Adjustable storage rack
| Title: | Adjustable storage rack |
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| Patent Number: | 5,746,139 |
| Publication Date: | May 05, 1998 |
| Appl. No: | 08/746,997 |
| Application Filed: | November 19, 1996 |
| Abstract: | An adjustable storage rack system includes at least two shelf assemblies arranged generally parallel to each other in a step-like configuration such that the shelf assemblies are at least partially overlapping, stackable supports for supporting the shelf assemblies and allowing the height of the shelf assemblies to be varied, and connectors for connecting the shelf assemblies. Each shelf assembly includes a pair of slidably connected horizontal members which allow the width of the shelf assemblies to be adjusted and each horizontal member further includes a molded end portion containing a plurality of bore holes which allow the amount of overlap between the shelf assemblies to be adjusted, thereby allowing the depth of the rack to be adjusted. |
| Inventors: | Villanueva, Robert (El Paso, TX) |
| Claim: | What is claimed is |
| Claim: | 1. An adjustable storage rack, comprising |
| Claim: | (a) a lower shelf assembly, said lower shelf assembly including |
| Claim: | (1) a first shelf member; and |
| Claim: | (2) a second shelf member slidably connected with said first shelf member, thereby allowing said lower shelf assembly width to be varied; |
| Claim: | each said shelf member further including a remote end portion having top and bottom surfaces containing a plurality of cavities; |
| Claim: | (b) elongated support members arranged beneath said lower shelf assembly, each said support member having an end containing a cavity and an end having a projection adapted for mating engagement with one of said lower shelf assembly bottom surface cavities; |
| Claim: | (c) an upper shelf assembly arranged in spaced overlapping relation above and generally parallel to said lower shelf assembly, said upper shelf assembly including |
| Claim: | (2) a second shelf member slidably connected with said first shelf member, thereby allowing said upper shelf assembly width to be varied; |
| Claim: | (d) a plurality of elongated connector members arranged between said lower and said upper shelf assemblies, each said connector member having a pair of end projections adapted for mating engagement with a lower shelf assembly top surface cavity and an aligned upper shelf assembly bottom surface cavity, wherein one of said lower shelf assembly top surface or said upper shelf assembly bottom surface contains a number of cavities which exceeds the number of connector members; and |
| Claim: | (e) stacked supports arranged below said upper shelf assembly, each said stacked support including at least two support members. |
| Claim: | 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising support members arranged between each of said connectors and one of said lower shelf assembly or said upper shelf assembly, and further comprising at least one support assembly arranged beneath said lower shelf assembly and, beneath said upper shelf assembly, each said support assembly including a plurality of support members; whereby the height of the storage rack and the distance between the upper and lower shelf assemblies can be varied. |
| Claim: | 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said shelf members has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration. |
| Claim: | 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said shelf assemblies includes a visual indicator for preventing said shelf members from being separated beyond a predetermined limit, thereby ensuring a sufficient amount of overlap between said shelf members. |
| Claim: | 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said support means include |
| Claim: | (1) a female member; |
| Claim: | (2) a male member slidably connected with said female member; and |
| Claim: | (3) locking means for fixing the position of said male member relative to said female member. |
| Claim: | 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, and further including support bracket means for providing increased stability to said storage rack. |
| Claim: | 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said support members have a generally conical shape and include a projection at one end, having a male threaded portion adapted for mating engagement with said cavities, and a female threaded bore hole at the other end. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 108/92; 108/102; 108/190; 108/158; 211/188 |
| Current International Class: | A47B 5730 |
| Patent References Cited: | 35675 February 1862 Robin 45839 May 1865 Landers 76386 September 1868 Friedmann 161354 December 1875 Manuel 166991 June 1875 Ovendale 324787 March 1885 Evans 790669 May 1905 Winship 923721 June 1909 Smith 1013032 December 1911 Lund 1192164 July 1916 Bunker 1512867 October 1924 Sutter 1958834 May 1934 Moore 2657810 November 1953 Garrick 3022897 February 1962 Archer et al. 3180288 April 1965 McCowan 3327654 June 1967 Duncan et al. 3338647 August 1967 Schreyer 3760744 September 1973 Cruckshank 3765344 October 1973 Ferdinand et al. 3783801 January 1974 Engman 3916802 November 1975 Virtue et al. 4500146 February 1985 Peterson 4940149 July 1990 Vineis 5170897 December 1992 Wentworth 5411153 May 1995 Unfried 5445280 August 1995 Rahn |
| Primary Examiner: | Cuomo, Peter M. |
| Assistant Examiner: | Tran, Hanh V. |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Laubscher & Laubscher |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.05746139 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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