Supports: racks – Special article – Stacked articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-01-09
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Stacked articles
C211S011000, C211S128100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170677
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to storage trays for paperwork and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Storage trays for holding papers, bills, scrap paper, documents, stationery and the like are very well known. These kinds of storage trays may be classified into two general styles: papers sit vertically in the tray, or papers lay horizontally in the tray. Horizontal trays are generally preferred when it is important to avoid bends or creases in papers, such as raised letterhead stationery, or relatively large sized papers, such as DIN size A3 paper. Vertical trays are generally preferred when it is desired that the storage tray should occupy as little space as possible on a desk.
Horizontal trays are configured to sit horizontally on a desk or other support surface, and cannot generally be converted into a tray for vertical storage of papers, without awkwardly propping or otherwise supporting the tray in the vertical position. The converse is also true for vertical trays which cannot conveniently be converted into horizontal trays without the papers falling out of the tray, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a novel storage tray for holding paperwork and the like, which unlike the prior art, can be used for vertical or horizontal storage of papers as desired. The tray can also be mounted on a wall, for example. The tray has a modular construction with adjustable dividers. One tray can be attached to another tray to form a bigger tray. The tray may be supplied in kit-form for assembly by a customer.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a storage tray for paperwork and the like, including a pair of side elements, each side element including a first tray support surface and a second tray support surface generally perpendicular to each other, and a plurality of dividers, each divider including a first paper support surface and a second paper support surface extending generally perpendicularly from the first paper support surface, each first paper support surface being attached at opposite side edges thereof to the side elements, and each second paper support surface being attached to an adjacent divider, the tray being supportable on the first tray support surface wherein the first paper support surfaces are generally vertical and the second paper support surfaces are generally horizontal and adapted to support edges of paper sheets thereupon, and the tray being supportable on the second tray support surface wherein the second paper support surfaces are generally vertical and the first paper support surfaces are generally horizontal and adapted to support planar surfaces of paper sheets thereupon.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the side elements are formed with a plurality of apertures and the first paper support surfaces are formed with a plurality of tongues, each tongue being adapted to fit through a corresponding one of the apertures, and the tray further includes a fastener which secures the tongue against the side element.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the fastener includes a flexible booty which removably and snugly fits over the tongue and generally abuts against the side element.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one first support foot extends from the first tray support surface, and at least one second support foot extends from the second tray support surface. Preferably the support feet include flexible booties which removably and snugly fit over protrusions formed in the side elements.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dividers are each formed with a plurality of grooves on a surface of the divider generally opposite to the first paper support surface, and the second paper support surface is attached to an adjacent divider by an edge of the second paper support surface being snugly received in one of the grooves.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dividers and/or the side elements are formed with mating fasteners which fasten two of the trays together.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dividers and/or the side elements are formed with a see-through cutout.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the dividers is formed with wall-mounting structure for mounting the tray on a wall.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5826730 (1998-10-01), Stravitz
Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Harris Erica B.
Stodola Daniel P.
Zriha Hlavin Industries Ltd.
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