US3579710A

US3579710A - Traversable hardware in guideway for shelf or drapery use

Info

Publication number: US3579710A
Application number: US766663A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rudolf E Gartzke
Original assignee: GARTZKE S REFRIGERATION Inc
Current assignee: GARTZKE S REFRIGERATION Inc
Priority date: 1968-09-09
Filing date: 1968-09-09
Publication date: 1971-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-25

Abstract

A GUIDEWAY AND MEMBER TRANSVERSABLE THEREIN IS SHOWN, THE MEMBER IS RESILIENTLY URGED INTO CONTACT WITH THE GUIDEWAY TO RESIST MOVEMENT BY FORCE APPLIED THROUGH A MOMENT ARM. THE GUIDEWAY IS CONFIGURED AS A SLOTTED BOX SECTION WHEREIN THE MEMBER IS URGED AGAINST THE INNER SURFACES OF LIP PROJECTIONS BOUDING THE SLOT.

Description

y 25, 1971 R. E. GARTZKE 3,579,710

TRAVERSABLE HARDWARE IN GUIDEWAY FOR SHELF OR DRAPERY USE Filed Sept. 9, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGS RUDOLF E. GARTZKE INVENTOR BY 7 L ff ,d n/f/ ATTORNEY y 25, 1971 R a. GARTZKE 3,579,710

TRVERSABLE HARDWARE IN GUIDEWAY FOR SHELFOR DRAPERY USE Filed Sept. 9, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 RUDOLF E. (BART E INVEN BY [Q22 ATTORN y 25, 1971 R. E. GARTZKE 3,579,110

TRAVERSABLE HARDWARE IN GUIDEWAY FOR SHELF OR DRAPERY USE Filed Sept. 9, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 RUDOLF E. GARTZKE INVENTOR BY x ATTORNEY.

United States Patent U.S. (3:16-93 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A guideway and member traversable therein is shown; the member is resiliently urged into contact with the guideway to resist movement by force applied through a moment arm. The guideway is configured as a slotted box section wherein the member is urged against the inner surfaces of lip projections bounding the slot.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 650,480 filed June 30, 1967, and now abandoned, and is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 691,104 filed Dec. 4, 1967, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a guideway and slide member traversable therein which is suitable for various uses such as, for example, shelves, shelf dividers or traverse hardware for draperies, and more particularly relates to an article in which one or more members are continuously insertable and adjustable in a guideway.

Articles such as books, [filed folders, etc. which are stored on open shelves must be held in upstanding position by book-end means; similarly drapes must be supported from members which are continuously and easily adjustable along a traverse rod. The means of this invention provides a universal continuously adjustable, easily insertable guide in a guideway combination which is adaptable for use in shelving, shelf dividers, drapery hardware and other similar uses.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combination of a resiliently retained slideable member and guideway in which it is continuously insertable and adjustable.

it is another object of this invention to provide supporting means and retaining guideway therefor for use with shelving, draperies, etc.

Other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which like numeral refer to like parts and in which:

'FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf divider embodiment of this invention shown juxtaposed with a shelf;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of an embodiment of FIG. 1 of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of another shelf divider embodiment of this invention shown in a position of spring compression preliminary to being adjusted in a guideway;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of another shelf divider embodiment of this inmention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view in partial cutalway of an embodiment of this invention comprising a vertically adjustable horizontal shelf;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of this invention for use as drapery traverse hardware.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, shelf 10 is disposed in near adjacency to a vertical wall surface, not shown, to which extruded guideway 11 can be secured by screws or other convenient means. Divider 12 is perpendicularly disposed relative to shelf 10 and is manually adjusted along the length of shelf 10 by lifting the front edge of "ice dinally along guideway 11 above shelf 10-. When manual force on divider 12 is released, it is frictionally secured against further movement by the resilient urging of means 19 (FIG. 2). Divider 12 is operably inserted into guideway *11 at any point along the length of the guideway by placing the uppermost extremity of guide member 13 (FIG. 2) into the top rear interior portion of guideway 11 and then moving the lowermost extremity of guide member 13 rearwardly into the guideway. Divider 12 may then be laterally adjusted to desired position and when released will seat firmly in the guideway.

As shown in FIG. 2, divider 12 is unitarily affixed to guide member 13- by connecting reinforcement. Guide member 13 is of sufficiently great lateral width to provide suflicient contact area with the guideway and transverse dimension to substantially eliminate unwanted movement or twisting of member 13 in guideway 11. Foot portion 15 of guide member 13 is receivable in channel 16- of guideway 11 and chamfer 17 is disposed at the upper extremity of the guide member adjacent c'hamfer 18 of guideway 11 so that the two chamfers will operably seat, one against the other. The surfaces of chamfers 17 and '18 may be slip-resisting to prevent relative movement therebetween when they are in contact; such surfaces may be provided by coating with abrasive or rubber or resin such as poly-urethane or other material which imparts a high frictional coefficient to the surfaces. Spring 19 is provided to act against the rear interior surface of guideway 11 to urge guide member 13 forward in a manner to bring

chamfers

17 and 18 into contact. Spring 19 is shown in FIG. 2 as a helical spring preferably aflixed to guide member 16. Of course, guide member 13' is configured to limit movement of divider 12 so that it does not rest on shelf 10 and thereby prevent firm contact between

chamfers

17 and 18, but rather is configured to support divider 12 above shelf 10 and insure sound contact between the chamfer surfaces.

Guideway I11 may be formed or fabricated in any operable manner, but is preferably extruded from metal or synthetic resin and cut to length as appropriate either during manufacture or installation. For shelves provided with a back panel, guideway 11 may be secured thereto, or in the absence of a back panel, to a wall surface. It is a particular advantage of this invention that no alteration, modification or addition is required of shelving for installation of the means herein described, and therefore installation costs are minimal.

Divider 12 may be made from any suitable material such as wood, metal or synthetic resin, the latter material in the form of optically transparent plate acrylic resin being preferred for use as a shelf divider because articles next adjacent a divider can be read or identified by viewing through the divider without requiring the divider or article to be removed or withdrawn. Guide member 13 may be made from similar material and if desired may be molded unitarily with divider 12 with spring 19 being inserted into a mold prior to the resin so that it will be the divider slightly and then sliding divider 12 longituembedded in the finished molded article. Numerous synthetic resins may be used with high impact strength materials being preferred for use.

Chamfers

17 and 18 are preferably held in firm contact to resist twisting movement of divider 12 in response to forces exerted through a moment arm. Only a rearward and upward force which tends to rotate guide member 13 about foot portion 15 thereof and to compress spring 19 will operably serve to remove

chamfers

17 and 18 from mutual contact and facilitate lateral movement of divider 12.

In, FIG. 3 is shown another embodiment of this invention wherein spring 19' is shown configured .as a leaf rather than as a helix as in FIG. 2. Spring 19 may be afiixed to guideway 11 as shown or to guide member 13 as may be desired. The material of construction may be metal, synthetic resin, glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin or other resilient material which is characterized by sufiicient modulus of elasticity; although rubber or foamed resin may be used, it is not preferred except possibly in applications such as shown in FIG. 6. A resilient contacting force of several pounds as desirable in FIGS. l-S is best obtained by a metal spring, either integral with guide member 13 or guideway 11, or separate from either.

The disposition of guide member 13 on divider 12 may be near either the upper or lower extremity thereof or intermediate the extremities as shown or may be mounted on the bottom of the next higher shelf or may be recessed into the top of the shelf to which the divider is fitted. With apparent modification in the peripheral position of guide member 13 relative to divider 12, guideway 11 may be positioned on either the front or rear edge of a shelf. To increase frictional contact between guide member 13 and guideway 11, foot portion 15 may be broadened in the manner of chamfer 17, and in addition any of the contacting surfaces of the chamfers and of the foot portion and channel may be serrated or otherwise provided with surface texture or character to increase resistance to movement when the guide member is seated in the channel.

In FIG. 4 is shown another preferred embodiment of a guide member and guideway of this invention. Guide member 13' is integral with divider 12' at the upper rear extremity of the divider and is configured with a foot portion 15' depending slightly at the lower extremity of the guide member. Foot portion 15' runs in channel 16 of guideway 11' when the members are operably engaged. The upper extremity of guide member 13 is configured with elevated runner 23 and tapered shoulder 24 disposed to be in near adjacency to the lower surfaces of spacer 25 and lip 26, respectively, when guide member 13' and guideway 11 are engaged. A close fit between guide member 13 in guideway 11 enables the guide member to run freely in the guideway when spring 19" is compressed in response to force components parallel to a longitudinal axis of guideway 11, but to resist movement by force components which would twist guide member 13' about an axis perpendicular thereto. The dimension of guideway 11' perpendicular to the surface to which the guideway is attachable is preferably about one-half inch, or such lesser dimension as may be occupied by means, if any, for adjustably retaining the shelves, 50 that usable shelf area is not reduced by guideway 11. The guide member and the guideway may be provided with high frictional coeflicient surfaces as hereinbefore described; however, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 there are no chamfered fraying surfaces, and contact is made by guide member 13 bearing against lip 26.

In FIG. 5 is shown an embodiment of this invention disposed as a horizontal shelf. Guideway 11" is configured with recessed channel disposed interiorly of side rail 31 and is further configured with chamfer 18 comprising a curved surface, disposed interiorly of side rail 32. Guideway 11" may be secured vertically to a wall with

rails

31 and 32 projectingoutwardly from the wall surface. Lip 26' is shown projecting beyond chamfer 18'. Guide member 13" is configured to fit closely in guideway 11" and to slide easily through the guideway. Foot portion 33 of guide member 13" projects into channel 30 and guide member 13" is firmly seated in guideway 11 by chamfered surface 17' being forcibly contacted against chamfer 18'. Contact may be implemented by resilient means hereinbefore described or by use of either resilient curved resinous member 35 being disposed interiorly of guideway 11" between the guide member and the guideway or by yoke member 36 being operably inserted between guideway 11" and shelf 12". Guide member 13" is afiixed to shelf 12" and fillets 37 may be provided as shown above and/or below shelf 12" to structurally reinforce the shelf. To traverse unitary guide member and shelf along guide- 4 way 11",

members

35 and 36 are removed, if present, and forcible engagement between curved chamber 18' and chamfered surface 17' is relieved thereby enabling shelf 12" to be raised or lowered to desired position. Re-engaging chamfered surface 17' with charnfer 18 seats guide member 13" and locks shelf 12" in position. Alternate locking member 38 is shown disposed apart from guide member 13 and guideway 11" in position for being inserted between the rear interior of guideway 11" and the back of guide member 13". Member 38 is dimensioned to drop easily into place, but without additional clearance than is required therefor to assure that chamfered surface 17' of guide member 13" is kept in near adjacency to chamfer 18 and that foot portion 33 is retained in channel 30. While foot portion 33 is operably seated in channel 30, a force vector acting perpendicularly to the faces of cantilevered member 12", or the mere weight of member 12 will frictionally bind foot portion 33 in channal 30 and prevent relative movement therebetween. Insertion of any one of

member

35, 36, or 38 will insure seating of foot portion 33 in channel 30 and frictional contact between guide member 13" and guideway 11". To remove guide member 13" from guideway 11", the guide member is manipulated to place chamfered surface 17' immediately adjacent to a rear interior corner of guideway 11" thereby clearing foot portion 33 of channel 30 and enabling the guide member to be moved free of guideway 1" and be withdrawn therefrom.

In FIG. 6 is shown another embodiment of this invention wherein traverse hardware for draperies comprises guideway 11 configured with two curved chamfers 18" and 18 symmetrically disposed so that disorientation with respect to inverted position is impossible. Drapery hanger members 13 are configured with symmetrically disposed surfaces 17" and 17", which engage surfaces 18" and 18, respectively, and which may either be curved or fiat and preferably are of low frictional character for easy traversing in guideway 11". The upper and lower rearward face portions 40 of slide members 13" are configured as forward extending recesses to provide space for passage of draw cords 42 between the rear of slide members 13" and guideway 11"; alternatively, cords 49 may be threaded through passages 41 in members 13". Fastening studs 43 are provided in slides 13" as terminal anchor means for cords 49, but are used only in the terminal members 13" disposed adjacent the leading edge of the drapery which is drawn to effect closure of the draperies. The arrangement of cords and drapery hangers is conventional with two pull cords being manipulated to open or close the drapery.

Drapery hook portions 44 are integral with member 13" as shown and project forward into position for re ceiving rings or hooks which are secured to drapery fabric. The dimension of members 13" longitudinally of guideway 11" is at least as great for the portion thereof disposed within the confines of guideway 11" as for portions extending therebeyond so that force of contact between members 13" is exerted substantially axially coincidentally with the interior confine of guideway 11" and without a component force acting through a moment arm which would tend to twist a member 13" and cause it to bind in guideway 11".

Resilient spring clip 45- clips on recessed portion 46 of member 13" and is bowed to exert only very moderate force to retain member 13 in contact with surfaces 18", 18"; high frictional coeificient for the contacting surfaces. is undesirable and consequently only light spring pressure is desirable. Alternatively, other spring means or other resilient means such as elastomeric or plastomeric foamed or solid resin may be used in place of spring 45. It is desirable, but not necessary, to provide sufiicient clearance to enable member 13" to be inserted into guideway 11" anywhere along its length in a manner as hereinbefore described; however, members 13" may be of such dimension as to require insertion into the open end of guideway 11". Screw holes 47 are provided in guideway 11" for fastening the hardware in position for use. All manner of mounting and use of the described drapery hardware is conventional. Guideway 11" may be used in the embodiments of this invention as hereinbefore described in relation and in place of guideway 11 of FIGS. 1-3, guideway 11' of FIG. 4, guideway 11" of FIG. 5, and may be preferred in the last mentioned figure to guideway 11" thereof.

While certain modifications and embodiments of the invention have been described for use as shelving, shelf dividers and drapery hardware, it is of course to be understood that there are a great number ofvariations and uses which will suggest themselves to anyone familiar with the subject matter hereof and it is to be distinctly understood that this invention should not be limited in its scope and uses except by limitations clearly imposed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A retaining guideway and a traversable slide member operable therein comprising in combination (a) a guideway configured with a longitudinal slot therein, said slot communicating volumes interior and exterior thereof and substantially co-extensive therewith, the edges of said guideway being of continuous, substantially parallel configuration along the length of said guideway;

(b) said interior volume of said guideway extending therewithin beyond the faces of said slot;

(c) said slide member being configured to be operably received in said guideway and to be slideably in contact with at least one interior surface of said guideway projecting rearwardly from said slot and be fixedly retained therein by being frictionally urged into contact with the interior surface of the side of said guideway in which said slot is disposed;

(d) a projecting portion of said slide member extending through said slot exteriorly of said guideway;

(e) a spacer member disposed intermediate said guideway and said slide member disposed to urge said slide member toward said slot, said slide member being operably traversable longitudinally of said guideway.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the said interior surface of the side of said guideway in which said slot is disposed comprises a depending projection sub- 6 stantially bounding one extremity of said slot and a chan nel substantially bounding the other extremity of said slot and wherein said slide member is configured with one extremity disposed to fay with said depending projection and with a foot portion disposed to be received in said channel and supported thereby.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said depending projection comprises a chamfer.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said projecting portion of said slide member extending through said slot is configured as a cantilever for receiving drapery hooks.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slide member is configured with forward extending recess portions in the rear face thereof which provide space between said guideway and said slide member for passage of drapery cords.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein means are provided in said slide member for anchoring cord means.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spacer member comprises resilient means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein locking means is provided for restraining movement of said slide member from contact with said interior surface of the side of said guideway in which said slot is disposed.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said projecting portion of said slide member extending through said slot is of substantially planar configuration disposed substantiall perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said guideway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,254,766 1/1918 Blades 211-184UX 2,015,269 9/1935 Henry 16-93 2,688,409 9/1954 Echlin 211-484 3,248,749 5/1966 Williams 16--93 3,366,998 2/1968 Jansson 2473BCMF 3,434,524 3/1969 Fein 1687.4X

FOREIGN PATENTS 233,532 4/1961 Australia 1693 394,537 11/1965 Switzerland 21143 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 211184