Storage bin and frame system

Abstract

An open topped storage bin and frame system which allows for various widths of storage bins to be interchangeable and allow for each storage bin to pivot from a closed position within the frame to an open position where the open top is exposed outwardly of the frame. The bin may be provided with a lid. The upper surface of the storage bin and lid has a middle forward flat shape and front and rear upwardly curved portions forming stops. The frame includes at least one pair of vertically spaced, horizontal rods. Inward rotation of the bin is arrested when the front upwardly curved portion of the bin and lid comes into contact with the upper rod. Outward rotation of the bin is arrested when the rear upwardly curved portion of the bin and lid comes into contact with the upper rod.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an open topped storage bin of the type which is normally contained within a frame unit and which can be tipped outwardly of the frame unit so that the contents stored within the bin are accessible. The storage bins of the present invention are readily removable from the frame for cleaning and may be manufactured in several capacities from a rigid, transparent material so that they may be arranged within the frame to meet the convenience of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage of bulk dry produce, baking goods, spices or the like, has in the past, generally been provided in a frame unit containing a single row of storage bins located in a fixed arrangement within a frame. Storage of hardware such as nuts and bolts has generally been provided in cabinets with drawers or tip out bins within a frame or cabinet with fixed dividers not allowing any change to bin size. It has generally proven to be impracticable to design a unit where the bins of different storage capacity may be rearranged within the frame even if after some use this need should become evident.

It has generally been found that such present storage once constructed is generally permanent and unsuited to simple relocation or to retrofitting within a kitchen, store room or shop.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a storage bin and frame system which can support tilt out storage bins of different capacities which can be arranged within the frame to suit the user's preference. It is also an object of this invention to provide a storage bin and frame which is relatively simple to construct and which readily lends itself to modular expansion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A storage bin and frame system within which bins of different capacities may be arranged to suit the needs of the user. Generally, the bin has an open top and may be pivoted between a closed position enclosed within the frame and an open position wherein the bin's open top is exposed outwardly of the frame to become readily accessible to the user. For food storage the bin may be provided with a lid which nests within the open top and for hardware storage no lid may be required.

The frame of the unit includes a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced upper and lower bin support members, for example rods such as dowels, which are positioned near to a front face of the frame. The support members may be supported in opposed end walls of the frame.

In one embodiment, the storage bin and frame system comprises at least one storage bin in the form of an open-topped receptacle which may include a lid (collectively referred to herein as a bin). Each receptacle has a rigid floor and rigid side walls interconnected by rigid front and rear walls thereby defining an interior storage cavity. The front wall may have a handle formed thereon near its upper edge remote from the floor. Advantageously the bin may be formed from a rigid transparent material which permits the stored contents to be in view when the storage bin is pivoted into the closed position. The bin fits between the upper and lower support members and pivots on the lower member between the open and closed positions.

A pivot mount is formed in the underside of the floor so as to rotatably interlock with the lower bin support member when the receptacle is mounted between the support members. The pivot mount permits the receptacle to be pivoted outwardly from the frame about the lower bin support member. The pivot mount releasably interlocks with the lower bin support member so as to inhibit the receptacle sliding horizontally outward relative to the lower bin support member. The pivot mount includes a male/female coupling between the pivot mount and the lower bin support member.

In one particular embodiment, the pivot mount includes a supporting elongate recess, such as an elongate linear groove or channel, which is formed in the underside of the floor. The recess rotatably interlocks with an elevated surface of the lower support member such as the lower dowel when the bin is mounted in the frame. The recess is formed below the front wall so as to run adjacent and parallel to the lower edge of the front wall. The recess permits the storage bin to be pivoted outwardly about the lower dowel but at the same time it restricts any accidental horizontal outward movement such as an outwardly sliding translation of the bin relative to the lower dowel. An axis of rotation, which may extend through the recess, defines the center for a first radius enclosing the upper edges of the pair of side walls and the top surface of the bin for example in the embodiment employing a lid.

The upper edges of the side walls may be arcuate and in particular may be curved so that the upper surface or top of the bin has front and rear upwardly curved portions or lips. The distance from the upper edges of lips defines a second radius measured from the axis of rotation of the bin about the recess. The length of the second radius is greater than the length of the first radius so that the lips function as stops limiting the rotation of the bin.

In the embodiments where the bin includes a lid, and in particular where either or both of the front and rear lips are formed on the lid, the corresponding front and/or rear upper edges of the receptacle portion of the bin are themselves elevated or formed as lips relative to the upper edges of the side walls so to act as stops limiting the rotation of the bin by interfering with the upper support member of the frame as the bin rotates on the lower support member about the pivot mount. Consequently, the front and rear lips, whether on the lid, if any, when the lid is mounted on the top of the receptacle, or on the receptacle itself, contact the upper support member when the bin is mounted on, so as to rotate about, the lower support member, that is, with the lower support member mated with the pivot mount, for example mounted in the recess in the floor of the bin. In this way the forward and rearward rocking of the bin between the open and closed positions is limited, thereby maintaining the bin in the frame until it is desired to remove the bin from the frame.

In one embodiment the bin is removed by slightly rotating the bin forwardly from its closed position and gently upwardly lifting the bin so as to release the pivot mount, for example the recess from its mating with the lower dowel, whereupon the bin may be slid horizontally forwardly and outwardly from the frame to remove the bin from between the upper and lower dowels. The middle forward upper surface of the bin is flat and horizontal when the bin is in the closed position. The space between the bottom surface of the floor and the upper surface of the bin at its flat middle forward section defines a third distance. The third distance is less than the distance between the upper and lower dowels. This allows the bin to be slid out from between the upper and lower dowels.

The frame includes substantially horizontal upper and lower dowels, which may be mounted in the opposed end walls and may form part of an array of such dowels. The end walls may be part of a stand alone frame or may be suitably located cupboard walls or door jams.

The storage bin inserts horizontally between the upper and lower dowels. The recess formed in the underside of the floor then fits over the lower dowel, which allows pivoting or rotating of the bin about the lower dowel, while still engaging the upper dowel with the front and rear stops, for example the front and rear lips, whether or not the lid is on the receptacle. Thus in one embodiment, the front and rear lips on the top of the receptacle protrude upwardly so as to engage the upper dowel approximately the same distance as do the front and rear lips on the lid. This may be accomplished for example by nesting the lid within the front and rear lips of the receptacle. Advantageously, the recess in the floor fits conformably over the lower dowel. When so positioned, the arcuate upper edges and surface of the bin including the upper surface of the lid, if any, and upper edges of the side walls will avoid frictional contact with the upper dowel as the bin is pivoted between the open and closed positions. Once at the open position the rear lip on either the lid, if the lid is in place, or on the receptacle contacts the upper dowel preventing further forward rotation. As the bin is pivoted to the closed position, the front lips, either on the lid, if the lid is in place, or on the receptacle contacts the upper dowel thereby acting as a stop to limit rearward, that is inward rotation of the bin relative to the frame.

Since the storage bins are supported at their underside they can be easily repositioned within the frame and when constructed in various widths ensure that the bins have a capacity that is convenient to most users.

As will be noted if additional bins are required it is only necessary to add an additional horizontal dowel either vertically above or below the initial row of bins to support additional storage.

The bins manufactured for food storage may have a lid which may or may not be removable. Therefore the length of the first, second and third radiuses are intended to include the lid as part of the bin dimensions. The bins manufactured for hardware storage may have no lid therefore with the same dowel spacing the upper edge of the side walls may have the same shape and dimensions as a combined bin and lid. In one embodiment such as for food storage, the bins include removable lids which mate with the upper edges of the side walls. The lids have formed on their upper surface upwardly curved portions corresponding to said upwardly curved portion of the side walls. When the bin is rotated forwardly, that is outwardly from the upper dowel, the lid slides beneath the upper dowel until the rear lip of the lid contacts the upper dowel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, is a perspective view of a single row storage unit incorporating one embodiment of the bins and frame according to the present invention, with the bin lid removed from the centre bin.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a multi-row storage unit incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is the bin and frame of FIG. 3 showing the storage bin rotated into the open position.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the storage bin and lid of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is, in front elevation view, an alternative embodiment of the frame according to one aspect of the present invention wherein a horizontal array of vertically spaced apart dowels are mounted between the sides of a cabinet.

FIG. 7 is, in front elevation view, a further alternative embodiment of the frame according to one aspect of the present invention wherein a pair of horizontal vertically spaced apart dowels are mounted under a cabinet between lower extensions of the side walls of the cabinet.

FIG. 8 a is, in side elevation partially cut away view, an alternative embodiment of the bin according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 8 b is, in perspective view, an alternative embodiment of a frame according to the present invention, in particular a frame for holding the bin of FIG. 8a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As may be seen in the accompanying FIGS. 1 through 8 wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts in each view, the storage bin and frame system of the present invention comprises one or more open-topped storage receptacles 10 pivotally mountable in a frame 12. Receptacle 10 is generally rectangular in shape having a rigid floor 14, rigid contiguous side walls 16, and front and rear walls 18 and 20 respectively defining an interior storage cavity within the receptacle. Front wall 18 has a handle 22 formed thereon or mounted thereto, advantageously adjacent an upper front edge of the open top of the receptacle. Handle 22 may project outwardly from front wall 18. Handle 22 facilitates the user grasping the handle with a palm upward grip, such as would occur when lifting the container or pulling the container outwards toward the user.

The rigid floor 14 has a supporting recess 28 formed on the underside. Recess 28 may be a groove or channel or the like extending laterally across floor 14 parallel to the handle or parallel to the lower front edge of front wall 18. The longitudinal axis 30 of recess 28 is adjacent to and parallel with the front wall 18. When storage bin 10 is positioned within frame 12, recess 28 acts firstly as a pivot sleeve to permit bin 10 to be rotated about dowel 42 outwardly of frame 12 in direction A and secondly as a restraint to prevent the bin from being accidentally pulled horizontally outwardly from the frame.

The present invention is intended to include at least two embodiments, namely a bin which is open-topped, and a bin which includes both an open-topped receptacle and a lid. In the former the upper edge of each side wall 16, and in the latter the rear upper surface 32 of bin 10 may have an arcuate shape such as defined by shaped upper edges 32, both of which lying whole or in part along an arc defined by rotation of the bin about the longitudinal axis 30 of support recess 28. This arc has a first radius B.

The upper surface of the bin, whether the upper edges in the open-topped embodiment or the lid 52 in the embodiment employing a lid terminates in front and rear upwardly curved portions or lips 34 and 36 respectively. A second radius C is the radius of an arc drawn from axis 30 to the radially outermost extremities of front and rear upwardly curved lips 34 and 36 respectively. When bin 10 is mounted on lower dowel 42 so that dowel 42 is journalled in and along recess 28, bin 10 then pivots forwardly (in direction A) and rearwardly about axis 30 in recess 28. In order for bin 10 to pivot or rotate about dowel 42, the top of the bin must clear underneath an upper dowel 40 as the bin sweeps out its arc of rotation. Hence radius B must be of no greater length than the distance from axis 30 to the lower edge of dowel 40. In order for lips 34 and 36 to function as stops which limit the angular range of motion of the rotation of bin 10 about dowel 42, they have to protrude further than the distal end of radius B so as to engage upper dowel 40 as bin 10 rotates rearwardly into its closed position, or forwardly into its open position respectively. The height of the stops may be measured as the difference in length between radii B and C.

The middle forward upper surface 33 of bin 10 is flat and may be substantially horizontal when the bin is vertical, that is in its closed position in the frame. The space between the bottom surface of floor 14 and the upper surface 33 of bin 10 at its middle forward section defines a distance D. Distance D is less than the gap E between upper and lower dowels 40 and 42 so that, in order to remove the bin from the frame, bin 10 may be lifted in direction F to disengage lower dowel 42 from recess 28 and then slid horizontally outwardly in direction G. In the illustrated embodiment distance D is substantially equal to radius B less the height of recess 28, shown to be one half the diameter of lower dowel 42 although this is not intended to be limiting as other cross-sectional shapes of a lower supporting member replacing lower dowel 42 and recess 28 would work. For example, the lower supporting member for rotational mating in recess 28 may be a half-round dowel or for that matter any other elongate rod or upstanding protrusion upon which recess 28 may mate for rocking forward and back of bin 10. Alternatively, a downwardly extending protrusion extending downwardly from the front of floor 14 for mating into a corresponding depression, groove, channel, etc. formed in the lower support member supporting bin 10. In this latter embodiment the height dimension D would again provide for clearing the bin from between the upper and lower members of the frame once the bin was lifted to disengage the downwardly extending protrusion from the corresponding depression in the lower supporting member. In a particular example of the latter embodiment, in cross-section the downwardly extending protrusion may be convex and the corresponding depression in the lower supporting member concave.

Frame unit 12 may include pairs of upper and lower dowels 40 and 42 mounted in opposed end supporting walls 44. The end supporting walls 44 may be part of a stand alone frame, for example for freestanding on a counter top as seen in FIG. 1 or mounted with a hinge inside a cupboard as seen in FIG. 2 or may be the suitably located side walls 45 of a cupboard or other cabinetry as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. Alternatively, upper and lower dowels 40a and 42a respectively may be a half round shape mounted to opposed facing upper and lower cabinet surfaces 44a as seen in FIG. 7. As stated above, dowels 40 and 42 are spaced vertically apart not less than a distance equal to the third distance D. This will permit storage bin 10 to be inserted horizontally between the upper and lower dowels 40 and 42 respectively and to allow the supporting recess 28 to be fitted over lower supporting dowel 42.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, it will be noted that as storage bin 10 is rotated in direction A on lower dowel 42, flat upper surface 33 and arcuate shaped upper edge 32 of each of the side walls 16, passes freely beneath upper dowel 40.

Inward rotation of storage bin 10 is arrested when the front upwardly curved portion 34, comes into contact with the outer face of upper dowel 40 and outward rotation of storage bin 10 is arrested when the rear upwardly curved portion 36 comes into contact with the inner face of upper dowel 40. As stated above, removal of bin 10 is accomplished by lifting the bin vertically when in its closed position until lower dowel 42 is clear of supporting recess 28 and then pulling the bin horizontally outwardly of the frame.

Additional horizontal rows of storage units may be incorporated into the frame by simply providing an additional single supporting dowel for each row as can be viewed in FIG. 2. If the additional storage is positioned above the original row of bins the additional dowel provided is an additional upper dowel 53, since the existing upper dowel 40 will become the supporting dowel for the additional row of containers disposed above the first or original row. Where the additional storage row is positioned below rather than above the original row of bins, the required additional dowel is a further lower dowel 54. The existing lower dowel 42 will function as the upper dowel for the new lower row of containers. It is anticipated that the storage bins or at least the front walls may be constructed from transparent material, such as acrylic, which will allow the contents to be viewed when the bin is in the closed position. In addition, constructing the bins in different widths that is different volumes will permit the user to determine the preferred bin arrangement within the storage frame. Thus for example, a first row may be a single bin, a second row may be small or larger bins, and a third row may be a larger number of smaller bins such as seen in FIG. 1. Of course this is not intended to be limiting as many combinations of sizes of bins in different rows are possible, which may be arranged to the convenience of the user.

As may be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a removable lid 48 may be used to seal the open top of the storage bin and to protect the contents. The lid 48 fits snugly onto the open-topped receptacle of bin 10. Lid 48 has a downwardly projecting lip 50 which nests inside the opening of the bin receptacle. Bin 10 with lid 48 will therefore have the first and second radii B and C and the vertical distance D which include lid 48 as part of the distances so as to maintain clearance between the upper and lower dowels and to maintain the function of the stops 34 and 36. A bin 10 for hardware storage may have no lid. Therefore, when used with the same dowel spacing, the upper edge of said rigid side walls 16, 18 and 20 may have the same shape, radii, and vertical distances as a combined bin 10 having both a receptacle and lid.

In a further embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 8a and 8b, the pivot mount may be a downwardly disposed convex protrusion 60, which may be elongate across the width of the bin replacing recess 28. Protrusion 60 mates downwardly into a male/female coupling with members 62. Members 62 are upwardly concave in cross section so as to cup protrusions 60 so as to allow the bins to pivot in direction A. As with upper and lower dowels 40 and 42, vertically adjacent pairs of members 62 are spaced apart so as to allow the bins to be removed from between the pair of members while also providing that the upper member of the pair engage the front and rear stops on the bin when the bin is pivoted between the open and closed positions.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A storage bin and frame system comprising a frame having vertically spaced apart upper and lower bin support members, which are parallel and horizontally disposed and at least one receptacle for pivotable, releasable mounting between said members, each said receptacle having a rigid floor and rigid side walls interconnected by rigid front and rear walls thereby defining an interior storage cavity, accessed through an open top, a pivot mount formed in the underside of said floor, said pivot mount formed so as to rotatably mate with said lower bin support member when said receptacle is mounted between said upper and lower bin support members, wherein said pivot mount permits said receptacle to be pivoted outwardly from said frame about said lower bin support member, said pivot mount releasably interlocking with said lower bin support member so as to inhibit said receptacle sliding horizontally outward relative to said lower bin support member, wherein at least one pair of said upper and lower bin support members in said frame provide support for multiple said receptacles mounted laterally side-by-side between said pair.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said pivot mount includes an elongate recess formed across said underside of said floor adjacent and parallel to said front wall of said receptacle for mounting onto an elevated surface of correspondingly elongate said lower bin support member.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a lid mountable onto upper edges of said receptacle, wherein said lid conforms to the shape of said upper edges so as to not interfere with said rotation while said receptacle is pivoted outwardly.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said upper edges of said receptacle include upper edges of said side walls and said lid, and wherein said upper edges of said side walls including said lid are arcuate; wherein upper edges of said receptacle are formed as front and rear stops protruding upwardly from said receptacle so as to engage said upper bin support member when said receptacle is rotated about said pivot mount and said lower bin support member between respectively a closed position wherein access to said cavity is occluded by said frame and an open position wherein said receptacle is pivoted forwardly to provide access to said cavity in front of said frame, and wherein said pivot mount releasably mounts vertically down onto said lower bin support member so as to releasably mate thereon and to thereby release vertically from said mating, whereupon, once vertically released from said mating, said receptacle is horizontally manually translatable outwardly from between said upper and lower bin support members, wherein said upper edges of said receptacle, other than said front and rear stops, do not interfere with said upper bin support member when said pivot mount is mounted on said lower bin support member, and wherein, said upper edges of said receptacle including said rear stop do not interfere with said upper bin support member when said pivot mount is said vertically released from said mating and during said manual translation outwardly from between said upper and lower bin support members.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein when said recess is mounted on said lower bin support member, said receptacle has an axis of rotation extending along said recess, and wherein a first radius extending from said axis of rotation to said upper edge of said side walls including said lid and perpendicular to said axis of rotation is shorter than a second radius extending from said axis of rotation to uppermost edges of said stops and perpendicular to said axis of rotation, and wherein the length of said second radius is greater than the distance from said axis of rotation to a lowermost surface of said upper bin support member and wherein the length of said first radius is less than or equal to the distance between said axis of rotation and said lowermost surface of said lower bin support member whereby said receptacle may be pivoted about said axis of rotation between said open and closed positions and wherein said front and rear stops limit a rotational range of motion of said receptacle so as to sweep out only between said open and closed positions.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein a linear distance between a lowermost surface of said floor and said upper edges of said receptacle other than said front stop is less than or equal to the distance between said upper and lower bin support members so that, once said vertically released from said mating, said receptacle may be slid out from between said upper and lower bin support members.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said upper and lower bin support members are upper and lower rods.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said upper edges of said receptacle include upper edges of said side walls, and wherein said upper edges of said side walls are arcuate; wherein upper edges of said receptacle are formed as front and rear stops protruding upwardly from said receptacle so as to engage said upper bin support member when said receptacle is rotated about said pivot mount and said lower bin support member between respectively a closed position wherein access to said cavity is occluded by said frame and an open position wherein said receptacle is pivoted forwardly to provide access to said cavity in front of said frame, and wherein said pivot mount releasably mounts vertically down onto said lower bin support member so as to releasably mate thereon and to thereby release vertically from said mating, whereupon, once vertically released from said mating, said receptacle is horizontally manually translatable outwardly from between said upper and lower bin support members, wherein said upper edges of said receptacle, other than said front and rear stops, do not interfere with said upper bin support member when said pivot mount is mounted on said lower bin support member, and wherein said upper edges of said receptacle including said rear stop do not interfere with said upper bin support member when said pivot mount is said vertically released from said mating and during said manual translation outwardly from between said upper and lower bin support members.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein when said recess is mounted on said lower bin support member, said receptacle has an axis of rotation extending along said recess, and wherein a first radius extending from said axis of rotation to said upper edge of said side walls and perpendicular to said axis of rotation is shorter than a second radius extending from said axis of rotation to uppermost edges of said stops and perpendicular to said axis of rotation, and wherein the length of said second radius is greater than the distance from said axis of rotation to a lowermost surface of said upper bin support member and wherein the length of said first radius is less than or equal to the distance between said axis of rotation and said lowermost surface of said lower bin support member whereby said receptacle may be pivoted about said axis of rotation between said open and closed positions and wherein said front and rear stops limit a rotational range of motion of said receptacle so as to sweep out only between said open and closed positions.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein a linear distance between a lowermost surface of said floor and said upper edges of said receptacle other than said front stop is less than or equal to the distance between said upper and lower bin support members so that, once said vertically released from said mating, said receptacle may be slid out from between said upper and lower bin support members.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said upper and lower bin support members are upper and lower rods.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said mating includes a male/female coupling between said pivot mount and said lower bin support member.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a lid mountable onto upper edges of said receptacle, wherein said lid conforms to the shape of said upper edges so as to not interfere with said rotation while said receptacle is pivoted outwardly.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said upper edges of said receptacle include upper edges of said side walls and said lid, and wherein said upper edges of said side walls including said lid are arcuate; wherein upper edges of said receptacle are formed as front and rear stops protruding upwardly from said receptacle so as to engage said upper bin support member when said receptacle is rotated about said pivot mount and said lower bin support member between respectively a closed position wherein access to said cavity is occluded by said frame and an open position wherein said receptacle is pivoted forwardly to provide access to said cavity in front of said frame, and wherein said pivot mount releasably mounts vertically down onto said lower bin support member so as to releasably mate thereon and to thereby release vertically from said mating, whereupon, once vertically released from said mating, said receptacle is horizontally manually translatable outwardly from between said upper and lower bin support members, wherein said upper edges of said receptacle, other than said front and rear stops, do not interfere with said upper bin support member when said pivot mount is mounted on said lower bin support member, and wherein said upper edges of said receptacle including said rear stop do not interfere with said upper bin support member when said pivot mount is said vertically released from said mating and during said manual translation outwardly from between said upper and lower bin support members.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein when said recess is mounted on said lower bin support member, said receptacle has an axis of rotation extending along said recess, and wherein a first radius extending from said axis of rotation to said upper edge of said side walls including said lid and perpendicular to said axis of rotation is shorter than a second radius extending from said axis of rotation to uppermost edges of said stops and perpendicular to said axis of rotation, and wherein the length of said second radius is greater than the distance from said axis of rotation to a lowermost surface of said upper bin support member and wherein the length of said first radius is less than or equal to the distance between said axis of rotation and said lowermost surface of said lower bin support member whereby said receptacle may be pivoted about said axis of rotation between said open and closed positions and wherein said front and rear stops limit a rotational range of motion of said receptacle so as to sweep out only between said open and closed positions.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a linear distance between a lowermost surface of said floor and said upper edges of said receptacle other than said front stop is less than or equal to the distance between said upper and lower bin support members so that, once said vertically released from said mating, said receptacle may be slid out from between said upper and lower bin support members.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said upper and lower bin support members are upper and lower rods.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower bin support members are part of a vertically spaced apart array of parallel horizontal elongate members mounted in said frame, and wherein a plurality of said receptacles are mountable between adjacent pairs of said members of said array.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said upper support member of said pair also serves as said lower support member of a second said pair so that said upper support member of a first said pair is a common member which is also said lower support member of a second said pair adjacent said first said pair.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said upper and lower bin support members are upper and lower rods.