TRAY WITH LEVEL INDICATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelfing rack for storing articles like balancing weights, preferably in boxes. The shelfing system or rack is designed to enable an easy extraction of the balancing weights out of their boxes. It includes a plurality of trays, each holding multiple boxes. A slider together with an indicator contact the boxes. In case that a box is the last one in the tray, a requirement display indicates that the tray is nearly empty.

Claims

1. A tray configured to store articles, the tray having a base and a front side for presentation of articles, the tray comprising: a slider, moveably arranged in a guiding track in said base, a stop at the front side limiting the movement of the slider, an indicator is fixed to the slider and oriented towards the front side, and wherein the front side has an opening through which the indicator extends only when the slider is in a position close to the front side.

2. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the indicator has at least one marking area.

3. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the at least one marking area has a bar code.

4. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the at least one marking area has a color marking.

5. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the base of the tray has rolls or ball bearings configured to support at least one of the articles and the slider.

6. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes means configured to generate a force applied to the slider and directed to the front side.

7. A tray according to claim 6, wherein the means configured to generate a force to the slider is a spring.

8. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the tray is configured to be inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a chosen plane to cause a force, generated by gravity, to apply to the slider and be directed to the front side.

9. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the opening comprises a slot.

10. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the tray has at least one lateral guide.

11. A tray according to claim 1, wherein a length of the slider and a length of the indicator are larger than one or multiples of a length of an article chosen to be stored in the tray.

12. A shelf comprising at least one tray according to claim 1.

13. A storage rack comprising at least one shelf according to claim 12.

14. A storage rack according to claim 13, further comprising a frame, wherein the shelf is disposed at an inclination angle with respect to the frame.

15. A storage rack according to claim 13, wherein the storage rack comprises a frame with a rectangular shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the tray.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a shelf with trays.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a rack system with several shelves and trays.

[0018] FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of rack system in a side view.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows yet another related embodiment of the tray.

[0020] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the tray.

[0021] The implementations of the idea of the invention can be variously modified and take alternative forms. Specific embodiments are shown and discussed below by way of examples and with the help of the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and the presented detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to any particular disclosed form, but on the contrary, the scope of the intention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the idea of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] FIG. 1 discloses a single tray 180. The tray 180 preferably has a planar base 190 with an elongated rectangular shape having two broadsides 120, a front side 160, and a rear side. Preferably, the base 190 includes a lateral guide 150 on each side in the broadside 120. Furthermore, the tray 180 may include a stop 40 at the front side 160, and a slider 60 that may be structured to be guided by a track 70. The slider 60 may have a slider plate 61 configured to glide on the base 190. The slider plate 61 preferably has a rectangular shape. From the slider plate extends a driving plate 62. The slider plate 61 may have a protrusion, which may interface with the guiding track 70. The slider 60 further includes an indicator 80 (which may be a dimensioned to resemble a tongue, and which preferably is attached to the slider 60 most preferably in parallel to the plane of the base 190). The front side 160 has an opening 100 configured such that the indicator 80 may extend through the opening 100 only when the slider 60 is in a position close to (approaching) the front side. The slider 60 and/or the indicator 80 preferably has a marking area 90, 170. The marking may have a specific color and/or may have or carry a bar code or a serial number or another inscription or a color marking. Notably, each stop 40 has an opening 100 for the indicator 80 (which may be a tongue). There may be present a spring, with which the slider 60 maybe be loaded or biased towards the front side 160.

[0023] FIG. 2 discloses a shelf 30, which is divided into several trays 180. Each tray 180 has a slider 60 (which is guided by a track 70) and each slider 60 has an indicator 80 (which may be configured to resemble a tongue). The slider 60 may have a slider plate 61 configured to slide on the base 190. The slider plate 61 preferably has a rectangular shape. From the slider plate 61 extends a driving plate 62 configured to contact and/or drive or move, in operation, at least one of the articles 200. The slider plate 61 may have a protrusion that may interface with the guiding track 70. Each tray 180 has a stop 40, preferably at the front side. Each stop 40 has an opening 100 for the indicator 80. The indicator 80 may have a length equal to or greater than the width of one article 200, which is stored in the tray so that the indicator becomes visible if only one article 200 left in the tray 180. The indicator 80 may also have a length that is larger than a dimension of one or more articles 200, to provide an indication if one or more articles 200 are remaining in the tray.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a storage rack 10 in front view. The embodiment comprises a frame 20 with two parallel pedestals 21, 22 are arranged in an upward direction 110 and mounted to a base plate 31 in the direction of the longitudinal side 130. The frame 20 is preferably made of metal.

[0025] The storage rack 10 further includes several shelves 30, which are attached to the frame 20, and extra shelves 140 for storage space for storing, in one application, tools or documents or other equipment. Each shelf 30 is divided into several trays 180 by lateral guides 150. Each tray has a stop 40 with an opening 100, preferably disposed at the front side 160.

[0026] FIG. 4 discloses a shelfing system 10 in side view with several shelves 30 and extra shelves 140 for storage space for storing for example tools or documents, adhesive balancing weights or other equipment. Each shelf 30 preferably has an inclination angle 50 of approximately 10 degrees.

[0027] FIG. 5 discloses a single tray 180 similar to that of FIG. 1. The tray 180 has an indicator 81 the plane of which is oriented vertically (in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base 190. The indicator 81 is aligned, via a tongue 82, to the driving plate 62. The indicator 81 may be guided in a separate guiding track 71. The stop 41 may have a profiled contour.

[0028] FIG. 6 discloses the single tray 180 of FIG. 5 in a different operational position. Here, the slider 60 is shown in a position in which the indicator 81 protrudes through an opening 101 in the stop 41. (The opening 101 may have a vertical orientation).

[0029] It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide a tray, a shelf and a storage rack configured to store articles preferably balancing weights. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0030] 10 storage rack [0031] 20 frame [0032] 21 first pedestal [0033] 22 second pedestal [0034] 30 shelf [0035] 31 base plate [0036] 40 stop [0037] 41 stop [0038] 50 inclination angle [0039] 60 slider [0040] 61 slider plate [0041] 62 driving plate [0042] 70 guiding track [0043] 71 guiding track [0044] 80 indicator [0045] 81 indicator [0046] 82 tongue [0047] 90 marking area [0048] 100 opening/slot [0049] 101 opening/slot [0050] 110 upward direction [0051] 120 broadside [0052] 130 longitudinal side [0053] 140 storage space [0054] 150 lateral guide [0055] 160 front side [0056] 170 marking area [0057] 180 tray [0058] 190 base [0059] 200 box/article