IP Library › Granted Patent US 12667214

Granted Patent B2

US 12667214 · App. 18/333,139 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Easy-assemble cross

Inventors: Eliott Hughes (South Windsor, CT); Keilani Hughes (South Windsor, CT)

A47G33/02

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12667214
App. No.: 18/333,139
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A cross including horizontal and vertical members. The horizontal member may include a central portion having an attach block and a first and second side portions extending from the central portion. The vertical member may include a support portion including an attach block cavity and upper and lower portions extending from the support portion in upward and downward directions. The horizontal member may be configured to attach to the vertical member such that, when attached: a rear surface of the attach block cavity of the vertical member faces the attach block of the horizontal member, side surfaces of the attach block cavity of the vertical member face side surfaces of the attach block of the horizontal member, and the vertical member supports the attach block of the horizontal member.

Claims (66)

1 . A cross comprising:

(1) a horizontal member including:

(1A) a central portion comprising an attach shape, wherein the attach shape includes first and second side attach shape surfaces and a front attach shape surface extending between the first and second side attach shape surfaces;

(1B) a first side portion extending from the central portion in a first horizontal direction, wherein the first side portion comprises front, rear, top, and bottom surfaces; and

(1C) a second side portion extending from the central portion in a second horizontal direction opposite to the first horizontal direction, wherein the second side portion comprises front, rear, top, and bottom surfaces;

(2) a vertical member including:

(2A) a support portion comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity comprises first and second cavity side surfaces and a cavity rear surface;

(2B) an upper portion extending from the support portion in an upward direction, wherein the upper portion comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface; and

(2C) a lower portion extending from the support portion in a downward direction, wherein the lower portion comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface; and

(3) a rail system configured to facilitate attachment of the horizontal member to the vertical member, wherein the rail system comprises:

(3A) a first rail component on the first cavity side surface of the cavity of the vertical member;

(3B) a second rail component on the second cavity side surface of the cavity of the vertical member;

(3C) a third rail component on the first side attach shape surface of the attach shape of the horizontal member and configured to interact with the first rail component during attachment of the horizontal member to the vertical member; and

(3D) a fourth rail component on the second side attach shape surface of the attach shape of the horizontal member and configured to interact with the second rail component during attachment of the horizontal member to the vertical member;

wherein the horizontal member is configured to attach to the vertical member such that, when attached:

the cavity rear surface of the cavity of the vertical member faces the front attach shape surface of the attach shape of the horizontal member;

the first cavity side surface of the cavity of the vertical member faces the first side attach shape surface of the attach shape of the horizontal member;

the second cavity side surface of the cavity of the vertical member faces the second side attach shape surface of the attach shape of the horizontal member; and

the vertical member supports the attach shape of the horizontal member.

2 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the support portion of the vertical member supports the attach shape of the horizontal member.

3 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower portions of the vertical member are hollow, and/or the first and second side portions of the horizontal member are hollow.

4 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the vertical member comprises a rear vertical panel including front and rear surfaces, the cavity rear surface of the support portion of the vertical member comprises a portion of the front surface of the rear vertical panel, the rear surface of the upper portion of the vertical member comprises an upper portion of the rear surface of the rear vertical panel of the vertical member, and the rear surface of the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a lower portion of the rear surface of the rear vertical panel of the vertical member.

5 . The cross of claim 4 , further comprising one or more attachment components configured to attach the attach shape of the horizontal member to the rear vertical panel of the vertical member.

6 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the vertical member comprises a first side vertical panel including inner and outer side surfaces, the first cavity side surface of the cavity of the vertical member comprises a portion of the inner side surface of the first side vertical panel, the first side surface of the upper portion of the vertical member comprises an upper portion of the outer side surface of the first side vertical panel, and the first side surface of the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a lower portion of the outer side surface of the first side vertical panel.

7 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the vertical member comprises a second side vertical panel including inner and outer side surfaces, the second cavity side surface of the cavity of the vertical member comprises a portion of the inner side surface of the second side vertical panel, the second side surface of the upper portion of the vertical member comprises an upper portion of the outer side surface of the second side vertical panel, and the second side surface of the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a lower portion of the outer side surface of the second side vertical panel.

8 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the vertical member comprises an upper front vertical panel, the front surface of the upper portion of the vertical member comprises a front portion of the upper front vertical panel, the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a lower front vertical panel, and the front surface of the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a front portion of the lower front vertical panel.

9 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal member comprises a front horizontal panel including front and rear surfaces, the attach shape of the central portion of the horizontal member extends from the rear surface of the front horizontal panel, the front surface of the first side portion of the horizontal member comprises a portion of the front surface of the front horizontal panel, and the front surface of the second side portion of the horizontal member comprises a different portion of the front surface of the front horizontal panel.

10 . The cross of claim 9 , wherein the rear surface of the front horizontal panel of the horizontal member is configured to abut first and second side vertical panels of the vertical member when the horizontal member is attached to the vertical member.

11 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein:

the first side portion of the horizontal member comprises a first side top panel, a first side rear panel, and a first side bottom panel;

the top surface of the first side portion of the horizontal member comprises a top surface of the first side top panel;

the rear surface of the first side portion of the horizontal member comprises a rear surface of the first side rear panel; and

the bottom surface of the first side portion of the horizontal member comprises a bottom surface of the first side bottom panel.

12 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein:

the second side portion of the horizontal member comprises a second side top panel, a second side rear panel, and a second side bottom panel;

the top surface of the second side portion of the horizontal member comprises a top surface of the second side top panel;

the rear surface of the second side portion of the horizontal member comprises a rear surface of the second side rear panel; and

the bottom surface of the second side portion of the horizontal member comprises a bottom surface of the second side bottom panel.

13 . The cross of claim 1 , wherein the front attach shape surface of the attach shape of the horizontal member is configured to abut the cavity rear surface of the cavity of the vertical member when the horizontal member is attached to the vertical member.

14 . The cross of claim 1 , further comprising a base configured to attach to the lower portion of the vertical member such that, when attached, the base maintains the vertical member in an upright position.

15 . The cross of claim 14 , wherein the base comprises a base projection configured to be inserted into the lower portion of the vertical member.

16 . The cross of claim 15 , wherein the lower portion of the vertical member comprises one or more support platforms, each of the one or more support platforms comprises an opening through the support platform, and the cross further comprises a support rod configured to extend from the base projection and through the opening(s) of the one or more support platforms.

17 . A cross comprising:

(1) a horizontal member;

(2) a vertical member including:

(2A) a support portion;

(2B) an upper portion extending from the support portion in an upward direction, wherein the upper portion comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface;

(2C) a lower portion extending from the support portion in a downward direction, wherein the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and one or more support platforms, and each of the one or more support platforms comprises an opening through the support platform;

(2D) a rear vertical panel including front and rear surfaces, wherein the rear surface of the upper portion of the vertical member comprises an upper portion of the rear surface of the rear vertical panel of the vertical member, and the rear surface of the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a lower portion of the rear surface of the rear vertical panel of the vertical member;

(2E) a first side vertical panel including inner and outer side surfaces, the first side surface of the upper portion of the vertical member comprises an upper portion of the outer side surface of the first side vertical panel, and the first side surface of the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a lower portion of the outer side surface of the first side vertical panel; and

(2F) a second side vertical panel including inner and outer side surfaces, the second side surface of the upper portion of the vertical member comprises an upper portion of the outer side surface of the second side vertical panel, and the second side surface of the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a lower portion of the outer side surface of the second side vertical panel;

(3) a base configured to attach to the lower portion of the vertical member such that, when attached, the base maintains the vertical member in an upright position, wherein the base comprises a base projection configured to be inserted into the lower portion of the vertical member; and

(4) a support rod configured to extend from the base projection and through the opening(s) of the one or more support platforms;

wherein the horizontal member is configured to attach to the vertical member such that, when attached, the vertical member supports the horizontal member;

wherein each of the one or more support platforms is secured to the front surface of the rear vertical panel, the inner side surface of the first side vertical panel, and the inner side surface of the second side vertical panel.

18 . A method comprising:

inserting a support rod into an opening of a base projection of a base such that the support rod extends from the base projection of the base;

attaching a lower portion of a vertical member to the base such that the base maintains the vertical member in an upright position, wherein attaching the lower portion of the vertical member to the base includes passing the support rod through an opening in each of one or more support platforms of the lower portion of the vertical member, and the vertical member includes:

(2A) a support portion;

(2B) an upper portion extending from the support portion in an upward direction, wherein the upper portion comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface;

(2C) the lower portion extending from the support portion in a downward direction, wherein the lower portion of the vertical member comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and the one or more support platforms;

attaching a horizontal member to the vertical member such that, when attached, the vertical member supports the horizontal member;