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US4074810A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Combination tiered letter tray and vertical file

Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC
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Filing: 1976-09-27
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Granted: 1978-02-21
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Expires: 1996-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract A tiered letter tray comprising at least two trays detachably stacked one upon another by rectangular plastic riser plates and a vertical file comprising at least one L-shaped trough having means at one side of its base for selective attachment to the side of the bottom letter tray, said trough adapted at the other side of its base for selective attachment to one side of a like trough, and an end cap adapted for selective attachment to said one side of the base for using said trough detached from said letter tray.

Inventors

  • 👤 David A. Juergens
  • 👤 Greg P. Terek

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 19:39
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42F; B42F7/00; B42F7/10; B42F7/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 164 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file comprising at least two tiered U-shaped trays each having a bottom wall and side walls with equally spaced-apart slots at the intersections thereof, riser plate members supporting the upper tray on the lower tray and having a bottom groove detachably engaged over the side wall of the lower tray and upper tabs detachably engaged in the slots of the upper tray, and a vertical file comprising at least one L-shaped trough having a bottom wall and side wall with spaced-apart slots at the intersection thereof and spaced-apart upright tabs at the opposite edge of its bottom wall, the upright tabs of said trough being spaced apart the same distance as the slots in the trays and detachably engaged in the slots at one side of said lower tray and the slots of said trough being spaced apart the same distance so as selectively to receive the upright tabs of a like trough in laterally adjoining relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 164 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file comprising at least two tiered U-shaped trays each having a bottom wall and side walls with equally spaced-apart slots at the intersections thereof, riser plate members supporting the upper tray on the lower tray and having a bottom groove detachably engaged over the side wall of the lower tray and upper tabs detachably engaged in the slots of the upper tray, and a vertical file comprising at least one L-shaped trough having a bottom wall and side wall with spaced-apart slots at the intersection thereof and spaced-apart upright tabs at the opposite edge of its bottom wall, the upright tabs of said trough being spaced apart the same distance as the slots in the trays and detachably engaged in the slots at one side of said lower tray and the slots of said trough being spaced apart the same distance so as selectively to receive the upright tabs of a like trough in laterally adjoining relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 1, wherein the riser plate members each have a front plate and upper and lower tabs spaced rearwardly from the front plate to form top and bottom grooves therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 1, wherein the spaced upright tabs on the L-shaped trough are spaced outwardly away from the edge of its bottom wall to form grooves for embracing the bottom portion of a side wall of another trough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 3, wherein additional tabs at said opposite edge of the bottom wall of said trough are positioned to abut the exterior of a side wall in said groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 1, wherein an end cap is provided for selectively embracing the upright tabs of said trough when used apart from said letter tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 2, wherein the spaced upright tabs on the L-shaped trough are spaced outwardly away from the edge of its bottom wall to form a groove for embracing the bottom portion of a side wall adjacent to the tabs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 6, wherein additional tabs at said opposite edge of the bottom wall of said trough are positioned to abut the exterior of a side wall in said groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 57 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper tabs on said riser plate members slidably contact the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the upper tray and the upright tabs of said trough slidably contact the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the lower tray.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 57 words
A combination tiered letter tray and vertical file as defined in claim 3, wherein the upper tabs on said riser plate members slidably contact the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the upper tray and the upright tabs of said trough slidably contact the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the lower tray.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-02-20 1981-08-22 1982-02-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-02-20 1985-08-22 1986-02-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-02-20 1989-08-22 1990-02-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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