Storage bin for workstation

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6192805
  • Patent Number
    6,192,805
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, May 26, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 27, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A storage bin for storage and containment of cabling associated with work-related items such as computers, telephones and the like. The storage bin is mountable generally along a terminal edge of a furniture component such as a worksurface, so that cabling can be routed from atop the worksurface downwardly into a hollow interior of the bin. The storage bin additionally includes pairs of overlapping side walls at each end of the bin which are movable relative to one another to enable opening and closing of the bin when mounted on the worksurface.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to a bin for storage and containment of wires and cables associated with work-related items such as computers, telephones and the like, and particularly to a bin or container intended for mounting adjacent the edge of a furniture component, such as a table defining a worksurface thereon, which bin efficiently utilizes space generally beneath the worksurface to safely and neatly store wires or cables.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The modern office environment has ever increasing demands with respect to not only the availability of effective work space, particularly in association with a worksurface, but also the efficient or effective utilization of available space around a worksurface. In addition, the widespread use of computers, printers and telecommunication equipment in the workplace and also in the home generally results in an excessive amount of wiring and cabling on and around the associated worksurface.




With regard to office-type environments, conventional wall panels which are frequently used to construct workstations typically include interior passages and storage areas for management of electrical and communication cables being routed to each workstation. However, to provide more flexibility in office areas, workstations are also being formed by arrangements of readily movable components such as freestanding tables, divider screens, and freestanding cabinets which open to define a workstation. Unlike wall panel arrangements, these transportable furniture components typically do not include separate storage chambers for electrical, communication and computer cabling. The excessive amount of wiring and/or cabling, and the lack of proper storage compartments provided in transportable furniture components can result in cluttering of the worksurface which is not only unsightly, but is also undesirable with respect to safety considerations.




Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved accessory which can be used in conjunction with a workstation furniture component such as a table, and which provides for the convenient and safe storage of cabling and wiring associated with electronic components such as computers and telephones in a manner so as not to interfere with the available space on the worksurface.




The invention relates to a storage bin for storing cabling associated with a workstation, which bin includes horizontally spaced front and rear walls, a bottom wall extending between the front and rear walls and a pair of side walls, which walls together define a hollow interior which opens upwardly through an open upper end of the bin. The storage bin also includes a mounting arrangement adapted for securing same to a worksurface adjacent a terminal edge portion thereof. The front wall defines therein a cable port in communication with the hollow interior and defining part of the open upper end of the bin. The storage bin is movable into an open configuration for providing access to the hollow interior thereof via the open upper end, and a closed configuration wherein the open upper end is partially closed off. The part of the open upper end defined by the cable port is positioned generally below the terminal edge portion of the worksurface in the closed configuration of the bin such that the cabling supported on the worksurface adjacent the terminal edge portion thereof is routable downwardly into the hollow interior through the cable port.




The invention also relates to a storage bin for storing cabling associated with a workstation having opposed front and rear walls, a bottom wall extending between lower edge portions of the front and rear walls, and a pair of side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls. The walls define a generally hollow interior of the bin which opens upwardly through an open upper end. Also included is a mounting arrangement adapted for securing the bin to a worksurface. Each of the side walls is embodied by a pair of overlapping side wall parts connected to generally upright side edges of the respective front and rear walls. Each of the side wall parts connected to the front wall are fixedly but slidably attached to the respective adjacent side wall part connected to the rear wall such that the front wall and its respective side wall parts are swingably removable relative to the rear wall and its respective side wall parts to permit the bin to be moveable into an open configuration for receiving cabling therein through the open upper end, and a closed configuration for storing cabling therein.




The desirable constructional and functional features of the present invention, as well as other operational advantages thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view which illustrates a storage bin according to the invention mounted adjacent an edge of a worksurface and in a closed configuration for storage of wires or cabling therein;





FIG. 2

is a view similar to

FIG. 1

but showing the storage bin in an open configuration to provide access to the interior thereof;





FIG. 3

is an enlarged elevational end view of the storage bin in a closed configuration;





FIG. 4

is a view similar to

FIG. 3

, but illustrating the storage bin in an open configuration;





FIG. 5

is a sheet or blank from which the storage bin according to the invention may be formed;





FIG. 6

is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along line


6





6


in

FIG. 3

; and





FIG. 7

is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line


7





7


in FIG.


1


.











Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rightwardly” and “leftwardly”, will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The word “front” when used in relation to the worksurface will refer to the side of the worksurface which is typically closest to the worker, and the word “rear” when used in relation to the worksurface will refer to the side which is remote from the worker. The word “front” when used in relation to the storage bin will refer to the outer exposed side of the bin when mounted adjacent an edge of a worksurface, and the word “rear” will refer to the opposite side of the bin. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the arrangement or the specific parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION




Referring to

FIGS. 1-4

, there is illustrated a storage bin


10


according to the invention, which storage bin


10


is particularly adapted for use in association with a worksurface


11


such as a table supported in upwardly spaced relation from a floor by one or more upright legs (not shown). The worksurface


11


defines thereon an enlarged and generally horizontally oriented upper surface


12


, and a lower surface


12


A opposite upper surface


12


. The worksurface


11


terminates in a longitudinally extending rear edge


13


which is remote from the side of the worksurface


11


which is normally closest to the worker. Office equipment, such as a computer, telephone, lighting and the like are typically supported on upper surface


12


. These types of devices typically require connection to electrical or communication wiring or cabling


14


, and in some cases both.




To facilitate management of such cabling


14


which typically has a surplus length, one or more storage bins


10


according to the invention are mounted to the worksurface


11


along one of the terminal edges thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage bin


10


is mounted so as to extend along the rear edge


13


of worksurface


11


, which is an optimal location for a typical workstation wherein the cabling connected to various types of electronic equipment lies atop the rear part of the upper surface


12


and then drops down over the rear edge


13


for connection to an electrical outlet, extension cord, power strip, etc. However, it may be desirable to mount the storage bin


10


along one of the other edges of the worksurface


11


depending upon the particular location of the equipment supported thereon.




Referring to

FIG. 5

, for convenience in manufacturing, the storage bin


10


in the illustrated embodiment is formed of a thin, unitary and semi-rigid sheet


15


of plastic material, such as polypropylene. The sheet


15


has limited flexibility and is foldable to define the overall shape of the storage bin


10


as shown in FIG.


1


. Referring now to both

FIGS. 1 and 5

, the storage bin


10


includes an elongate and planar bottom wall


20


of generally rectangular shape. The bottom wall


20


has a pair of generally parallel longitudinal side edges


21


which are defined by fold lines or creases shown in dotted lines in

FIG. 5

, and a pair of generally parallel free side edges


22


. The storage bin


10


additionally includes front and rear walls


23


and


24


spaced horizontally from one another and having lower edges which are joined to opposite side edges


21


of bottom wall


20


. Front wall


23


includes an upper free edge


25


having a generally centrally located, upwardly opening, shallow arcuate recess


30


bordered on both sides by straight edge portions


31


which are generally parallel to side edges


21


. A pair of generally semi-circular openings


32


extend through front wall


23


and are located close to upper free edge


25


thereof on either side of recess


30


slightly below the respective straight edge portions


31


. The openings


32


are defined in part by straight top edges


33


(

FIG. 2

) which are generally parallel to edge portions


31


.




Front wall


23


has a pair of generally vertically oriented and concavely curved side edges


34


which extend between upper free edge


25


and the lower edge of front wall


23


or fold line


21


. The side edges


34


are defined by fold lines or creases shown in dotted lines in

FIG. 5. A

pair of generally vertically oriented side wall parts or flaps


35


are joined to opposite side edges


34


of front wall


23


through fold lines


34


. Each side wall part


35


includes an outer convexly curved free side edge


40


which, in combination with the respective side edge


34


, provides the side wall parts


35


with a football-like shape. Side wall parts


35


each have a top edge


41


having a shallow concave shape of approximately the same vertical depth as recess


30


of front wall


23


, and a bottom edge


41


A having an identical, but inverted, configuration as top edge


41


. A fastener


42


is provided on each side wall part


35


adjacent side edge


40


and approximately midway therealong. More specifically, the respective fasteners


42


are located approximately the same distance from the top and bottom edges


41


and


41


A of the respective side wall parts


35


, but are offset horizontally toward the respective free side edge


40


. The fasteners


42


, in the illustrated embodiment, have a pair of enlarged heads


42


A (

FIG. 6

) connected to one another by a neck or stem portion


42


B of a reduced diameter. Fasteners


42


extend through the respective side wall part


35


such that the heads


42


A thereof are located on opposite sides of side wall part


35


. Fasteners


42


may be constructed of a rigid but lightweight material, such as plastic.




Rear wall


24


is similar in shape to front wall


23


and has a top free edge


43


generally parallel to the respective longitudinal side edge


21


of bottom wall


20


, and a pair of concavely curved side edges


44


which extend between top edge


43


and the respective side edge


21


of bottom wall


30


and are defined by fold lines or creases shown in dotted lines in

FIG. 5. A

pair of side wall parts or flaps


45


similar to side wall parts


35


are joined to opposite side edges


44


of rear wall


24


through fold lines. Each side wall part


45


includes an outer convexly curved free side edge


50


which, in combination with the respective side edge


44


, provides the side wall parts


45


with a football-like shape. With reference to

FIG. 4

, side wall parts


45


each have a top edge


51


which extends generally horizontally rearwardly from the outer free side edge


50


of the side wall part


45


and then curves generally upwardly toward the top free edge


43


of rear wall


24


, and a bottom edge


52


having an identical, but inverted, configuration as top edge


51


. A shallow and downwardly arcuate slot


53


(

FIGS. 3 and 4

) is provided in each side wall part


45


in a generally central position so as to cooperate with the fastener


42


of the adjacent respective side wall part


35


. The slots


53


are preferably of a size which enables sliding movement of the neck portions


42


B of the respective fasteners


42


therein as discussed below.




The storage bin


10


may be assembled as follows with reference to FIG.


5


. The front and rear walls


23


and


24


are bent or folded upwardly about the respective fold lines


21


, and are connected to one another by folding the respective pairs of side wall parts


35


and


45


inwardly towards one another about the respective fold lines


34


and


44


and inserting the innermost head


42


A of fasteners


42


of the side wall parts


35


into the respective slots


53


of adjacent side wall parts


45


so as to fasten the respective pairs of side wall parts


35


and


45


to one another in an overlapping fashion. The neck portions


42


B of the fasteners


42


are slidable within the respective slots


53


so that front wall


23


and the respective side wall parts


35


can be moved between an open configuration (

FIGS. 2 and 4

) and a closed configuration (FIGS.


1


and


3


). The front, rear, bottom and side walls together provide the bin


10


with a hollow interior


60


which opens upwardly through an open upper end


60


A. Once assembled, the top recessed edges


41


and


51


of the pairs of overlapping side wall parts


35


and


45


cooperate to define upper cable ports


54


, and the bottom recessed edges


41


A and


52


of the pairs of overlapping side wall ports


35


and


45


cooperate to define lower cable ports


55


. Thus, an upper port


54


and a lower cable port


55


are located on each side of storage bin


10


for communication with the hollow interior


60


thereof. It will be appreciated that once the sheet


15


is folded and the side wall parts


35


and


45


are connected to one another as discussed above, the bin


10


retains the overall shape as shown in

FIGS. 1-4

due to the semi-rigid nature of the plastic material from which it is constructed. Further, the fold lines or creases


21


,


34


, and


44


may be formed by scoring sheet


15


with a knife or blade.




To mount the storage bin


10


on the worksurface


11


, an elongate mounting bracket


61


is provided which is constructed of a rigid lightweight material, for example acrylic plastic. Mounting bracket


61


includes an elongate and generally flat top wall


62


. A pair of upwardly opening hooks


63


are fixed to a longitudinal front edge


64


of top wall


62


and project outwardly and angle downwardly therefrom for cooperation with the respective openings


32


of front wall


23


. Mounting bracket


61


also has an elongate flange


65


which projects generally downwardly from a longitudinal rear edge


70


of top wall


62


. This flange


65


is preferably fixed to an inner surface


71


of rear wall


24


along the top edge


43


thereof, for example by adhesive, so that the top wall


62


of mounting bracket


61


substantially closes off the open upper end


60


A of the storage bin


10


. It will be appreciated that other methods of securing flange


65


to rear wall


24


may be employed, such as rivets.




In the illustrated embodiment, the storage bin


10


is mounted to the worksurface


11


by threaded fasteners


72


which extend through the top wall


62


of mounting bracket


61


and into the lower surface


12


A of worksurface (FIGS.


3


and


4


). It will be understood that other types of fastening arrangements may be utilized to mount storage bin


10


on worksurface


11


, such as touch and close fastening systems. One example of such a system is a commercial grade fastener including a pair of mating tapes each having adhesive on one side and spikes projecting outwardly from the opposite side, which spikes have an enlarged head on the free end thereof. One of the tapes has a larger number of spikes thereon so that when the tapes are pressed together, the enlarged heads of the respective tapes interlock and securely fix the tapes together until they are peeled apart. Another type of touch and close fastening system which may be utilized is a hook and loop type fastener commonly sold under the name VELCRO® (depending upon the size of the bin


10


).




As best shown in

FIGS. 1-4

, with the storage bin


10


mounted on the worksurface


11


, same is positionable in a closed position (

FIGS. 1 and 3

) wherein the hooks


63


project through the respective openings


32


in front wall


23


so as to supportingly engage the top edges


33


thereof. In this closed position, the side wall parts


35


and


45


substantially completely overlap one another and the fasteners


42


are positioned at the rearwardmost terminal ends of the respective slots


53


(FIG.


3


). To open the storage bin


10


, the user grips the upper free edge


25


of front wall


23


and slightly lifts same so as to disengage the hooks


63


from the respective openings


32


. The front wall


23


is then pulled outwardly which causes side wall parts


35


to slide forwardly relative to the respective side wall parts


45


. This sliding movement of side wall parts


35


is guided by the fasteners


42


which move within the respective slots


53


of side wall parts


45


. In the fully open position, the fasteners


42


are positioned at the forwardmost terminal ends of the slots


53


(FIG.


4


). Further, in the fully open position of bin


10


, the bottom wall


20


angles slightly downwardly relative to the horizontal, and the lower cable ports


55


remain open and in communication with the interior


60


of the storage bin


10


. Thus, the front wall


23


and the respective side wall parts


35


normally at least partially pivot about the lower edge or fold line


21


of rear wall


24


as the bin


10


is opened.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, with the bin


10


in the open configuration, cabling


14


supported on the upper surface


12


of the worksurface


11


is dropped over the rear edge


13


thereof and into the interior


60


of the bin


10


. If desired or necessary, a conventional plug strip


73


(shown in dotted lines in

FIG. 3

) may be disposed within interior


60


and supported on bottom wall


20


, for example. Other types of receptacles or articles can also be stored within the bin


10


. The bin


10


can then be closed by grasping front wall


23


and pushing same toward rear wall


24


while simultaneously lifting front wall


23


slightly upwardly so as to engage hooks


63


within the respective openings


32


.




The front and rear walls


23


and


24


in the assembled condition of the storage bin


10


have a generally convex configuration when viewed from the side, as best shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. This convex configuration of the front wall


23


and the recess


30


formed along the top edge


25


thereof cooperate to define an upper cable receiving port


74


which projects horizontally outwardly from the front edge


64


of the mounting bracket


61


and worksurface edge


13


when the bin


10


is in the closed configuration (FIG.


7


). In this regard, the cabling


14


extends from the upper surface


12


of the worksurface


11


, over rear edge


13


and downwardly into the cable port


74


as best shown in FIG.


3


.




With the above-described arrangement, coiled loops or lengths of excess cabling


14


can be stored and restrained within the hollow interior


60


of the storage bin


10


, and the storage bin


10


according to the invention offers a number of entry and exit locations including cable port


74


, upper cable ports


54


, and lower cable ports


55


.




It will be appreciated that the storage bin


10


disclosed herein need not necessarily be constructed from a unitary sheet


15


, and may alternatively be constructed of separate wall parts which are appropriately fastened together with adhesive, rivets or other fasteners. However, the sheet construction of the bin


10


enables shipping thereof in a generally flat condition.




It will also be appreciated that the size of the storage bin


10


according to the invention may be varied depending upon the intended location of the bin


10


and the amount of cabling and/or wiring to be stored therein.




Further, it will be understood that fasteners


42


may instead be located on side wall parts


45


and slots


53


located on side wall parts


35


. In addition, fasteners


42


need not necessarily be double-headed and may instead include a single enlarged head for engagement within the respective slot and the end of the neck or stem portion of the fastener opposite the single head can then be fixed to the surface of the side wall part. Other methods of slidably attaching side wall parts to one another may also be utilized.




Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A workstation comprising:a worksurface defining generally horizontally enlarged and oppositely facing upper and lower surfaces and a terminal edge portion which defines part of an outer periphery of said worksurface; and a storage bin for storing cabling associated with the worksurface, said bin comprising: opposed front and rear walls horizontally spaced from one another, a bottom wall extending between lower edge portions of said front and rear walls, and a pair of side walls interconnecting said front and rear walls, said walls together defining a generally hollow interior which opens upwardly through a cable port defined in part by a top edge of said front wall; a mounting arrangement fixed to said bin and adapted for securing said bin to said lower surface of said worksurface proximate said terminal edge portion thereof; said bin being movable into an open configuration for providing access to said hollow interior thereof and a closed configuration wherein said hollow interior is partially closed off, said cable port being positioned generally below the terminal edge portion of the worksurface in said closed configuration of said bin such that cabling supported on the worksurface adjacent the terminal edge portion thereof can be routed downwardly along said terminal edge portion and into said hollow interior through said cable port.
  • 2. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said cable port projects horizontally outwardly beyond the terminal edge portion of the worksurface in said closed configuration of said bin.
  • 3. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said cable port is defined by an upwardly opening recess in said top edge of said front wall which is spaced downwardly from the terminal edge portion of the worksurface, said recess having a shallow, upwardly arcuate configuration.
  • 4. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said cable port is an upper cable port and at least one of said side walls defines therein a lower cable port in communication with said interior for routing cabling into and out of said interior.
  • 5. The workstation of claim 4 wherein each said side wall defines therein a lower cable port adjacent said bottom wall in communication with said interior and an additional upper cable port spaced upwardly from the respective lower cable port adjacent the lower surface of the worksurface.
  • 6. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said front, rear, bottom and side walls are formed from a single, unitary thin sheet of material.
  • 7. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said front wall defines a pair of openings therein adjacent said top edge thereof, said mounting arrangement including an elongate mounting part having a front edge generally parallel to the terminal edge portion of the worksurface, and a pair of hooks project outwardly and angle downwardly from said front edge for engagement with the respective openings in said front wall in said closed configuration of said bin.
  • 8. The workstation of claim 7 wherein said mounting part includes a flange which projects outwardly and angles downwardly from a rear edge of said mounting part spaced horizontally from said front edge, said flange being fixed to said rear wall.
  • 9. A storage bin for storing cabling associated with a workstation, said bin comprising:opposed front and rear walls horizontally spaced from one another, a bottom wall extending between lower edge portions of said front and rear walls, and a pair of side walls interconnecting said front and rear walls, said walls together defining a generally hollow interior of said bin which opens upwardly; and a mounting arrangement adapted for securing said bin to the underside of a worksurface; each said side wall including first and second overlapping side wall parts respectively connected to and projecting outwardly from generally upright opposite side edges of said front and rear walls, each said first side wall part being fixedly but slidably attached to the respective second side wall part such that said first side wall parts and said front wall are swingably movable outwardly relative to the respective said second side wall parts and said rear wall to permit said bin to be movable into and maintained in an open configuration for providing access to said interior, said first side wall parts and said front wall being swingably movable toward the respective said second side wall parts and said rear wall into a closed configuration for closing off said interior.
  • 10. The storage bin of claim 9 wherein one side wall part of each overlapping pair of side wall parts defines therein a shallow downwardly arcuate slot, and the other side wall part of each overlapping pair of side wall parts mounts thereon a fastener in a location corresponding to said slot of the respective one side wall part, said fastener being engaged within the respective slot to enable guided movement of said first side wall parts relative to the respective second side wall parts.
  • 11. The storage bin of claim 9 wherein each said side wall defines therein an upper cable port adjacent the underside of the worksurface and a lower cable port adjacent said bottom wall for selective routing of cabling into and out of said interior.
  • 12. The storage bin of claim 9 wherein said front wall defines a pair of openings therein adjacent a top edge thereof, said mounting arrangement including a mounting part fixed to said rear wall and securable to the underside of the worksurface, said mounting part being elongate and having a front edge generally parallel to and generally vertically aligned with a terminal edge portion of the worksurface and disposed closely adjacent thereto, and a pair of hooks project generally downwardly from said front edge for engagement with the respective openings in said front wall to maintain said bin in said closed configuration.
  • 13. The storage bin of claim 9 wherein said mounting arrangement includes a mounting part fixed to said rear wall of said bin and securable to a generally horizontally oriented underside of the worksurface, said bin in said closed configuration is disposed substantially completely beneath the worksurface and in said open configuration said front wall and said first side wall parts project horizontally outwardly from a terminal edge portion of the worksurface.
  • 14. The storage bin of claim 9 wherein said front and rear walls have a generally convex configuration to provide said bin with a generally football-like shape when viewed from one end thereof, said front wall defining therein an upwardly opening recess extending along a top edge thereof which defines a cable port for receiving cabling therein.
  • 15. The storage bin of claim 9 wherein said first and second side wall parts project outwardly from and beyond the respective front and rear walls, and each said first side wall part is attached to the respective second side wall part by a fastening structure which maintains said bin in said open configuration.
  • 16. A storage bin formed from a thin sheet of material comprising:a bottom wall disposed generally centrally of said sheet and having a generally rectangular shape, said rectangular shape being defined by a pair of generally parallel longitudinal edges and a pair of generally parallel free side edges; front and rear walls connected to said bottom wall along the respective longitudinal edges thereof and being foldable upwardly from said bottom wall about said longitudinal edges such that said front and rear walls are upright and horizontally spaced from one another, said front and rear walls each having an upper free edge and a pair of generally vertically oriented side edges extending between said bottom wall and the respective upper free edge; a first pair of side wall flaps connected to said front wall along the respective vertical side edges thereof and being foldable inwardly about said side edges of said front wall such that said first side wall flaps are oriented transversely relative to said front wall; a second pair of side wall flaps connected to said rear wall along the respective side edges thereof, said second side wall flaps being foldable inwardly about said rear wall side edges such that said second side wall flaps overlie the respective first side wall flaps, whereby the overlying pairs of first and second side wall flaps define respective first and second side walls of said bin; a mounting bracket including a first mounting part fixed to said rear wall and a second generally horizontally oriented mounting part which is securable to a generally horizontally oriented underside of a worksurface; said front, rear, bottom and first and second side walls together defining a generally hollow interior which opens upwardly through an open upper end of said bin for receiving cabling therein, and at least one of first and second side walls defining a cable port therein for routing cabling into and out of said hollow interior; each said first side wall flap being fixedly but slidably attached to the respective second side wall flap to enable limited swinging movement of said front wall and said first side wall flaps away from said rear wall and said second side wall flaps into an open configuration, and limited swinging movement of said front wall and said first side wall flaps toward said rear wall and said second side wall flaps into a closed configuration.
  • 17. The storage bin of claim 16 wherein said cable port is defined by overlapping upwardly recessed lower edges of the respective first and second side wall flaps.
  • 18. The storage bin of claim 16 wherein both said first and second side walls define therein a cable port, said cable ports being defined by overlapping upwardly recessed lower edges of the respective first and second side wall flaps.
  • 19. The storage bin of claim 18 wherein said cable ports are lower cable ports, and each said first and second side wall defines therein an upper cable port defined by overlapping downwardly recessed upper edges of the respective first and second side wall flaps.
  • 20. The storage bin of claim 16 wherein said thin sheet of material comprises polypropylene.
  • 21. The storage bin of claim 16 wherein said front wall defines a pair of openings therein adjacent said upper free edge thereof, said second mounting part is elongate and has a front edge generally parallel to a terminal edge portion of the worksurface and disposed closely adjacent thereto, and a pair of hooks project generally downwardly from said front edge for engagement within the respective openings in said front wall in said closed configuration of said bin.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Number Name Date Kind
2140685 Baxter Dec 1938
2241309 Kovalik May 1941
2764461 Montgomery Sep 1956
3034153 Sargent May 1962
3042467 Germick Jul 1962
3193341 Preston Jul 1965
4066306 Klinder Jan 1978
4792881 Wilson et al. Dec 1988
4827850 Diffrient May 1989
4974620 Quillan et al. Dec 1990
5231562 Pierce et al. Jul 1993
5272988 Kelley et al. Dec 1993
5337657 Diffrient Aug 1994
5800027 Dunn Sep 1998
5809900 Alexander et al. Sep 1998
5934201 Diffrient Aug 1999
5971509 Deimen et al. Oct 1999
6003447 Cox et al. Dec 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
1590188 Jun 1970 DE
2279002 Dec 1994 GB
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry
Architectural Record, “Teamwork Kit-of-Parts”, May 1995 (1 page).
Facilities Design & Management, “Hotline”, May 1995 (2 pages).
Contract Design, The Future Arrives-in 1995?, May 1995 (1 page).