be hung on the carrying member through the hanging hook. A plurality of hanging units may be hung and housed in the holding unit for storing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sinta Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Chun Ku
  • Patent number: 6640978
    Abstract: An apparatus for securely storing a folding scooter or skateboard. The apparatus can be mounted on a wall in public places or at home. The apparatus supports the folding scooter or skateboard without exerting clamping pressure on the object held. The apparatus has a mounting plate, a locator plate and a gate that are connected together. The mounting plate secures the apparatus to a mounting structure, the locator plate positions the object to be secured and the gate inhibits removal of the object from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Foot-Pusher's Transit Authority, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Reiser, Theodor F. Gillebaard
  • Patent number: 6634511
    Abstract: A modular shelving system includes structural shelving components and connector shelving components for joining the structural shelving components together in a variety of configurations. Each structural shelving component has a face surface and elongated edge surfaces. A plurality of apertures are formed extending along the edge surfaces of the structural shelving component. A center-to-center distance between adjacent apertures is X. A distance between the centers of the apertures and the face surface is X/2. A distance between an end one of the apertures and an end of the edge surface is X/2. Each connector shelving component has a plurality of projections extending therefrom. A center-to-center distance between adjacent projections is X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Mark J. Manghera
  • Patent number: 6631813
    Abstract: An arrangement for hanging and displaying articles or for securing a receiving member for supporting and displaying articles thereon comprises a plug-in mount that is inserted into a supporting structure, and a support that is plugged into the plug-in mount. The support has at least one tongue that is plugged into a passage provided in the plug-in mount and articles may be hung directly from the support. Alternatively, the support is in the form of a shelf, of which the rear border can be plugged into the passage of the plug-in mount and upon which articles may be supported and displayed. The arrangement is suitable as a fitting for a single hanging member and for the construction of a complex display surface on a plurality of planes located one above the other and one behind the other, and allows individual design and variable utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Visplay International AG
    Inventors: Herbert Walter, Manfred Uecker
  • Patent number: 6622873
    Abstract: An assembly and associated installation method for a server or other electronic equipment enclosure installable into a rack by a single person without adverse tolerance stack-up problems. A mounting bracket is attached to each end of a sliding rail coupled to the server or other equipment enclosure. The mounting bracket includes pins which are inserted into mounting apertures in the posts of the rack to temporarily retain and hold the sliding rail in the rack. Subsequently, a single user can then insert screws or other mechanical fasteners to securely attach the mounting bracket and sliding rail coupled thereto to the rack. The mounting bracket is fixedly secured to the rack and the sliding rail is permitted to move, translate or pivot relative to the mounting bracket to account for tolerance stack-up issues or other abnormalities in the dimensional fit between the server and rack system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Matthew Hegrenes, Ray Clement Laning, Stephen Peter Mroz, Jason Joseph Newton, Kenneth Robert Peters
  • Patent number: 6619488
    Abstract: A corner shelf and the system to fix the shelf between corner walls, said system created with the minimum of elements, and hiding these elements with the lateral borders of the shelf. The corner shelf comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral face and a second lateral face where said first lateral face possesses a perforation parallel to the upper and lower surfaces; said second lateral face possesses a groove parallel to the surface, and terminating in a perforation being perpendicular to the lower surface. The system of fixation comprises a first fixation element introduced in a perforation located in said first lateral face; and a second fixation element whose horizontal body is introduced in a groove located in said second lateral face, the head of said second fixation element introduced in the perforation which terminates in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Inber SA
    Inventor: Alberto Bengoechea
  • Patent number: 6619490
    Abstract: A warehouse material-rack safety-netting system comprises left and right vertical extension posts that bolt to the face of the top bay of an open material rack. A two-part curtain netting that parts in the middle is supported between horizontal, parallel top-and-bottom wire ropes on hooks. The left and right edges of the curtain netting are hooked to the vertical extension posts with carabiners. In order to reduce inadvertent snagging, these hooks and wire ropes are critically attached along the middle line of the inside opposite-facing edges of the vertical extension posts. The front aisle-facing edges of these vertical extension posts are smooth and no part of the curtain netting extends past them when the curtains are fully closed. A latch is provided at the center to secure the two-parts of the curtain netting together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Michael J. Calleja
  • Patent number: 6615992
    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: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P.
    Inventors: Craig Edward Lauchner, Joseph W. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 6609619
    Abstract: A method of retaining a rack slide supported computer enclosure in a rack system having column flanges includes attaching a latch to the computer enclosure, sliding the computer enclosure into the rack system, and engaging a column flange with the latch as the computer enclosure is slid into the rack system. A method of releasing a rack slide supported computer enclosure in a rack system having column flanges pushing on a latch arm having two latch catch slots so that the latch arm clears a column flange, and pulling the computer enclosure outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ryan C Abbott
  • Patent number: 6609620
    Abstract: A storage rack column protector (30) is designed to protect a column (12) from damage from a straddle or outrigger type fork truck. If one of the outrigger forks is aimed at and heading toward the protected column (12), a ramp (36) on the protector raises the offending outrigger fork and thus also the wheel of the fork truck. Should the fork truck continue advancing, a stop (38) will bring the outrigger fork and the fork truck to a complete stop before it makes impact with the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Interlake Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen B. Kautz, Robert D. Gruber
  • Patent number: 6607085
    Abstract: The closet hiding place includes a plurality of telescopic channels that can be adjusted relative to each other to extend the length of a wall above a closet door. The channels are either generally rectangular or semicircular with an open top and simulate a duct when installed in a closet. The channels are mounted to the wall by the extension of fasteners through slots along the upper edge of the back wall of each channel. The front and bottom walls are longer than the back wall to enable the channel to sit flush against the wall. The open top enables a user to place items in the channels to obscure the items from the view of unauthorized persons such as thieves or small children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Pavlic
  • Patent number: 6601715
    Abstract: A load-bearing plank-like member is adapted to be supported by its ends on support members having peg members engageable with complementary apertures in the plank member. The plank member is of hollow cross-section and incorporates at least one internal longitudinal web disposed parallel to the upper, load bearing surface of the plank member, the web being spaced from the underside of the plank member by a distance less than the length of said peg members. Vertically aligned complementary apertures are formed in the underside of the plank member and in the web, whereby when the plank member is engaged with the support member each of the pegs engages with apertures both in the underside of the member and in the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: L. B. Plastics Limited
    Inventor: Terence Hardy
  • Patent number: 6598753
    Abstract: A foldable umbrella stand having two spaced apart upright posts with at least one grid frame and at least one water collecting tray pivotally connected to upper and lower ends of the upright posts. Connecting rods are provided on the lateral sides of the grid frames and the water collecting trays to movably connect them together. The umbrella stand thereby can be stretched and positioned for placing therein umbrellas, and can be folded into a flat form with a small volume for storage and transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Tseng Yi Ming
  • Patent number: 6595379
    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: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: United Steel Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Powell
  • Patent number: 6595378
    Abstract: A combination display rack includes a plurality of rack units, and locating pins fitted into respective pin holes in the rack units to secure the rack units to one another, each rack unit including four rectangular sideboards and a bottom board, the sideboards having coupling slots for enabling the sideboards to be coupled to one another, two of the sideboards having a respective coupling groove for the mounting of the bottom board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Wen-Tsan Wang
  • Patent number: 6591996
    Abstract: A framework includes a support rail, at least one bracing element, and at least one shelf. The support rail is provided with a slide slot. The bracing element has a fastening portion and a retaining portion. The fastening portion is used to fasten the shelf. The retaining portion is formed of a slide block and a connection portion located between the slide block and the fastening portion. The slide block is slidably received in the slide slot of the support rail, whereas the connection portion juts out of the slide slot of the support rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Luck Money International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 6588609
    Abstract: A display device stand with rotatable storage apparatus including a stand having a top and a first cylindrical tube extending downward from the top. The apparatus further includes a carousel beneath the stand top. The carousel has a base and a second cylindrical tube extending upward from the base. The first and second cylindrical tubes have a coaxial relationship relative to one another. A base plate elevates the carousel and maintains an elevated position of the second cylindrical tube relative to the first cylindrical tube. The elevated carousel rotates about the first cylindrical tube of the stand and on the base plate without touching a surface upon which the stand and base plate rest. The carousel may be divided into storage compartments having varying shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Kensington Technology Group, a division of ACCO Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno L. A. Richet, Michael A. Simonian
  • Patent number: 6585122
    Abstract: A pallet rack safety net system comprises two parallel horizontal wire ropes that are stretched along the top and bottom edges of a shelf opening. A pair of hung left and right screens of flexible netting are attached between the top and bottom wire ropes so that they can be horizontally separated at the middle of the shelf opening. The inside vertical edges of each screen are finished with a metal bar and a clasp so the screens can be latched together at the middle. The outside left and right edges of the screens are secured to the outside of the shelf opening. If used on a top shelf that has no supports at each side of the opening, a pair of support posts are included that hold aloft the top horizontal wire rope. A network of stays and guys are used to reinforce each such post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Michael J. Calleja
  • Patent number: 6585117
    Abstract: A modular organizer includes a plurality of walls, two faceplates, and a plurality of shelves. In a storage mode, the walls and shelves of the organizer are stored within the containing walls of the faceplates. The containing walls of the faceplates are each equipped with an exterior edge that presents an uneven outline. When the uneven outlines of each faceplate are positioned adjacent each other, a substantially sealed interface is created containing the walls and shelves within. In an organizer mode, the walls are supported by, and serve to separate the faceplates. The shelves are placed within the structure formed by the walls and are positionable between a display and storage position. Each faceplate of each modular organizer is identically configured to incorporate at least one post and hole pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Safco Products Company
    Inventors: Pamela R. LaFontaine, Stanley R. Thorud
  • Patent number: 6585118
    Abstract: A modular display system for death care merchandise includes a pair of vertically extending, free-standing, laterally spaced, side wall members. Each side wall member comprises a pair of lateral spaced, parallel side panels connected to one another to form a forwardly open chamber between the side panels. A rear wall extends across the rear portion of the side wall members to form a three-sided, alcove-like configuration. The rear wall may take several forms depending upon a variety of shelving designs for displaying a variety of death care products in an efficient, attractive manner. A slidably mounted, vertically oriented, slide-out display panel or drawer may be inserted into the chamber formed between the side panels of a side wall member and a decorative front cover may be removably mounted over each side wall member to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Douglas E. Kellogg