Patent Application
20070184723
The inventor incorporates herein by reference any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents cited or referred to in this application.
The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
The word “rhomboidal” shall mean shaped somewhat like a rhombus or rhomboid.
In many situations merchandise or other items displayed or stored in a modular storage system that upon assembly creates parallel rows of horizontal shelving commonly found in retail stores and other venues. Typical modular storage systems are sold by Kitchen Craft, Streater, California Cabinets, and Darling Fixtures. Such a system may be a wall unit with horizontal shelving only on one side so that an opposed side may be pushed against a wall. Or the system may be a row unit with horizontal shelving projecting from both sides so that a number of the row units are spaced apart next to each other to create parallel rows of shelving. Both units are commonly referred to as a “gondola.” The base of a conventional gondola is a standard length, typically either 3 or 4 feet, and a standard width typically either 18 or 22 inches.
The horizontal shelves are supported by brackets detachably connected to vertical uprights. In many cases these vertical uprights are attached to a generally horizontal base that rests on the floor of, for example, a retail store. In many instances this base has to be leveled with shims pushed into place between the bottom of the base and a non-level floor. Peg-boards are in some instances connected between the vertical uprights to provide point of sale sites and rigidity to the gondola. There are holes in the peg-boards positioned on a grid with a hole measured at its center every inch and the holes aligned in both vertical and horizontal directions. Attachments for displaying merchandise or other items are inserted into these holes to connect them to the peg-boards. These attachments may be easily detached and repositioned as desired.
The vertical uprights are commonly elongated hollow metal structures with a rectangular cross-section and have along an outer face a series of indexing sites positioned in a row in an equally spaced apart sequence at a standard spacing of 1 inch on centers. Typically these indexing sites are openings in the face of the vertical upright into which fit snugly hook-shaped connectors extending from a rear edge of a bracket for a shelf. When the hook-shaped connectors are inserted into the sites, the bracket extends outward generally at a right angle to the face of the vertical upright. A pair of horizontally aligned brackets connected to adjacent vertical uprights support a shelf. In addition to the brackets and shelves, other components of the system may be used such as, for example, baskets, peg-board attachments, hangers, etc. The vertical uprights have a standard height of about 78 to about 86 inches.
It would be highly desirable from a sales perspective to create cabinets that would be compatible with the modular systems currently in use. Such cabinets could be used to display merchandise in a more appealing manner and create an image of higher quality merchandise that commands a higher price. A problem in making cabinets is “racking.” A conventional cabinet has a top panel, a bottom panel, a pair of side panels having their respective top and bottom edges fastened to the top and bottom panels, and a fifth component such a back panel or diagonal back brace. The fifth element prevents racking. Such a fifth anti-racking element is, however, incompatible with the modular storage systems commonly in use in retail stores. Currently, a cabinet is custom made and then attached to a conventional gondola.
This invention has one or more features as discussed subsequently herein. After reading the following section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION,” one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to: (a) providing cabinets that are modular and compatible with modular storage systems commonly in use in retail stores or other venues, (b) cabinets or shelving that is a non-standard length to enable more efficient use of the storage space available, (c) components that are easy to manufacture and are compatible with modular storage systems commonly in use in retail stores or other venues, (d) panels detachably connected to gondola wall and row units that facilitate constructing a cabinet without the need for a fifth anti-racking element, (e) shelf clip members that are of identical shape and that may be conveniently used at different locations on a panel by simply inverting, (f) a rail member that may be detachably connected between conventional vertical uprights to support a vertically oriented panel, (g) a panel clip member for detachably connecting a panel to wall and row units, and (h) other components compatible with the modular storage systems commonly in use in retail stores or other venues, and (h) providing a modular storage system adapted to be mounted to a vertical wall.
There are two versions of the modular storage system of this invention. One version uses clip members to mount side panels vertically to a support structure, typically free standing. The other version is adapted to mount the panels to a vertical wall. Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims both versions are discussed briefly below in this “SUMMARY OF INVENTION.”
Version 1 includes one or more, but not necessarily all, of the following features.
First, in one embodiment a modular storage system is provided where at least some of its components are connected directly or indirectly along vertical and horizontal directions to a support structure. In this embodiment, at least one pair of panels may be spaced apart and connected to the support structure by a plurality of panel clip members, which may be detachably connected. The panel clip members may include one segment connected to the support structure and another segment connected to a panel. The panel clip members orient the panel to which they are connected substantially vertically. The panel extends outward from the support structure at substantially a right angle.
Second, some panel clip members may be interactive with only one side of a panel to which they are connected; some panel clip members may be interactive with both sides of a panel to which they are to be connected. There may be a right hand side panel, a left hand side panel, and a center side panel. In such an embodiment, a pair of right hand panel clip members are connected to the right hand side panel, pair of left hand panel clip members connected to the left hand side panel, and pair of center panel clip members connected to the center panel. The panels may interact with different types of clip members as may be suitable under the individual circumstances.
Third, at least one substantially horizontally oriented member may extend between the panels, for example, a shelf, which may be adjustable or fixed. This horizontally oriented member may have opposed ends with one opposed end connected to one panel by a first pair of spaced apart shelf clip members and the other opposed end connected to the other panel by a second pair of spaced apart shelf clip members. In one embodiment, each shelf clip member is detachable and comprises first and second finger elements intersecting to form a substantially right angle with respect to each other. The first finger element is above the second finger element and detachably connected to one panel and the second finger element is detachably connected to one opposed end of the shelf member. A third finger element extends outward at the intersection of the first and second finger elements to form an angle greater than 90° and less than 180° with respect to one of the first and second finger elements. The third finger is detachably connected to the one panel.
Forth, in one embodiment one panel forms one side of the modular storage system and includes a substantially planar section having opposed sides and opposed lateral edges. Only one of the opposed sides has a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending slots therein with a series of openings nearby each slot in a row extending substantially longitudinally. Each row is substantially parallel to its nearby slot. One of the opposed lateral edges has therein a substantially longitudinally extending slot into which extends a portion of at least one of the panel clip members. For example, in one embodiment, there is pair of longitudinal grooves in the vertical panel at an angle with respect to a side of the panel that is greater than about 5° and less than about 90°, with each groove in the pair pointing away from each other. In another embodiment, more than two panels may be used in the modular storage system, for example, a third panel may be positioned between the pair of panels. This third panel may include a substantially planar section having opposed sides, both of said opposed sides having a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending slots therein with a series of openings nearby each slot in a row extending substantially longitudinally, each said row being substantially parallel to its nearby slot. The horizontally oriented member may have a cavity on an underside thereof nearby an edge thereof that receives a portion of one shelf clip member upon connection therewith.
Fifth, spaced apart rail members may be used. The rail members may each be mounted on a substantially vertically oriented support structure in a substantially horizontal orientation. The panels may be connected to the rail members. The rail members may each comprises an elongated body member having opposed ends, each opposed end including a connector element interacting with a vertical upright to detachably connect the rail member to the vertical upright. The connector element may comprise a pair of prong elements spaced apart a predetermined distance greater than the length of one indexing site of a series of equally spaced apart indexing sites along the vertical upright. This enables the prong elements to be detachably connected to a pair of the sites separated by at least one indexing site. The prong elements may be substantially at a right angle with respect to the body member of the vertical upright.
Sixth, the modular storage system may include at least one pair of substantially identical shelf brackets. Both brackets of the pair may be detachably connected to a common rail member to position substantially horizontal a shelf member attached thereto. Each shelf bracket may comprise a pair of planar elements spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a shelf member to be attached thereto and the shelf member has an edge disposed between the planar elements. At least one shelf bracket may have a first segment adapted to be detachably connected one rail member and a second segment adapted to support a shelf member on a top portion thereof. At least one shelf bracket may have a first segment adapted to be detachably connected to one rail member and a second segment including an upper edge with at least one pair of spaced apart grooves therein that interact with a storage member of the modular storage system.
Seventh, one embodiment may include a shelf attachment device that interacts with a vertical upright including a series of indexing sites positioned in an equally spaced apart sequence. The shelf attachment device may comprise an elongated body with at least one segment detachably connected to at least one of the rail members and configured to orient the shelf attachment device substantially vertically. The elongated body may have an edge including a series indexing sites in a row, each site being in a predetermined position in an equally spaced apart sequence substantially identical to the position of the indexing sites along the vertical upright.
Eighth, one embodiment may include a shelf manager attachment that is detachably connected to a rail member. The shelf manager attachment may include at least one support member adapted to carry a shelf member thereon and allow the shelf member to be moved laterally.
Ninth, one embodiment may employ a gondola support having a base and a plurality of uprights in a row extending from the base at an angle of substantially 90°. The uprights may include a series of indexing sites positioned in an equally spaced apart sequence that are interactive with the rail members.
In Version 2 a modular storage system adapted to be mounted to a vertical wall is provided, and it does not use clip members like those used in Version 1. Version 2 includes one or more, but not necessarily all, of the following features.
One, a pair of horizontal mounting members may be fixedly attached to the vertical wall and spaced apart vertically a predetermined distance or the mounting members may be attached to a back panel and used with cleat members attached to the vertical wall. Each mounting member has a predetermined cross-sectional configuration, for example, rhomboidal having upper and lower horizontal edges forming acute angles with respect to the wall. The mounting members may be substantially in registration. The cross-sectional configurations of each mounting member may be substantially identical. The cleat members each may have a pair of opposed horizontal edges, with only an upper horizontal edge forming an acute angle with respect to the wall. The cleat members may be substantially in registration. The cross-sectional configurations of each cleat member may be substantially identical. The cleat members may be eliminated and only the mounting members used. The side panels are then mounted directly on the mounting members. In such a case, a back panel may or may not be used.
Two, at least one pair of side panels is employed. Each side panel has an inner edge with a pair of cut-a-way sections, one cut-a-way section having a configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of one of the mounting members and the other cut-a-way section having a configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the other mounting member. The pair of cut-a-way sections are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the mounting members and each individual cut-a-way section of the pair of cut-a-way sections is seated on one of the mounting members. The individual side panels are spaced apart along the pair of mounting members and are substantially vertically oriented and extend outward from the wall at substantially a right angle. At least one substantially horizontally oriented member may extend between the side panels. The side panels may be substantially in registration. The side panels may each be seated on a mounting member with the mounting member and cut-a-way section of each side panel fitting snugly together,
Three, a back panel may be employed having a pair of substantially horizontally oriented mounting members that are spaced apart vertically and fixedly attached to an exterior surface of the back panel. The mounting members each may have upper and lower substantially horizontal edges and a predetermined cross-sectional configuration. The lower edge of one of the mounting members engages the upper edge of one cleat member fixedly attached to the vertical wall and the lower edge of the other mounting member engages the upper edge of the other cleat member fixedly attached to the vertical wall. These lower edges each have an acute angle substantially equal to the acute angle of the cleat member upper edge being engaged.
Four, in an embodiment employing both mounting members and cleat members, the cleat members may each have a predetermined length that is less than the distance between the side panels. These cleat members are positioned relative to the back panel to provide a space between the wall and adjacent cleat members into which the edge of at least one side panel is received upon being seated on the mounting members which rest on the cleat members.
These features of Versions 1 and 2 of the modular storage system of this invention are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive. The modular storage system of this invention may also include, for example, a cabinet, a door, a doorframe for the door, a drawer, a drawer front, a face frame, molding, lighting, signage, a bin, a cubbyhole, or other furniture elements. This invention also includes a novel panel clip member, a shelf clip member, a rail member, panel, kit, and a method of storing items discussed subsequently in greater detail.
Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious modular storage system, components therefor, kit, and method of this invention as shown in the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts:
The system 10 includes a cabinet 18, shelving 20, a cubbyhole 22, scope bins 124, and gravity feed bins 126. The cabinet 18 avoids the racking problem without an anti-racking fifth element 36. The racking problem is illustrated in
In assembling the cabinet 18 in accordance with this invention at least one pair of panels are employed, for example, the right hand end panel 32 and the left hand end panel 34 (
The rail member 38 of this invention as illustrated best in
Each opposed end 33a and 33b has thereat a connector element 35 adapted to interact with a vertical upright 37a or 37b, as the case may be, to connect detachably the rail member 38 between these vertical uprights. Each vertical upright 37a and 37b is a hollow tubular structure made of steel and having a rectangular cross-section. On a face F of each vertical upright 37a and 37b is a series of indexing sites in a row equally spaced apart a standard distance such as 1 inch from their centers. In this embodiment, the sites comprise rectangular shaped openings 39, typically having a length of ⅞ inch and spaced apart a distance of about ⅜ inch.
Each connector element 35 comprises a pair of prongs 35a and 35b substantially at a right angle with respect to the central section 38c of the body 38b. The prongs 35a and 35b of each pair are spaced apart a predetermined distance greater than the length of one indexing site, that is, the vertical length of an individual openings 39. In other words, one or more indexing sites are situated between the adjacent prongs 35a and 35b upon insertion of the individual prongs of each connector element 35 into a pair of openings 39 when connecting the rail member 38 between the vertical uprights 37a and 37b. Thus, each pair of prongs 35a and 35b is detachably connected to a pair of sites separated by at least one indexing site. In the embodiment illustrated, the prongs 35a and 35b are substantially flat and spaced apart a predetermined distance of about 1 inch from their centers. The rail member 38 may be made from a sheet of material that is cut and bent to form the shape of the rail member. For example, 14 gauge cold rolled steel may be used.
Both the panel clips 42 and 42a may be made from a sheet of material, for example 14 gauge cold rolled steel. The metal sheet material is cut and bent to form either panel clips 42 and 42a. When made from metal sheet material, the hook-shaped element 48 includes: (a) a substantially top planar section 60, (b) an outer substantially planar section 62 integral with an outer end 60a of the top planar section and at substantially a right angle to this top section, and (c) an inner substantially planar section 64 integral with an inner end 60b of the top planar section and at substantially a right angle to the top planar section. The top planar section 60 has a width from about ½ to about 1½ inch and a length from about ¼ to about 1 inch and is substantially equal to the width of the edge 38a of the rail member 38. The outer and inner planar sections 62 and 64 each have a width substantially equal to the width of the top section.
The arms 50a and 50b are outwardly extending, planar, and each is integral with an edge of the hook element's inner planar section 64 and at substantially a right angle to this inner planar section. The arms 50a and 50b form an open mouth M with the fingers 51c and 51d forming spaced apart lips having planar surfaces 66. An inside lateral edge 68 of a divider panel 40 is interactive with the arms 50a and 50b. One or more divider panel clips 42 are manually slid along this lateral edge 68 with each arm 50a and 50b engaging one of the flat opposite sides 41a (
As illustrated in
The divider panel clips 42, 42b and 42c are each configured to be interactive with both sides 41a and 41b of a divider panel 40 to which it is to be connected. Each side 41a and 41b of the divider panels 40 and 40a is planar and includes a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel grooves 70a and 70b that are at an acute angle that is greater than about 5° and less than 90°, with respect to the side 41a or 41b, as the case may be. The grooves 70a and 70b point away from each other. The finger 51c and groove 70a are at substantially the same acute angle and the finger 51d and groove 70b are at substantially the same acute angle. Nearby each groove 70a and 70b is a series of substantially longitudinally extending openings 72 in a row R1 or R2. Each row R1 and R2 of openings 72 is substantially parallel to its nearby groove. The rows R1 and R2 are also parallel to each other.
During assembly of one of the embodiments of the modular storage system of this invention, the one or more divider panel clips 42 are detachably connected to the lateral edge 68 of the divider panel 40. A divider panel clip 42 is first placed over or under the divider panel 40 to which it is to be connected with the fingers 51c and 51d aligned with the grooves 70b on the opposed sides 41a and 41b of the divider panel. It is then slid manually along the lateral edge 68 with the fingers 51c and 51d being pushed into and along the grooves 70b. The divider panel clips 42 are hung on the rail members 38 or boards 17 as discussed above and the vertical location of the divider panel 40 is adjusted until a desired vertical position is attained. Then a pin 56 is inserted through the aperture 54 in the tab 52 of the clip 42. The pin's outer portion 56a engages the tab 52 in the clip 42 in the clip 42a and the pin's inner portion 56b is inserted into an opening 72 in a side 41a or 41b of the divider panel 40, as the case may be. This locks the divider panel 40 in the desired vertical position until disassembled. When a divider panel clip 42a shown in
Each end panel clip 44 and 46 is configured to be interactive with only one side of a panel and a rear lateral edge thereof to which it is to be connected. As shown in
The right hand end panel 34 has a opposed planar sides with only one side S1 including a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel grooves, only groove 70b shown, that are at an acute angle that is greater than about 5° and less than 90°, with respect to the side S1. The finger 51c and groove 70b are at substantially the same acute angle. Nearby each groove is a series of substantially longitudinally extending openings 72 in a row R1 (only one row shown). Each row of openings 72 is substantially parallel to its nearby groove and the rows are also parallel to each other. Along the inner lateral edge 69 of the right hand end panel 34 is a longitudinally extending channel 74 into which the straight edge 46c of the short arm 46b is inserted during assembly. Consequently, upon connecting the right hand end panel 34 to the rail member 38 using the right hand end panel clip 46 and inserting a pin 56 into the aperture 54 and an aligned opening 72, the right hand end panel is held rigid in place and will not rotate or pivot.
The left hand end panel clip 44 as shown in
After the left hand end panel 32 and right hand end panel 34 have been rigidly attached to a horizontal support as depicted in
Referring to
As depicted in
Due to the unique configuration of the shelf clip 78 of this invention, it is simply inverted when it is to be connected to the groove 70b. Thus, the shelf clip 78 may be used with any of the panels of this invention even though the panel may be a divider panel 40, a left hand end panel 32 or a right hand end panel 34. Similar to the other clips of this invention, the shelf clip 78 may be made from a sheet of material that is cut and bent to form the shelf clip, for example 12 gauge cold rolled steel. Consequently, the finger elements 78a, 78b, and 78c are integral with each other. The finger elements 78a and 78b each have a width w2 from about ¼ to about 3 inches and a height of less than about ¾ inch. The finger element 78c has a width usually less than the width w2 of the finger elements 78a and 78b and a length about twice that of the height of the finger elements 78a and 78b or about 1½ inches. In other words, the finger element 78c has a width substantially equal to the combined width of the finger elements 78a and 78b.
An optional modular component of this invention is a shelf attachment device 84 shown in
As best shown in
Along the corner edge 85e is a series of indexing sites positioned in a row R3 in an equally spaced apart sequence. Usually, through not required, the sites in the row R3 are positioned essentially like the positions of the openings 39 along the vertical upright 37a. The row R3 of the sites comprises essentially identically shaped openings 88 having an L-shaped cross-section with legs 88a and 88b at a right angle with respect to each other. As shown in
As illustrated in
The shelf manager attachment 94 has a latter-like configuration and includes a series of parallel planar supports 98 in a row R4 connected between a pair of L-shaped side plates l00a and 100b. The planar supports 98 are spaced apart usually from about ¼ to about 2 inches, enabling a viewer to see through the shelf manager attachment 94. Each side plate l00a and l00b has a planar leg 101a and a planar leg 101b at a right angle to each other. The legs 101b are of equal width from about ⅛ to about 1 inch. There are spaced apart holes 102 along the length of each of the legs 101a (holes 102 only shown in one leg 101a), enabling metal screws 102a or other type of fasteners to pass through these holes for connecting the shelf manager attachment 94 to the intermediate connector 96. The opposed ends 98a and 98b of each support 98 are attached to the outer ends of the legs 101b by a narrow section 103. Thus, a gap 104 having a U or J shape is created between the backside of each support 98 and an outer edge 101c of the legs 101b.
The intermediate connector 96 includes a U-shaped planar central body 106 with a central planar element 106a having downwardly pointing, elongated planar legs 160b and 106c when this intermediate connector is mounted on a rail member 38. A pair of outwardly projecting L-shaped members 108a and 108b is attached to the opposed ends of the central planar element 106a. Each L-shaped member 108a and 108b includes a pair of planar arms 108c and 108d at a right angle to each other. The front face 110 of each arm 108d has holes 110a therein that receive the screws 102a upon attaching the shelf manager attachment 94 to the intermediate connector 96. Upon assembly of the manager attachment 94 and the intermediate connector 96, a structure is formed with one or more hook-type segments for detachably connecting the shelf manager attachment 94 to a horizontal support member such as the rail member 38. The arms 108c are equal in width and approximately equal to the width w of the top edge 38a of the rail member 38. Consequently, the assembled manager attachment 94 and intermediate connector 96 fits snugly over the rail member 38 to which it is being detachably connected.
The shelf 112 shown in
Like most of the other components of this invention, the shelf manager attachment 94, intermediate connector 96, and shelf 112 may be made by cutting and bending a sheet of material such as 14 gauge cold rolled steel. All such metal components may be powder coated with plastic particles that are melted and cooled to form a protective film covering the surfaces of the components.
The components of this invention discussed above, including the vertical panels 32, 34, 40, panel clips 42, 44 and 46, shelf clips 78, and shelves 76 of this invention, enable a user to create a modular storage system with one or more custom designed cabinets and shelving depicted in
In some cases, especially making a cabinet as a portion of the modular storage system of this invention, it may be desirable to fix the components in position with screws, mechanical couplers, or other fasteners rather that mounting them to be detached. Also, conventional shelf mounting fixtures and other conventional attachments may be used in conjunction with the vertically panels of this invention.
One embodiment of Version 2 is shown in
As illustrated in
The cleat members 212a and 212b are spaced apart vertically a distance d1 substantially equal to the distance d2 between the mounting members 216a and 216b, but the cleat members and mounting members are offset relative to each other. The cross-sectional configurations of each cleat member 212a and 212b are substantially identical. Each cleat member 212a and 212b has an upper horizontal edge E1 and E2 respectively forming an acute angle A with respect to the wall 214. This acute angle A (
The side panels 220a and 220b each have an inner edge E5 with a pair of cut-a-way sections 222a and 222b. These cut-a-way sections 222a and 222b each have a configuration substantially corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the mounting member that they engage, in this case rhomboidal-like. The individual sections of each pair of cut-a-way sections 222a and 222b are spaced apart a distance d3, which is substantially equal to the distance d2 between the mounting members 216a and 216b. The individual cut-a-way section 222a is seated on the mounting member 216a and the individual cut-a-way section 222b is seated on the mounting member 216b. The positions of the cut-a-way sections 222a and 222b along the edge E5 of each side panel 220a and 220b is such that, upon mounting, the side panels are in registration with each other. The side panels 220a and 220b are spaced apart a predetermined distance horizontally along the pair of mounting members 216a and 216b and are each substantially vertically oriented and extend outward from the wall 214 at substantially a right angle. Horizontally oriented top and bottom shelf members 226 and 228, respectively, extend between the side panels 220a and 220b and are supported by opposed retainers 230 that fit into grooves in the side panels and shelf members. These retainers will be discussed subsequently in greater detail in connection with the modular storage system 310.
As depicted in
In assembling the modular storage system 210, typically the cleat members 216a and 216b are first attached to the vertical wall 214 and positioned to receive the mounting members 216a and 216b. Typically, the mounting members 216a and 216b and back panel 218 are prefabricated with the mounting members correctly positioned and spaced so that upon assembly with the cleat members 216a and 216b the back panel with be positioned to form a box-like structure upon connecting the side panels 220a and 220b to the mounting members. A kit including the mounting members 216a and 216b attached to the back panel 218 and the side panels 220a and 220b is one feature of this invention. The cleat members 216a and 216b may be included in such a kit, but this is optional.
As depicted in
One embodiment of the modular storage system 310, namely the system 310a shown in
At least one pair of side panels 320a and 320b are mounted directly on the mounting member 312. Each side panel 320a and 320b has an inner edge E8 with at least one cut-a-way section 322 having a configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the mounting member. For example, the cross-sectional configuration of the cut-a-way section 322 may be substantially rhomboidal and is position along the edge E8 so that the side panels 320a and 320b will be in registration upon assembly. The side panels 320a and 320b are each seated on the mounting member 312 with the cut-a-way sections 322 of each side panel and the mounting member fitting snugly together. The side panels 320a and 320b are spaced apart horizontally along the mounting member 312 and are each substantially vertically oriented and each extend outward from the vertical wall 214 at substantially a right angle. One or more substantially horizontally oriented members, for example, the top shelf member 226 and bottom shelf member 228, extend between the side panels 320a and 320b and are support by the retainers 230.
A back panel may be inserted into the interior of the box-like structure formed upon assembly of the side panels 320a and 320b and shelf members 226 and 228, or as illustrated, no back panel need be employed.
Another embodiment of the modular storage system 310, namely the system 310b shown in
One or more horizontal shelf members 350 such as shown in
The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention:
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US05/06648 | 3/2/2005 | WO | 8/31/2006 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60550252 | Mar 2004 | US |
