Elements Patents (Class 211/183)
  • Publication number: 20030071002
    Abstract: A face plate bracket of a computer rack assembled for shelving electronic equipments is in the form of a long plate body; the section thereof is disposed with a right-angle bended edge; the said bended edge extends to one side, bends reversely and back again to form a bended portion in a n-shape; lock holes are disposed at a certain distance on the plate surface of the face plate bracket; the face plate bracket is fixedly locked on the inner side of an aluminum extruded machine rack frame so as to fix an expansion rod bracket for shelving the main set between two expansion rod brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Kuo-Chuan Hung
  • Patent number: 6523702
    Abstract: An elongate display track device has front and rear segments. The front segment has sidewalls with vertical channels therein to receive arm to support a product identification panel. A detent in each channel engages the scalloped surface of the bottom portion an arm to adjust the vertical position of the product identification panel. A foot is connected to the rear segment to elevate the rear of the track to assist gravity feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Primiano, Ming Sun
  • Patent number: 6520345
    Abstract: A relay rack assembly for the management of cross-connect products and a multiplicity of wires includes a base and top, each base and top having a plurality of guide portions extending therefrom, each guide portion including an engaging rib. Vertical members are coupled between the base and top by slots disposed in the sides of the vertical members receiving an engaging rib on the base and top. First and second fastener inserts are coupled to both the vertical members and the base and top, respectively, thereby securing the vertical members to the base and top. The attachment of the first and second fastener inserts and the engagement of the engaging ribs of the base and top and the slots of the vertical members supports the vertical members substantially square or perpendicularly to the base and top of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Marjana Marovic, Lee M. Drozdenko, Steven O. Fournier, Robert C. Baxter
  • Publication number: 20030029823
    Abstract: A shelf support assembly is provided having a shelf post and a post support. The post support contacts an end of the shelf post and limits movement of the shelf post wall from at least two directions, such as from the bottom and from the side. An adjustment element such as a threaded bolt is movable relative to the post support for adjusting the position of the shelf post relative to an underlying surface. In another embodiment, a post support is provided with a body having an extended support surface for supporting an extended surface on a shelf post. The extended support surface can also include a side surface for supporting a wall of the shelf post from the side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffery Nicholson, David Baugh, John Nazarian, V. John Ondrasik
  • Publication number: 20030019826
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for receiving and separating a plurality of hangers having respective necks. The apparatus comprises a body of a substantially rigid material extending along a longitudinal axis. The body has opposite first and second surfaces and is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart openings. The openings extend between the opposite first and second surfaces and are adapted for respectively receiving the necks of the plurality of hangers. The spacing of the hangers by the body inhibits wrinkling of garments or other objects carried by the hangers. The body is provided with first and second longitudinally-extending portions inclined at an angle relative to each other. The inclination of the first and second portions relative to each other provides rigidity to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Todd A. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20020170870
    Abstract: A shelf cover for use with open-wire shelving comprising: a substantially rigid extruded length of plastic including a continuous U-shaped edge dimensioned to clip on to an edge of the open-wire shelving. The continuous U-shaped edge can be present along a front edge or on a depending front lip dimensioned to coordinate with a depending front grating portion of the open-wire shelving. The shelf cover is formed from an extruded length of transparent, pigmented, or filled rigid plastic that is between about 1.0 and 5.0 mm in thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: J. Michael Callis
  • Publication number: 20020166831
    Abstract: Fittings for mounting on frame members of a switchgear cabinet framework, the frame members having a free space towards the outside corner edge of the framework, which free space forms a receiver, which is closed towards the interior of the framework, is open towards the outside corner edge and is mirror-inverted relative to the diagonal of the frame member. The fittings have a mounting plate the cross-section of which is adapted to the cross-section of the receiver and which plate is connectable to the end profile side of the frame member. The mounting plate preferably has a central mounting bore. The mounting plate, in the longitudinal direction of the frame member, has a pre-determined width, which is preferably symmetrical to the mounting bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Samuel Klassen, Heiko Holighaus
  • Patent number: 6478170
    Abstract: An EMC sealed joint is used within electronic equipment to provide compliance with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards. In one example, EMC sealed joints are used with faceplates mounted to printed wiring boards stacked side by side in an electronic equipment rack, for example, to seal the adjacent faceplates against one another and to seal the faceplates to the shelf edge portions in the rack. One type of EMC sealed joint is formed by a concave groove in a side portion of the faceplate, which receives an EMC gasket located on an adjacent faceplate. Another type of EMC sealed joint is formed by protrusions on a back surface of the front portion of the faceplate, which engage a flat surface on a shelf edge portion in the electronic equipment rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: TerraWorx, Inc.
    Inventors: Dany M. Zeidan, Nicholas J. Matera
  • Publication number: 20020162814
    Abstract: A shelving unit for a wire rack is formed from an essentially flat elongated shelf member with at least one cleat attached transverse to the underside of the shelf member and extending downward between a pair of adjacent support wires of the wire rack, preferably in a frictional fit to prevent movement of the shelf in a sideways, forward and back, or twisting manner. Additional cleats, spaced apart from each other and extending downward between other pairs of support wires are typically used. The shelf unit member may be formed from slats that are spaced apart from each other or in contact with each other in a butt, lap, tongue and grove or other joint arrangement. Each cleat may be formed as two or more spaced apart cleat sections that, when properly sized and positioned, accept differently positioned cental support rods from major wire-rack manufacturers which serve as a stop to prevent the shelf unit from falling from the wire rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Theodore E. Gawel
  • Publication number: 20020158556
    Abstract: A component chassis of a server is installed into a rack with a quick-disconnect slide rail. The inner rail member is secured to the component chassis by a quick-connect system having multiple headed protrusions received in corresponding keyhole slots in the rail web, and then slid along the slots until a spring latch snaps into place, without the use of tools. The component chassis, with its attached inner rail members, is then slid into place by inserting the inner rail members in mating outer rail members pre-installed on the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Alex S. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20020153338
    Abstract: The invention generally comprises a blank panel for use with rack units. The blank panel comprises at least one face plate having a rectangular front plate surface, a back plate surface, top plate surface, bottom plate surface and two side plate surfaces. The face plate has a height corresponding to multiples of 1.75 inches. The face plate incorporates a means for slidably receiving fasteners. The blank panel further comprises fasteners with mating portions for being slidably engaged with the face plate, and fastening portions for being further attachable to a rack unit. The fasteners have varied geometry to accommodate rack units with alternate configurations. The blank panel further comprises a plurality of face plates attached along the top and bottom plate surfaces. Each of the face plates is capable of individually receiving fasteners. The individual face plates of the blank panel are also modular and can be separated to configure the blank panel to varied height requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: David Orr
  • Publication number: 20020148799
    Abstract: A shelf assembly includes vertical posts and horizontal shelf supports that are configured and arranged to define at least one shelf space extending upward beyond upper distal ends of the posts. Net supports are connected to the posts in a manner that supports the net in a position spanning at least one edge of the shelf space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: David S. Denny, George H. Merritt, Lance F. Swartwout, Brian S. Clarke, Edward T. Mehl
  • Publication number: 20020144966
    Abstract: A warehouse material-rack safety-netting system comprises left and right vertical extension posts that bolt to the face of the top bay of an open material rack. A two-part curtain netting that parts in the middle is supported between horizontal, parallel top-and-bottom wire ropes on hooks. The left and right edges of the curtain netting are hooked to the vertical extension posts with carabiners. In order to reduce inadvertent snagging, these hooks and wire ropes are critically attached along the middle line of the inside opposite-facing edges of the vertical extension posts. The front aisle-facing edges of these vertical extension posts are smooth and no part of the curtain netting extends past them when the curtains are fully closed. A latch is provided at the center to secure the two-parts of the curtain netting together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Michael J. Calleja
  • Publication number: 20020144965
    Abstract: A pallet rack safety net system comprises two parallel horizontal wire ropes that are stretched along the top and bottom edges of a shelf opening. A pair of hung left and right screens of flexible netting are attached between the top and bottom wire ropes so that they can be horizontally separated at the middle of the shelf opening. The inside vertical edges of each screen are finished with a metal bar and a clasp so the screens can be latched together at the middle. The outside left and right edges of the screens are secured to the outside of the shelf opening. If used on a top shelf that has no supports at each side of the opening, a pair of support posts are included that hold aloft the top horizontal wire rope. A network of stays and guys are used to reinforce each such post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Michael J. Calleja
  • Publication number: 20020139765
    Abstract: An improved connector angle member is provided to secure a tight, stable connection between a plurality of structural members while eliminating any looseness in the connection and enabling easier installation. The interior surface of a leg of the connector angle member has protrusions extending inward to secure a tight, stable fit with a corresponding structural member, such as a column, and to take-up slack during installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: John Weider
  • Patent number: 6450350
    Abstract: A storage rack has a spaced apart upright frames or vertical columns. Load beams extend between the upright frames. The load beams have flattened or flared ends, allowing the load beams to be directly bolted onto the vertical upright frames. The load beams may be made from standard steel channel sections, by flattening or flaring the ends in a press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: John V. R. Krummell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6427858
    Abstract: A laundry drying rack has an elongate member having an opening. The laundry drying rack further has a connecting rod having a connecting rod distal end. In an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry drying rack is further provided with an end connector having a resilient pronged end and a post end. A tubular coupling is further provided having a coupling distal end, an opposing coupling proximal end, and an internal ridge formed circumferentially therein. The coupling proximal end receives the connecting rod distal end. The coupling distal end receives the resilient pronged end which the internal ridge for rotatable engagement of the tubular coupling thereabout. In another embodiment of present invention, the laundry drying rack further has a cylindrical connector which has an external groove which engages an elastic retaining ring for connecting the elongate leg member and the connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Pro-Mart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Azad Sabounjian
  • Patent number: 6422400
    Abstract: A device for storing and displaying baseball caps having a bill or brim including a hollow cylindrical member of selected length and of selected internal diameter, with an internal and an external surface, and having first and second open ends. The cylindrical member is fabricated from translucent polymeric resin with a compressible clip member secured to the cylindrical member external surface at the midpoint for mounting the hollow cylindrical member to a support member. The support member is generally rectangular and hollow with an aperture for accepting the compressible clip member secured to the cylindrical member external surface. This structure allows the compressible clip member and attached hollow cylindrical member to be fastened in several orientations relative to the support member. The hollow cylindrical member may be sized to accommodate the brim of a brimmed cap at each end for increased capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Brett K. Miller
  • Publication number: 20020074303
    Abstract: A load-bearing plank-like member is adapted to be supported by its ends on support members having peg members engageable with complementary apertures in the plank member. The plank member is of hollow cross-section and incorporates at least one internal longitudinal web disposed parallel to the upper, load bearing surface of the plank member, the web being spaced from the underside of the plank member by a distance less than the length of said peg members. Vertically aligned complementary apertures are formed in the underside of the plank member and in the web, whereby when the plank member is engaged with the support member each of the pegs engages with apertures both in the underside of the member and in the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Terence Hardy
  • Patent number: 6405884
    Abstract: A reinforcement unit for pallet racks wherein first and second tubular post, each having a floor bearing plate secured to a lower end thereof and a horizontal support plate secured to the upper end thereof, along with generally C-shaped connecting members for receiving an original portion of the pallet rack, may be used to reinforce the bottom of existing pallet racks and avoid having to replace the entire rack when it is damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Damotech Inc.
    Inventor: Dany Dion
  • Patent number: 6401945
    Abstract: A shelving unit for a wire rack is formed from an essentially flat elongated shelf member with at least one cleat attached transverse to the underside of the shelf member and extending downward between a pair of adjacent support wires of the wire rack, preferably in a frictional fit to prevent movement of the shelf in a sideways, forward and back, or twisting manner. Additional cleats, spaced apart from each other and extending downward between other pairs of support wires are typically used. The shelf unit member may be formed from slats that are spaced apart from each other or in contact with each other in a butt, lap, tongue and grove or other joint arrangement. Each cleat may be formed as two or more spaced apart cleat sections that, when properly sized and positioned, accept differently positioned cental support rods from major wire-rack manufacturers which serve as a stop to prevent the shelf unit from falling from the wire rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Theodore E. Gawel
  • Publication number: 20020066706
    Abstract: A display shelf track device has a downwardly protruding member for attaching the track device to the shelf. The downwardly protruding member can be a key, a plug or a clip. A clip forcibly fits over one or a pair of wires in a wire shelf or forcibly between wires to releasably attach the track device to the shelf. A plug forcibly fits into an opening in the shelf while a key fits in a keyway to immobilize the track device relative to the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Display Industries
    Inventor: James David Robertson
  • Patent number: 6390310
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a shelf assembly having a shelf, a mounting block and a barrier member. The shelf has a first edge. The mounting block is attached to the first edge. A barrier member is adapted to be attached to the mounting block. The barrier member is capable of being oriented in at least two positions with respect to the shelf. The two positions include an article retaining position and an article access position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Insalaco
  • Patent number: 6382429
    Abstract: An adapter for use with dispensing racks having a central mounting hook and T-shirt style bags with tab openings providing a rupturable portion of the tab between the tab opening and the bag mouth is described. The adapter includes a hollow body with a cavity that is sized and shaped to fit frictionally over the central mounting hook. The body has a front surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second side edges and a back surface. The back surface includes a vertically oriented tearing ridge. The adapter's cavity is fitted over the central mounting hook with the front surface facing a direction in which the support arms extend. When a pack of T-shirt style bags that have the tab opening with a rupturable portion mounted on the support arms with the tab openings of the bags placed over the adapter, the tearing ridge will serve to facilitate tearing the rupturable portion of the mounting tab as a bag is removed from the dispensing rack so that the mounting tab will remain attached to the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Inteplast Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ron C. Yeh, Ben Tseng
  • Patent number: 6378711
    Abstract: A beam for supporting an load such as a storage rack, platform or the like is provided whereby products in or on the article can be stored safely and displayed. In particular, the present invention includes a beam with a support element having a first and a second end, a continuous base portion having a turned portion positioned between the first and second ends of the support element, a beveled display portion joined to the continuous base portion, and a brace portion joining the display portion to the support element. The beam preferably has a closed cross section whereby all portions unitary with one another. An article such as a storage rack platform is loaded onto the support element while a bar code or other product information indicia are displayed on the beveled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: United Steel Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin A. Skulnik, Gary Smith
  • Patent number: 6375285
    Abstract: A multiple assembly includes two or more unit products spaced apart from each other with a predetermined shape. One or more connection members are provided to interconnect the neighboring unit products such that the unit products can be folded and unfolded. The unit products can rotate around connection points to exert intrinsic functions in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Deok-Hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 6371035
    Abstract: A storage device including two opposing side panels, a plurality of shelves and a plurality of crossed support devices. The plurality of shelves interconnect the side panels. The plurality of crossed support devices are capable of being attached to one of a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are located opposite one another and provide access to an interior cavity capable of supporting storage materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery E. Schiedegger, Eric P. Chan
  • Patent number: 6360901
    Abstract: A merchandising device is useful to display flanged bottles. The device includes an elongate track for supporting a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles in the row are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the track and are removable from the track through the front end of the track. The track comprises a track body including a pair of opposed side walls extending along the track, and a pair of rail members detachably attached respectively to the side walls of the body to be disposed substantially parallel to each other. Each rail member comprises a connector panel extending alongside a respective one of the side walls and a supporting ledge joined to and extending along the panel. The ledges of the rail members project laterally of the panels toward each other and are disposed with a gap therebetween to receive in the gap the necks of the bottles such that the bottles are slidably engaged at the undersides of their neck flanges with the ledges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC.
    Inventor: Dennis E. Parham
  • Publication number: 20020020683
    Abstract: A rack accessory for an equipment rack having mounting locations for a predetermined number of units of electronic equipment within a predetermined vertical distance, including: a front support member and a rear support member, wherein the front support member defines a bracket adapted to be secured on a front mounting portion of the rack; and a predetermined number of substantially equally spaced shelves extending between the front support member and the rear support member. The shelves are each configured to support a side portion of the electronic equipment when installed in the rack. The rack accessory has a height that substantially corresponds to the predetermined vertical distance, and the predetermined number of shelves is less than the predetermined number of units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: John P. Broome
  • Publication number: 20020020684
    Abstract: A storage rack system includes a base detachably secured from the storage rack wherein the materials of construction for the base are a heavier gauge material than that of the storage rack for improved weight carrying capability and for resistance to abuse while minimizing the cost of the rack assembly. The base has offset front legs closest to the aisle to protect the front legs from accidentally being hit by a forklift truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Robert D. Gruber, Allen B. Kautz
  • Patent number: 6345459
    Abstract: A merchandise display guard and seal system which uses a generally flat elongated flexible strip having a thickness and a pair of side edges defining a width, the width being substantially larger than the thickness. The strip includes a first fold line which is substantially parallel to one of the side edges and which provides a flexible section for dividing the strip into a sidewall section and a seal section; and a scored section, the scored section being at an angle to the first fold line and extending from one of the side edges, along the seal section towards the fold line, so that folding the strip along the first fold line and severing the scored section provides flexibility to the sidewall section, so that upon folding the sidewall section towards the seal section the sidewall section forms a concave boundary about the seal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Martinez, Douglas Cotter
  • Patent number: 6332549
    Abstract: The repair kit for an industrial pallet rack frame has a front post having an upper end and a lower end, and an intermediate post having an upper end and a lower end. The front post and the rear post are connected by an upper cross member and a lower cross member in parallel and spaced apart relation defining a rectangular or square frame having an interior. The front and intermediate posts and the upper and lower cross members are preferably made from rectangular tubular metal stock. Both the front post and the rear post have an anchor plate attached to the lower end of the posts facing the interior of the frame. The front post has an outer clamp jaw defined by a U-shaped channel attached to its upper end, as well as a support plate perpendicular to the outer clamp jaw which caps the front post. An inner clamp jaw is removably attachable to the outer clamp jaw to clamp the front post of a pallet rack frame therebetween, the bottom of the pallet rack frame post resting on the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Shawn D. MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20010047975
    Abstract: A storage rack post protector for use in absorbing and dissipating direct impact loads and deflecting indirect or off-center loads to the column frame on which it is attached or located adjacent to, consisting of a material with greater flexibility and compressibility that the rack itself and formed into such a shape as to deflect impact loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Daniel Philip Lazas, Mark Todd Vanselous
  • Patent number: 6325221
    Abstract: A merchandising track device for displaying articles is disclosed. The device comprises first and second elongate track members formed separately as two discrete structures. The first and second members are connected together in an end-to-end, longitudinally adjacent relationship. Each member comprises a track base for carrying articles for sliding movement along the respective member, and at least one article-guiding side wall upstanding from the track base of the respective member and extending along the respective member. The one side wall of the first member is disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the one side wall of the second member. The track device further comprises a locking mechanism for interconnecting the one side wall of the first member and the one side wall of the second member to lock the first and second members in position relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis E. Parham
  • Publication number: 20010045402
    Abstract: A flexible liner is provided. The flexible liner is formed from a sheet or web of a polymer which is soft and has non-skid properties. The flexible liner has upwardly extending ridges on its top surface which are formed from a polymer which has a higher Shore A hardness than the web. The bottom side of the liner can have ridges and valleys or can be flat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: James K. Hawley
  • Publication number: 20010040142
    Abstract: A rack mount assembly for supporting a computer enclosure in a rack system having vertical apertured column flanges. The rack mount assembly includes an elongated mount adapter having mounting flanges disposed at each end thereof. Each mounting flange includes an alignment protrusion that is configured to fit in a corresponding aperture in one of the column flanges of the rack system. The elongated mount adapter comprises, for example, a slide mechanism or a rack rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: GEROME A. HANEY
  • Patent number: 6293507
    Abstract: An adjustable, shelf hanging clip for hanging shelves on storage racks is constructed from at least two rectangular sections of material joined at an angle which can be about 90°. At least one of these rectangular sections has a pair of hook-shaped support and latching tabs extending from its exterior surface, with the ends of the tabs extending toward one another. The hook shaped tabs are adapted to be received into a pair of adjacent, vertically spaced holes in the columns of the storage racks. The hook of the upper tab fits over the bottom of the upper hole so that the top inside surface of the hook is the bearing surface and the outside surface of the lower tab is the bearing surface on the bottom of the lower hole. The other rectangular section of the clip has a notch at each of its ends. The bottom surface of each notch is a separate, preselected longitudinal distance from the inside bearing surface of the nearest tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ridg-U-Rak, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore S. Gorniak
  • Patent number: 6290075
    Abstract: A shelf with a platform and a pair of brackets, whereby the platform has an upper panel and a lower panel at right angles. The upper panel has coaxial trunnions that fit into groove in the brackets. The groove has a vertical back wall, a shaped front wall, an opening in the top of the bracket, an upper pocket in the front wall, and a lower trough where the front and back walls meet at the bottom of the groove. The pocket and trough are connected by a 45° slope. The platform has a down position maintained by gravity where the upper panel is horizontal. The trunnion resides in the groove pocket and the lower panel abuts a vertical retaining wall that is parallel to the vertical back wall of groove. The platform has an up position maintained by gravity where the lower panel is horizontal. The trunnion resides in the trough and the upper panel abuts the retaining wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: Alex Cheimets, Antonello Bellocchi
  • Patent number: 6273533
    Abstract: A frame piece for a rack of a switching cabinet. With minimum material an optimum result is obtained with regard to fastening planes and fastening direction as well as stability. A profile inside and a profile outside are used to form the frame piece as a closed hollow profile with one or two longitudinally directed hollow spaces. The profile outside delineates a free space to an outside corner edge of the rack. The profile inside has a profile section with several rows of fastening seats or several profile sections at an angle with respect to one another with at least one series of fastening seats. The profile inside and the profile outside form outside edges in a region of the right-angled abutting outsides of the rack. The outside edges are designed as double-layer sealing struts or connected to them in a direction to the outside corner edge connecting struts with or without receiving grooves for sealing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Nicolai, Udo Münch, Georg Vogel
  • Patent number: 6206211
    Abstract: A frame piece for a rack of a switching cabinet having fastening possibilities, torsional rigidity, material expenditure and manufacture that corresponds to requirements. The frame piece includes a section outside as a connection section between outsides of the rack that contact at right angles. Fastening sections of a section inside are connected to the connection section, which have in a longitudinal direction of the section fastening mounts and transition into section sides having second fastening mounts. The fastening sections are at a first angle to the outsides of the rack and the section sides are at a second angle to the connected fastening section. The fastening sections and the section sides form two inside edges of the section inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Nicolai, Udo Münch, Georg Vogel
  • Patent number: 6190081
    Abstract: A fastening device for attachment of, for example, mounting rails to vertical frame profiles of a switchgear cabinet. The frame profiles have rows of evenly distributed fastening retainers. A fastening block, which has fastening retainers for connecting the mounting rail or the like, can be added to the frame profile. In order to secure fastening of the mounting rail on the vertical frame profile, which only requires a small outlay of parts, the fastening block is manufactured either as a punched and bent element from a sheet metal blank or as an extruded element. At least one hook element projects from the fastening block, which can be suspended in an associated fastening retainer of the frame profile. The fastening block has two lateral walls, which extend at right angles with respect to each other and form a common vertical inner edge facing the interior of the switchgear cabinet. The lateral walls are equipped with the fastening retainers for connecting the add-on elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Horst Besserer, Marc Hartel, Walter Nicolai
  • Patent number: 6173846
    Abstract: A safety bracket attached to the load beams of a pallet rack for preventing pallets from being pushed off the rear end of the rack. The bracket has a base, a back extending upwardly to form a stop for the pallet, and a front having an aperture to allow insertion of a load beam through the aperture of the bracket. The base of the bracket rests on a load beam of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventor: Michael R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6142322
    Abstract: A device is provided for mounting shelf labels on supermarket shelving with a C-channel. Metal shelving is shaped to define a slot extending below the shelf between the flat shelf and the front curved surface, the lower edge of which is shaped to form a return. A metal clip fits into the slot to form a second return opposite the first return. A rail with a bracket and slide engage the first and second returns for mounting shelf labels. Plastic shelf rails for mounting wireless electronic shelf labels are also provided. The lower groove of the rail is shaped to engage latches at the bottom of the electronic shelf label which can only be removed by using a special tool. Also provided is a shelf rail made by co-extruding flexible and rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. The plastic shelf rails have a notch on the back to accommodate metal shelf brackets. To prevent the electronic shelf labels from sliding, they are held firmly in place by a gripping pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: ERS International, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria-Teresa Smith, Walter J. Janczyk, James E. Richardson
  • Patent number: 6138843
    Abstract: A frame piece for a rack of a switching cabinet, which has a profile outside and a profile inside, the transitions of which lie at a distance from an outside corner edge of the rack and form a free space with the profile outside to the outside corner edge, for swinging a cabinet door and introducing edges of abutting paneling elements. A frame piece with many possibilities of variation with respect to fastening planes, fastening directions and stability is created according to this invention, because the frame piece is designed as having mirror image symmetry in cross-section with respect to an axis of symmetry which is at an angle of inclination to the rack diagonal. On both sides of the rack diagonal with the profile inside and profile outside, there are at least two profile sections that are at an angle with respect to one another, at least a part of which has fastening seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Nicolai, Udo Munch, Georg Vogel
  • Patent number: 6135406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lab-top work station which is designed for use in the manual application of liquid to a slide or microwell plate and consists of a slide holder, a bridge for support of manual liquid dispensers at a predetermined location with respect to the slide holder, and a manual incremental advance mechanism for manually moving the slide holder a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Albert M. DeStefano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6073785
    Abstract: A dispenser for bottles, suspendable via a collar portion in guides on the dispenser, running toward a discharge opening, and having at the discharge opening a stop mechanism with a rocker arm which is spring-tensioned or shaft-mounted, and mounted in a housing and having a longitudinal edge portion forming a spring-loaded contact with the top portion of the container and a flat portion of the rocker arm forming an upper limiting face for the top of the collar portion where the longitudinal portion of the rocker arm has a forward area having an indentation and a rear area which forms an arresting element, and where the stop mechanism also has a front portion having a downwardly and backwardly oriented guide slot for the collar, the guide slot at the rear terminating in an undercut portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Norcool A.S.
    Inventor: Ulf Tolfsen
  • Patent number: 6068142
    Abstract: A front panel for a display rack has a base, upstanding sidewalls connected along their bottom end portions to the base, face members connected to the front edges of the sidewalls, and an elongate connecting member connected to the top end portions of the face members. The base, face members and connecting member define a viewing window for the display rack through which a beverage container in a display rack in a refrigerator can be viewed. The base and connecting member curve outward to position a beverage container forward in the display rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Bernard Primiano
  • Patent number: 6059130
    Abstract: A stop system for a platform (1) which is movable horizontally from a central position within a supporting frame (3, 4, 5, 6) to project to one side or the other of the frame has manually releasable latches (14, 15). These co-operate with stops (7, 8) near diagonally opposite corners of the platform, normally to hold the platform centered. Each latch can be disengaged from its stop to allow the platform to move out from the associated side of the frame, and then released to co-operate with another stop (13, 14) on the platform when that reaches its outward limit. A further stop (19, 20) can simultaneously engage one of the first stops (7, 8) to guard against skewing. On returning the platform (1) to the centered position, the latches (14, 15) automatically re-engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Allan Grainger
  • Patent number: 6056133
    Abstract: A combination display device and storage rack component that is made of a transparent plastic so as to allow complete visibility of a CD jewel box housed therein and is either hung on a vertical wall or rested inclined on a horizontal surface. The component includes a base, a pair of side walls, a hanging apparatus, a resting apparatus, and a stacking and interlocking apparatus. The pair of side walls extend upwardly from the base. The hanging apparatus is for hanging the combination display device and storage rack component on the vertical wall. The resting apparatus is for supporting the combination display device and storage rack component inclined on the horizontal surface. The stacking and interlocking apparatus is for stacking and interlocking a plurality of the combination display device and storage rack components in a staggered arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Carl D. Luenser
  • Patent number: 6021909
    Abstract: An equipment enclosure rack support rail system comprising an elongated support rail including an elongated side portion adapted to mount directly to the rack and an elongated base portion adapted to directly support an equipment component, and further comprising a low profile tie-down clamp that is securely mountable to the support rail to secure the equipment component supported by the support rail. The support rail of the system is further provided with a pair of upper alignment tabs and a pair of lower alignment tabs that extend rearwardly from the side portion of the support rail. One upper alignment tab and one lower alignment tab are positioned at each end of the support rail, and are vertically spaced a fraction of an EIA-U from each other such that the lower alignment tabs can be used to mount the rail in a whole EIA-U position and the upper alignment tabs can be used to mount the rail and equipment component in a fractional EIA-U position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Kenneth K. Tang, Henry Jupille