US 12,350,736 B2
Part tree support system
Clayton R. Hauberg, Springfield, IL (US); and Paul Warren Clements, Judsonia, AZ (US)
Assigned to Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/876,384.
Prior Publication US 2024/0033811 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B23P 13/02 (2006.01); B22C 9/22 (2006.01); B22C 23/00 (2006.01); B25B 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B22C 9/22 (2013.01) [B22C 23/00 (2013.01); B23P 13/02 (2013.01); B25B 11/00 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A part tree support apparatus comprising:
a base defining an upper surface, the upper surface defining a plurality of openings; and
a plurality of supports, each of the plurality of supports extending from the base and removably secured to the base with an attachment fastener engaged with one of the plurality of openings, each of the plurality of supports comprising:
an adapter defining a locator cavity; and
a locator slideably received within the locator cavity and secured to the adapter,
the locator comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion extending from the first portion in a negative Z-axis direction and defining a fastener cavity of the locator and a bottom end of the locator, and
a third portion extending from the first portion in a positive Z-axis direction and defining a notch and a top end of the locator; the first portion defining a position above the second portion and below the third portion, the first portion defining a lower surface contacting an upper surface of the adapter when the locator is received by the adapter, the lower surface of the first portion facing downward and the upper surface of the adapter facing upward;
wherein the locator defines a recess facing in a Z-axis direction, the recess configured to receive a part tree, each of the adapter and the locator defining the fastener cavity, the fastener cavity defining an axis angled with respect to a direction of assembly of the locator with the adapter, the locator removably secured to a corresponding adapter of the plurality of supports with a locator fastener extending through the fastener cavity of each of the adapter and the locator at an angle to the direction of assembly, the angle offset from the direction of assembly, the locator fastener being a quick-release fastener not requiring a separate tool for engagement or disengagement or for tightening or loosening, the quick-release fastener comprising a pin, the pin slidably received within the fastener cavity of each of the adapter and the locator.