Patent Grant
9661920
There are many types of storage devices available to facilitate the organization of clothes and other objects. A recent trend in storage and organization involves the use of prefabricated modular units that are assembled by the end user. These units include storage fixtures such as shelves and drawers that fit into a frame and may be free standing or mounted on walls. Some units allow the user to assemble the shelves and drawers according to user preference, while other units are made to be assembled in one way only therefor limiting its design and usefulness. Some units require tools and/or mounting hardware to install the systems.
Therefore, a need exists for a modular storage device that is capable of mounting many different types of storage fixtures in many different configurations. It is also a further need for the modular storage device to not require the use of tools when assembling and rearranging the storage fixtures. Finally, there is a need for the storage system to assemble and mount to walls without the use of complex brackets and hardware saving the user time when installing a new system.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
New modular storage devices and systems are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The side panels 110 include a plurality of cleats 114 running horizontally (illustrated as running from a front edge to a back edge). According to one embodiment, the spacing and orientation of the cleats 114 is the same on each of the side panels 110 so that the cleats 114 on adjacent side panels 110 will be aligned. The one or more horizontal surfaces 130 may include grooves formed therein that are in alignment with the cleats 114. The one or more horizontal surfaces 130 may be inserted between the adjacent side panels 110. The one or more horizontal surfaces 130 may be secured by the grooves engaging the cleats 114. The use of the cleats 114 and the aligned groves provides for self-locking of the horizontal surfaces 130 within the system (not require any tools or fasteners). Furthermore, it provides for easy removal, rearranging or addition of the horizontal surfaces 130 with the system without the need for tools or fasteners.
The one or more horizontal surfaces 130 provide lateral support for the side panels 110 (keep the side panels appropriately spaced from one another). As illustrated, the horizontal surfaces 130 are flat surfaces that may be utilized, for example, as shelves for storage or a desk for performing tasks. If a horizontal surface 130 is to be utilized for certain uses (e.g., desk) it may be thicker, longer and/or wider to provide additional support and/or provide additional room between the side panels 110.
According to one embodiment, the cleats 114 may be spaced apart by defined dimensions on the side panels 110. For example, the cleats 114 may be spaced apart based on a standard shelf height. According to one embodiment, the cleats 114 may be spaced approximately fourteen inches apart though the spacing is in no manner intended to be limited thereby. The horizontal surfaces 130 may be placed on some or all of the cleats 114.
The horizontal surfaces 130 may be placed between the adjacent side panels 110 at various locations based on the location of the cleats 114. The location of the horizontal surfaces 130 between sets of adjacent side panels 110 does not need to be the same. As illustrated, there are only two horizontal surfaces 130 between the left and center side panels 110 and five horizontal surfaces 130 between the center and right side panels 110. As illustrated, it appears that the fourth horizontal surface 130 from the top on the right is located between cleats 114. It will be discussed in more detail later how this may be done.
In addition to providing horizontal surfaces 130 between the side panels 110, the system 100 may also include other storage components, for example, drawers 140 and rods 150. In order to install these other components, support components (not separately labeled in
The system is configured to accept a plurality of storage components (e.g., shelves, desks, drawers, rods) by, for example, securing them to the cleats 114. The storage components may include channels having complimentary dimensions to the cleats 114 so that engagement is sufficient to secure the storage fixtures in the system without the need for tools, fasteners or hardware. The engagement is made more secure by the placement of clothes, items, and weight on the storage fixtures. This engagement is easily disengaged by removing the items from the storage fixtures and subsequently lifting the storage fixtures off of the cleats 114. This enables disassembly and rearrangement of the storage fixtures without the need for tools.
While not illustrated, the support rail 120 may include an upper surface that acts as a load bearing surface. The upper surface may include a portion that is angled downward towards the wall it is mounted to in order to assist at locking the side panel 110 in place. The angles portion may also act as a load bearing surface. While not illustrated clearly, the notch 112 may include an angled portion in an upper edge in alignment with the angled portion in the support rail 120. The notch 112 may also include an angled portion on a lower edge that provides clearance to enable the side panel 110 to be mounted on the support rail. Both the upper load bearing surface and the angled load bearing surface may be continuous along the entire length of the support rail 120 and are configured to hold the side panel 110 securely against the support rail 120 and vertical surface (e.g. a wall) it is mounted to. The side panels 110 are able to be easily mounted and reconfigured at various locations on a wall without the use of mounting tools or hardware.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Although the cleats 114 are illustrated as being “L” shaped and the channels are configured to be received thereby, other male/female and cleat/channel designs may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The use of the cleats 114 that traverse substantially an entire depth of the side panels 110 enables a load of a horizontal surface 130 and anything placed on top of that to be evenly distributed over the length of the cleats 114 and the side panels 110. The distribution of the load may also be transferred to the wall so as to be evenly distributed thereover. The load distribution enables the horizontal surface 130 and the system to support more weight than a standard system using, for example, four pins to provide support therefore.
In order to provide additional support, a horizontal surface 130 may be placed on the same cleats 114 that the rod bracket 400 is mounted on. The horizontal surface 130 would ensure that the rod bracket 400 stayed in place and would provide lateral support to the side panels 110 at this point.
According to one embodiment, the side panels 110 may include holes formed therein at certain locations to enable a standard rod receptacle to be mounted thereto rather than utilizing the rod bracket 400. The holes may be located below the cleats 114 at locations where the rod bracket 400 would be utilized.
As discussed above, a system may desire to have horizontal surfaces 130 located at distances less that distance the cleats 114 are apart from one another. For example, the spacing between cleats 114 may be a standard shelf height (e.g., 14 inches). If an individual wants to use the horizontal surfaces 130 as a shoe rack that distance may be excessive. Accordingly, spacers may be utilized to enable a horizontal surface 130 to be located between the cleats 114.
As illustrated, the spacer 710 is located on top of a horizontal surface 130. Such a configuration assumes that a horizontal surface 130 is desired on that cleat and between that cleat and the next cleat (e.g., desired distance between horizontal surfaces is half the spacing of the cleats). However, it is possible that a desired spacing between horizontal surfaces 130 is greater than the spacing between consecutive cleats 114 but not as far apart as alternating cleats (e.g., desired distance between horizontal surfaces is one-and-a-half times the spacing of the cleats). In such an embodiment, it is possible to mount the spacers 710 directly on the cleats 114.
The use of the spacers 710 enables horizontal surfaces 130 to be installed in the system at additional locations without the need for fasteners to be mounted to the side panels 110 or for the side panels to include a plurality of holes with which pins may be inserted.
As discussed above, a system may desire to have drawers 140. In order to enable drawers 140 to be utilized, the system must include a glide means (e.g., glide rails). Rather than requiring glide rails to be mounted to the side panels 110, glide rail inserts may be utilized. Glide rail inserts may include glide rails mounted thereon and be able to be placed with the system at the appropriate locations. For example, the glide rail inserts may be placed on a horizontal surface 130 along the side panels 110.
It should be noted that
According to one embodiment, the system may include optional storage fixtures including, but not limited to, laundry baskets, garment racks and trash cans. The optional storage fixtures may operate like a drawer and be pulled out when access thereto is desired and pushed in when not in use. Operating the optional storage fixtures like a drawer allows the optional storage fixtures to be hidden from view and/or be within the system when not in use. The laundry baskets and trash cans, or items hanging on the garment racks, may extend below an access point thereto.
The clothes hamper or trash can 920 may include a lip 922 that extends from an outer perimeter of the upper surface. The clothes hamper or trash can 920 may be inserted through the accessory glide box 910 until the lip 922 comes to rest on the lip 914. Likewise, an outer perimeter of the hanging garment rack 930 may have dimensions such that it comes to rest on the lip 914.
The system may utilize the glide rail inserts 830 that include glide rails 840 to receive the accessory glide box 910 and the optional storage fixtures (e.g., clothes hamper/trash can 920, hanging garment rack 930). Since the laundry baskets/trash cans 920 and items hanging on the garment racks 930 may extend below the accessory glide box 910 a horizontal surface 130 may not be utilized to support the glide rail inserts 830 (the glide rail inserts 830 may not rest on a horizontal surface 130). Accordingly, the glide rail inserts 830 may be placed directly on the cleats 114 and against the side panel 110 to provide glide rails 840 on the side panels 110. When the accessory glide box 910 is inserted such that the glide rails 912 and the glide rails 840 engage one another, the accessory glide box 910 will secure the glide rail inserts 830 in place (the glide rail inserts 830 are self-locking within the system).
It should be noted that
A first storage section on the left includes horizontal surfaces 130 on the first four sets of cleats 114. Below the fourth horizontal surface 130 is an accessory glide box 910 housing a laundry baskets/trash cans 920. While not illustrated, glide rail inserts 830 would be utilized to enable the accessory glide box 910 to slide in and out of the system. As illustrated, the accessory glide box 910 only covers a portion of the laundry basket/trash can 920 but is not limited hereto. Rather, the accessory glide box 910 could include a face plate that covered a larger portion of the laundry basket/trash can 920 without departing from the scope of the invention. A second storage section from the left includes horizontal surfaces 130 on the first and fourth sets of cleats 114. Below both horizontal surfaces 130 are rods 150 secured using rod brackets 400.
A third storage section from the left includes horizontal surfaces 130 on the first and third through fifth sets of cleats 114. In addition there is a horizontal surface 130 between the fourth and fifth sets of cleats 114 which would require a spacer 710 (not illustrated). Between the third and fourth sets of cleats 114 are a double drawer or pair of drawers 140. While not illustrated glide rail inserts 830 would be utilized to enable the drawer(s) 140 to slide in and out of the system. A fourth storage section from the left includes horizontal surfaces 130 on the first, fourth and fifth sets of cleats 114. Below the first horizontal surface 130 is a rod 150 secured using rod brackets 400. Between the fourth and fifth sets of cleats 114 are a double drawer or pair of drawers 140 which would require glide rail inserts 830 (not illustrated).
The modular storage systems described above provide self-locking of various components therewithin. This enables the components to be installed, removed and/or rearranged with ease (no tools or fasteners required). The use of notch 112 on the side panels 110 enables the side panels 110 to be easily arranged and rearranged on the support rail 120. The use of the horizontal surfaces 130 to provide lateral support enables the side panels 110 to be secured to the wall without the need for additional fasteners. The use of cleats 114 and corresponding channels 132 provides self-locking of the horizontal surfaces 130 and enables a user to easily arrange and rearrange the location of the horizontal surfaces 130 and customize their placement in a system easily and without the use of tools or mounting hardware. The use of self-locking spacers 710 that in effect create additional cleats provides further customizing for the location of the horizontal surfaces 130. The use of self-locking glide rail inserts 830 enable drawers 140 and/or accessory glide boxes 910 and associated optional storage fixtures to easily be arranged and rearranged and customize their placement in a system easily without the use of tools or mounting hardware.
The systems descried herein are capable of receiving and mounting a plurality of fixtures without the need for sidewall support. For example, in many traditional modular closet designs, components of the system must be mounted to the side wall of the closet or room. In the present invention, the use of a horizontal support rail 120 is preferably mounted to a single rear wall with the vertical hanging side panels 110 mounted thereto and able to be configured to any number of locations along the support rail 120. In this manner, the system is configured to receive a plurality of fixtures and provide lateral support without the need for sidewall mounting.
While the systems described above are hung on the horizontal support rail 120, the systems are not limited thereby. Rather, the systems could be designed to be stand-alone systems that are not connected to the wall in any fashion. For example, the system could include some type of feet for resting on the floor. The use of the self-locking components would provide the support for the stand-alone system.
In preferred embodiments, the various components of a modular storage system are made from wood or wood laminate. In other embodiments, the modular storage device may be made from wood, wood laminate, plastic, canvas, metal, or any other combination of materials common in the art of storage fixtures and furniture.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
This application is a continuation in part (CIP) and claims the benefit under 35 USC §120 of application Ser. No. 14/466,933, filed on Aug. 22, 2014, and entitled “Modular Storage System having Self Locking Components that are Reconfigured without the need for Tools and/or Fasteners”. Application Ser. No. 14/466,933 claims the priority under 35 USC §119 of Provisional Application 61/896,607, filed Aug. 23, 2013, and entitled “Novel Modular Storage System and Devices With Attachments Thereto”. Gregory J. Ahart is the inventor for this application and both application Ser. Nos. 14/466,933 and 61/896,607. Application Ser. Nos. 14/466,933 and 61/896,607 are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14466933 | Aug 2014 | US |
| Child | 15017184 | US |
