US3722700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shelf
Assignee: Vollrath Co LLC
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Filing: 1971-04-26
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Shelf suitable for portable food service carts and manufacturable from sheet metal, forms a corner opening by foreshortening of side skirts while an elastomeric corner member filling the opening has a protruding bumper portion and leg surfaces along the inner surfaces of the side skirts. Features include inward lower flanges forming ''''C'''' shaped channels enclosing portions of the elastomeric corner member; welding of the flanges, bracing the side skirts; the elastomeric corner member under compression, urging the leg surfaces against the skirts; butting of the corner member against the ends of the foreshortened skirts; entire shelf formed of a single sheet of metal, providing a pair of horizontal positioning surfaces for the corner member; and the top of the corner member filling a corner cut-out in the top surface.
Inventors
- 👤 G Cummings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:37
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B95/00; A47B95/04; A47B95/043; A47B31/00; B; B62; B62B; B62B5/00; B62B5/0006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A movable shelf supported at points spaced from the corners and having a corner defined by an elastomeric corner member, said shelf having a sheet metal top and a pair of integral sheet metal side skirts, one extending along each of two adjacent sides of said top, each side skirt foreshoRtened, terminating at a position short of the projected intersection of said pair of side skirts whereby said pair defines a corner opening, said elastomeric corner member having a laterally protruding bumper portion at said corner and two positioning leg surfaces, one extending generally parallel to each of said side skirts along the inner surface thereof, the ends of said side skirts and the adjacent edge of said sheet metal top butted against respective surfaces of said elastomeric corner member whereby said corner member effectively finishes the corner region of said shelf and shields said edges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A movable shelf supported at points spaced from the corners and having a corner defined by an elastomeric corner member, said shelf having a sheet metal top and a pair of integral sheet metal side skirts, one extending along each of two adjacent sides of said top, each side skirt foreshoRtened, terminating at a position short of the projected intersection of said pair of side skirts whereby said pair defines a corner opening, said elastomeric corner member having a laterally protruding bumper portion at said corner and two positioning leg surfaces, one extending generally parallel to each of said side skirts along the inner surface thereof, the ends of said side skirts and the adjacent edge of said sheet metal top butted against respective surfaces of said elastomeric corner member whereby said corner member effectively finishes the corner region of said shelf and shields said edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The shelf of claim 1 wherein the portions of said elastomeric corner member defining said leg surfaces are under lateral compression, urging said leg surfaces against the respective inner surfaces of said side skirts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shelf of claim 1 wherein said sheet is formed to provide a pair or horizontal surfaces along each skirt serving to position said corner member vertically.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shelf of claim 1 wherein there is a cut-out in the corner of said top, said cut-out filled by an upper portion of said elastomeric corner member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a movable cart comprising at least one shelf supported at points spaced from the corners, wheel structure disposed beneath said shelf and handle means, said shelf comprised of sheet metal defining a top and dependent, integral side skirts, the improvement comprising the combination of an elastomeric bumper member having generally vertical sides and a top surface, said bumper member disposed at and finishing a respective corner of said shelf, the pair of side skirts extending toward the respective corner being foreshortened relative to their projected line of intersection, the ends of said skirts butted against said vertical sides of said bumper member, and said top surface of said bumper member aligned to form effectively an elastomeric continuation of said top surface of said shelf, whereby the corner is completed while metal edges are elastomerically shielded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a movable cart comprising at least one shelf supported at points spaced from the corners, wheel structure disposed beneath said shelf and handle means, said shelf comprised of sheet metal defining a top and dependent, integral side skirts, the improvement comprising the combination of an elastomeric bumper member having generally vertical sides and a top surface, said bumper member disposed at and finishing a respective corner of said shelf, the pair of side skirts extending toward the respective corner being foreshortened relative to their projected line of intersection, the ends of said skirts butted against said vertical sides of said bumper member, and said top surface of said bumper member aligned to form effectively an elastomeric continuation of said top surface of said shelf, whereby the corner is completed while metal edges are elastomerically shielded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The movable cart of claim 5 wherein said top surface of said shelf comprises a raised margin portion, said top surface of said bumper member being similarly raised to effectively form the corner of said margins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The movable cart of claim 5 wherein said elastomeric corner member resides in a corner cut-out of said sheet metal top surface, cut edges of the metal sheet defining said upper surface being butted against and shielded by said elastomeric bumper member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |