Carousel

• US 6,796,443 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plano Molding Company (The Carlyle Group LP (Corporate Private Equity))
• Original Assignee: Plano Molding Company (The Carlyle Group LP (Corporate Private Equity))
• Inventors: Lippman, Ernie, Li, Li Cao
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US10/282,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 211/129.1, 211/131.1, 211/163, 211/194
• US Class Current: 211/131.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/05 with separate containers rotatable around the pillar

Abstract

A carousel of the present invention includes a base tray including a plurality of receptacles, defined by an outer wall and at least one inner wall, and at least one mounting recess formed in the base tray. At least one tray assembly is operatively connected to the base tray for relative movement thereto. Each tray assembly includes a tray portion operatively connected to a sleeve. The tray portion includes a cylinder, a first exterior wall extending from the cylinder and a second exterior wall extending from the first exterior wall. A plurality of first receptacles are defined in the tray portion by the first exterior wall, the cylinder and at least one first interior wall. A plurality of second receptacles are defined in the tray portion by the second exterior wall, the first exterior wall and at least one second interior wall. The sleeve engages the cylinder of the tray portion in order to connect each tray portion to the base tray.

Claims

1. A carousel comprising:

a base tray including a plurality of receptacles, defined by an outer wall and at least one inner wall, and at least one mounting recess formed in the base tray;

at least one tray assembly operatively connected to the base tray for relative movement thereto;

each tray assembly including a tray portion operatively connected to a sleeve;

the tray portion including a cylinder, a first exterior wall extending from the cylinder and a second exterior wall extending from the first exterior wall;

a plurality of first receptacles defined in the tray portion by the first exterior wall, the cylinder and at least one first interior wall, and a plurality of second receptacles defined in the tray portion by the second exterior wall, the first exterior wall and at least one second interior wall wherein the first exterior wall;

has a first top edge and the second exterior wall has a second top edge, and the first top edge is disposed vertically offset from the second top edge; and

the sleeve engaging the cylinder of the tray portion in order to connect each at least one tray assembly to the base tray.

2. The carousel as recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a first end having a first outer diameter, and a second end having a second outer diameter such that the first outer diameter is less than the second outer diameter and an outer surface of the sleeve has a taper from the second end to the first end.

3. The carousel as recited in claim 2, wherein the cylinder has an inner diameter which is greater than the first outer diameter and less than the second outer diameter so that the tray portion is secured to the base tray.

4. The carousel as recited in claim 2, wherein each at least one mounting recess includes an outer end having a first inner diameter and an inner end having a second inner diameter such that the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter and an inner surface of each at least one mounting recess has a taper from the first end to the second end.

5. The carousel as recited in claim 4, wherein the sleeve first outer diameter is greater than each at least one mounting recess second inner diameter so that the tubular sleeve is secured to the base tray.

6. The carousel as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one tray assembly includes a plurality of tray assemblies which are stackable.

7. The carousel as recited in claim 6, wherein each sleeve has a shoulder formed in an inner surface in order to position stacked tray assemblies.

8. A carousel comprising:

a base operatively connected to a base tray for relative movement;

the base tray including a plurality of receptacles and a mounting recess;

a first tray assembly operatively connected to the base tray;

said first tray assembly including a first tray portion operatively connected to a first sleeve;

the first tray portion having a cylinder, a plurality of receptacles offset to the cylinder and an overall height;

said plurality of receptacles defined as a first set each having openings disposed at a first height and second set each having openings disposed at a second height;

the first sleeve engaging the cylinder and the mounting recess in order to connect the first tray portion to the base tray such that the first tray portion is moveable relative to the base tray and is removable from the base tray only when the first tubular sleeve is disconnected from the recess and the first cylinder;

at least one second tray assembly operatively connected to the first tray assembly;

each at least one second tray assembly including a second tray portion operatively connected to a second sleeve;

the second tray portion having a second cylinder, a plurality of receptacles offset to the cylinder and a second overall height;

said plurality of receptacles defined as a first set each having openings disposed at a first height and second set each having openings disposed at a second height;

the second sleeve engaging the cylinder and the first sleeve in order to connect the second tray portion to the first tray portion such that the second tray portion is moveable relative to the first tray portion and the base tray and is removable from the first tray assembly only when the second sleeve is disconnected from the first sleeve and the second cylinder; and

wherein the base, the base tray, the first tray assembly and each at least one second tray assembly are oriented about a common axis.

9. The carousel as recited in claim 8, wherein the first height of the first set of first tray receptacles is the same as the second height of the second set of first tray receptacles.

10. The carousel as recited in claim 8, wherein the first height of each first set of second tray receptacles is the same as the second height of each second set of second tray receptacles.

11. The carousel as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second sleeves each have a taper from a second end to a first end such that they are stackable.

12. The carousel as recited in claim 8, wherein the first sleeve has a shoulder formed on an inner surface for engaging a first end of one of the at least one second tubular sleeves.