Patent US4033597A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4033597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for carrying glass panels
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-12-22
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Granted: 1977-07-05
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Expires: 1995-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A windshield carrier for supporting and transporting glass panels such as curved windshields for automobiles and the like. The two elongated sides of a body frame are covered with a medium hard rubber base and each side includes a spaced row of upright dowels. Each dowel has a sponge rubber sleeve and a medium hard rubber cap. The spacing between adjacent dowels is sufficient to supportively receive a windshield having the greatest curvature expected to be encountered. At least a portion of the lower edge of the windshield rests on the base and a portion of its side rests against one of the sleeves to prevent breaking, scratching and slipping of the windshield. A sponge rubber pad may be inserted between the opposite side of the supported windshield and the adjacent dowel to further secure and protect the windshield. The body frame includes openings on at least one side for receiving the tines of a fork lift for positioning the carrier in a first direction and similar apparatus or, in the alternative, wheels at the ends thereof for positioning in a transverse direction so that the carrier can be positioned for loading and unloading from either the sides or the ends of the carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Ambroise O. Boyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:16
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B3/00; B62B3/10; B62B3/108; B65; B65D; B65D85/00; B65D85/30; B65D85/48; B65G; B65G49/00; B65G49/05; B65G49/06; B65G49/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
421 words
An apparatus for carrying, holding and storing glass windshields so that such windshields may be transported without damage thereto comprising: a frame having first and second longitudinal frame members of generally the same length, said frame members being arranged parallel and in laterally spaced apart relation, said frame members having upper surfaces which are flat, with said upper surfaces of said frame members lying in a horizontal plane; elongated pads of resilient material secured to the upper surfaces of said first and second longitudinal frame members, each pad extending the entire length of the corresponding frame member, being adapted to support first portion of a glass windshield placed thereon and prevent slippage of the windshield in either a longitudinal direction or in a lateral direction; a first row of upright stationary dowels of generally cylindrical configuration fixedly secured to and positioned at predetermined spaced locations along the length of said first longitudinal frame member; a second row of upright stationary dowels of generally cylindrical configuration fixedly secured to and positioned at corresponding predetermined spaced locations along the length of said second longitudinal frame member; said dowels extending from said frame members through openings provided in said pads; the spacing between said dowels of said first and second rows being at least sufficient to supportively receive the largest of said windshields likely to be encountered; each of said dowels of said first and second rows being provided with a stationary elongated tubular resilient member of generally cylindrical configuration which is sleeved over the dowel, each tubular member having upper and lower annular surfaces, with the lower annular surface of each tubular member abutting one of the pads of resilient material, each of the elongated tubular resilient members being adapted to support a second portion of the windshield and prevent the scratching or breaking thereof, each tubular resilient member having a length less than the length of the corresponding dowel; a stationary end cap of resilient material for each dowel sleeved over the upper portion thereof and having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface of each end cap abutting the upper annular surface of the corresponding tubular resilient member, the upper surface of each resilient end cap lying in a horizontally extending plane to prevent breaking or scratching of the windshields during loading and unloading operations; said elongated tubular resilient member and the corresponding resilient end cap for each dowel completely enclosing and covering same; and means associated with said frame for enabling the apparatus to be transported from place to place.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
421 words
An apparatus for carrying, holding and storing glass windshields so that such windshields may be transported without damage thereto comprising: a frame having first and second longitudinal frame members of generally the same length, said frame members being arranged parallel and in laterally spaced apart relation, said frame members having upper surfaces which are flat, with said upper surfaces of said frame members lying in a horizontal plane; elongated pads of resilient material secured to the upper surfaces of said first and second longitudinal frame members, each pad extending the entire length of the corresponding frame member, being adapted to support first portion of a glass windshield placed thereon and prevent slippage of the windshield in either a longitudinal direction or in a lateral direction; a first row of upright stationary dowels of generally cylindrical configuration fixedly secured to and positioned at predetermined spaced locations along the length of said first longitudinal frame member; a second row of upright stationary dowels of generally cylindrical configuration fixedly secured to and positioned at corresponding predetermined spaced locations along the length of said second longitudinal frame member; said dowels extending from said frame members through openings provided in said pads; the spacing between said dowels of said first and second rows being at least sufficient to supportively receive the largest of said windshields likely to be encountered; each of said dowels of said first and second rows being provided with a stationary elongated tubular resilient member of generally cylindrical configuration which is sleeved over the dowel, each tubular member having upper and lower annular surfaces, with the lower annular surface of each tubular member abutting one of the pads of resilient material, each of the elongated tubular resilient members being adapted to support a second portion of the windshield and prevent the scratching or breaking thereof, each tubular resilient member having a length less than the length of the corresponding dowel; a stationary end cap of resilient material for each dowel sleeved over the upper portion thereof and having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface of each end cap abutting the upper annular surface of the corresponding tubular resilient member, the upper surface of each resilient end cap lying in a horizontally extending plane to prevent breaking or scratching of the windshields during loading and unloading operations; said elongated tubular resilient member and the corresponding resilient end cap for each dowel completely enclosing and covering same; and means associated with said frame for enabling the apparatus to be transported from place to place.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that each of said tubular resilient members is relatively more resilient than the corresponding pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said transport-enabling means includes means secured to the underside of said frame and adapted to receive the fork elements of a lift truck for lifting and transporting said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said frame is generally rectangular and said transport enabling means includes a pair of wheels mounted at one end of said frame, a hitch means mounted at the opposite end thereof, and a wheeled dolly adapted to engage said hitch means for transporting said apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the end of said frame mounting said hitch means further includes a pair of legs adapted to support said assembly whenever said dolly is disengaged from said hitch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further including individual pads of sponge-like rubber adapted to be inserted between the upper portion of the windshield and an upper portion of an adjacent dowel for preventing relative movement between the windshield and said apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that that said transport-enabling means includes means mounted on at least one longitudinal end thereof to permit longitudinal positioning of the apparatus and means mounted on at least one longitudinal side of the frame for permitting the apparatus to be positioned laterally such that the apparatus can be easily positioned for loading and unloading from either end or side.
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) | 1980-07-04 | 1981-01-03 | 1981-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-04 | 1985-01-03 | 1985-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-04 | 1989-01-03 | 1989-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |