IP Library Granted Patent US 11,248,637
Granted Patent B2
US 11,248,637 · App. 16/905,782 · Granted Feb 15, 2022

Technologies for interlocking structures

Inventors: Ryan Messmore (Danville, IL); Chad Salmela (Ames, IA); Justin M. Bargo (Catlin, IL); Robert E. Wright (Oakwood, IL); Matthew Curtis Lane (Danville, IL)
Assignee: Watchfire Signs, LLC
F16B5/0064F16B19/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,248,637
App. No.
16/905,782
Granted
Feb 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit comprises a first C-shaped portion, a first bridge portion, and a first U-shaped portion. The first U-shaped portion comprises a first projection extending therefrom. The second unit comprises a second C-shaped portion, a second bridge portion, and a second U-shaped portion. The second U-shaped portion comprises a second projection extending therefrom. The first projection interlocks with the second projection when the first C-shaped portion and the second C-shaped portion are fastened to a plate.

Claims (29)

1. A device comprising:

a first signage cabinet;

a first unit comprising a first C-shaped portion, a first bridge portion, and a first U-shaped portion, wherein the first C-shaped portion is fastened to a plate, wherein the first bridge portion spans between the first C-shaped portion and the first U-shaped portion, wherein the first U-shaped portion is defined via a first leg portion, a first base portion, and a second leg portion, wherein the first leg portion comprises a first projection distal to the first base portion and extending toward the second leg portion, wherein the first unit extends within the first signage cabinet;

a second signage cabinet; and

a second unit comprising a second C-shaped portion, a second bridge portion, and a second U-shaped portion, wherein the second C-shaped portion is fastened to the plate, wherein the first bridge portion contacts the second bridge portion, wherein the second bridge portion spans between the second C-shaped portion and the second U-shaped portion, wherein the second U-shaped portion is defined via a third leg portion, a second base portion, and a fourth leg portion, wherein the second unit extends within the second signage cabinet, wherein the second base portion comprises a second projection extending toward the first base portion such that the first projection contacts the second projection between the first leg portion and the second leg portion, wherein the first unit and the second unit extend between the first signage cabinet and the second signage cabinet, wherein the first signage cabinet, the first unit, the second signage cabinet, and the second unit are separate and distinct from each other.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plate is included in an L-shaped bracket.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plate is included in a strut bracket, wherein the strut bracket includes a closed-shape section and an opened-shape section.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first leg portion is aligned with the third leg portion.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first C-shaped portion opposes the second C-shaped portion.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is monolithic.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second unit is monolithic.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is monolithic and the second unit is monolithic.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first unit includes metal and the second unit includes metal.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first signage cabinet is stacked on the second signage cabinet or the second signage cabinet is stacked on the first signage cabinet.

11. A method comprising:

accessing a first unit comprising a first C-shaped portion, a first bridge portion, and a first U-shaped portion, wherein the first bridge portion spans between the first C-shaped portion and the first U-shaped portion, wherein the first U-shaped portion is defined via a first leg portion, a first base portion, and a second leg portion, wherein the first leg portion comprises a first projection distal to the first base portion and extending toward the second leg portion, wherein the first unit extends within a first signage cabinet;

accessing a second unit comprising a second C-shaped portion, a second bridge portion, and a second U-shaped portion, wherein the second bridge portion spans between the second C-shaped portion and the second U-shaped portion, wherein the second U-shaped portion is defined via a third leg portion, a second base portion, and a fourth leg portion, wherein the second base portion comprises a second projection, wherein the second unit extends within a second signage cabinet;

moving the first U-shaped portion such that the second projection is positioned between the first leg portion and the second leg portion without contacting the first projection and such that the second projection extends toward the first base portion and such that the second projection is positioned between the first base portion and the second base portion;

moving the first projection toward the second projection such that the first projection contacts the second projection between the first leg portion and the second leg portion and such that the second projection is positioned between the first base portion and the second base portion; and

fastening the first C-shaped portion and the second C-shaped portion to a plate such that the first unit and the second unit reside between the first signage cabinet and the second signage cabinet, wherein the first signage cabinet, the first unit, the second signage cabinet, and the second unit are separate and distinct from each other.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plate is included in an L-shaped bracket.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plate is included in a strut bracket, wherein the strut bracket includes a closed-shape section and an opened-shape section.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first leg portion is aligned with the third leg portion.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first C-shaped portion opposes the second C-shaped portion.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first unit is monolithic.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second unit is monolithic.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first unit is monolithic and the second unit is monolithic.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first unit includes metal and the second unit includes metal.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first signage cabinet is stacked on the second signage cabinet or the second signage cabinet is stacked on the first signage cabinet.

Assignments (2)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 22, 2022
From: WATCHFIRE SIGNS, LLC; AERVA, INC.
To: FORTRESS CREDIT CORP. ("FORTRESS"), AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060817/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2020
From: MESSMORE, RYAN; BARGO, JUSTIN M.; WRIGHT, ROBERT E.; LANE, MATTHEW CURTIS
To: WATCHFIRE SIGNS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052983/0291 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15264176 · Sep 13, 2016
Related Publication 20200318666A1 · Oct 8, 2020