US3791707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interlocking device for portable food service cabinets and the like
Assignee: Shelley Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1972-05-11
•
Granted: 1974-02-12
•
Expires: 1992-05-11
Abstract
Abstract An interconnecting and locking device for joining portable food service cabinets and the like in side-by-side relation while at the same time adjusting them to be in substantial vertical and horizontal alignment simply by pushing the cabinets together. The device comprises elongated male and female connector members adapted to be secured horizontally along opposed upper edge portions of the cabinets to be joined, the female connector member having an elongated recess along its length and the male connector member having an elongated nose member along its length, both of which are convergently beveled to the outside to serve as horizontal and vertical locating means upon interconnection of the device. Releasable latch means is provided for locking the device in interconnected relation while at the same time providing for manual release for separating the cabinets.
Inventors
- 👤 B House
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:24
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/10; F16B12/28; F16B12/32; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
An interconnecting device for joining substantially rectangular portable food service cabinets and the like in sideby-side relation comprising, in combination, a pair of substantially rectangular, portable cabinets, an elongated male connector member, means for securing said male connector member horizontally along an upper edge portion of one side of one of said pair of cabinets to be joined, an elongated female connector member, means for securing said female connector member horizontally along an upper edge portion of one side of the other of said pair of cabinets to be joined, said female connector member having an elongated, horizontally-extending recess, said male connector member having an outwardly-extending, substantially horizontal nose portion of such size as to be slidingly received in said recess upon said pair of cabinets being moved through relatively translatory motion into side-byside abutting relation with respect to said one side of said one of said cabinets and said one side of said other of said cabinets, guide means along the length of said nose portion and at the ends thereof for adjustingly directing said nose portion into said recess upon the movement of said nose portion into said recess for interfittingly connecting said male and female connector members, and releasable means operative to automatically lock said male and female members upon their being placed into mutual interfitting relation, said guide means comprising upper and lower, outwardly-convergent surface portions along the length of said nose portion, terminating in a rounded nose tip portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
An interconnecting device for joining substantially rectangular portable food service cabinets and the like in sideby-side relation comprising, in combination, a pair of substantially rectangular, portable cabinets, an elongated male connector member, means for securing said male connector member horizontally along an upper edge portion of one side of one of said pair of cabinets to be joined, an elongated female connector member, means for securing said female connector member horizontally along an upper edge portion of one side of the other of said pair of cabinets to be joined, said female connector member having an elongated, horizontally-extending recess, said male connector member having an outwardly-extending, substantially horizontal nose portion of such size as to be slidingly received in said recess upon said pair of cabinets being moved through relatively translatory motion into side-byside abutting relation with respect to said one side of said one of said cabinets and said one side of said other of said cabinets, guide means along the length of said nose portion and at the ends thereof for adjustingly directing said nose portion into said recess upon the movement of said nose portion into said recess for interfittingly connecting said male and female connector members, and releasable means operative to automatically lock said male and female members upon their being placed into mutual interfitting relation, said guide means comprising upper and lower, outwardly-convergent surface portions along the length of said nose portion, terminating in a rounded nose tip portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
An interconnecting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable locking means comprises a latch bolt vertically movable into said recess at a central position therealong, an opening centrally disposed along said nose portion of said male connector member for receiving said latch bolt, said latch bolt, at the end thereof received within said recess, being beveled to provide an outwardly-directed cam surface portion for sliding engagement with said nose portion upon interfittingly connecting said male and female connector members, and resilient means normally constraining the beveled end portion of said latch bolt in the direction of said recess.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
An interconnecting device as defined in claim 2 wherein said releasable locking means further comprises a sidewardly-outwardly-extending rod affixed at one end to a side portion of said latch bolt and extending outwardly at one end of said female connector member, and fulcrum means between the ends of said rod to provide for substantially vertical movement of said latch bolt against the urging of said resilient means upon the movement of said outer end of said rod in the direction opposite the locking direction of movement of said latch bolt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An interconnecting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means further comprises triangular, outwardly-convergent nose end cam surface portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An interconnecting device as defiNed in claim 4 wherein said elongated male and female connector members are fabricated of bent sheet metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
An interconnecting device as defined in claim 5 wherein the horizontally-extending recess of said female connector member comprises a first bent portion of U-shaped configuration extending along said female connector member, and further comprising a second bent portion of U-shaped configuration extending along said female connector member and defining an elongated recess beneath said first-mentioned recess, said releasable locking means comprising a latch bolt vertically movable into said recess at a central position therealong, an opening centrally disposed along said nose portion of said male connector member for receiving said latch bolt, said latch bolt, at the end thereof received within said recess, being beveled to provide an outwardly-directed cam surface portion for sliding engagement with said nose portion upon interfittingly connecting said male and female connector members, and resilient means normally constraining the beveled end portion of said latch bolt in the direction of said recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
An interconnecting device as defined in claim 6 wherein said releasable locking means further comprises a sidewardly-outwardly-extending rod affixed at one end to a side portion of said latch bolt and extending outwardly through said second recess at one end thereof, and fulcrum means between the ends of said rod to provide for substantially vertical movement of said latch bolt against the urging of said resilient means upon the movement of said outer end of said rod in the direction opposite the locking direction of said latch bolt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |