US5014478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panels and panel interlocking means
Assignee: MAIN STREET EXHIBITS Inc
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Filing: 1989-09-22
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Granted: 1991-05-14
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Expires: 2009-09-22
Abstract
Abstract Track members of specific configuration are embedded in the edges of flat panel members. Extrusion members of specific configuration are employed to interlock the track members to one another in differing configurations. Each track member defines a cavity and in a first embodiment, two cavities are brought into abutting relation to one another to form a collective cavity into which a first embodiment of the extrusion member slidably fits. When so interlocked, the panels collectively form a wall or other surface. Additional embodiments enable the panels to be disposed at right angles to one another, to form "+" sign shaped intersections, radial arrays, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. Spring
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:53
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7433; E04B2/7438; E04B2/744; E04B1/00; E04B1/38; E04B1/61; E04B1/6108; E04B1/612; E04B1/6145; E04B1/6158; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/30; E04C2/38; E04C2/384
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A track member, comprising: an elongate, flat bottom wall; a pair of elongate, flat, forwardly extending side walls integral to opposite sides of said bottom wall, said side walls being parallel to one another and being at right angles to said bottom wall; a pair of elongate, flat, inwardly extending top walls integral to respective distal free ends of said side walls, said inwardly extending top walls extending toward one another in parallelism to said bottom wall and at right angles to said side walls; a pair of elongate, flat, outwardly extending top walls integral to respective distal free ends of said side walls, said outwardly extending top walls extending away from one another in parallelism to said bottom wall and at right angles to said side walls; a pair of elongate, flat, rearwardly extending end walls integral to respective distal free ends of said outwardly extending top walls, said end walls extending in parallelism to one another and in parallelism to said side walls; an elongate, flat interconnecting wall integral to said bottom wall at a mid-point thereof, said interconnecting wall extending rearwardly and at a right angle to said bottom wall, in parallelism to said side and end walls; an elongate, flat anchor wall integral to said interconnecting wall and disposed at a right angle thereto in parallelism to said bottom wall and said inwardly and outwardly extending top walls; and p1 said inwardly and outwardly extending top walls being coplanar with one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A track member, comprising: an elongate, flat bottom wall; a pair of elongate, flat, forwardly extending side walls integral to opposite sides of said bottom wall, said side walls being parallel to one another and being at right angles to said bottom wall; a pair of elongate, flat, inwardly extending top walls integral to respective distal free ends of said side walls, said inwardly extending top walls extending toward one another in parallelism to said bottom wall and at right angles to said side walls; a pair of elongate, flat, outwardly extending top walls integral to respective distal free ends of said side walls, said outwardly extending top walls extending away from one another in parallelism to said bottom wall and at right angles to said side walls; a pair of elongate, flat, rearwardly extending end walls integral to respective distal free ends of said outwardly extending top walls, said end walls extending in parallelism to one another and in parallelism to said side walls; an elongate, flat interconnecting wall integral to said bottom wall at a mid-point thereof, said interconnecting wall extending rearwardly and at a right angle to said bottom wall, in parallelism to said side and end walls; an elongate, flat anchor wall integral to said interconnecting wall and disposed at a right angle thereto in parallelism to said bottom wall and said inwardly and outwardly extending top walls; and p1 said inwardly and outwardly extending top walls being coplanar with one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The panel member of claim 1, further comprising an extrusion member having a transverse section that has an "H"-shaped configuration, said extrusion member having a pair of parallel first and second arm members interconnected by a cross bar member, and said extrusion member slidably fitting within a collective "H"-shaped cavity defined by a pair of abutting track members disposed in edge-to-edge relation to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
The panel member of claim 2, wherein said extrusion member further comprises a first branch member integral to said cross bar member and projecting orthogonally therefrom in parallelism to said first and second parallel arm members and a third arm member integral to said first branch member at a distal end thereof, said third arm member being disposed orthogonally to said first branch member, so that a cavity means of a third track member slidably engages said third arm member and is thereby interlocked to said pair of abutting track members disposed in edge-to-edge relation to one another, said third track member being orthogonal to said pair of abutting track members when so interlocked.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
The panel member of claim 3, wherein said extrusion member further comprises a second branch member integral to said cross bar member and projecting orthogonally therefrom in parallelism to said first and second parallel arm members, said second branch member extending from said cross bar member in a direction opposite to the direction of said first branch member, and a fourth arm member integral to said second branch member at a distal end thereof, said fourth arm member being disposed orthogonally to said second branch member, so that a cavity means of a fourth track member slidably receives said fourth arm member and is thereby interlocked to said first, second and third track members, said fourth track member being disposed orthogonal to said first and second track members and extending therefrom in a direction opposite from said third track member when so interlocked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
218 words
The panel member of claim 1, further comprising an extrusion member having a transverse section that includes a flat wall member bent at a right angle mid-length thereof to form first and second wall members having a common breadth, a first branch member integral to said first wall and projecting orthogonally from a mid-point thereof, a second branch member integral to said second wall and projecting orthogonally from a mid-point thereof, said first and second branch members extending outwardly relative to an included angle defined by said first and second wall members, a first arm member integral to said first branch member at a distal end thereof, said first arm member being disposed orthogonal to said first branch member, in parallelism with said first wall member, and a second arm member integral to said second branch member at a distal end thereof, said second arm member being disposed orthogonal to said second branch member, in parallelism with said second wall member; whereby a cavity means of a first track member slidably receives said first branch and arm members and a cavity means of a second track member slidably receives said second branch and arm members so that said first and second track members are interlocked to one another and form a right angle with respect to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
235 words
The panel member of claim 1, further comprising an extrusion member having a transverse section that includes a flat wall member bent at a right angle mid-length thereof to form first and second wall members having a common breadth, a first branch member integral to said first wall and projecting orthogonally from a mid-point thereof, a second branch member integral to said second wall and projecting orthogonally from a mid-point thereof, said first branch member extending outwardly relative to an included angle defined by said first and second wall members, said second branch member extending inwardly relative to an included angle defined by said first and second wall members, a first arm member integral to said first branch member at a distal end thereof, said first arm member being disposed orthogonally to said first branch member, in parallelism with said first wall member, and a second arm member integral to said second branch member at a distal end thereof, said second arm member being disposed orthogonal to said second branch member, in parallelism with said second wall member; whereby a cavity means of a first track member slidably receives said first branch and arm members and a cavity means of a second track member slidably receives said second branch and arm members so that said first and second track members are interlocked to one another and form a right angle with respect to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The panel member of claim 4, further comprising an extrusion member having a transverse section that includes an annular base member having radially disposed branch members integral therewith that project outwardly therefrom, and that further includes a wall member integral to a distal free end of each branch member, each of said wall members being orthogonally disposed in relation to its associated branch member; whereby a plurality of radially disposed track members are releasably secured to said extrusion member.
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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) | 1994-05-13 | 1994-11-12 | 1995-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-13 | 1998-11-12 | 1999-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-13 | 2002-11-12 | 2003-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |