US3829189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motorized mobile shelving apparatus
Assignee: Spacesaver Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-15
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-01-15
Abstract
Abstract Mobile storage apparatus includes a plurality of mobile units guided for movement in a direction normal to the storage faces with each mobile unit having a separate motor. Switch actuator rods shiftable horizontally in each unit have a control arm projecting through the end panels of the units for manipulation. Manual movement of each actuator rod to the right or left causes actuation of right or left directional control switches to energize the motor for movement of the unit to the right or left. The actuator rods project beyond the side margins of each of the units to engage projecting parts of actuators on the adjacent units so that manual movement of the actuator rod in one unit causes movement of the actuator rods in adjacent units to energize the motors in all units for which the rod is shifted to open the selected aisle space.
Inventors
- 👤 M Staller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:23
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B53/00; A47B53/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Storage apparatus comprising a plurality of mobile storage units, including first and second mobile units, each unit having at least one storage face, guide means cooperating with said mobile units to guide movement of said storage units in a direction normal to said faces of said storage units, a separate reversible motor individual to each of said mobile units for individually driving said unit along said guide means, and control-circuit means for selectively energizing and deenergizing said motors on said units and to move said units in opposite directions including right and left directional switches with switch levers, and means for actuating said switches including an axially shiftable common switch actuator in each of said units for operAting both directional switches in each unit, said switch actuators spanning the width of each unit, each switch actuator having projections at each end extending beyond the faces of said units, with said switch actuators on said units aligned for engagement by said switch actuator projections of adjacent units, and each of said mobile units including means to selectively shift said switch actuators axially in opposed directions to shift said switch actuators in a first unit and adjacent second units to actuate said directional switches in said first unit and adjacent second units to energize said motors of said first unit and adjacent second units to move the mobile units to afford the desired access.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
Storage apparatus comprising a plurality of mobile storage units, including first and second mobile units, each unit having at least one storage face, guide means cooperating with said mobile units to guide movement of said storage units in a direction normal to said faces of said storage units, a separate reversible motor individual to each of said mobile units for individually driving said unit along said guide means, and control-circuit means for selectively energizing and deenergizing said motors on said units and to move said units in opposite directions including right and left directional switches with switch levers, and means for actuating said switches including an axially shiftable common switch actuator in each of said units for operAting both directional switches in each unit, said switch actuators spanning the width of each unit, each switch actuator having projections at each end extending beyond the faces of said units, with said switch actuators on said units aligned for engagement by said switch actuator projections of adjacent units, and each of said mobile units including means to selectively shift said switch actuators axially in opposed directions to shift said switch actuators in a first unit and adjacent second units to actuate said directional switches in said first unit and adjacent second units to energize said motors of said first unit and adjacent second units to move the mobile units to afford the desired access.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said units have an end panel and said shift actuator is a horizontally extending rod, means supporting the rod in said panel and means on the rod cooperating with said right and left directional switches to actuate one of said switches when said rod is moved in one direction and the other of the switches when the rod is shifted in the other direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for selectively shifting said switch actuators comprises an arm connected to said shift actuator rod and wherein said rod is located on the inside of said end panels of said units and slots in said end panel with said arms projecting through said slots and accessible on the outside of said panel for manual manipulation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including means for biasing said rod to a neutral position with said switches in an open condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for selectively shifting said switch actuators comprises solenoid coils arranged around said rod and wherein said rod comprises the armature of said solenoid coils and switch means on said units for selectively energizing said coils to shift said rod in the desired direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a stationary storage unit defining the end of travel of said mobile units, said stationary unit including a surface engageable with a switch actuator projection to shift said switch actuator to open said switch which causes movement of the engaging mobile unit.
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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |