Adjustable tray riser

• US 5,054,629 A
• Filed: 08/06/1990
• Issued: 10/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Breen, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US07/563,652
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 211/126, 211/188, 211/194, 211/128, 211/183
• US Class Current: 211/126.12
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0261 Independent trays
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/12 Stacked trays

Abstract

An adjustable support riser for vertically stacking letter trays is disclosed, comprising a riser body (10) having a lower clothespin type attachment configuration (30, 32, 42) for securing to a lower letter tray, and an upper attachment socket (12) for attaching to a downwardly projecting (52) foot projection of an upper letter tray, whereby the upper and lower letter trays are in a spaced apart orientation. The upper attachment socket is provided with an elongate ovular shape of enlarged dimension, whereby the upper tray can selectively placed in either a forward or a rearward socket location relative to the upper end of the riser. The orientation of the upper letter tray relative to the lower letter tray can thereby be selectively altered from a parallel and co-aligned configuration to a staggered or stepped configuration. The lower attachment means of each riser is provided with offset cantilevered fingers (30, 32, 42), which distribute stress along the line of attachment to the lower letter tray. A reinforcement flange (40) is provided to extend along each cantilevered inward finger, whereby adding rigidity and strength to the lower attachment point.

Claims

1. An adjustable stacking letter tray system, comprising:

upper and lower letter trays, said trays having longitudinally extending sidewalls and said upper letter tray having at least one profiled protrusion projecting downwardly from a bottom surface;

at least one riser body having lower attachment means for securing to a longitudinally extending sidewall of said lower letter tray, and upper attachment means for receiving said upper tray protrusion, whereby attaching to said upper letter tray and placing said upper and lower trays in a spaced apart orientation, and

said upper attachment means having adjustment means for selectively placing said upper letter tray in alternate longitudinal alignments relative to said lower letter tray with said riser lower attachment means remaining in a fixed location along said lower tray sidewall.

2. A stacking letter tray system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper attachment means comprising an upwardly open socket adapted to receive downwardly therein said downwardly directed profiled protrusion extending from said upper letter tray, the socket having at least two longitudinally adjacent, mutually exclusive regions in which the protrusion may alternately lie.

3. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 2, said socket being defined by elongate sidewalls which terminate at a top socket opening.

4. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 3, said socket having transverse barrier means for defining said two longitudinally adjacent socket regions.

5. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 4, said barrier means comprising a transverse wall extending between said socket sidewalls.

6. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 5, said upper tray protrusion comprising a profiled boss selectively receivable within said socket in either of said socket regions.

7. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 6, said socket being further defined by end walls extending between said socket sidewalls, and said socket side and end walls having an upper edge profiled complementary with an underside profile of said upper tray.

8. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 7 or 1, said lower tray having upright side walls, and said lower riser attachment means engaging an upper edge of said lower tray sidewalls and being repositionable therealong, whereby selectively altering said alignment between said lower and said upper trays.

9. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 8, said lower riser attachment means comprising inward and outward finger flange means spaced apart to closely receive said upper edge of said lower tray sidewall therebetween, said inward and outward finger means having opposed parallel surfaces extending parallel to, and being repositionable along, said upper edge of said lower tray sidewall.

10. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 9, said inward and outward finger flange means being offset with respect to each other.

11. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 10, said inward finger flange means comprising first and second inward cantilevered fingers laterally separated by a prescribed opening.

12. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 11, said outward finger flange means comprising an outward cantilevered finger positioned substantially opposite said prescribed opening between said outward first and second inward cantilevered fingers.

13. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 12, wherein upper ends of said inward first and second cantilevered fingers and said outward cantilevered finger being joined by a bight surface adapted to engage against said upper edge of said lower tray sidewall.

14. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 13 wherein said inward first and second cantilevered fingers being shorter than said outward cantilevered finger.

15. An adjustable stacking letter tray system, comprising:

upper and lower letter trays, each having longitudinally extending sidewalls and said upper tray having at least one profiled protrusion extending downwardly from a bottom surface thereof;

a riser body having lower attachment means for securing to a lower letter tray, and upper attachment means for attaching to an upper letter tray, whereby said upper and lower trays being in a spaced apart orientation, and

said lower attachment means comprising dependent inward and outward cantilevered finger means, said inward and outward finger means having opposed parallel surfaces, said parallel surfaces being longitudinally offset and spaced apart to receive therebetween an upper edge of a sidewall of said lower letter tray, whereupon said riser parallel surfaces extending parallel to said upper edge of said lower tray and being repositionable longitudinally therealong.

16. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 15, said inward finger flange means comprising first and second inward cantilevered fingers laterally separated by an opening.

17. A riser according to claim 16, said outward finger flange means comprising an outward cantilevered finger positioned substantially opposite said opening.

18. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 17, said inward first and second cantilevered fingers having a shorter length than said outward cantilevered finger.

19. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 17, wherein upper ends of said inward first and second cantilevered fingers and said outward cantilevered finger being joined by a bight surface adapted for supportive engagement against said upper edge of said lower tray sidewall.

20. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 19, said upper attachment means comprising an upwardly open socket adapted to receive a complementary downward boss projection extending from said upper tray.

21. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 20, said socket being defined by sidewalls and end walls having an upper edge profiled to complement an underside profile of said upper tray.

22. A stacking letter tray system according to claim 21, said socket end walls having lower edges adapted to define downwardly directed ribs which extend along said riser body and outward surfaces of said first and second cantilevered fingers.