Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A shim for use as a spacing device between two adjacent elements, said shim comprising a planar, U-shaped structure of uniform thickness with parallel leg portions and a connecting base portion, said shim having parallel upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces of said shim being longitudinally striated so as to form longitudinal, parallel, narrow, alternate grooves and ridges therein, whereby two or more of said shims may be stacked to achieve a desired shim thickness with said alternate grooves and ridges of said upper and lower surfaces of adjacent shims nesting to prevent lateral shifting of said stacked shims with respect to each other, and a handle portion on said shim, said handle portion being coplanar with said shim leg and base portions, said handle portion being located centrally of said base portion and extending therefrom in a direction opposite said leg portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A shim for use as a spacing device between two adjacent elements, said shim comprising a planar, U-shaped structure of uniform thickness with parallel leg portions and a connecting base portion, said shim having parallel upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces of said shim being longitudinally striated so as to form longitudinal, parallel, narrow, alternate grooves and ridges therein, whereby two or more of said shims may be stacked to achieve a desired shim thickness with said alternate grooves and ridges of said upper and lower surfaces of adjacent shims nesting to prevent lateral shifting of said stacked shims with respect to each other, and a handle portion on said shim, said handle portion being coplanar with said shim leg and base portions, said handle portion being located centrally of said base portion and extending therefrom in a direction opposite said leg portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said shim is an integral, one-piece structure molded of plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 including transverse lines of weakening in said leg portions, said lines of weakening in each of said leg portions being parallel and in predetermined spaced relationship, whereby said leg portions may be broken off said shim along selected ones of said lines of weakening to achieve a desired length for said leg portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 including a line of weakening at the juncture of said handle portion and said base portion whereby said handle portion can be broken off said shim at said line of weakening when not needed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said lines of weakening each comprises a notch formed in said upper surface of said shim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said lines of weakening each comprise an opposed pair of notches formed in said upper and lower surfaces of said shim.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said line of weakening comprises a notch formed in said upper surface of said shim.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said line of weakening comprises an opposed pair of notches formed in said upper and lower surfaces of said shim.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure claimed in claim 3 including a line of weakening at the juncture of said handle portion and said base portion whereby said handle portion can be broken off said shim at said line of weakening when not needed.