Tray storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10960910-B1
Application number	US-201715799875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Oct 31, 2017
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A rail assembly for maintaining trays for temporary storage. The rail assembly features a plurality of support members and a plurality of post attachment members. The plurality of support members include a plurality of raised edges and a plurality of shelf members, each of the plurality of shelf members extend from a corresponding raised edge of the plurality of raised edges. The plurality of post attachment members extend outwardly from the plurality of support members. Each of the plurality of post attachment members includes a first connection arm configured for attachment to a first side of a vertical post and a second connection arm configured for attachment to a second side of the vertical post.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tray storage system comprising:
a plurality of posts including a first pair of posts and a second pair of posts;
a first frame assembly coupled to each first end of the plurality of posts;
a first rail assembly removably coupled to the first pair of posts, the first rail assembly including a first plurality of shelf members extending from at least one reinforcement member providing structural support for the first plurality of shelf members; and
a second rail assembly removably coupled to the second pair of posts, the second rail assembly including a second plurality of shelf members extending from one or more reinforcement members providing structural support for the second plurality of shelf members,
wherein each corresponding shelf member of the first plurality of shelf members includes a plurality of ribs formed on a top planar surface of the corresponding shelf member between end portions of the corresponding shelf member and each corresponding shelf member of the first plurality of shelf members includes a plurality of cut-out portions formed along an edge extending in a direction away from the at least one reinforcement member to provide vertical air flow to any item supported by the corresponding shelf member and each cut-out portion of the plurality of cut-out portions being located between a rib pairing of the plurality of ribs.

2. The tray storage system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of posts is made of fiberglass and formed by pultrusion and both the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly is made of polypropylene and formed by injection molding.

3. The tray storage system of claim 1 , wherein each of a first post and a second post of the first pair of posts includes (i) a first channel traversing lengthwise along a first outer surface of the first post, (ii) a first notch traversing the first channel, (iii) a second channel traversing lengthwise along a second outer surface being opposite to the first outer surface of the first post, and (iv) a second notch traversing the second channel,
the first rail assembly includes a plurality of post attachment members interlocking with the first channel and the second channel, and
the first notch and the second notch retain a connector positioned at the first end of the first post to attach to the first frame assembly.

4. The tray storage system of claim 1 , wherein at least the plurality of ribs associated with the first rail assembly being formed of a first material with a greater heat reflective properties than a second material forming the plurality of shelf members of the first rail assembly.

5. The tray storage system of claim 1 further comprising:
a third rail assembly removably coupled to the first pair of posts, the third assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinal protruding members that are oriented to interlock with a plurality of staggered, offset flanges formed on a ledge member and positioned above an uppermost shelf member of the first plurality of shelf members formed in the first rail assembly.

6. The tray storage system of claim 1 further comprising a second frame assembly coupled to each second end of the plurality of posts, the second frame assembly being adapted to receive a plurality of casters.

7. The tray storage system of claim 6 , wherein the first pair of posts includes (i) a first post including a first channel traversing lengthwise along a first outer surface of the first post and a second channel traversing lengthwise along a second outer surface being opposite to the first outer surface of the first post and (ii) a second post including a first channel traversing lengthwise along a first outer surface of the second post and a second channel traversing lengthwise along a second outer surface being opposite to the first outer surface of the second post.

8. The tray storage system of claim 7 , wherein the first rail assembly comprises a first post attachment member including a first fastening portion sized for insertion and retention in the first channel of the first post, a second post attachment member including a second fastening portion sized for insertion and retention in the second channel of the first post, a third post attachment member including a third fastening portion sized for insertion and retention in a first channel of the second post, and a fourth post attachment member including a fourth fastening portion sized for insertion and retention in the second channel of the second post.

9. A tray storage system comprising:
a plurality of posts including a first pair of posts and a second pair of posts;
a first rail assembly removably coupled to the first pair of posts;
a second rail assembly removably coupled to the second pair of posts; and
a third rail assembly removably coupled to the first pair of posts,
wherein each of the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly includes a plurality of shelf members and each corresponding shelf member of the plurality of shelf members includes (i) a plurality of ribs formed on a top planar surface of the plurality of shelf members between ends of the corresponding shelf member and (ii) a plurality of cut-out portions formed in the corresponding shelf member between a pair of neighboring ribs of the plurality of ribs to provide vertical air flow to any item supported by the corresponding shelf member, and
wherein the third rail assembly comprises a longitudinal protruding member to interlock with a plurality of staggered, offset flanges positioned on a ledge member positioned above an uppermost shelf member of the plurality of shelf members formed in the first rail assembly.

10. The tray storage system of claim 9 , wherein at least the plurality of ribs associated with the first rail assembly being formed of a first material with a greater heat reflective properties than a second material forming the plurality of shelf members of the first rail assembly.

11. The tray storage system of claim 9 , wherein the longitudinal protruding member being inserted between the plurality of staggered, offset flanges for interlocking the third rail assembly with the first rail assembly.

12. The tray storage system of claim 9 further comprising a first frame assembly being adapted to receive a first end of the plurality of posts and a second frame assembly being adapted to receive a plurality of casters.

13. The tray storage system of claim 9 , wherein the first pair of posts includes (i) a first post including a first channel traversing lengthwise along a first outer surface of the first post and a second channel traversing lengthwise along a second outer surface being opposite to the first outer surface of the first post and (ii) a second post including a first channel traversing lengthwise along a first outer surface of the second post and a second channel traversing lengthwise along a second outer surface being opposite to the first outer surface of the second post.

14. The tray storage system of claim 13 , wherein the first rail assembly comprises a first post attachment member including a first fastening portion sized for insertion and retention in the first channel and a second post attachment including a second fastening portion sized for insertion and retention in the second channel of the first post.

Assignees

• Cambro Mfg Company

Inventors

• Garcia Jorge Baez

Classifications

• A47B2031/004

  having four vertical uprights · CPC title

• A47B31/00

  Service or tea tables, trolleys, or wagons ({serving trays A47G23/06}; features relating to running gear or to movement by hand B62B) · CPC title

• B62B2301/05

  Details of the attachment of the wheel assembly to the chassis · CPC title

• B62B2205/006

  dismountable · CPC title

• B62B2202/67

  Service trolleys, e.g. in aircraft · CPC title