US4402397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display case with castellated tongue and groove joints
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-11-28
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Granted: 1983-09-06
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Expires: 2000-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A plastic display case which may be assembled from essentially flat components is provided with a castellated tongue and groove construction. This particular construction allows extremely high stacking strength to be provided from a relatively thin gauge material.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack T. Spence
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:37
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D11/00; B65D11/18; B65D11/1866; B65D11/1873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A knockdown display case constructed of a thin, molded plastic sheet material, said display case comprising: a top panel; a bottom panel; two side panels; and two end panels, said panels being joined to one another by friction-fit tongue and groove joints, each said panel having a substantially planar central section extending adjacent to and offset from said joints, and wherein each said groove has substantially planar first and second walls, said first and second walls being connected by a bottom wall, the tongue in each of said joints comprising: a plurality of first wall engaging surfaces; a plurality of second wall engaging surfaces, said first wall engaging surfaces being spaced from and co-planar with one another and said second wall engaging surfaces being spaced from and coplanar with one another, wherein a first plane defined by said first surfaces and a second plane defined by said second surfaces are spaced from and parallel to one another; and a plurality of connecting surfaces, said connecting surfaces being substantially parallel to one another and normal to said first and second planes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A knockdown display case constructed of a thin, molded plastic sheet material, said display case comprising: a top panel; a bottom panel; two side panels; and two end panels, said panels being joined to one another by friction-fit tongue and groove joints, each said panel having a substantially planar central section extending adjacent to and offset from said joints, and wherein each said groove has substantially planar first and second walls, said first and second walls being connected by a bottom wall, the tongue in each of said joints comprising: a plurality of first wall engaging surfaces; a plurality of second wall engaging surfaces, said first wall engaging surfaces being spaced from and co-planar with one another and said second wall engaging surfaces being spaced from and coplanar with one another, wherein a first plane defined by said first surfaces and a second plane defined by said second surfaces are spaced from and parallel to one another; and a plurality of connecting surfaces, said connecting surfaces being substantially parallel to one another and normal to said first and second planes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display case of claim 1 wherein each connecting surface connects one of said first wall engaging surfaces to one of said second wall engaging surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display case of claim 2 wherein said bottom and top panels are rectangular and said bottom and top panels have grooves along each side thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display case of claim 3 wherein each of said side panels is rectangular and has a said tongue along each side thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display case of claim 4 wherein each of said end panels comprises first and second edges having tongues thereon for engagement with said top and said bottom respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display case of claim 5 wherein each of said end panels further comprises third and fourth edges having said grooves therein for engagement with said side panels.
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) | 1986-09-05 | 1987-03-07 | 1987-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-05 | 1991-03-07 | 1991-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-05 | 1995-03-07 | 1995-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |