US3957159A — Rotary storage unit

Claim 1

Independent Claim 226 words

A rotary storage and dispensing unit, comprising, a. a column provided with a plurality of radially spaced vertical rows of supporting seats, b. means mounting said column for rotary movement about its vertical axis, c. a frame consisting of pairs of vertically aligned beams extending radially from said column, in displaced relation to said vertical rows of seats, adjacent its top and bottom with a vertical strut bridging the upper and lower extremities of each pair of aligned beams for defining radial wedge-shaped compartments, d. each of said struts being of channel cross-section with sides having downwardly inclined slots extending from the free edges thereof leading to supporting seats in said sides at superposed levels corresponding to said first-mentioned seats in said column, e. wedge-shaped containers detachably mounted within said compartments, said containers having rearwardly and laterally extending projections engageable, respectively, with the seats in the column and struts, to provide three-point container support, f. each of said slots adapted to selectively receive the terminal end of one of said laterally extending projections for supporting the containers at different levels, and g. locking means for said terminal ends comprising a channel member with bilateral sides mounted for reciprocating movement within each strut, said bilateral sides having notches at the free edges thereof cooperative with said inclined slots for detachably locking said lateral projections to said frame.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 226 words

A rotary storage and dispensing unit, comprising, a. a column provided with a plurality of radially spaced vertical rows of supporting seats, b. means mounting said column for rotary movement about its vertical axis, c. a frame consisting of pairs of vertically aligned beams extending radially from said column, in displaced relation to said vertical rows of seats, adjacent its top and bottom with a vertical strut bridging the upper and lower extremities of each pair of aligned beams for defining radial wedge-shaped compartments, d. each of said struts being of channel cross-section with sides having downwardly inclined slots extending from the free edges thereof leading to supporting seats in said sides at superposed levels corresponding to said first-mentioned seats in said column, e. wedge-shaped containers detachably mounted within said compartments, said containers having rearwardly and laterally extending projections engageable, respectively, with the seats in the column and struts, to provide three-point container support, f. each of said slots adapted to selectively receive the terminal end of one of said laterally extending projections for supporting the containers at different levels, and g. locking means for said terminal ends comprising a channel member with bilateral sides mounted for reciprocating movement within each strut, said bilateral sides having notches at the free edges thereof cooperative with said inclined slots for detachably locking said lateral projections to said frame.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 183 words

A rotary storage and dispensing unit, comprising a. a column, b. means mounting said column for rotary movement about its vertical axis, c. a frame consisting of pairs of vertically aligned beams extending radially from said column adjacent its top and bottom with a vertical strut bridging the upper and lower extremities of each pair of aligned beams for defining radial wedge-shaped compartments, with supporting seats in said column and struts, respectively, and d. wedge-shaped containers detachably mounted within said compartments, said containers having rearwardly and laterally extending projections engageable, respectively, with the seats in the column and struts, to provide three-point container support, e. the vertically aligned beams and the bridging strut therebetween forming an open framework which defines the radial wedge-shaped compartments, said strut being a plate-like member having oblique, downwardly extending slots forming seats for said laterally extending container projections, f. said plate-like member being of bilateral section with said oblique slots in each side of said member, for receiving the laterally extending projections of the containers in adjacent compartments at selected levels, in direct interlocking engagement with said strut.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 183 words

A rotary storage and dispensing unit, comprising a. a column, b. means mounting said column for rotary movement about its vertical axis, c. a frame consisting of pairs of vertically aligned beams extending radially from said column adjacent its top and bottom with a vertical strut bridging the upper and lower extremities of each pair of aligned beams for defining radial wedge-shaped compartments, with supporting seats in said column and struts, respectively, and d. wedge-shaped containers detachably mounted within said compartments, said containers having rearwardly and laterally extending projections engageable, respectively, with the seats in the column and struts, to provide three-point container support, e. the vertically aligned beams and the bridging strut therebetween forming an open framework which defines the radial wedge-shaped compartments, said strut being a plate-like member having oblique, downwardly extending slots forming seats for said laterally extending container projections, f. said plate-like member being of bilateral section with said oblique slots in each side of said member, for receiving the laterally extending projections of the containers in adjacent compartments at selected levels, in direct interlocking engagement with said strut.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said containers comprise a wire basket of generally triangular outline in horizontal section, with the projections being formed of wire for direct and positive support of said basket within said seats.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 67 words

A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the laterally extending wire projections are terminal ends of a bar extending across a widened portion of said basket and through said inclined slots in the facing lateral sides of the two adjacent struts defining the compartment receiving said wire basket, and locking means movable longitudinally in each strut for locking said terminal ends within said seats therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said containers comprise a tray for the retention of small articles with the narrowed portion at the rearward end thereof in detachable engagement with the seat in the column, and with the laterally extending projections engageable with said downwardly inclined slots and seats in the lateral sides of adjacent vertical struts.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 69 words

A device as set forth in claim 1, including means for reciprocally moving each channel member vertically in its companion strut, and latching means for fixing said channel means in position of alignment of said slots and notches, to permit the free movement of the terminal ends therein, preparatory to the vertical movement of said channel member to effect the detachable locking of said lateral projections in said slots.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each channel member is spring loaded to assist the effect of gravity.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 185 words

A rotary storage and dispensing unit, comprising a. a column rotatably mounted on a vertical axis and having a plurality of vertically spaced container supporting elements, b. a skeletal frame carried by said column consisting of vertically spaced pairs of horizontal beams secured to said column, said pairs being circumferentially spaced about said column and providing a plurality of generally triangular radial chambers, c. a vertical strut connecting each pair of beams at points remote from said column, each strut having container supporting means corresponding in elevation to the supporting elements of said column, providing three-point support for a container disposed within the chamber, d. a container detachably carried by said frame, and e. manually operated remotely controled means indexing said frame at predetermined angular positions, f. said last mentioned indexing means comprising an annular flange at the base of said unit provided with a plurality of openings therein of at least as great a number as the radial chambers, a spring loaded slidable bolt for selectively engaging one of said openings, and actuating means connected to said bolt comprising two spaced manually operated levers.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 185 words

A rotary storage and dispensing unit, comprising a. a column rotatably mounted on a vertical axis and having a plurality of vertically spaced container supporting elements, b. a skeletal frame carried by said column consisting of vertically spaced pairs of horizontal beams secured to said column, said pairs being circumferentially spaced about said column and providing a plurality of generally triangular radial chambers, c. a vertical strut connecting each pair of beams at points remote from said column, each strut having container supporting means corresponding in elevation to the supporting elements of said column, providing three-point support for a container disposed within the chamber, d. a container detachably carried by said frame, and e. manually operated remotely controled means indexing said frame at predetermined angular positions, f. said last mentioned indexing means comprising an annular flange at the base of said unit provided with a plurality of openings therein of at least as great a number as the radial chambers, a spring loaded slidable bolt for selectively engaging one of said openings, and actuating means connected to said bolt comprising two spaced manually operated levers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-05-18	1979-11-17	1980-05-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-05-18	1983-11-17	1984-05-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-05-18	1987-11-17	1988-05-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Rotary storage unit

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