Slidable work surface system

• US 5,386,787 A
• Filed: 03/01/1993
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: M & E Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Donald M. Hall
• Inventors: Hall, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/024,010
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 108/149, 108/143, 108/42, 108/47, 108/48, 108/61, 108/102, 108/137, 312/122, 312/281, 312/317.3, 211/162, 211/175, 52/29
• US Class Current: 108/143
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/007 Cases or cabinets of the counter type
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/28 Means for securing sliding members in any desired position

Abstract

The slidable work surface system includes a frame, a support member disposed on the frame, a work surface member provided on the support member, and a brake located between the frame and the support member. The brake has an engaged and a disengaged position, and restricts movement of the support member relative to the frame when the brake is in its engaged position. Another embodiment of the device includes a slidable work surface system having a display case associated therewith.

Claims

1. A movable work surface mounting system comprising:

a) a frame;

b) a support member slidably disposed on said frame;

c) a work surface member provided on said support member;

d) a brake disposed between said frame and said support member;

e) said brake having an engaged and a disengaged position;

f) said brake restricting movement of said support member relative to said frame when said brake is in its engaged position;

g) an upper track is disposed on said frame;

h) an upper roller is disposed on said support member;

i) said upper roller engages said upper track and is oriented for transmitting substantially only vertical forces from said support member to said upper track;

j) a lower track is disposed on said frame;

k) a lower roller is disposed on said support member; and

l) said lower roller engages said lower track and is oriented for transmitting substantially horizontal forces from said support member to said lower track.

2. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said support member is detachably attached to said frame.

3. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said support member is free of connections between said frame and said support member.

4. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said frame extends substantially vertically and has an upper part and a lower part;

b) a first leg is provided on said support member;

c) said first leg extends away from said work surface member and adjacent to said upper part; and

,

d) a second leg is provided on said support member and extends away from said work surface member and adjacent to said lower part.

6. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said work surface member is pivotally attached to said support member.

7. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) a display case is operably associated with said frame.

14. A device as defined in claim 17, wherein:

a further, upper roller is disposed on said support member; and

b) said further, upper roller engages said upper track and is oriented for transmitting substantially horizontal forces from said support member to said upper track.

17. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said support member is free of direct mechanical connections between said frame and said support member; and

b) said support member is configured for being freely disengageable from said frame when said support member is moved substantially vertically in a direction away from said lower track toward said upper track.

18. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 17, wherein:

a) a further, upper roller is disposed on said support member; and

b) said further, upper roller engages said upper track and is oriented for transmitting substantially horizontal forces from said support member to said upper track.

19. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) a further, upper roller is disposed on said support member; and

b) said further, upper roller engages said upper track and is oriented for transmitting substantially horizontal forces from said support member to said upper track.

8. A device, comprising:

a) a display case;

b) a frame associated with said display case;

c) a support member slidably disposed on said frame;

d) a work surface member provided on said support member;

e) a brake disposed between said frame and said support member;

f) said brake having an engaged and a disengaged position;

g) said brake restricting movement of said support member relative to said frame when said brake is in its engaged position;

h) an upper track is disposed on said frame;

i) an upper roller is disposed on said support member;

j) said upper roller engages said upper track and is oriented for transmitting substantially only vertical forces from said support member to said upper track;

k) a lower track is disposed on said frame;

l) a lower roller is disposed on said support member; and

m) said lower roller engages said lower track and is oriented for transmitting substantially horizontal forces from said support member to said lower track.

5. A movable work surface mounting system as defined in claim 11, wherein:

a) said second leg is longer than said first leg.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a) said frame is attached to said display case.

10. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a) a brake tensioner is associated with said brake for varying a force with which said brake restricts movement of said support member relative to said frame.

11. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a) an upright is associated with said frame;

b) said upright has upper and lower ends; and

,

c) a removable socket configured for engaging a floor is provided on said lower end.

12. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a) said support member is free of direct mechanical connections between said frame and said support member; and

b) said support member is configured for being freely disengageable from said frame when said support member is moved substantially vertically in a direction away from said lower track toward said upper track.

13. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein:

a) a further, upper roller is disposed on said support member; and

b) said further, upper roller engages said upper track and is oriented for transmitting substantially horizontal forces from said support member to said upper track.

15. A movable work surface mounting system comprising:

a) a frame;

b) a support member slidably disposed on said frame;

c) a work surface member provided on said support member;

d) a brake disposed between said frame and said support member;

e) said brake having an engaged and a disengaged position;

f) said brake restricting movement of said support member relative to said frame when said brake is in its engaged position;

g) an upper roller disposed between and operatively associated with said frame and said support member;

h) a lower roller disposed between and operatively associated with said frame and said support member;

i) said lower roller being vertically spaced from said upper roller;

j) said support member and said-frame being free of direct mechanical connections therebetween; and

k) said support member being configured for being freely disengageable from said frame when said support member is moved substantially vertically relative to said frame.

16. A movable work surface mounting system as in claim 15, wherein:

a) a further, upper roller is disposed on said support member; and

b) said further, upper roller engages said upper track and is oriented for transmitting substantially horizontal forces from said support member to said upper track.