Interlocking dual purpose slide tray structure for forming a single tray or a pair of trays

Claim 2

A slide tray structure comprising: a first tray portion comprising means defining a plurality of spaced compartments disposed in tandem for supporting film slides; a second tray portion comprising means defining a plurality of spaced compartments disposed in tandem for supporting film slides; and means coupling said first and said second tray portions for movement between a contracted position, in which said compartment defining means of said first and second tray portions interleave with each other to form a single row of compartments, and an expanded position, in which said compartment defining means of one of said portions is withdrawn from the other of said portions so as to form a pair of rows of compartments, the rows being separated in a direction transverse to the tandem direction.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 whereiN said coupling means comprises a link member having a first connecting means for connecting one portion of said link member to one end of the first tray portion, and a second connecting means for connecting another portion of said link member to one end of the second tray portion.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said first and second connecting means each comprise means defining an elongated slot in one of said link member and tray portions, and a pin reciprocally movable in said slot defining means on the other of said link member and tray portions.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 in which said slide tray portions are arranged in side-by-side, parallel relation, and said link member is provided at each of the adjacent ends of said first and second tray portions.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 and further including detent means for releasably holding said first and second tray portions in said contracted position.

Claim 7

A slide tray structure comprising: a first tray portion having only one side wall and a plurality of spaced divider walls extending laterally from said side wall, each adjacent pair of divider walls forming a slide compartment; a second tray portion having only one side wall and a plurality of spaced divider walls extending laterally from said side wall of said second tray portion, each adjacent pair of divider walls of said second tray portion forming a slide compartment; and means coupling said first and second tray portions for movement between a contracted position, in which said divider walls of said first and second tray portions interleave with each other in a manner to form a single row of compartments, and an expanded position, in which said divider walls of said first and second tray portions are withdrawn from interleaved condition so as to form two rows of slide compartments.

Claim 8

A slide tray structure comprising: a first tray portion having only one side wall and a plurality of spaced divider walls extending laterally from said side wall, each adjacent pair of divider walls forming a slide compartment; a second tray portion having only one side wall and a plurality of spaced divider walls extending laterally from said side wall of said second tray portion, each adjacent pair of divider walls of said second tray portion forming a slide compartment; and means coupling said first and second tray portions for movement between a contracted position, in which said divider walls of said first and second tray portions interleave with each other in a manner to form a single row of compartments, and an expanded position, in which said divider walls of said first and second tray portions are withdrawn from interleaved condition so as to form two rows of slide compartments.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said slide compartments are open ended, and means are provided for releasably holding each of slides in said slide compartments.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 6 and further including detent means for releasably holding said first and second tray portions in said contracted position.