Patents Examined by Robert W. Gibson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6685032
    Abstract: A rack for supporting off the floor the side mounted motorcycle bags used to carry items on motorcycles while the bags are removed from the motorcycle such as for cleaning or storage. The rack is of a generally A-frame or saw horse configuration, having a main support frame which folds for more compact storage. The main support frame comprises a pair of upright frames which are pivotally connected to an upper longitudinal support member. The upright frames are inwardly inclined from vertical extending along the upper longitudinal support member. A bag mounting bracket assembly is connected to each of the upright frames for removably connecting and supporting one motorcycle bag, which bag mounting assemblies utilize at least some component parts used to mount the motorcycle bags to an actual motorcycle. A pair of trays are secured to a top portion of the main support member for holding various items during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Michael J. Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 6681941
    Abstract: A multi-purpose storing and organizing assembly for effectively storing items. The multi-purpose storing and organizing assembly includes a main member and a pair of side members. The main member has an open main front face, a pair of main side walls, a top end and a bottom end. A plurality shelves extend out from an inside surface of the main side walls. The shelves are spaced a predetermined distance away from each other. A pair of item holding members for hanging items on is coupled to an inside surface of the top end of the main member. Each side member has an open front side face. In addition, each side member has a connecting side. The connecting side of each side member is selectably attachable to an outside surface of an associated side wall of the main member. Moreover, each side member includes a top compartment for storing items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Kevin D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6679390
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench storage adapter for use with a prior art storage mechanism for sockets. The ratchet wrench storage adapter comprises a ratchet wrench coupling opening bounded by a wrench receiving opening edge that is further coupled to an storage adapter clip. The adapter can then be coupled to the ratchet wrench and also to a prior art storage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Ron Wallen
  • Patent number: 6679391
    Abstract: A wrench support rack assembly includes aligned first and second confining members. Each of the confining members defines a groove, and has opposing first and second groove-defining faces confining the groove and spaced apart from each other by a first distance. A pressing member includes an L-shaped first leg disposed proximate to the first confining member, an L-shaped second leg disposed proximate to the second confining member, and a bridging portion interconnecting the first and second legs and having an abutment face spaced apart from a plane which is co-planar with the second groove-defining faces of the first and second confining members by a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Stanley Chiro International Ltd.
    Inventor: Steve Huang
  • Patent number: 6679392
    Abstract: A hanger assembly comprises a housing, an outer rail, an inner rail and a slide member. The housing defines a chamber with at least one longitudinal opening. Within the chamber, the outer rail is fixedly mounted in a substantially parallel position relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The inner rail is slidingly engaged to the outer rail. The slide member is slidingly engaged to the inner rail. At least a portion of the slide member extends from the chamber through the at least one opening in the housing. The slide member is constructed and arranged to be moveable relative to the inner rail and the inner rail is constructed and arranged to be moveable relative to the outer rail, such that when the slide member is moved relative to the inner rail, the inner rail is simultaneously moved relative to the outer rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sidelines, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Costa
  • Patent number: 6679393
    Abstract: In a releasable locking device, which is useful at a beam-to-column connection in a storage rack, a housing having a lateral wall with two parallel slots has an end wall at an outer end and is open at the inner end, a locking pin having an internal portion movable within and along the lateral wall is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, toward which the locking pin is biased, and an outer sleeve is movable outside and along the lateral wall of the housing and is connected to the locking pin via a connecting pin extending through the locking pin, through the parallel slots, at each end to the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has an external flange to facilitate pulling of the outer sleeve to move the locking pin toward the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Unarco Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlton David Weaver, Linda P. Lascara
  • Patent number: 6675980
    Abstract: The present invention provides a storage device comprising: (a) at least one rigid mounting body comprising: (i) a shaped end of the mounting body portion, capable of supporting a load, (ii) a retention device attachment end of the shaped mounting body portion, (b) a retention device removably attached, to the attachment end of the shaped mounting body portion, the retention device comprising: (i) a cargo control track insert, the insert having upper and lower notches which define at least one adjacent resilient finger which extends beyond the opposing edges of a receiving member receptacle, (ii) a positive engagement latch, movably mounted on the retention device, the positive engagement latch being movable between a notch blocking position and a release position, and (iii) a positive engagement latch operating means, mounted on the retention device, capable of selectively enabling moving said positive engagement latch between the notch blocking position and the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Glenn Alan Ehrgott
  • Patent number: 6675976
    Abstract: A rack assembly includes a nineteen-inch sub-assembly coupled to a four-inch extension that comprises two substantially closed side panels adjacent to each other, two substantially open sides adjacent to each other, a closed top and bottom, a plurality of mounting flanges for attaching the extension to a nineteen-inch sub-assembly and a plurality of embossments for receiving mounting hardware for installing the sub-assembly and extension into a twenty-three-inch rack. The four-inch extension is formed not only to allow a nineteen-inch rack sub-assembly to be installed in a twenty-three-inch rack, but also is formed to conduct air exhausted from a side of the nineteen-inch sub-assembly towards a rear end of the twenty-three-inch rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: White Rock Networks
    Inventors: Joseph Steinman, Greg Lowe
  • Patent number: 6675977
    Abstract: A dual band dishwasher clip which is suitable for retaining and preventing undesired movement of articles such as lightweight, typically plastic articles, in a dishwasher rack during operation of an automatic dishwasher. The dual band dishwasher clip includes a pair of dishwasher clip fasteners for engaging the dishwasher rack. An elastic band engages the dishwasher clip fasteners, and each of the dishwasher clip fasteners includes a rack-engaging mechanism for receiving the dishwasher rack and a pair of spaced-apart spacers provided on the rack-engaging mechanism and engaging the elastic band. The spacers define a pair of engaging band segments of the elastic band which extend between the dishwasher clip fasteners and engage and secure the articles in the dishwasher rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Charles K. Parks
  • Patent number: 6672465
    Abstract: A television stand includes a shelf made of a ferrous sheet metal that helps shield a television or other audio/video items from the magnetic field of a nearby center-channel speaker. Other features of the stand include an open design to promote natural, convective airflow that helps cool audio/video components; numerous parts sharing a common material thickness for ease of manufacture; infinitely repositionable center supports; combination cable collector and bumper; metal grain-like finish with a clear protective coating; shelves and side panels with integral flanges for stiffness and/or mounting purposes; and the use of acorn nuts for not only fastening, but also for helping to prevent the television from being accidentally slid off the top shelf of the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Rite Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. White, Susan L. Farrell
  • Patent number: 6669034
    Abstract: A wardrobe rod with two brackets includes a tensioning device for tensioning the wardrobe rod along its longitudinal direction. The tensioning device includes a tension member that longitudinally transfixes the wardrobe rod formed as a tube. Its centerline extends beyond its ends displaced with respect to the centerline of the wardrobe rod, and lies at least in the displaced area on contact surfaces of an insert that is supported by the inner wall area of the wardrobe rod opposite the tension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Manfred Diedrichsen & Co.
    Inventor: Manfred Diedrichsen
  • Patent number: 6669037
    Abstract: Modular display racks, which are easily configurable, have interchangeable components, and are capable of being packaged and shipped in small containers, are described. Preferred methods for using modular display racks are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: LA Display Fixture, Inc.
    Inventor: Chong Youn Ahn
  • Patent number: 6669029
    Abstract: A mounting system for operably and compactly storing one or more electrical devices includes an elongated shaft structure having a component mounting portion and a support mounting portion, the component portion having a plurality of apertures disposed therein, with the apertures being disposed in a predetermined array that is configured to universally receive mounting implements from respective electronic devices to thereby secure the electronic devices to the mounting bracket in a substantially horizontally stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Edge Solutions
    Inventor: Timothy Paul Beane
  • Patent number: 6669031
    Abstract: A holder for an article, especially a tooth brush, includes a holder body having on an inside wall thereof at least one oblong shaped resilient portion radially inwardly extending to the center portion of the holder body which upon insertion of the article into the holder exerts pressure on the article to hold the article or having at least one oblong shaped non-resilient portion embedded in an elastic portion ensuring the bending of the non-resilient portion. At a lower portion of the holder body a funnel shaped inlet hole is positioned for inserting of the article and at an upper portion of the holder body a surface having an attaching hole is positioned for fixing of the holder spatially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: Miroslav Badonic
  • Patent number: 6669033
    Abstract: A suction-type rack includes a suction cup, a cover, a tightening knob, and an article-holding frame. The article-holding frame is provided with a fastening portion which is fastened to a threaded rod of the suction cup by the tightening knob. The threaded rod of the suction cup is engaged with the tightening knob via a through hole of the cover. The fastening portion of the article-holding frame is located between the cover and the tightening knob such that a locating projection of the fastening portion is securely retained in a locating slot of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: Bing-Tson Lian
  • Patent number: 6666340
    Abstract: A rack rail assembly having an adjustable length that can be installed, without any tools or loose hardware, into a rack having mounting holes that are square or circular. It is also preferred that the rack rail assembly be reversible and able to support sliding and fixed deployment modes as well as cable mounting equipment. Accordingly, one preferred embodiment of the rack rail assembly comprises inner and outer rail members that are slidingly engaged. The rail members are adjustable lengthwise to be able to be used with various depth racks. The assembly further comprises a primary locking mechanism that locks the rails together at the desired length. The primary locking mechanism is further coupled to a biasing mechanism that allows the rails to be compressed for installation within a rack. Each end of the rail assembly has at least two pins that interface with mounting holes located in the rack. Preferably, the pins are capable of interfacing with circular or rectangular mounting holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ray G. Basinger, John R. Grady
  • Patent number: 6666342
    Abstract: The present invention is to a lockable railing trough. The railing trough may have end panels, forming a bin. The locking mechanism comprises a mechanically separate item from the trough. The trough or bin may be hung on a railing, perhaps on a man lifter, by a hook portion of the trough or bin and locked there with the locking mechanism, which engages the trough or bin and not the railing. The trough or bin may hang on the inside of the railing or on the outside of the railing. Matched pairs of troughs and/or bins may be arranged in saddle-bag fashion, with their hook portions overlapping over the railing. A plurality of bins and troughs may be used on a plurality of railings on a single man lifter. The bins and troughs may be adapted to particular work environments such as painting, electrical work, or plumbing. The troughs and bins may comprise compartments, trays, tool tethers, and other adaptations to particular work requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: H/T Fabricators, LLC
    Inventor: Robert D. House
  • Patent number: 6666343
    Abstract: A knife rack to attach to a freestanding grill is made of metal plates comprises a front piece and a rear piece. The front piece includes a base, a vertical face and a horizontal face. Both the horizontal face and base are perpendicular to the base and extend to the rear piece. The rear piece is positioned under the horizontal face and includes a rear face with a top edge, a bottom edge, two sides, two parallel wings extending from opposite sides toward the front piece, a top lip and a bottom lip. The top lip is attached to the horizontal face. The bottom lip extends away from the front piece and has multiple holes so screws can fasten the bottom lip to a shelf of a grill. Multiple blade slots are defined through the horizontal face to hold the knives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: George C. M. Liu
  • Patent number: 6659292
    Abstract: A rack mountable system unit includes a housing having first and second sides. First and second elongate plastics slides are secured to respective sides of the system unit. Each plastic slide is dimensioned to slide within a rack mountable rail and is tapered at one end thereof to facilitate insertion into the rail. The tapered end of the slides facilitates insertion into the rails and the use of plastics facilitates sliding. The maximum height of the slide is dimensioned to slide within the rack mountable rail. To further facilitate the sliding of the system unit along the racking, the sides include narrower portions alternating with portions dimensioned to slide within the rack mountable rail. The slides each have a flange and a releasable fixing at a front end thereof for securing the system unit to rack mountable rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Ronald Gough, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6655536
    Abstract: A device for displaying merchandise on a store shelf provides for arranging articles in rows with a pusher device for pushing the remaining articles forward on the shelf as each article is removed. A coiled spring operates to drive the pusher device for each row, the spring extending along a side rail having a hollow center in which the spring rides, the rail thus acting as a shield for the spring and preventing hand contact therewith which might cause injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventors: Merit Jo, Merit William