US3944308A — Frame for supporting articles

Claim 1

Independent Claim 151 words

A frame for supporting articles, comprising a plurality of bars forming a framework of open construction, means on said bars defining a channel which extends throughout the length of said bars and has a constricted channel side opening which opens into a side surface of said bars, said bars having angularly bent longitudinal portions and making angles with each other, some of said portions extending in touching contiguous relation, each pair of the contiguously extending bar portions turning their channel side openings towards one another, and locking means detachably introduced into the channels of each pair of the contiguously extending bar portions and engaging therein under locking action, said locking means extending through the channel side openings from channel to channel, whereby the frame may be readily assembled and disassembled and when assembled presents an appearance in which the locking means are not visible with these side openings in side-by-side alignment.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 151 words

A frame for supporting articles, comprising a plurality of bars forming a framework of open construction, means on said bars defining a channel which extends throughout the length of said bars and has a constricted channel side opening which opens into a side surface of said bars, said bars having angularly bent longitudinal portions and making angles with each other, some of said portions extending in touching contiguous relation, each pair of the contiguously extending bar portions turning their channel side openings towards one another, and locking means detachably introduced into the channels of each pair of the contiguously extending bar portions and engaging therein under locking action, said locking means extending through the channel side openings from channel to channel, whereby the frame may be readily assembled and disassembled and when assembled presents an appearance in which the locking means are not visible with these side openings in side-by-side alignment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

A frame according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said bars are bent into the shape of a U having a web portion and two limb end portions, said limb end portions being interconnected in pairs by the intermediary of said locking means for the formation of frame legs.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

A frame according to claim 2, wherein one of said bars is bent into the shape of a ring which extends along said web portions of said U-shaped bars and is interconnected with said U-shaped bars by the intermediary of said locking means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A frame according to claim 2, wherein the channel formed in the web of the U-shaped bar engages slidable retaining means for sliding leaves.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A frame according to claim 2, wherein the webs of two interconnected U-shaped bars are arranged at different levels.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

A frame according to claim 2, wherein the two interconnected limbs of two U-shaped bars in the frame together constitute a framing or bracket for an appliance, such as a lighting apparatus, telephone support or the like.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 113 words

A frame according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said bars are bent into the shape of a U having a web portion and two limb end portions, said limb end portions being interconnected in pairs by the intermediary of said locking means for the formation of frame legs, each U-shaped bar having a side surface which is at right angles to the plane of the U-shaped bar and faces outwardly therefrom, said side surface adjoining on one side a bar side surface projecting therefrom approximately at right angles away from said U-shaped bar and adjoining on the other side the bar side surface in which opens the channel side opening.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

A frame according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said bars are bent into the shape of a U having a web portion and two limb end portions, said limb end portions being interconnected in pairs by the intermediary of said locking means for the formation of frame legs, means on said U-shaped bars defining a groove which opens into a bar side surface facing inwardly of the U-shaped bar.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 69 words

A frame according to claim 1, wherein said bars are individually bent into the shape of a U having a web portion and two limb end portions, the web portions of said U-shaped bars being interconnected by the intermediary of said locking means for the formation of a pedestal which can be placed on a base, supported by the limb end portions projecting from one end of the pedestal.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 51 words

A frame according to claim 1, wherein said bars are individually bent into L-shape and said bars are interconnected at their one L-arm by the intermediary of said locking means for the formation of a pedestal from one end of which extend the other L-arms of said bars in different directions.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-03-16	1979-09-15	1980-03-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-03-16	1983-09-15	1984-03-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-03-16	1987-09-15	1988-03-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Frame for supporting articles

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag