Patents by Inventor Reed Felton

Reed Felton 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: 6584916
    Abstract: An adjustable shelving apparatus including at least one shelving member and at least one upright frame member wherein the shelving member can be mounted to the frame member in each of a horizontal and a vertical position, the frame member forming a coupler assembly and the shelving member also forming a coupler assembly wherein the shelving member has a rear surface and at least one end surface, an end extending member extending laterally from the end surface and a rear portion of the shelf adjacent the rear surface forming another portion of the shelving member coupler assembly. The disclosure also includes a supportable member for use with the vertically mounted shelving member, the shelving member having a thickness between top and bottom oppositely facing surfaces and the supportable member having a bracket that receives the shelving member edge there by supporting a portion of the supportable member adjacent the shelving member edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Versatile Products LLC
    Inventors: J. Reed Felton, Douglas G. Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20020043187
    Abstract: A shelving assembly including at least one shelf member and at least one upright frame member wherein the frame member includes at least vertically arranged couplers and the shelf member includes two other vertically arranged couplers on one lateral edge where the couplers on either the shelf member or frame member include pins and the couplers on the other of the shelf and frame member include slot delineators and where the slot delineators open in the same direction so that, with the pins received within the slot delineators, the shelf member can be detached from the frame member by moving the shelf member in directions perpendicular to pin axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: J. Reed Felton, Douglas G. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6205934
    Abstract: A shelving apparatus for use with a rigid frame member wherein the apparatus includes at least one shelf member having a longitudinal axis and an end surface coincident therewith, first and second coupler pairs mounted to the shelf member and frame member, respectively, the second pair delineating a clearance region within a coupling plain, the couplers including first and second pins and first and second slot delineators which are operative to support the shelf in any of several different positions including at least one essentially horizontal position and which are configured and juxtaposed such that the shelf member can easily be dismounted from the frame member so that the first and second couplers pass into the clearance region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Versatile Products LLC
    Inventors: J. Reed Felton, Douglas G. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6053115
    Abstract: In the combination of a shelf and a shelf-supporting apparatus, the shelf has a longitudinal axis and an end surface coincident with such axis. The apparatus supports the shelf at the shelf end surface. In the improvement, the shelf includes first and second support pins extending from the end surface in a direction parallel to the axis. These support pins define a first spacing dimension. The apparatus includes a support member having a first or forward slot and a second or rearward slot. Each slot has a pin-support portion with a clearance region therebetween. The clearance region has first and second boundaries, the second slot includes a pivot portion and the pivot portion and the first boundary define a second spacing dimension slightly greater than the first spacing dimension. The combination is adaptable to a wide variety of shelf types and has particular utility when used in a store fixture for retail display of articles offered for sale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Versatile Products LLC
    Inventor: J. Reed Felton
  • Patent number: 5485928
    Abstract: A merchandise display rack has compartments for displaying products. Each such compartment has a rear panel, a front panel and a follower with a first panel portion mounted for movement toward the front panel when a product is removed from the compartment. The first panel portion and the front panel substantially abut one another when the compartment is emptied of products and the first panel portion and the rear panel substantially abut one another when the compartment is filled with products. The follower is guided along the bottom panel by a guide member which extends from the follower into a slot in the bottom panel. Such guide member has a mechanism for modifying its width to compensate for slot/guide member wear. Vertically adjacent compartments are staggered so that substantially the entirety of at least the lower compartment is readily visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: T. J. Hale Company
    Inventor: J. Reed Felton
  • Patent number: 5325641
    Abstract: The improved system is used for mounting a panel such as a sheet of dry wall or a plywood panel in a wall-like display structure of the type supporting wall panels having exposed exterior surfaces. The system includes a pair of studs such as sheet metal studs. Each stud has a flange surface (the narrow-edge surface of the stud) which is substantially coplanar with the flange surface of the other stud. A pair of upright members is interposed between the studs and each upright member includes a lip extending generally parallel to a stud flange surface. Several spring clips are attached to each lip and each clip includes an opening receiving a panel edge. Panels are thereby retained by the clips on the upright members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: T. J. Hale Company
    Inventor: J. Reed Felton
  • Patent number: 5285602
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a modular wall system of the type having a forward standard for attaching a merchandising display thereto. Such system also has a rearward pair of laterally-extending flanges, a web extending between each flange and the standard and at least one opening in each web for wall panel attachment. The improvement includes at least one (and preferably at least two) "slideby" brackets mounting a panel to a web. Each bracket has at least one tongue extending through the opening for slide-and-release panel mounting. The panel and attached bracket are thereby mounted or demounted without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: T. J. Hale Company
    Inventor: J. Reed Felton
  • Patent number: 5189850
    Abstract: The improved system is used for mounting a "wall standard," i.e., an elongate, slotted strip to which shelf support brackets are attached. The standard is in a wall-like display structure of the type having plural support studs. The improved system includes a box-like "filler" or spacer mounted between the studs. The spacer has at least one exposed edge used to attach a retention assembly for holding panels to the wall "skeleton." The assembly includes a pair of upright members which are commonly-shaped but mounted in inverted "mirror image" relationship one to the other. Such upright members each have several spaced tabs, each of which is "interposed" between tabs of the other upright member. Tabs of both upright members are attached to the first edge for panel support. Using commonly-shaped, inverted-mounted upright members increases installation flexibility and reduces parts inventory. Certain system features accommodate wall panels of differing thickness and mount panels for quick attachment and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: T. J. Hale Company
    Inventor: J. Reed Felton