Patents by Inventor Charles E. Highsmith

Charles E. Highsmith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5845794
    Abstract: In a storage rack comprising two front columns, two back columns, and, at each tier, two side beams, a front beam, and a back beam, a front portion of each side beam projects frontwardly and a back portion thereof projects backwardly. The front portion has a fin projecting upwardly, a notch opening frontwardly below a front part of the fin, and a tab projecting backwardly from the fin. The front beam has a front wall, a back wall, and a lower lip projecting from a lower part of the front wall. Each slot receives the tab of a respective one of the side beams and the lower lip projects backwardly into the front notches of the side beams so as to secure the front beam to the side beams. The back beam is secured similarly to the back portions of the side beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Unarco Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith, deceased
  • Patent number: 5713476
    Abstract: In a storage rack, a beam is connected at one end to the column having a front wall with a vertical array of similar apertures and a side wall. Each aperture is wider at an upper region and narrower at a lower region. A flanged member has a side flange integral with the end of the beam and a front flange. A connecting pin mounted rigidly to the front flange and projecting through a selected aperture has an inner head narrower than the upper region of the selected aperture but wider than the lower region thereof and a shank narrower than the lower region thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Unarco Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Highsmith, Joseph F. Benton
  • Patent number: 5624045
    Abstract: In a storage rack, a beam is connected at one end to the column having a front wall with a vertical array of similar apertures and a side wall. Each aperture is wider at an upper region and narrower at a lower region. A flanged member has a side flange integral with the end of the beam and a front flange. A connecting pin mounted rigidly to the front flange and projecting through a selected aperture has an inner head narrower than the upper region of the selected aperture but wider than the lower region thereof and a shank narrower than the lower region thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Unarco Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Highsmith, Joseph F. Benton
  • Patent number: 5476167
    Abstract: A roller track for a storage rack arranged for gravitational flow of load-bearing pallets having two walls disposed in parallel relation to each other and a plurality of freely rotatable rollers journalled between the walls, each on a spindle, in such manner that the rollers extend upwardly from a space between the walls. Each wall has a separate aperture associated with a respective one of the rollers. Each roller is journalled on a spindle. Each end of the spindle has a shoulder portion larger than the associated aperture. Also, each end of the spindle has a pintle portion extending outwardly through the associated aperture, beyond the outer surface of the wall having the associated aperture. The roller track further has structures for securing at least some of the pintle portions to each wall where the secured pintle portions extend outwardly beyond the planes defined by the outer surfaces of such wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Unarco Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith
  • Patent number: 5279431
    Abstract: In a storage rack comprising a front beam, a back beam, and a crossbar extending therebetween, the front beam having a vertical wall facing backwardly and a horizontal ledge extending backwardly, the back beam having a recess wall facing frontwardly and a recess ledge extending frontwardly, a first slot is provided in one such wall and a second slot is provided in the other wall. The crossbar has a first tang extending from a first end and adapted to be initially inserted into the first slot and a second tang extending from a second end and adapted to be subsequently inserted into the second slot without removing the first tang from the first slot. Each end can sit firmly on a beam ledge with the tangs extending into the slots. The tangs have notches providing clearance for slot margins and end tabs preventing the tangs from being pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: UNR Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Highsmith, Dave Scottorn
  • Patent number: 5056642
    Abstract: A roller track for a storage rack arranged for gravitational flow of load-bearing pallets. Freely rotatable rollers are journalled, each on a spindle, between two parallel walls. Rollers of a first group are journalled on spindles bolted to the walls. Rollers of a second group are journalled on spindles held by but not bolted to the walls. Each of the latter spindles has, at each end, a shoulder portion larger than an aperture in one of the walls and a pintle portion fitted into the aperture. The pintle portion has a cylindrical wall and the aperture has a cylindrical margin. Along at least a substantial portion of the roller track, every third roller is a roller of the first group while every other roller is a roller of the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Unarco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith
  • Patent number: 4909402
    Abstract: For a shelving system or the like, a combination comprising a framework including a transverse member, a longitudinal divider having two legs that are spaced-apart by a predetermined distance except in a localized region along the longitudinal divider, and including a clip, which is adapted to be adjustably positioned along the longitudinal divider, for drawing the legs toward each other in the localized region. An outer, upturned flange extends from the lower end of each leg of the longitudinal divider. The transverse member has a plurality of pegs extending upwardly and being spaced uniformly from one another along the transverse member. Each peg has an upright portion and a transverse portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Unarco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith
  • Patent number: 4496061
    Abstract: A T-shaped bolt for use in securing two slotted members--such as an upright post and a horizontal beam in a pallet storage rack--to each other. The tee head of the bolt is dimensioned to be inserted in a pair of aligned slots of the two members that are to be secured to each other, and then rotated so that the ends of the tee head abut edge portions of the slot in the first slotted member, with the threaded shank of the bolt extending out through the slot in the second slotted member. The nut to be threaded on the bolt is a torque resistant nut, and thus when it is first turned it will cause the bolt to rotate until its specially shaped neck abuts the edges of one or both slots. At this point, the application of a predetermined minimum torque causes the nut to be turned further upon the bolt, until it is turned up tight against the second member and secures the two slotted members to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Unarco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith
  • Patent number: 4290370
    Abstract: A pallet assembly having upright posts that accommodate stacking under load conditions and are removable for storage. The posts are each rigidly held by a post-supporting assembly that has at least one wedge and a post-receiving socket. Each socket has an access opening for insertion of a post-release bar to facilitate removal of the posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Unarco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Gallagher, Michael E. Nadler, Charles E. Highsmith, Richard L. Minchey
  • Patent number: RE34924
    Abstract: A roller track for a storage rack arranged for gravitational flow of load-bearing pellets. Freely rotatable rollers are journalled, each on a spindle, between two parallel walls. Rollers of a first group are journalled on spindles bolted to the walls. Rollers of a second group are journalled on spindles held by but not bolted to the walls. Each of the latter spindles has, at each end, a shoulder portion larger than an aperture in one of the walls and a pintle portion fitted into the aperture. The pintle portion has a cylindrical wall and the aperture has a cylindrical margin. Along at least a substantial portion of the roller track, every third roller is a roller of the first group while every other roller is a roller of the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: UNR Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith