US3904037A

US3904037A - Storage units

Info

Publication number: US3904037A
Application number: US359101A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard R Alter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-27
Filing date: 1973-05-10
Publication date: 1975-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-09
Also published as: GB1401894A; NL7309339A; FR2194621A1; AU471374B2; AU5729273A; CA1015711A; DE2338310A1; FR2194621B1

Abstract

A storage unit for storing and dispensing articles, wherein the articles may be stored on a slide in a housing in stacked relation to each other, the slide and housing may be raised as a unit by pulling upwardly on the slide, and the stack may be raised to selected heights relative to the housing for disposing the articles in position to be removed from the housing.

Description

United States Patent Alter Sept. 9, 1975 STORAGE UNITS 3,130,836 4/l964 Conrad 206/437 )4 3,207,212 9 1965 C l 206 437 X [76] Inventor: Richard R. Alter, 608 McDowell St., Delavan, Wis. 53] l [22] Filedi M y 1973 Primary Exuminer-Donald F. Norton [2 1] pp NO 359 101 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Root & O'Keeffe Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part 0f Ser. No. 275.5l6. July 27,

I972, abandoned. [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 206/534; 206/438; 206/443;

99; 20 53 20 04 A storage unit for storing and dispensing articles, [51] In. 12 3 5 42 wherein the articles may be stored on a slide in a [58] Fidd f Search 2 30 437 43 499 housing in stacked relation to each other, the slide and 20 220 g; 229 9 1 1 19 2 housing may be raised as a unit by pulling upwardly on 215 m0 R the slide, and the stack may be raised to selected heights relative to the housing for disposing the arti- [56] References Cited cles in position to be removed from the housing,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,233 3/l953 Kirchcr 220/17 X 11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 6 4 li Q /9 2 l 2 f j 3 STORAGE UNITS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pcnding application for US. letters Pat, Ser. No. 275,5 lo. filed July 27, I972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to storage units for storing and dispensing articles, and. more particularly, to storage units which are particularly well adapted for storing and dispensing elongated articles, such as artificial insemination straws and ampules. and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to al ford a novel storage unit.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storage unit in which articles may be stored. and from which articles may be dispensed. in a novel and expeditious manner.

Many articles, such as, for example, ampules or straws containing semen, and containers of blood plasma, and the like. commonly are stored in a frozen state at temperatures several hundred degrees below zero, Fahrenheit, such as, for example, in freezer compartments containing liquid nitrogen, and the like. In many instances such articles heretofore have been so stored in freezer compartments individually. or in containcrs such as boxes, or the like, or on racks or other similar supporting devices such as rods, or canes" whereby they are supported on externally projecting platforms or between externally projecting fingers, and the like. Facilities heretofore known in the art for storing such articles commonly have had several inherent disadvantages, such as, for example, not affording ready identification of individual articles; being difficult to remove or dispense such articles therefrom, not affording adequate protection against breakage of such articles; being difficult to load or unload; or being complicated in construction and operation, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storage unit for storing articles in what may be classed as an extremely cold refrigerant, such as liquid nitrogen, and the like.

Another object is to afford a novel storage unit of the aforementioned type which affords novel, readily discernablc identification for the articles being stored therein.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storage unit of the aforementioned type which affords effective protection for articles stored therein.

A further object is to afford a novel storage unit of the aforementioned type embodying a slide type of supporting member for such articles and a housing disposed on the slide, with the slide and housing constituted and arranged relative to each other in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storage unit of the aforementioned type wherein the slide is so disposed in the housing, in stored position, that the entire storage unit may be lifted and supported by lifting on the slide and the slide may thereafter be moved out of the housing.

Another object is to afford a novel storage unit ofthe aforementioned type from which articles may be dispensed or removed quickly and easily.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storage unit which may be readily and eeonomi cally produced commercially, and which is practical and efficient in operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side clevational view of a storage unit em bodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elcvational view looking in the direction of the arrows 22 in FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of an end portion of the storage unit shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the supporting member embodied in the storage unit shown in FIG. I, with the storage member removed from the housing of the unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the supporting member partially removed from the housing;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary. detail sectional view taken substantially along the line of 77 in FIG. 4', and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of the storage unit. looking in the same direction as in FIG. I, but with the projecting end portion of the supporting member disposed in a different operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN A storage unit I, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The storage unit I embodies. in general, an elongated housing 2, having an elongated supporting member or slide 3 slidably mounted therein for longitudinal movement relative thereto.

The housing 2 may be of any suitable construction, but preferably, as shown in the drawings, is tubular in construction, embodying a tubular side wall 4, which is substantially straight and open at its upper end 5 and its lower end 6, FIG. 1. The housing 2 shown in the drawings is circular in transverse cross section, FIG. 2, but, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, may be of other suitable cross sectional shapes, such as. for example, square, or the like, without departing from the purview of the broader aspects of the present invention. The housing 2 may be made of any suitable, such as, for example, steel, aluminum, or a suitable plastic material, such as, for example. polyethylene.

The supporting member 3 may be made of any suit able material. such as. for example. sheet steel or sheet aluminum. and the like. and embodies a substantially straight elongated body portion 7. A handle. which is in the form of a tab 8. projects from one end of the body portion 7. and is shown in FIGS. 1-6 as being disposed in axial alignment therewith. At the other end of the body portion 7. an abutment member 9 projects substantially perpendicularly therefrom. In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings. the entire elongated supporting member. including the body portion 7. the tab 8 and the abutment member 9 are made from a suitable single piece of material. such as. for example. the aforementioned sheet steel or sheet aluminum. or the like.

The body portion 7 of the supporting member 3 embodies longitudinally spaced wider portions 10. ll. 12, I3 and 14 spaced from each other by narrower portions l5, 16. 17 and 18, respectively.

The end portion 10a of the wider portion 10, remote from the tab 8. is of substantially the same width as the wider portions 11-14. The tab 8 is of substantially greater width than the wider portions 11-14, and the portion 10b. of the wider portion 10, which extends from the end portion 10a to the tab 8. FIGS. 4 and 5. gradually increases in width from the end portion 100 to the same width as the tab 8. at its junction with the latter. to thereby afford a tapered or wedge shape for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

The body portion 7 of the supporting member 3 preferably is somewhat arcuate in transverse cross section FIGS. 2 and 7, and the wider portions 11-14 are of such width. and the abutment member 9 projects from the body portion 7 such a distance that. when the supporting member 3 is disposed in position in the housing 2. with the abutment member 9. wider portions 11-14 and the end portion 101: therein. but with the portion 10/; and the tab 8 projecting upwardly from the upper end thereof. the supporting member 3 is disposed in the housing 2 with a relatively snug. but freely slidable fit.

When the supporting member 3 is disposed in normal. fully inserted position in the housing. as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the portion b is partially disposed in the end portion 5 of the housing 2. In this position. the portion 10 is wedgingly engaged. with a force fit, with the inner surface of the housing 2. effective to frictionally hold the housing 2 on the supporting member 3 when the storage unit 1 is supported by the tab 8 in depending relation to the latter.

The inside diameter of the tubular side wall 4 of the housing 2 is such that articles to be stored in the storage unit 1, and to be dispensed therefrom. such as. for example. the articles 19. FIG. 5. may be inserted downwardly through the upper open end of the housing 2 into stacked relation along the supporting member 3 with the lowermost article 19 resting on the upper face of the abutment member 9. FIG. 6. Preferably. the length of the housing 2 is such that the uppermost article 19, when it is disposed in stored relation in the housing 2. terminates at its upper end in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end 5 thereof.

The wider portions 10-14 of the body portion 7 of the supporting member 3 preferably are of greater width. transversely to the length of the housing 2 than the corresponding width of the articles. such as the articles 19. to be stored in the housing 2. FIG. 2. and are spaced from each other longitudinally of the body portion 7 less than the length of the articles to be stored. FIG. 4. With such construction. each of the articles 19 is laterally supported by at least one of the wider portions 10-14. when the articles are disposed in operative position along the supporting member 3.

The narrower portions 15-18 of the body portion 7 preferably are narrower in width. transversely of the length of the housing 2 than the corresponding width of the articles. such as the articles 19 to be stored in the housing 2. Like the wider portions 10-14, the narrower portions 15-18 are spaced from each other a distance less than the length of the articles to be stored in the storage unit 1, so that at least one of the narrower portions 15-18 is disposed opposite to a portion of each of the articles 19, when the latter are disposed in stacked position on the abutment member 9.

With the storage unit 1 constructed in the aforementioned manner. after it has been filled with articles. such as the articles 19, to be stored therein, and the supporting member 3 has been disposed in its aforementioned normal. fully inserted position in the housing 2. wherein the portions 10b wedgingly engage the side walls of the housing 2, the storage unit 1 may be disposed in upright position in a freezer compartment. with the lower end 6 of the housing 2 resting on a suitable supporting surface. not shown. such as. for example. the bottom of the compartment. In this position of the storage unit 1. the abutment member 9 on the supporting member 3 is disposed at the lower end 6 of the housing 2. and the tab 8 projects outwardly from the upper end 5 of the housing 2. as shown in FIG. 1. The tab 8 on each storage unit 1 may bear suitable indicia. such as. for example. being painted a distinctive color or bearing a stamp or otherwise attached legend. such as identifying name. number. or the like, for identifying the particular articles disposed in the respective storage units 1. Although I prefer that the tabs 8 on the individ ual storage units 1 project from the body portion 7 of the supporting member 3 in substantially axial alignment therewith, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. they may. if desired. be disposed, by bending in other positions. such as. for example. in a position wherein they project transversely to the length of the body portion 7. as shown in FIG. 8.

Irrespective of whether the tabs 8 are disposed in the position shown in FIG. 1. or in a transversely extending position, as shown in FIG. 8, they afford readily visible. and practical indicators for indicating the contents of the particular storage units 1. of which they form a part. In addition. in either position, each of the tabs 8 affords a readily accessible handle by which the entire storage unit 1 may be readily lifted upwardly out of the liquid nitrogen. or the like. in which it has been stored. Thereafter. by holding the housing 2 and pulling upwardly on the tab 8, the supporting member 3 may be withdrawn upwardly through the upper end 5 of the housing 2 to thereby elevate the supply of articles stored in the housing 2. As each such article is raised from the housing 2, it may be gripped by suitable means such as. tongs, or the like. at two points disposed on opposite sides of the respective one of the narrower portions 15-18 disposed opposite to the particular article. such as. for example. at the points A and B shown with respect to the uppermost article 19 in FIG. 5.

The thus gripped article may then be manually removed from the storage tube l. and the supporting member 3 may be pressed downwardly into full inserted. storage position in the housing 2. or. if desired. it may be raised further from the housing 2 to permit additional articles to be removed from the storage unit 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel storage unit which is particularly well adapted for use in freezer chambers wherein articles are stored in liquid nitrogen. or the like. the articles stored being readily identifiable from the tabs 8. which may project upwardly above the liquid nitrogen. and the storage unit being readily removable from the refrigerant by lifting on the tab 8. while retaining the housing in position to effectively contain and protect the articles l9 disposed therein. Thereafter. the articles may be readily removed. one after the other. from the storage unit 1, it merely being necessary for the operator to raise the supporting member 3 relative to the housing 2 a sufficient distance to permit the respective article to be gripped at the adjacent narrower portion of the body portion 7 for removal of the article from the particular storage unit I. If it is desired to again dispose the storage unit 1 in the freezer chamber. the supporting member 3 may again be pushed downwardly into normal. fully inserted position in the housing 2, wherein it is effective to support the latter. and the storage unit I may be grasped by the tab 8 and inserted into the freezer chamber.

Also. it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel storage unit which affords effective protection against breakage of the articles being stored therein. the articles being entirely enclosed within a protective outer housing when they are disposed in stored position within the unit.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel storage unit which is practical and efficient in operation. and which may be readily and eco nomically produced commercially.

Thus. while I have illustrated and described the pre' ferred embodiment of my invention. it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification. and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth. but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

1 claim:

l. A storage unit for storingly supporting and dispensing articles, and comprising a. an elongated housing having l. a tubular side wall. and

2. an open end. and

b. an elongated. substantially straight. one-piece member I. mounted in said housing in substantially coaxial relation thereto and with a frictional fit relative thereto, and

2. longitudinally reciproeable in said housing through said open end,

c. said member including 1. an elongated body portion extending longitudinally of said housing. and 2. an abutment member a. on the end of said body portion remote from said open end. and b. extending transversely to the length of said housing for underlyingly supporting such an article in said housing on the side of said abutment member facing said open end.

d. said body portion having a portion for laterally supporting such an article so supported on said abutment member. and

c. said body portion having a sufficiently narrow maximum width. at said portion thereof. for permitting such a so supported article to be grippingly engaged between members disposed at opposite lateral sides of said portion of said body portion and lifted by said last mentioned members from said elongated member in a direction extending laterally away from said portion of said body portion.

2. A storage unit for storing elongated articles in longitudinally stacked relation to each other and for dispensing such articles. said storage unit comprising a. an elongated housing having 1. a tubular side wall. and 2. an open end. and

b. an elongated member 1. mounted in said housing in substantially coaxial relation thereto. and 2. longitudinally reciproeable in said housing through said open end.

c. said member including 1. an elongated body portion extending longitudinally of said housing. and

2. an abutment member a. on the end of said body portion remote from said o en end. and

b. extending transversely to the length of said housing for supporting such a stack of articles in longitudinally extending relation in said housing.

d. said body portion having alternate transversely wider and narrower portions spaced longitudinally therealong for laterally supporting individual ones of such articles. which are so supported by said abutment member simultaneously from adjacent ones of said wider and narrower portions and thereby permitting such laterally supported articles to be grippingly engaged between members disposed at opposite lateral sides of said narrower portions for lifting said articles from said elongated member in a direction extending laterally away from said narrower portions.

said wider portions projecting outwardly beyond said narrower portions in two lateral directions.

3. A storage unit as defined in claim 2. and in which said elongated member comprises an elongated. substantially straight strip of sheet material.

4. A storage unit as defined in claim 3. and in which said abutment member comprises an end portion of said strip.

5. A storage unit as defined in claim 2. and in which a. said elongated member includes an end portion projecting outwardly from said open end in all positions of said elongated member in said housing and b. said wider portions frictionally engage said side wall on opposite sides of said housing.

6. A storage unit for storing articles in stacked relation and dispensing said articles therefrom, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated, substantially straight. tubular housing.

b an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member I. mounted in said housing in longitudinally extending relation thereto, and

2. manually reciprocable in said housing through one end of the latter between a. an inserted position in said housing, and

b. a withdrawn position in said housing,

c. said elongated member engaging said housing with a frictional fit in said inserted position for releasably holding said elongated member from movement toward said withdrawn position,

d. said elongated member having 1. a laterally projecting abutment on one end thereof for supporting such a stack of articles thereon, and 2. an end portion a, remote from said abutment, and

b. projecting outwardly from said one end of said housing,

c. for affording an identifying indicia for the storage unit and a handle for reciprocating said elongated member inwardly and outwardly through said one end of said housing.

7. A storage unit as defined in claim 6, and in which a. said end portion of said elongated member is movable between one position wherein it is disposed in substantially longitudinal alignment with said housing and a position wherein it extends transversely to the length of said housing, when said elongated 9. A storage unit for storing articles in stacked relation and dispensing said articles therefrom, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated, substantially straight, tubular housing b. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member I. mounted in said housing in longitudinally extending relation thereto, and

2. manually, longitudinally movable in said housing through one end of the latter between a. a fully inserted position in said housing, and b. a withdrawn position in said housing 0. said elongated member having 1. a laterally projecting abutment on one end portion thereof for supporting such a stack of articles thereon,

2. another end portion remote from said one end portion, and

3. a third portion disposed between said one end portion and said other end portion in position to operatively engage said one end of said housing when said member is disposed in said fully inserted position for releasably holding said member against movement toward said withdrawn position.

d. said other end portion projecting outwardly from said one end of said housing when said member is disposed in said fully extended position for affording an identifying indicia for the storage unit and a handle for manually moving said member between said fully inserted and withdrawn positions.

10. A storage unit as defined in claim 9, and in which a. said third portion is disposed in said one end of said housing and is engaged therewith with manually releasable, force frictional fit when said member is disposed in said fully inserted position.

1 l. A storage unit as defined in claim 9, and in which a. said elongated member comprises alternate transversely wider and narrower portions spaced therealong between said abutment member and said one end portion.

Claims

1. A storage unit for storingly supporting and dispensing articles, and comprising a. an elongated housing having 1. a tubular side wall, and 2. an open end, and b. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member 1. mounted in said housing in substantially coaxial relation thereto and with a frictional fit relative thereto, and 2. longitudinally reciprocable in said housing through said open end, c. said member including 1. an elongated body portion extending longitudinally of said housing, and 2. an abutment member a. on the end of said body portion remote from said open end, and b. extending transversely to the length of said housing for underlyingly supporting such an article in said housing on the side of said abutment member facing said open end, d. said body portion having a portion for laterally supporting such an article so supported on said abutment member, and e. said body portion having a sufficiently narrow maximum width, at said portion thereof, for permitting such a so supported article to be grippingly engaged between members disposed at opposite lateral sides of said portion of said body portion and lifted by said last mentioned members from said elongated member in a direction extending laterally away from said portion of said body portion.

2. an open end, and b. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member

2. longitudinally reciprocable in said housing through said open end, c. said member including

2. an abutment member a. on the end of said body portion remote from said open end, and b. extending transversely to the length of said housing for underlyingly supporting such an article in said housing on the side of said abutment member facing said open end, d. said body portion having a portion for laterally supporting such an article so supported on said abutment member, and e. said body portion having a sufficiently narrow maximum width, at said portion thereof, for permitting such a so supported article to be grippingly engaged between members disposed at opposite lateral sides of said portion of said body portion and lifted by said last mentioned members from said elongated member in a direction extending laterally away from said portion of said body portion.

2. A storage unit for storing elongated articles in longitudinally stacked relation to each other and for dispensing such articles, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated housing having

2. an open end, and b. an elongated member

2. an abutment member a. on the end of said body portion remote from said open end, and b. extending transversely to the length of said housing for supporting such a stack of articles in longitudinally extending relation in said housing, d. said body portion having alternate transversely wider and narrower portions spaced longitudinally therealong for laterally supporting individual ones of such articles, which are so supported by said abutment member simultaneously from adjacent ones of said wider and narrower portions and thereby permitting such laterally supported articles to be grippingly engaged between members disposed at opposite lateral sides of said narrower portions for lifting said articles from said elongated member in a direction extending laterally away from said narrower portions, e. said wider portions projecting outwardly beyond said narrower portions in two lateral directions.

2. another end portion remote from said one end portion, and

2. manually, longitudinally movable in said housing through one end of the latter between a. a fully inserted position in said housing, and b. a withdrawn position in said housing c. said elongated member having

2. an end portion a. remote from said abutment, and b. projecting outwardly from said one end of said housing, c. for affording an identifying indicia for the storage unit and a handle for reciprocating said elongated member inwardly and outwardly through said one end of said housing.

2. manually reciprocable in said housing through one end of the latter between a. an inserted position in said housing, and b. a withdrawn position in said housing, c. said elongated member engaging said housing with a frictional fit in said inserted position for releasably holding said elongated member from movement toward said withdrawn position, d. said elongated member having

3. a third portion disposed between said one end portion and said other end portion in position to operatively engage said one end of said housing when said member is disposed in said fully inserted position for releasably holding said member against movement toward said withdrawn position, d. said other end portion projecting outwardly from said one end of said housing when said member is disposed in said fully extended position for affording an identifying indicia for the storage unit and a handle for manually moving said member between said fully inserted and withdrawn positions.

3. A storage unit as defined in claim 2, and in which said elongated member comprises an elongated, substantially straight strip of sheet material.

4. A storage unit as defIned in claim 3, and in which said abutment member comprises an end portion of said strip.

5. A storage unit as defined in claim 2, and in which a. said elongated member includes an end portion projecting outwardly from said open end in all positions of said elongated member in said housing and b. said wider portions frictionally engage said side wall on opposite sides of said housing.

6. A storage unit for storing articles in stacked relation and dispensing said articles therefrom, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated, substantially straight, tubular housing, b. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member

7. A storage unit as defined in claim 6, and in which a. said end portion of said elongated member is movable between one position wherein it is disposed in substantially longitudinal alignment with said housing and a position wherein it extends transversely to the length of said housing, when said elongated member is disposed in said inserted position in said housing.

8. A storage unit as defined in claim 6, and in which a. said elongated member comprises alternate transversely wider and narrower portions spaced therealong between said abutment member and said one end portion for laterally supporting individual ones of such stacked articles by adjacent ones of both said wider and narrower portions simultaneously.

9. A storage unit for storing articles in stacked relation and dispensing said articles therefrom, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated, substantially straight, tubular housing b. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member

11. A storage unit as defined in claim 9, and in which a. said elongated member comprises aLternate transversely wider and narrower portions spaced therealong between said abutment member and said one end portion.