Patent US4799818A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4799818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for mounting an item to a post
Assignee: Metro Industries Inc
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Filing: 1987-03-23
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Granted: 1989-01-24
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Expires: 2007-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for securing a member, such as a shelf, to a vertical support column and holding the member in a desired position on the column includes a rotary sleeve system whose resistance to downward motion is directly proportional to the downward force applied. A conical frustum shaped collar having an integral pin extending inwardly from its inside surface rests on top of a split conical frustum shaped sleeve having configurations in the split to receive the pin in one of two positions, an unlocked position and a locked position. A horizontal portion of the slit may be provided for restricting downward motion of the collar with respect to the sleeve to maintain the split in an open configuration, allowing free movement of the rotary sleeve system up or down the vertical column.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Sudimak
- 👤 Robert J. Cohn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:33
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B57/00; A47B57/30; A47B57/54; A47B57/545; F; F16; F16B; F16B9/00; F16B9/05; F16B9/056; F16B2/00; F16B2/02; F16B2/14; F16B7/00; F16B7/02; F16B7/10; F16B7/14; F16B7/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32426; Y10T403/32442; Y10T403/32451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for securing a member to a vertical column having outer surface, said system comprising: a collar having an outer surface, formed to be associated with the member, and a frusto-conical inner surface; an engagement pin mounted on said inner surface of said collar and extending inwardly therefrom; and a sleeve having a frusto-conical outer surface formed to be rotatably mounted within said collar in mating engagement with said inner surface of said the outer surface of the vertical column thereby to engage the vertical column, said sleeve having a collapsible slit extending from its top to its base and being formed to receive said engagement pin in a locked position wherein said collar fits in tight engagement on said sleeve closing said slit, and an unlocked position wherein said collar fits loosely on said sleeve permitting said slit to remain in an open relaxed configuration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for securing a member to a vertical column having outer surface, said system comprising: a collar having an outer surface, formed to be associated with the member, and a frusto-conical inner surface; an engagement pin mounted on said inner surface of said collar and extending inwardly therefrom; and a sleeve having a frusto-conical outer surface formed to be rotatably mounted within said collar in mating engagement with said inner surface of said the outer surface of the vertical column thereby to engage the vertical column, said sleeve having a collapsible slit extending from its top to its base and being formed to receive said engagement pin in a locked position wherein said collar fits in tight engagement on said sleeve closing said slit, and an unlocked position wherein said collar fits loosely on said sleeve permitting said slit to remain in an open relaxed configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The rotary sleeve system according to claim 1, wherein said slit includes a horizontal portion formed to receive said engagement pin in a free movement position at which relative motion between said collar and said sleeve is restricted and said slit remains in an open relaxed configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The rotary sleeve system according to claim 1, wherein the column has spaced annular grooves along its surface and said sleeve has a bead around said inner surface formed to fit into said grooves of the column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for securing an item to a vertical support column, comprising: a split sleeve, having a split therein, with an inner surface having a horizontal cross-sectional shape generally conforming to the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the vertical support column and a conical frustum shaped external surface having its narrow portion toward the upper portion of the vertical support column; and a collar having a conical frustum shaped inner surface formed to seat on said external surface of said sleeve and having an engagement pin extending inwardly; wherein said split allows said sleeve to assume two positions including a first unlocked position wherein said split remains in a substantially open position while said collar loosely engages said sleeve and a second locked position wherein said split is substantially closed and said collar tightly engages said sleeve, effectively reducing the horizontal cross-sectional shape of said sleeve so that said inner surface of said sleeve may rest snugly against said vertical support column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for securing an item to a vertical support column, comprising: a split sleeve, having a split therein, with an inner surface having a horizontal cross-sectional shape generally conforming to the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the vertical support column and a conical frustum shaped external surface having its narrow portion toward the upper portion of the vertical support column; and a collar having a conical frustum shaped inner surface formed to seat on said external surface of said sleeve and having an engagement pin extending inwardly; wherein said split allows said sleeve to assume two positions including a first unlocked position wherein said split remains in a substantially open position while said collar loosely engages said sleeve and a second locked position wherein said split is substantially closed and said collar tightly engages said sleeve, effectively reducing the horizontal cross-sectional shape of said sleeve so that said inner surface of said sleeve may rest snugly against said vertical support column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said vertical column includes horizontal grooves spaced along its length and said sleeve includes a bead on its inner surface formed selectively to mate with said horizontal grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said split includes a horizontal portion adapted to receive said engagement pin in said unlocked position to maintain said collar loosely engaging said sleeve.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for mounting on a column a rotary sleeve system having a sleeve with an outer surface and an inner surface and a collar mounted for rotation with respect to the sleeve, the collar having an inner surface with an engagement pin extending inwardly therefrom, said method comprising the steps of: providing a separation in said sleeve extending from its top to its base, said separation providing two positions for said engagement pin including a first unlocked position and a second locked position, and having a horizontal portion associated with said first unlocked position; positioning said collar relative to said sleeve so that said engagement pin may travel from said locked position to said unlocked position by rotating said sleeve relative to said collar to locate said engagement pin in said horizontal portion and thereby deter said engagement pin from travelling to said locked position; sliding said sleeve to a selected point on said vertical column; rotating said sleeve relative to said collar so that said engagement pin travels from said unlocked position to said locked position; and locking said sleeve at said selected point by pressing said collar on said sleeve to close said separation in said sleeve.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for mounting on a column a rotary sleeve system having a sleeve with an outer surface and an inner surface and a collar mounted for rotation with respect to the sleeve, the collar having an inner surface with an engagement pin extending inwardly therefrom, said method comprising the steps of: providing a separation in said sleeve extending from its top to its base, said separation providing two positions for said engagement pin including a first unlocked position and a second locked position, and having a horizontal portion associated with said first unlocked position; positioning said collar relative to said sleeve so that said engagement pin may travel from said locked position to said unlocked position by rotating said sleeve relative to said collar to locate said engagement pin in said horizontal portion and thereby deter said engagement pin from travelling to said locked position; sliding said sleeve to a selected point on said vertical column; rotating said sleeve relative to said collar so that said engagement pin travels from said unlocked position to said locked position; and locking said sleeve at said selected point by pressing said collar on said sleeve to close said separation in said sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein said rotating step includes the step of: rotating said sleeve to move said engagement pin to said unlocked position from said horizontal portion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for securing a member to a vertical column having an outer surface, said system comprising: a collar having an outer surface, formed to be associated with the member, and a frusto-conical inner surface; an engagement pin mounted on said inner surface of said collar and extending inwardly therefrom; and a sleeve having a frusto-conical outer surface formed to be rotatably mounted within said collar in mating engagement with said inner surface of said collar and having an inner surface configured to correspond to the outer surface of the vertical column thereby to engage the vertical column, said sleeve having a expandable slit extending from its top to its base and being formed to receive said engagement pin in a locked position wherein said collar fits in tight engagement on said sleeve closing said slit, and an unlocked position wherein said collar fits loosely on said sleeve permitting said slit to remain in a closed configuration.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for securing a member to a vertical column having an outer surface, said system comprising: a collar having an outer surface, formed to be associated with the member, and a frusto-conical inner surface; an engagement pin mounted on said inner surface of said collar and extending inwardly therefrom; and a sleeve having a frusto-conical outer surface formed to be rotatably mounted within said collar in mating engagement with said inner surface of said collar and having an inner surface configured to correspond to the outer surface of the vertical column thereby to engage the vertical column, said sleeve having a expandable slit extending from its top to its base and being formed to receive said engagement pin in a locked position wherein said collar fits in tight engagement on said sleeve closing said slit, and an unlocked position wherein said collar fits loosely on said sleeve permitting said slit to remain in a closed configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The rotary sleeve system according to claim 9, wherein said slit includes a horizontal portion formed to receive said engagement pin in a free movement position at which relative motion between said collar and said sleeve is restricted and said slit remains in a closed configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A rotary sleeve system according to claim 9 or 10 whereby the opposing edges of said slit are formed such that relative displacement of said slit edges along the direction of the sleeve axis will cause interference between the slit edges and said interference will open said sleeve if said relative displacement is increased.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The rotary sleeve system according to claim 9 wherein the column has spaced annular grooves along its surface and said sleeve has a bead around said inner surface formed to fit into said grooves of the column.
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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) | 1992-01-24 | 1992-07-25 | 1993-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-24 | 1996-07-25 | 1997-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-24 | 2000-07-25 | 2001-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |