Abstract: A pallet assembly which is reusable and which is readily assembled and disassembled without the use of wedges, nails, rivets or other commonly used fasteners. The pallet is easily assembled into a hauling configuration for load transportation. The pallet may then be placed into a shipping configuration by disassembling the components and reassembling them into a more compressed configuration. As the shipping configuration has a height and volume which is substantially less than that of a typical pallet, a larger number of pallets may be stored in any given area. Shipment costs are thereby significantly reduced, making reuse of the pallet practical and economical.A method for inventory and shipping control is also described. This method for inventory and shipping control allows for the tracking and control of reusable items having data storage devices by the storage and retrieval of data onto the data storage device of the reusable item.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable, foldable reading tray. The reading tray includes a pair of tray members which is hinged to each other and pivotable between an operative position defining a desktop surface adapted to be inclined relative to the horizontal, and a stored position defining a hollow interior within said pair of tray members. At least one leg is coupled to each tray member and movable between an operative position supporting the desktop surface and a stored position within the hollow interior. A bolster is coupled to and extends across the desktop surface when in the operative position. A light may be coupled to one tray member and movable to a stored position wherein the light is protected by the bolster.

Abstract: A one-piece framework for holding the filter media of an air filter includes a pair of end walls integrally connected to a pair of frame members by a living hinge so that they may be pivotally moved between an assembled position and an unassembled position. A pair of sidewalls are integrally connected to the frame members by a living hinge only at their outermost ends so that they, too, may be pivotally moved between their assembled and unassembled position. Each of either of the sidewalls or end walls is provided with a tab-type latch which includes a button undercut at least a peripheral portion thereof. Each of the other sidewalls or end walls has an opening formed therethrough. The opening is defined by a wall shaped in accordance with and frictionally surrounding the undercut button in a snap-fit to hold the sidewalls to the end walls in an assembled state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support base for cabinets designed to house electrical and/or electronic apparatuses, and a cabinet equipped with such a support base. The support base comprises four corner blocks and four panels joining the corner blocks, the corner blocks each comprising an upper assembly plate and a lower assembly plate assembled to one another by vertical partitions, the upper plate comprising means for fixing the block to the frame of the cabinet, whereas the lower plate comprises means for fixing the block to the ground. These fixing means comprise two fixing orifices accessible respectively via the two external side faces of the block, each orifce having a fixing axis which is inclined by an angle of about 20.degree. with respect to the plane of the corresponding external face of the block. Each block comprises a vertical internal partition forming an angle of 45.degree. with the external faces of the block and comprising an opening for the passage of handling bars.

Abstract: A foldable bench type seating assembly is disclosed which may be retracted to a stored out-of-the-way position. A seat support is securable to a wall at a bracket. The seat support is pivotally attached to a leg. When the seating is folded, the seat support moves to a position with the seat cushion outwardly disposed and with the leg also closely adjacent the wall. The seating assembly may be provided with single or multiple level seating.

Abstract: A rigid cabinet for storing supplies, with the cabinet projecting outward into an area where personnel move about while attending to a patient with the rigid cabinet having a corner region with a recess therein having a resilient member located in the recess to form a cushioned corner on the rigid cabinet and a flexible exterior covering on the cabinet, with the exterior covering having a surface free of crevices as to provide a continuous exterior cabinet surface that can be wiped clean of contamination with the corner region of the cabinet formed by the combination of the flexible exterior covering and the resilient member to thereby provide cushioning to minimize injury to a person who might accidently bump into the corner region of the cabinet.

Abstract: A folding table adapted to be hooked to the handrail of a vertical railing is disclosed herein. The table includes a pair of upright supports comprising adjustable hooks to allow for different widths of handrails. A table top is pivotally mounted, between the upright supports, to a bottom portion of the upright supports. The folding table also includes a vertical adjustment device to allow the levelling of the table regardless of the construction of the railing. A safety screen extending from the table top to the top of the upright supports, prevents objects from directly falling off the table.

Abstract: Quick release rail members for a computer drive unit with an arm including a detent movable relative to a D-shaped slot provided in the frame of a computer unit. Using one hand, both rail members can be disengaged for easy removal of the drive unit from the frame.

Abstract: A tilt table is supported on one side of a base frame so as to be swung up about rollers allowing movement away from one side of a base frame. A pair of links are pivotally connected to the underside of the table and to the other side of the base frame table to tilt up as its one side rolls away from the base frame one side. A pair of air spring actuators is mounted in a space between cross pieces and fixed to the links and base frame to operate the tilt table.

Abstract: A lockable storage compartment can be mounted in and removed from a medicine cabinet housing in a manner similar to that in which the shelves are mounted and removed. The storage compartment includes a fixed panel and a movable panel. The movable panel is connected to the fixed panel by one or more hinges at the forward edge of the fixed panel and can be swung to open or close the storage compartment. The storage compartment may have a catch that is releasable only from inside the storage compartment for preventing removal of the storage compartment from the medicine cabinet when the storage compartment is closed and locked.

