U.S. patent number 3,837,754 [Application Number 05/155,164] was granted by the patent office on 1974-09-24 for corner support structure and cap member utilized in connection with same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Swingline Inc.. Invention is credited to Frank J. Malcik.
United States Patent |
3,837,754 |
Malcik |
September 24, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
CORNER SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND CAP MEMBER UTILIZED IN CONNECTION WITH
SAME
Abstract
A corner support structure is shown which includes a hollow
upstanding post which is provided with a plurality of angularly
disposed lateral openings therewithin, one above another. Within
each of the openings the end portion of an outwardly extending
member is disposed. A cap is disposed within the post and overlies
the outwardly extending members. The cap has securing means
therewithin to hold the extending members in position. The cap is
preferably made of a machineable resilient plastic material and has
an outwardly laterally extending top portion and an open bottom.
The cap is provided with a downwardly depending opening within the
top portion and also has a plurality of downwardly depending
peripheral spaced openings adjacent the first-named downwardly
depending opening.
Inventors: |
Malcik; Frank J. (Berwyn,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Swingline Inc. (Long Island
City, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22554337 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/155,164 |
Filed: |
June 21, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/217; 211/189;
403/263; 403/355; 403/376; 403/247; 403/319; 403/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42F
15/0088 (20130101); A47B 63/00 (20130101); F16B
12/46 (20130101); F16B 21/09 (20130101); F16B
2200/10 (20180801); Y10T 403/7075 (20150115); Y10T
403/7073 (20150115); Y10T 403/587 (20150115); Y10T
403/7018 (20150115); Y10T 403/44 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
63/00 (20060101); B42F 15/00 (20060101); F16B
21/00 (20060101); F16B 21/09 (20060101); F16b
007/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;287/2.92C,2.92D,54A,54B,54C,53.5,20.924,20.925,20.926,20.927,189,36C
;312/111,140,257,263,264,265 ;211/177,182 ;248/165 ;52/301,665
;403/247,263,319,355,375,376 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Franklin; Jordan
Assistant Examiner: Shedd; Wayne L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A corner support structure comprising, in combination, an
upstanding hollow post having an open top and provided with at
least two pairs of angularly disposed lateral openings passing
therethrough, one pair of said openings being above the other pair
of said openings, an outwardly extending member disposed within
each pair of said openings with each member having a pair of spaced
depressions, each of said depressions being adjacent a side of said
post, and a cap member having a downwardly depending portion
disposed within said post, the downwardly depending portion
including pairs of opposing slots being angularly disposed one to
the other and slidingly engaged with pairs of spaced depressions on
the outwardly extending members.
2. A structure of claim 1 in which said outwardly extending members
are cylindrical in cross-section and said lateral openings are
round.
3. A structure of claim 1 in which the body sides are integral with
the body top, and said body being made of a machineable plastic
material.
4. A structure of claim 1 in which the cap member includes a hollow
rectangular body having four sides, an overlying top and an open
bottom, each pair of oppositely disposed sides provided with a slot
therewithin extending upwardly from the bottom, the slots within
one pair of opposite sides being deeper than the slots within the
adjacent pair of opposite sides.
5. A structure of claim 4 wherein the overlying top extends
laterally outwardly and downwardly.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a corner support structure and a cap
member utilized in connection with the same. The structure is
particularly useful in connection with the Support Device for
Record Elements invented by this inventor together with Edward
Whittemore and John Clark, the said Support Device for Record
Elements being the subject of patent application Ser. No. 141,183,
filed May 7, 1971, now abandoned and a continuing patent
application Ser. No. 280,116, filed Aug. 14, 1972, now pending.
In the structure of the pending patent application it is necessary
to provide structure to support the end portions of the outwardly
extending members upon which the hanging files are disposed. The
structure of the present application constitutes an improvement
over the structure shown in the pending patent application.
In providing supporting structure for the outwardly extending
members upon any post to which they are secured it is necessary to
permit simple assembly and disassembly of the parts. Since the
posts and members are designed for sectional use they must be
conveniently assembled and disassembled. The structure of this
application permits this to be done simply and rapidly.
The structure of this invention is also relatively inexpensive to
manufacture, and simple and foolproof in operation.
The above constitutes the principal objects and advantages of this
invention. Other objects and advantages of this invention will
become apparent to the reader of this specification as the
description proceeds.
A brief description of this invention will now be given. In
connection therewith and with the detailed description of this
invention, there is incorporated by reference the specification of
the previously mentioned Malcik, Whittemore and Clark
application.
The invention herein is in two parts, the first being the corner
support structure which includes a cap member and the second being
the cap member itself. Both structures are separately claimed in
this application.
The corner support structure of this invention includes, in
combination, an upstanding hollow post (preferably rectangular)
having an open top and provided with a pair of angularly
(preferably right-angularly) disposed openings passing
therethrough. One of the laterally disposed openings is above the
other opening. An outwardly extending member is disposed within
each of the openings and a cap member having a downwardly depending
portion is disposed within the post. The downwardly depending
portion of the cap member overlies the outwardly extending member
and secures it into position.
In the preferred modification of this invention the cap is also
formed with an outwardly extending lateral portion and provided
with a downwardly depending opening within its top.
The cap itself is preferably made of machineable plastic material
and integrally molded. It is preferably made of a hollow
rectangular body having four sides, an overlying closed top and an
open bottom. Each member of each pair of oppositely disposed sides
is provided with a slot extending upwardly from the bottom thereof
with the slots within one pair of opposite sides being deeper than
the slots within the adjacent pair of opposite sides. In order to
permit simple removal of the cap when required the preferred
modification also includes a downwardly depending opening within
the top of the cap and an additional plurality of spaced peripheral
downwardly depending openings adjacent the first-named downwardly
depending opening.
The invention will now be further described by reference to the
accompanying drawings which are made a part of this
specification.
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a modular file support
including the corner support structure of this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the abutting and
secured corner portions of a plurality of modular file elements
composing the support of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a clip member that can be used to
secure adjacent file elements to one another.
FIG. 4 is a detail isometric view of a corner support made in
accordance with this invention.
FIG. 5 is a detail side elevational view of an end portion of an
outwardly extending member of this invention.
FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the corner support
structure of this invention showing the parts thereof.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the corner support
structure of this invention taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the cap member
of the corner support structure of this invention.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the convenient
manner in which the cap member of this invention can be removed
from the remainder of the structure if desired.
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the cap
member of the invention.
The invention will now be described in detail by reference to the
specific form thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. In
this connection, however, the reader is cautioned to note that such
specific form of this invention, as set forth in the specification
herein, is merely for illustrative purposes and for purposes of
example only. Various changes and modifications could obviously be
made within the spirit and scope of this invention. The specific
description set forth herein represents the best mode known to the
inventor of taking advantage of his invention.
A modular file support 11 consists of a plurality of modular
elements 12. Each element 12 is secured to one another by means of
a pin 13 and, in some cases a clip 14. The clip 14, where used, has
a pair of opposite leaves 15 joined together with a V-shaped bridge
portion 16 with each of leaves 15 provided with an opening 17
therewithin. The modular file support itself is described and
claimed in the patent application previously referred to.
Each modular element 12 consists of a plurality of upstanding posts
18 to which are secured at least one pair of angularly disposed
outwardly projecting members 19 and 20. Members 19 and 20 are
secured within a post 18 by their end portions 21 and 22. Members
19 and 20 are preferably round in cross-section and each of posts
18 are preferably formed of rectangular sides 23, 24, 25 and
26.
Opposite sides 23 and 26 and opposite sides 24 and 25 are formed
with a pair of laterally aligned openings (preferably round) 27,
28, 29 and 30. Openings 29 and 28 are laterally aligned with one
another and openings 27 and 30 are also laterally aligned with one
another.
End portion 22 of outwardly projecting member 20 is disposed within
aligned openings 28 and 29. End portion 22 is formed with spaced
depressed portions 32 and 33 which are respectively adjacent
openings 28 and 29. Similarly end portion 21 of outwardly
projecting member 19 is disposed within openings 27 and 30 with
depressed portions 34 and 35 adjacent openings 30 and 27
respectively.
A cap 36 is disposed within the open top portion of post 18 and is
formed with four rectangular sides 37, 38, 39 and 40. Side 37 is
formed with slot 44, side 38 is formed with slot 46, side 39 is
formed with slot 45 and side 40 is formed with slot 47. Slots 44
and 45 and slots 46 and 47 are laterally aligned with one another
and slots 44-45 are deeper than slots 46-47. A top 42 is provided
upon cap 36 and is formed with a laterally projecting portion 43.
The bottom of cap 36 is open at 41 and a downwardly depending
opening 48 is provided within top 42. A plurality of spaced
peripheral openings 49-51 are provided adjacent opening 48 and also
extend downwardly. The sides 37-40 of cap 36 also bears rounded
laterally and outwardly projecting portions 56-59 thereupon. Each
portion 56-59 extends outwardly from the respective side a distance
of from 0.001 inches to 0.01 inches. Portions 56-59 aid in
retaining cap 36 in position upon the respective post.
With the foregoing specific description the operation of this
invention will now be explained.
In the normal operating position of this invention the parts assume
the configuration shown in FIG. 4. In this configuration members 19
and 20 are at right angles to one another with member 19 overlying
member 20 at the end portions 21 and 22 thereof. Cap 36 is disposed
within the open top 55 of the post 18 with the portion 43 of cap 36
retaining the cap in position. Slots 47 and 46 embrace depressed
portions 32 and 33 of member 20 and slots 44 and 45 embrace
depressed portions 35 and 34 of member 19. Since members 19 and 20
are in overlying position slots 44-45 are deeper than slots 46-47
and the difference in depth is made substantially equal to the
overlying distance between members 19 and 20. The opening 48 in cap
36 is made substantially equal to the thickness of pin 13 and, in
the preferred modification of this invention, where the cap 36 is
made of a flexible and resilient plastic material such as
polyethylene, polypropylene or other similar material opening 48 is
made slightly smaller.
It is noted that the structure defined herein is extremely strong
and will withstand a considerable force without deformation.
Accidental disassembly is practically impossible.
However, under certain conditions, such as shipment of the device
or for other reasons it may be necessary to disassemble the device.
Because of the constructions of the parts without the special
provisions made herein, it would be normally impossible to easily
remove cap 36 from post 18 without damage to the parts. However,
the disassembly can be done by removing pin 13 by a plier tool or
the like and then utilizing a self-tapping device 52 having a
handle 54 and a thread tapping portion 53. After removal of pin 13
the portion 53 is placed within opening 48 and rotated. Simple
tapping of threads will occur primarily because of openings 49-51
adjacent opening 48 which relieves the tapping pressure and
provides a space for the tapped material to be displaced. After
portion 53 had been secured to cap 36 upwardly directed pressure on
cap 36 will cause it to be removed from post 18 and the other parts
can now be simply and easily disassembled. Re-assembly of the parts
is likewise simple. The end portions 21 and 22 of members 19 and 20
are placed within the openings 27-30 and 28-29 with the depressed
portions 35-34 and 32-33 adjacent the respective openings. The cap
36 is then inserted into the open top of post 18 and moved
downwardly until stopped. The parts will now be secured into
position.
The foregoing sets forth the manner in which the objects of this
invention are achieved.
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