US5042670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Support for T. V. controller and program guide
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-11-07
•
Granted: 1991-08-27
•
Expires: 2010-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A rack structure constructed to support a TV remote controller, a VCR remote controller, a television program listing booklet, and a plurality of VCR cartridges. The rack structure can be positioned near a chair or couch occupied by a person while viewing a television receiver. Either controller can be operated by the person without removing the controller from the rack structure. Also, the person can read information from the television program booklet to select the program he wishes to turn on with the TV controller.
Inventors
- 👤 Bonnie F. Timberlake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:49
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B63/00; A47B81/00; A47B81/06; A47B81/068; H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/0214; H01H9/0235; H01H9/025; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/42206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A rack structure comprising an elongated structural body having a longitudinal axis defining a front edge and a rear edge, and a transverse axis defining two side edges; said structural body having a flat upper face extending between its front and rear edges to support a TV program listing booklet in an opened condition; said flat upper face being slightly inclined from said front edge to said rear edge so that the opened booklet can be more easily read by a person seated near the front edge of the structural body; said structural body further comprising two upwardly-facing pocket structures located alongside said flat upper face; each pocket structure extending between the front and rear edges of the structural body so that each pocket structure has its major axis parallel to the transverse axis of the structural body; said pocket structures being adapted to support a TV remote controller and a VCR remote controller in parallelism with one another, with each controller having its signal transmission axis extending essentially horizontally along a line parallel to the transverse axis of the structural body, whereby each controller can be effectively operated while it is positioned in the associated pocket structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A rack structure comprising an elongated structural body having a longitudinal axis defining a front edge and a rear edge, and a transverse axis defining two side edges; said structural body having a flat upper face extending between its front and rear edges to support a TV program listing booklet in an opened condition; said flat upper face being slightly inclined from said front edge to said rear edge so that the opened booklet can be more easily read by a person seated near the front edge of the structural body; said structural body further comprising two upwardly-facing pocket structures located alongside said flat upper face; each pocket structure extending between the front and rear edges of the structural body so that each pocket structure has its major axis parallel to the transverse axis of the structural body; said pocket structures being adapted to support a TV remote controller and a VCR remote controller in parallelism with one another, with each controller having its signal transmission axis extending essentially horizontally along a line parallel to the transverse axis of the structural body, whereby each controller can be effectively operated while it is positioned in the associated pocket structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rack structure of claim 1, wherein said flat upper face is inclined at approximately twenty degrees.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The rack structure of claim 1, and further comprising a booklet-retention strip extending along said flat upper face in near parallelism to said front edge, said strip having a lip spaced above the flat upper face to overlie the pages of an opened booklet resting on said upper face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The rack structure of claim 3, and further comprising two pivotable clip structures mounted on said flat upper face in near proximity to said rear edge; each clip structure being swingable between a retracted position extending away from the flat upper face and an operating position extending along and above said upper face so as to overlie the pages of an opened booklet resting on said flat upper face.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The rack structure of claim 1, wherein each pocket structure comprises a flat surface adapted to underlie a remote controller and an upstanding rim wall bordering said flat surface to partially surround a controlling resting thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The rack structure of claim 5, and further comprising flexible strap means anchored to a rim wall of each pocket structure for extension across each said pocket structure to prevent upward dislocation of a controller positioned within the respective pocket structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The rack structure of claim 1, wherein said structural body further comprises means for supporting a plural number of VCR tape cartridges alongside said flat upper face; said cartridge-support means comprising a series of vertical partitions extending between the front and rear edges of the structural body, said partitions being spaced apart to form upwardly-open slots adapted to receive individual VCR cartridges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The rack structure of claim 7 wherein the dimension of the structural body along the longitudinal axis is at least twice the dimension measured along the transverse axis.
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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) | 1994-08-26 | 1995-02-25 | 1995-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-26 | 1999-02-25 | 1999-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-26 | 2003-02-25 | 2003-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |