Patents Examined by Gerald A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5556180
    Abstract: A filing cabinet drawer which includes a plurality of spaced retainers provided along a bottom wall of the drawer for retaining lower ends of the articles contained in the filing cabinet drawer. A support member is provided for supporting the articles in the filing cabinet drawer in such a manner that the articles are held in a substantially upright position. Ledges are provided on spaced side walls of the cabinet drawer with the ledges being provided with spaced openings so as to enable an adjustment of the support member in dependence upon the number of articles inserted into the cabinet drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: General Metalcraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Regis R. Miller, George E. Mellor, Theodore W. Norman, Sr., Mary V. Jamieson, Michael J. Thompson, Willis Sherrod, Sr., Dana H. Clarke, Jerome D. Webb, Robert D. Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 5553935
    Abstract: A readily disassemblable cabinet for a liquid dispensing system includes a supporting frame assembly having a base plate and a shelf, and further includes readily removable front, rear, and side panels and a separately removable top support and top panel. Readily removable metal rods are provided to secure individual base, shelf and top support components to the frame assembly. Such rods permit the quick removal of the system components and thus facilitate routine maintenance of the liquid dispensing system while minimizing the number of tools required to service the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Elkay Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lowell C. Burnham, Robin R. Saar, Knute Alstad, David W. Wendt
  • Patent number: 5553936
    Abstract: An appliance including a compartment liner having a back wall, side walls, and rounded corners connecting the back wall to the side walls includes a shelf mounting system having a linear portion secured to the back wall, a hooked portion forming one edge of the linear portion and a folded leg forming an opposite edge. Spacer members extend between the linear portion and the back wall of the liner. A vertical series of slots to receive shelf brackets is laterally offset to the outside of a vertical series of fastener apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Dasher, Brian P. Kelley
  • Patent number: 5549378
    Abstract: A panel adjustment component for adjusting the incline a front panel of a drawer with railings and a front panel makes use of an angle member having a horizontal leg fastenable in a hollow railing of the drawer and a vertical leg to which the front panel is connected by a threaded bolt. An incline adjustment of the front panel is achieved by a threaded nut engaging the threaded bolt and disposed rotatable in an opening formed in the vertical leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Grass AG
    Inventor: Guenter Grabher
  • Patent number: 5549377
    Abstract: A low-cost, low-noise, and low-weight, high strength three-piece slide assembly is provided for use with cabinet drawers. The slide assembly includes a corrugated drawer-side member having a first corrugated surface with elongated corrugations having a first extending longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of drawer travel, and a cabinet-side member having a second corrugated surface with second corrugations extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. Also included is a corrugated intermediate member sized and shaped for sliding movement between the drawer-side and the cabinet-side members. The intermediate member includes a drawer-facing surface having third corrugations, and a cabinet-wall-facing surface having fourth corrugations. The third and fourth corrugations are respectively mateably engageable with the first and second corrugations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Bert Krivec
  • Patent number: 5549054
    Abstract: A shelf extender for use on supermarket and like shelves is made from a sheet of plastic which has an adhesive strip or other attachment along a back edge thereof for securing same to the top surface of the shelf with a front portion of the sheet projecting beyond the front edge of the shelf. The front portion of the sheet has fold-down tabs which engage the front edge of the shelf to form cantilever supports or buttresses for the sheet when it is under load. Fold-up strips along the front and sides of the sheet form a surrounding wall for the shelf extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Fast Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk Lewis
  • Patent number: 5547271
    Abstract: A method and device for storing and sorting laundry is disclosed comprising one or more elevated laundry bins each with a top end opening and a normally-closed drop bottom. The bins are elevated above a laundry work area so that laundry contained within each bin is released to the laundry work area upon opening the drop bottom. One or more laundry bins can be combined adjacent to each other to form a multiple bin unit which sorts laundry by receiving laundry within the separate laundry bins. The method includes storing the laundry until the volume of a bin is filled whereupon it is released to a laundry machine having a load volume equal to the bin volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Susan M. Rydell
  • Patent number: 5547269
    Abstract: A switchboard or a display board for an electric monitoring and control system is comprised of at least two modular elements, the modular elements having visible sides of the same regular contour or of a multiple of said regular contour, the visible sides of the modular elements abutting each other to form a continuous pattern constituting a visible side of the switchboard or display board. Each modular element comprises a surface element forming the visible side and side walls projecting backwards from the surface element, the surface element having edge portions projecting outwards of the side wall and forming a peripheral region, the edge portions having outer edges with mating tongue and groove profiles whereby abutting surface elements of the modular elements may be plugged together while leaving gaps between adjacent ones of the side walls below the projecting edge portions, and the side walls being formed with undercut locking grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventors: Erwin Bernecker, Josef Rainer
  • Patent number: 5547273
    Abstract: A rotary file cabinet defined by a base member on which is mounted a cabinet housing having two oppositely disposed access openings, wherein each opening is defined by a pair of support posts on which is mounted a canopy, wherein an improved rotary file assembly is rotatably mounted in the file cabinet and comprises an intermediate partition in which is formed a coaxial axle housing adapted to house an axle assembly that includes a central axle fixedly positioned between the canopy and the base member, whereby the rotary file assembly can be selectively positioned between an open or closed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Walter E. Hudnall
  • Patent number: 5540491
    Abstract: A bed, desk and cabinet assembly includes a bed, a desk and a cabinet and six supporting posts for supporting the bed, the desk and the cabinet to a predetermined position. The bed is disposed above the desk and the cabinet. Accordingly, a multi-functional assembly is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Teng-Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 5540493
    Abstract: An encapsulated shelf with pre-encapsulated bracket, and preferably adapted for use in refrigeration and/or freezer compartments, includes a glass or other panel supported by a support such as a bracket having a cover encapsulating a substantial majority thereof and a flange extending into and interconnecting with a rim formed separately from the panel and around an edge of the panel. The rim and cover preferably engage and cooperate with one another. A slide rail may be integrally formed in one piece with the encapsulating cover. The support includes holes extending through the support for mechanical interconnection with the rim and cover. The support may also be provided with a mounting portion adapted to couple with a refrigerator wall or the like at a variety of vertical locations. The rim may further define a spill dam to contain spills on the panel surface, while additional brackets or stiffeners may be included for extra wide shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignees: Donnelly Technology Inc., Gemtron Corporation
    Inventors: Edmund J. Kane, Robert S. Herrmann, Craig S. Bienick, Gregory T. Wolters
  • Patent number: 5536077
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in removing hazardous material I from an elongated pipe P comprises an elongated upper work section 41 from which a plurality of in-line lower debris collection and disposal bags 47 depend. The upper work section and the bags are made of flexible sheet material. The upper work section has a bottom formed with a plurality of in-line chutes 52 that extend between adjacent bags. A plurality of gloves 48 are mounted to the upper work section. Upon wrapping and securing the upper work section about a pipe with the chutes inclined therefrom, insulation may be manually worked from the pipe and channeled by the chutes into the bags for collection and storage. A method of manufacturing the apparatus from two continuous webs of flexible material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Kurt D. Ross
  • Patent number: 5536082
    Abstract: The disclosed device relates to an improved system for mounting a game playfield within a game cabinet. The device provides pivotal and sliding movement of the playfield with respect to the cabinet while allowing quick removal of the playfield entirely from the game cabinet. The game cabinet is provided with a groove on each side thereof and spring-biased pivot pins are mounted on the playfield for travel within a respective groove in the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Williams Electronics Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Ritchie, Peter Piotrowski, Carl Biagi
  • Patent number: 5533798
    Abstract: A lock system for casegoods, such as desks, cabinets, storage units, wardrobes and the like, includes an elongated, flexible tape or lock member having a plurality of spaced lock studs positioned thereon. A lock actuator moves the tape between unlocked and locked positions. Catches are mounted on the drawers, doors and the like of the article. When the flexible tape is moved to the locked position, the lock studs block or prevent opening movement of the drawers or doors due to contact with the catches. The flexible tape is routed through channels or other mounting structure formed in panels and tops of the article of furniture. An interlock mechanism, which may be integrated with the lock member, includes a lock lever, a cable attached to the lock lever and a plurality of interlock cams. Control members on the drawers rotate the cams to take up the cable causing the interlock lever to pivot and engage the lock member, thereby moving the lock member to a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Feldpausch, Phillip D. Carino, Frederick S. Faiks, David M. DeBoer, Samuel J. Ellison, Daniel N. Siegrist
  • Patent number: 5531516
    Abstract: A cabinet for compact disc containers including a stand provided with an upper plate and a lower plate and formed with a vertical slot, a plurality of holders each being a U-shaped member with a cross member and two legs each leg extending from an end of the cross member, a stud extending downwardly through the hole of the upper plate to engage the recess of one of the holders at an upper position, and a plurality of retainers each formed with a circular portion, a rectangular portion and a neck portion between the circular portion and the rectangular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Jung-Ching Peng
  • Patent number: 5527105
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the shelf life of fresh food products that provides magnetic strips, matting formed from the strips, and pads having magnetic north sides and magnetic south sides, wherein the negative magnetic north sides of the magnetic strips or pads are arranged to impinge on the fresh food products stored in a low-temperature environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: George Riach, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5524555
    Abstract: There is disclosed a portable treatment table. That is light weight and able to stably handle heavy loads. The table being folded into a portable configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: John M. Fanuzzi
  • Patent number: 5524981
    Abstract: A molded refrigerator shelf useful for containment of spills on the shelf includes a shelf member with a rim molded around the perimeter edge of the shelf member to form a liquid tight seal between the rim and the shelf member. The molded rim projects above the top surface of the shelf member to form a liquid dam for containing spills to the shelf member. The shelf is cantilevered upon support brackets from the rear wall of a refrigerator. The support brackets are adapted to support the shelf at a plurality of vertical positions. The support brackets are integrally molded with the molded rim, or separately formed and attached to the rim during molding. Slide tracks are optionally provided on the support brackets for slidably receiving and supporting a storage bin or drawer beneath the shelf. Also, a drain is optionally provided to drain a spill from the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Donnelly Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Herrmann, Edmund J. Kane, Donald C. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 5524554
    Abstract: A pallet used for stacking various types of catering and food service equipment is disclosed. The pallet has a floor which includes an upper surface and a lower surface. A forward wall and end wall and a pair of side walls extend upwardly from the top surface. A pair of rear legs, a pair of intermediate legs, and a pair of forward legs extend downward from the lower surface of the floor. The forward and intermediate legs define openings which will receive and interlock with the handles of the catering equipment. Likewise, the rear and intermediate legs define a pair of rear openings which will receive the upwardly extending handles of the catering equipment thereby interlocking the pallet and the catering equipment. The pallet also includes a downwardly extending rear support beam which has a transverse slot disposed therein. The transverse slot is a means for receiving handles of certain types of catering equipment so that the catering equipment and pallet will interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Continental Carlisle, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wilson, David M. Shannon
  • Patent number: 5524976
    Abstract: A cabinet for storing cassette tape containers including a base provided with a center with a vertical axle having an annular groove engaged with a retainer ring, a rotating member having four radial legs each formed at an outer end with a conical through hole with a large diameter at an upper end and a small diameter at a lower end, a plurality of balls having a diameter slightly larger than the small diameter of the conical through hole but smaller than the large diameter of the conical through hole, a plurality of plugs each disposed within the conical through hole and having a spherical recess at a lower end thereof located on one of the balls, a plurality of supporting rods having lower ends each vertically mounted in the conical through hole, a plurality of arms having a U-shaped portion and pivotally connected with the supporting rods, and a cover engaged with upper ends of the supporting rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Jung-Ching Peng