Abstract: An extension for a table or other furniture having a tubular leg. The extension has two cylindrical sections of lesser and greater diameter. The cylindrical section of lesser diameter penetrates into the tubular leg. The other cylindrical section is of diameter equal to that of the leg. Thus, the other section maintains the aesthetic effect of the leg, and also serves as a stop preventing excessive downward travel or migration of the leg onto the extension. In addition, a cap terminating the leg fits equally well onto the extension. Preferably, the extension is tubular, so that several extensions can be assembled onto the leg in stacked fashion if desired. In an alternative embodiment, the extension has a series of holes and a pin insertable into the holes, so that fine adjustment of the height of the furniture may be made.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a removable shelf system for a transport container. The removable shelf system includes shelves supported between opposed shelf supports. The shelf supports are supported in an upright position within an inner cavity of the container. The shelves may be removably supported relative to the shelf supports so that the shelves may be removed from the container when not in use or alternatively may be pivotally supported relative to the shelf supports so that the shelf system may be collapsed for storage.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet having a liner having sidewalls and a rear wall, each sidewall having a plurality of shelf supports mounted thereon, each shelf support including a supporting rail having a front portion and a rear portion separated by a gap, a cantilever half shelf and a full width sliding shelf mounted in the cabinet on the shelf supports, the sliding shelf having a depending stop in the gap engageable with the front portion of the supporting rail to stop forward motion, the cantilever half shelf having a cantilever arm cooperating with a bracket on the rear wall to prevent swinging motion, the cantilever half shelf also having a deflectable element or a plastic clip engageable with the front portion of the supporting rail to prevent swinging motion of the cantilever half shelf.

Abstract: A kitchen trash container system wherein a trash container is covered when it is within a kitchen sink cabinet enclosure and wherein the cover automatically opens when the trash container is caused to move outwardly from the cabinet. A latch type member is positioned at the lower portion of the housing, activation of the latch member by a user causing the trash container to move outwardly from the cabinet along a rail member, the cover portion opening during movement of the trash container. When the trash container reaches its outward extent, the cover is in the full open position and enables trash to be deposited in the container. Thereafter, the user pushes the trash container preferably with a knee back into position within the cabinet, the cover automatically closing on top of the trash container.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a corner desk for a computer aided design system, including: a horizontal, upper working surface having a lower surface and a substantially flush upper surface; and a supporting structure attached to and disposed beneath the upper working surface, the supporting structure having no members thereof which extend into a space defined by the lower surface of the upper working surface and distal corners of the supporting structure.

Abstract: An interlock apparatus for connecting a drawer slide member having a planar connecting surface to a slide receiving member having first and second substantially parallel surfaces is provided. The interlock apparatus includes a plurality of male interlock members integral with the drawer slide member, each interlock member defining a loop extending out of the plane of the connecting surface and having a first bearing surface thereon. The apparatus also includes a plurality of apertures disposed in the slide receiving member, each aperture defining a single uninterrupted second bearing surface. Each interlock member extends through an aperture to a mounted condition with the first and second bearing surfaces in contact with each other to connect the drawer slide and the slide receiving member together. The loops are retained in the mounted condition by pins therethrough or by retaining surfaces thereon.

Abstract: A storage device for thin, flat objects, includes a housing for supporting the device on a support surface, a stationary magazine mounted in the housing, the stationary magazine having a plurality of parallelly oriented storage spaces, a wall structure for retaining the objects in the storage spaces, the wall structure including a wall having an opening, the wall being at least partially slidable relative to the storage spaces so as to selectively align the opening with a desired storage space for insertion and removal of an object, and a removal assembly attached to the wall for removing objects from the storage spaces through the opening.

Abstract: An insulated appliance cabinet is provided comprising a mounting structure and a plurality of vacuum insulation panels retained by the mounting structure and positioned relative to one another so as to define a substantially completely enclosed insulation shell.

Abstract: A door and hinge apparatus allowing quick connection and disconnection with respect to a frame, such as a cabinet frame. The door includes at least two generally elliptical slots. The generally elliptical slots have an enlarged opening and a narrower slot portion located above the enlarged opening. Mounting posts having enlarged heads protrude from one hinge leaf. The door attaches by placing the enlarged openings over the enlarged heads and sliding the door to engage the narrow slot portions with the enlarged heads. An aperture in the second hinge leaf aligns with an aperture associated with the door, and a locking plug is inserted through both apertures to prevent the door from sliding off the mounting posts.

Abstract: A composite apron for a table can be fixed to a bottom surface of the table top between adjacent two of the legs. The apron includes a generally U-shaped wooden shell and a molded core embedded in the shell. The shell and the molded core are hot pressed together. The shell has an elongated vertical main plate section with a vertical inward surface and a vertical outward surface, two vertical end plate sections respectively and perpendicularly projecting from two ends of the inward surface of the main plate section so that the main plate section and the end plate sections cooperatively form a U shape, and a horizontal plate section projecting perpendicularly from a middle portion of the inward surface of the main plate section. When fixed on the bottom surface of the table top, the end plate sections of the shell respectively abut against and are secured to the adjacent two of the legs, while the horizontal plate section abuts against and is secured to the bottom surface of the table top.