IP Library Granted Patent US 11,136,759
Granted Patent B2
US 11,136,759 · App. 16/704,104 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Stacking guides

Inventor: John William Phillips (Orlando, FL)
Assignee: STAGE LIGHTING PATENTS, LLC
E04C3/04E04B1/2403E04C3/005E04B2001/2406E04C2003/0417E04C2003/0465
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,136,759
App. No.
16/704,104
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example of support member is provided. The support member includes a plurality of elongated members connected to form a first elongated rigid structure. In addition, the support member includes a first elongated member of the plurality of elongated members disposed proximate to a first edge of the first elongated rigid structure with a first member top surface. The support member further includes a first stacking guide disposed on the first elongated member wherein a first attachment top surface is to slope toward the first member top surface. Also, the support member includes a second elongated member of the plurality of elongated members disposed proximate to a second edge of the first elongated rigid structure with a second member top surface. The second edge is opposite the first edge. The support member also includes a second stacking guide disposed on the second elongated member.

Claims (36)

1. A support member comprising:

a plurality of elongated members connected to form a first elongated rigid structure;

a first elongated member of the plurality of elongated members disposed proximate to a first edge of the first elongated rigid structure with a first member top surface;

a first stacking guide disposed on the first elongated member wherein a first attachment top surface is to slope toward the first member top surface;

a second elongated member of the plurality of elongated members disposed proximate to a second edge of the first elongated rigid structure with a second member top surface, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge; and

a second stacking guide disposed on the second elongated member, wherein a second attachment top surface is to slope toward the second member top surface, and wherein the first stacking guide and the second stacking guide are to guide a second elongated rigid structure above the first elongated rigid structure,

wherein the first elongated member includes an anchor point, wherein the first stacking guide is mounted onto the anchor point, and

wherein the anchor point is a hole, and wherein the first stacking guide includes a peg to interact with the hole.

2. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment top surface and the second attachment top surface are smooth to allow the second elongated rigid structure to slide thereon.

3. The support member of claim 2 , wherein the first stacking guide guides a first attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure and the second stacking guide guides a second attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure to stack the second elongated rigid structure above the first elongated rigid structure.

4. The support member of claim 3 , wherein the first stacking guide has a first shape to mate with the first attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure and the second stacking guide has a second shape to mate with the second attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure when stacked thereon.

5. The support member of claim 4 , wherein the first shape of the first stacking guide and the second shape of the second stacking guide are different to permit the second elongated rigid structure to be aligned in a single orientation.

6. The support member of claim 1 , further comprising additional stacking guides to form a base pattern, wherein the base pattern is to mate with a complementary pattern disposed on the second elongated rigid structure.

7. The support member of claim 6 , wherein the base pattern and the complementary pattern are similar to permit the second elongated rigid structure to be stacked in multiple orientations.

8. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the first stacking guide is removeably mounted with a friction fit of the peg in the hole.

9. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the peg of the first stacking guide is welded in the hole.

10. A method comprising:

positioning a first support member having a stacking guide disposed on a first elongated member disposed at a top of the first support member, the stacking guide having a top surface to slope toward the first elongated member;

positioning a second support member having an attachment point disposed on a second elongated member disposed at a bottom of the second support member, wherein positioning the second support member comprises positioning the attachment point proximate to the stacking guide;

sliding the second support member relative to the first support member; and

mating the attachment point with the stacking guide to align the second support member above the first support member,

wherein the stacking guide is an oval shaped ring and the attachment point is a protrusion to fit within the oval shaped ring.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein mating the attachment point with the stacking guide comprises sliding the attachment point over a top of an edge of the oval shaped ring to be held in place by the oval shaped ring.

12. A support member comprising:

a plurality of elongated members connected to form a first elongated rigid structure;

a first elongated member of the plurality of elongated members disposed proximate to a first edge of the first elongated rigid structure with a first member top surface;

a first stacking guide disposed on the first elongated member wherein a first attachment top surface is to slope toward the first member top surface;

a second elongated member of the plurality of elongated members disposed proximate to a second edge of the first elongated rigid structure with a second member top surface, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge; and

a second stacking guide disposed on the second elongated member, wherein a second attachment top surface is to slope toward the second member top surface, and wherein the first stacking guide and the second stacking guide are to guide a second elongated rigid structure above the first elongated rigid structure,

wherein the first attachment top surface and the second attachment top surface are smooth to allow the second elongated rigid structure to slide thereon,

wherein the first stacking guide guides a first attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure and the second stacking guide guides a second attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure to stack the second elongated rigid structure above the first elongated rigid structure,

wherein the first stacking guide has a first shape to mate with the first attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure and the second stacking guide has a second shape to mate with the second attachment point on the second elongated rigid structure when stacked thereon, and

wherein the first shape of the first stacking guide and the second shape of the second stacking guide are different to permit the second elongated rigid structure to be aligned in a single orientation.

13. The support member of claim 12 , further comprising additional stacking guides to form a base pattern, wherein the base pattern is to mate with a complementary pattern disposed on the second elongated rigid structure.

14. The support member of claim 12 , wherein the first stacking guide is removeably mounted with a friction fit of a peg in a hole.

15. The support member of claim 12 , wherein further comprising a peg of the first stacking guide welded in a hole.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CHRISTIE LITES ENTERPRISES USA, LLC, A FLORIDA LLC
Reel/Frame 057190/0015 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2021
From: CHRISTIE LITES ENTERPRISES USA
To: STAGE LIGHTING PATENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056916/0022 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: CHRISTIE LITES ENTERPRISES USA, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055172/0696 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2019
From: PHILLIPS, JOHN WILLIAM
To: CHRISTIE LITES ENTERPRISES USA
Reel/Frame 051208/0478 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210172172A1 · Jun 10, 2021