The present disclosure relates to collapsible basket frame kits and methods of assembling the same.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Basket frames support baskets to facilitate storage of items within the baskets. In some existing basket frames, baskets slide in and out on runners which are welded to a frame. Welding runners to a frame fixes the number and spacing of the runners.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an exemplary embodiment of a collapsible basket frame kit generally includes uprights, runners, rivets, and keyholes. The runners are configured to slidably support a drawer or basket. The keyholes are configured to engagingly receive the rivets therein for removably attaching the runners to the uprights for slidably supporting a drawer or basket between a pair of the runners.
In another exemplary embodiment, a system generally includes a frame including uprights having keyholes. The system also includes slide channels having rivets engagable within the keyholes for removably attaching the slide channels to the uprights. At least one storage component is configured to be slidably supported between an opposing pair of the slide channels removably attached to the corresponding uprights by engagement of the rivets within the keyholes.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an exemplary method of assembling a collapsible basket frame kit is disclosed. The kit includes uprights with keyholes and runners with rivets. The runners are configured to slidably support one or more drawers or baskets. The method includes inserting at least one rivet into at least one keyhole and moving the at least one rivet relatively within the at least one keyhole to removably couple the runner having the at least one rivet to the upright having the at least one keyhole.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
There are disclosed herein exemplary collapsible basket frame kits and methods of assembling and installing such kits. In exemplary embodiments, a collapsible basket frame kit includes a frame or support structure to support or hold one or more storage components or devices (e.g., sliding drawers, sliding baskets, shelves, trays, hooks, etc.), which when unassembled (e.g., prior to initial assembly, after being disassembled, etc.) has a compact configuration or size. The compact unassembled configuration/size allows for easier, cheaper, and/or improved packaging (e.g., in a box, etc.), shipping, and/or stoarage of the collapsible basket frame kit. In contrast, frames that are welded together cannot be broken down into such a compact unassembled size. In some exemplary embodiments, the various components of the collapsible basket frame kit may be able to fit into one of the drawers or baskets that come with the collapsible basket frame kit. Additionally, or alternatively, some exemplary embodiments may include drawers or baskets that may be nestable or stackable (e.g., one fits into the other), which, in turn, may also allow for a reduced/compact unassembled size or footprint. The reduced/compact unassembled size or footprint may also allow for easier, cheaper, and/or improved packaging (e.g., in a box, etc.), shipping, and/or storage of the collapsible basket frame kit. In exemplary embodiments that include both stackable drawers/baskets and components that are storable in one of the baskets, the entire unassambled kit, including all of the baskets/drawers and the components, may be packaged into a single box or container for shipping, delivery, storage, etc.
A collapsible basket frame kit may be disassembled and/or customizable by the end user by way of the adjustability of the support structure (e.g., number and placement of the runner or slide channels, side-by-side positioning and/or vertical stackability of two or more of the assembled collapsible basket frames, etc.) For example, the runners or slide channels for the baskets or drawers may be positioned as needed in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, which adjustability the inventors hereof have recognized is not possible when the runners are welded to a frame.
The inventors hereof have recognized this problem with the lack of adjustability when runners are welded to a frame such that the number of and positioning/spacing of the runners are fixed. And, accordingly, the inventors hereof have disclosed exemplary embodiments herein in which the various frame components (e.g., vertical uprights, runners or slide channels, etc.) are not welded or fixedly attached to each other. Instead, the various components are removably attachable (e.g., via keyholes and rivets, etc.) to thereby allow for disassembly and/or adjustability. For example, the figures illustrate exemplary embodiments in which the runners or slide channels are not welded. Instead, the runner or slide channels are removably attachable, detachable, reattachable, and adjustable relative to the vertical uprights by way of rivets and keyholes. This use of rivets and keyholes (or other suitable openings and connectors) allows the end user to customize or tailor the end configuration by selecting how many runners to attach to the vertical uprights and the relative positioning/spacing of the runners. In addition, the use of keyholes (or other suitable openings) also provides openings for attaching other accessories such as hooks, trays, shelves, etc.
In the illustrated embodiments, the runners include the rivets, and the vertical uprights include the keyholes. Alternative embodiments, however, may include the runners having keyholes (or other suitable openings) and the vertical uprights having rivets (or other suitable connector). Additional embodiments may include the runners and/or vertical uprights having both keyholes and rivets. Still other embodiments may include additional and/or different means or devices for removably attaching the runners to the vertical uprights than rivets and keyholes.
The vertical uprights may have keyholes on one surface. Alternatively, the vertical uprights may have keyholes on multiple surfaces. The keyholes may be located in pairs on parallel surfaces of the vertical uprights.
In the illustrated embodiments, the baskets have continuous walls. Alternative embodiments, however, may include wire baskets or baskets with one or more wire walls. Other storage components may be made of wire, plastic, or other suitable materials. In addition, other storage components may be used that include one or more continuous or planar surfaces and/or one or more discontinuous or ventilated surfaces, etc.
In an exemplary embodiment, a system or assembly generally includes four vertical uprights (e.g., tubes, etc.) which have a series of keyholes or other suitably shaped holes. The holes may be punched, stamped, cut, and/or integrally formed into the vertical uprights. For example, the holes may be integrally formed into the vertical uprights during a molding process of the uprights, etc. The uprights may be joined together with horizontal members (tubes) using connectors (e.g., press-fit cast aluminum connectors, etc.) A series of runners or slide channels (e.g., c-shaped channel members, etc.) may include rivets integrally formed or attached on each end. The rivets are engaged into the corresponding keyholes on the vertical uprights to create a series of sliding surfaces to accept basket storage components. For example, a pair of opposing runners or channels may be configured to slidably receive the opposing lip or edge portions of a drawer or basket, to thereby slidably support or suspend the drawer or basket between the pair of runners or channels.
Unused keyholes can be used to secure secondary storage components such as hooks, trays, and/or shelves (e.g.,
In additional embodiments, two or more frames may be joined by one or more shelves that fit using the unused keyholes (e.g.,
Accordingly, some exemplary embodiments may provide one or more of the following possible advantages. A product that is very compact when packaged may be created since it can be disassembled such that packaging size is not limited to the overall size of full assembly as is the case with welded/fixedly attached frames in some existing products. The customer or end user may be provided with adjustability of the shelving, drawer arrangement, etc., such as in terms of the number and spacing. A customer or end user may be able to utilize unused keyholes as attachment points for accessories. Multiple units assembled from collapsible basket frame kits may be stacked in various configurations to provide different storage and workspace opportunities.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the drawers/baskets may be nestable or stackable. For example, the drawers/baskets 102, 104, 106, 108 are configured (e.g., have inwardly tapered lower portions, sized, shaped, etc.) such that the drawers/baskets 102, 104, 106, 108 may be stacked or nested from the top down. That is, the top drawer/basket 102 may be stacked or nested into the drawer/basket 104, and then the stacked baskets/drawers 102, 104 may be stacked or nested into the drawer/basket 106, and finally the three stacked baskets/drawers 102, 104, 106 may be stacked or nested into the bottom stacked basket/drawer 108. This stacking feature of the drawers/baskets 102, 104, 106, 108 allows for easier, cheaper, and/or improved packaging (e.g., in a box, etc.), shipping, and/or storage of the collapsible basket frame kit 100.
In addition to the stackable drawers/baskets, or alternatively, one of the drawers/baskets (e.g., 108, etc.) may be sized sufficiently large enough to allow the various components of the collapsible basket frame kit 100 to fit into the larger drawer. This also allows for a reduced/compact unassembled size or footprint, which, in turn, may provide for easier, cheaper, and/or improved packaging (e.g., in a box, etc.), shipping, and/or stoarage of the collapsible basket frame kit. In some exemplary embodiments that include both stackable drawers/baskets and components that are storable in one of the baskets, the entire unassambled kit, including all of the baskets/drawers and the components, may be packaged into a single box or container for shipping, delivery, storage, etc.
Other components may be coupled to keyholes in the vertical uprights. For example, a shelf may be configured to couple to the keyholes. The shelf may also be supported by a second frame and/or wall, etc.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Also as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms, “next,” etc., when used herein, do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter (i.e., the disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for the given parameter). Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/318,139, filed on Mar. 26, 2010. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61318139 | Mar 2010 | US |