Patent US4083456A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4083456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Terraced modular rack assembly
Assignee: CONTROLLED SHEET MUSIC SERVICE Inc
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Filing: 1976-03-01
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Granted: 1978-04-11
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Expires: 1996-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A rack assembly includes a plurality of stacked rack elements adjacent ones of which are connectable to each other to form a terraced rack display. Each rack element is in the shape of a rectangular housing having bottom, rear and side walls. Male connecting members depend downwardly from the frontal portions of the bottom walls of each of the rack elements and are adapted to be snappingly inserted into mating female connecting members provided on the rear walls of cooperating rack elements. The mating female connecting members are spaced upwardly relative to the bottom walls on each rack element so that each succeeding or rearwardly disposed rack element is additionally upwardly elevated in the engaged conditions of the male and female connecting members. Additionally, inverted L-shaped planar female openings are provided in each of the side walls for receiving similarly shaped or inverted L-shaped planar male members. The L-shaped female openings are oversized and readily receive the L-shaped male members in a first initial position of two adjacent or back-to-back rack elements, the planar female openings being provided with an inclined edge or a surface which draws the two adjacent rack elements into close abutment when the elements are moved longitudinally relative to each other from the initial to the engaged locked condition of the L-shaped planar members within the associated planar female openings.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Genn
- 👤 Ralph M. Verni
- 👤 Jonathan K. Bindman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:23
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F5/00; A47F7/00; A47F7/14; A47F7/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A rack assembly comprising a pluarality of rack elements connectable to each other to form a terraced rack display, each rack element generally being in the nature of a rectangular housing having bottom, rear and side walls, each element having first locking means including a receiving first locking portion substantially in the plane of said rear wall and forming on upwardly open socket and a second locking portion connected to and downwardly projecting from the frontal region of said bottom wall between said side walls, a first locking portion of a frontwardly disposed rack element being adapted to receive a downwardly projecting second locking portion of an adjacent rearwardly disposed rack element to thereby permit adjacent rack elements to be fixedly connected to one another, said rack elements further having second locking means substantially in the planes of said side walls for aligning adjacent rack elements with one another and for securely fixing the positions of the connected rack elements relative to one another, said first and second locking means being arranged to lock successively rearwardly disposed rack elements respectively successively upwardly to provide an upwardly and rearwardly stepped or terraced modular rack assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A rack assembly comprising a pluarality of rack elements connectable to each other to form a terraced rack display, each rack element generally being in the nature of a rectangular housing having bottom, rear and side walls, each element having first locking means including a receiving first locking portion substantially in the plane of said rear wall and forming on upwardly open socket and a second locking portion connected to and downwardly projecting from the frontal region of said bottom wall between said side walls, a first locking portion of a frontwardly disposed rack element being adapted to receive a downwardly projecting second locking portion of an adjacent rearwardly disposed rack element to thereby permit adjacent rack elements to be fixedly connected to one another, said rack elements further having second locking means substantially in the planes of said side walls for aligning adjacent rack elements with one another and for securely fixing the positions of the connected rack elements relative to one another, said first and second locking means being arranged to lock successively rearwardly disposed rack elements respectively successively upwardly to provide an upwardly and rearwardly stepped or terraced modular rack assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second locking portions are spaced from each other in the direction of the plane of said rear wall a distance to substantially correspond to the desired vertical displacement between adjacent rack elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein a rear wall of a frontwardly disposed rack element forms a front wall of an adjacent rearwardly disposed rack element when said rack elements are connected, said rear walls having a height selected to expose desired upper portions of items placed within said rack elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second locking portions are snappingly engageable with one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said locking portions is a male connecting member and the other of said locking portions is a mating female connecting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said first locking portion is at least one socket and said second locking portion is at least one tongue dimensioned to be received within said at least one socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said socket is in the form of an offset wall portion in said rear wall for forming a generally rectangular slot, and said tongue has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration dimensioned to be received within said slot with little clearance therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said offset wall portion is made of a resilient material and is provided with an upper edge beveled in the direction of said rear wall, said tongue being formed with a wedge-shaped projection engageable with said offset wall portion bevel when said tongue is received within said slot, whereby said wedge-shaped projection initially resiliently deflects said offset wall portion to enlarge said slot and facilitate insertion of said tongue therein, said wedge-shaped projection snapping to a position below said offset wall portion upon full insertion of said tongue to lock the same within said slot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein two tongues and two mating sockets are provided on each rack element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
243 words
A rack assembly comprising a plurality of rack elements connectable to each other to form a terraced display, each rack element generally being in the nature of a rectangular housing having bottom, rear and side walls, each element having first locking means including a first locking portion substantially in the plane of said rear wall and a second locking portion downwardly projecting from the frontal region of said bottom wall, a first locking portion of a frontwardly disposed rack element being engageable with a second locking portion of an adjacent rearwardly disposed rack element to thereby permit adjacent rack elements to be fixedly connected to one another, said rack elements further having second locking means substantially in the planes of said side walls for aligning adjacent rack elements with one another and for securely fixing the positions of the connected rack elements relative to one another, said second locking means comprising at least one planar female opening in said side walls of each of said rack elements, and at least one planar male member projecting forwardly from said side walls of said rack elements which are rearwardly disposed behind adjacent rack elements, said male members being configurated and dimensioned to be receivable within associated female openings in the planes of said side walls; said first and second locking means being arranged to lock successively rearwardly disposed rack elements respectively successively upwardly to provide an upwardly and rearwardly stepped or terraced modular rack assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
243 words
A rack assembly comprising a plurality of rack elements connectable to each other to form a terraced display, each rack element generally being in the nature of a rectangular housing having bottom, rear and side walls, each element having first locking means including a first locking portion substantially in the plane of said rear wall and a second locking portion downwardly projecting from the frontal region of said bottom wall, a first locking portion of a frontwardly disposed rack element being engageable with a second locking portion of an adjacent rearwardly disposed rack element to thereby permit adjacent rack elements to be fixedly connected to one another, said rack elements further having second locking means substantially in the planes of said side walls for aligning adjacent rack elements with one another and for securely fixing the positions of the connected rack elements relative to one another, said second locking means comprising at least one planar female opening in said side walls of each of said rack elements, and at least one planar male member projecting forwardly from said side walls of said rack elements which are rearwardly disposed behind adjacent rack elements, said male members being configurated and dimensioned to be receivable within associated female openings in the planes of said side walls; said first and second locking means being arranged to lock successively rearwardly disposed rack elements respectively successively upwardly to provide an upwardly and rearwardly stepped or terraced modular rack assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein female openings and male members are provided on both side walls of each rack element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein two female openings and male members are provided on each side wall of each rack element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein each female opening has a generally inverted L-shape with a horizontal leg portion thereof extending to the rear edge of a side wall to provide access into said opening from the direction of said rear wall, the vertical leg portion of each female opening being generally downwardly directed and inwardly spaced from said rear wall to form an upwardly projecting side wall extension, and each male member having said inverted L-shape to correspond to the shape of said L-shaped opening to define with an associated side wall a downwardly directly slot and projecting forwardly from said side walls to be receivable within the associated opening of a forwardly disposed adjacent rack element with said side wall extensions being received within said downwardly directed slots to effect locking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein the heights of said horizontal leg portions of said female openings are greater than the heights of said male members, whereby said male members may be initially received through said opening horizontal leg portions at one relative position of two associated adjacent rack elements in an unengaged condition thereof and subsequently moved into said opening vertical leg portions to the engaged condition thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said vertical leg portions of said openings are wider than said vertical leg portions of said male members, and wherein a downwardly and forwardly inclined edge is provided within each open vertical leg portion to increasingly draw two adjacent rack elements together as the relative positions thereof change from the unengaged to the engaged conditions to lock the same in close abutting relation in the fully engaged conditions thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the front-most rack element in the assembly only has female openings in said second locking means matable with male members in a rearwardly disposed rack element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 16, further comprising a front cover plate connectable to the front-most rack element, said cover plate having first locking portions similar to those of said first locking means engageable with said second locking portions of the front-most rack element, and having a pair of alignment walls spaced inwardly of said front-most side walls; said alignment walls having wedge shaped projections extending outwardly to be snappingly receivable within said planar female openings of said front-most rack element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein said cover plate has a height substantially smaller than that of said rear wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the depths of said rack elements are substantially smaller than the heights and widths thereof, to permit the stacking of a large number of rack elements, suitable for storing and displaying sheet music and the like, within a rack assembly which has an overall height substantially greater than the overall depth thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A rack assembly as defined in claim 10, further comprising guideway and key means associated with each pair of planar female opening and male member for aligning the same in a common plane to assure secure locking therebetween in the engaged condition thereof.
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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) | 1981-04-10 | 1981-10-10 | 1982-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-10 | 1985-10-10 | 1986-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-10 | 1989-10-10 | 1990-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |