Abstract:
A storage rack formed form two or more multi bin storage subcomponents. In various embodiments, each storage subcomponent is made by cutting and creasing a large sheet, and the folding the large sheet along the creases. In one embodiment, each of the storage subcomponents are made from paperboard. In one embodiment, four subcomponents are interlocked and include a base adapted for rotation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/578,094 filed Jun. 8, 2004, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of physical storage devices and particularly to those containing separate compartments vertically stacked with a rotational capability.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Storage units, such as bookshelves, can consume a large quantity of wall space. Additionally, storage racks do not always provide preferred storage options usable for organization. Further, storage racks are not always adapted to display contents stored. Finally, storage racks often require extensive assembly which can involve tools.  
         [0004]     What is needed is a storage rack which is compact, which encourages organization and display of contents, and which is easy to assemble.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The above-mentioned problems and others not expressly discussed herein are addressed by the present subject matter and will be understood by reading and studying this specification.  
         [0006]     One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a storage system having a first storage rack having a first structure defined by a first continuous folded sheet defining a plurality of display bins arranged in a first column, and further defining a first female connector and a first male connector shaped to fit into the first female connector; a second storage rack having a second structure defined by a second continuous folded sheet defining a plurality of display bins arranged in a second column and further defining a second female connector and a second male connector shaped to fit into the second female connector; and a swivel base connected to the first and second storage racks; wherein the first storage rack and the second storage rack are interlocked, with the first male connector connected to the second female connector, such that the first column and the second column are parallel.  
         [0007]     This Summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details about the present subject matter are found in the detailed description and appended claims. Other aspects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description and viewing the drawings that form a part thereof, each of which are not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1A  shows a sheet with punches and scoring, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1B  shows a sheet with dimensioned excises and creases, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of multiple storage bins partially assembled, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows an assembly having multiple storage bins, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of multiple storage bins, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     The following detailed description of the present subject matter refers to subject matter in the accompanying drawings which show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. References to “an”, “one”, or “various” embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references contemplate more than one embodiment. The following detailed description is demonstrative and not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present subject matter is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  shows a sheet with excises and creases, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. In various embodiments, the sheet  100  is used to form a storage rack. The illustration shows solid lines representing areas where excises have occurred. The illustration additionally shows dashed lines representing areas where creases exist.  
         [0015]     In various embodiments, the sheet  100  is folded into a storage rack. In one embodiment, the storage rack includes a plurality of compartments. In some embodiments, the compartments are arraigned in a vertical column. The vertical arrangement of the compartments allows for the display of stowed contents to storage rack users.  
         [0016]     In various embodiments, multiple storage racks are interlocked. In some embodiments, one or more storage racks are connected to a rotational base. Various rotational bases allow for improved display options. For example, in one embodiment, four column shaped storage racks are interlocked in a parallel clover-leaf arrangement with a swiveling base disposed between the interlocked storage racks and a working surface such that a user can rotate the storage racks. This arrangement provides for easy display of contents stowed in any of the storage racks without the user having to walk.  
         [0017]     In various embodiments, a sheet includes a back length panel  102 , a cut-out side width panel  104 , a front length panel  106  and a full-width side panel  108 . In various embodiments, the back length panel  102  includes lock tab receiver holes  110 . Additionally, in various embodiments, the back length panel  102  includes male connector  112 . In various embodiments, the male connector is a T-lock, but the present subject matter is not so limited. Additionally, the locate and the gender of the connector may vary in different embodiments which fall within the scope of the present subject matter. The back panel  102 , in various embodiments, includes a relief slot  114  which is used for half-folding along half-fold crease  128 .  
         [0018]     In various embodiments, cut-out side width panel  104  includes individualized cut outs for one or more bins, such as bin  118 . In various embodiments, this allows for physical and visual accessibility to each bin compartment. Cut-out side width panel  104  additionally includes half-fold crease  128 , in various embodiments.  
         [0019]     Front length panel  106 , in various embodiments, includes one or more bin bottom panels. Bin bottom panels, such as bin bottom pane  120  are illustrated for explanation. In various embodiments, bin bottom  120  includes a lock tab  122  which is adapted to lock the bin bottom into a lock tab slot  121 . Additionally, in various embodiments, bin bottom  120  includes individualized thumb cuts  124  which aid in the assembly of the storage rack.  
         [0020]     Full-width side panel  108 , in various embodiments, includes a female connector  126 . In various embodiments, the female connector is an opening. In various embodiments, the female connector is adapted to receive a male connector. In various embodiments, the male connector is a protrusion. In one embodiment, the female connector is sized to receive a T-lock style of connect. In various embodiments, female connector  126  is sized to receive a male connector shaped like the male connector  112 . Additionally, in various embodiments, full-width side panel  108  includes half-fold crease  128 . In various embodiments, half-fold crease  128  enables a glued sheet  100  to be half folded.  
         [0021]     In various embodiments, panels  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  include a bottom flap  116 . In various embodiments, the bottom flap  116  is mitred. Bottom flap  116 , in various embodiments, is used for attachment of the sheet  100  to a swivel base.  
         [0022]     The back length panel  102 , in various embodiments, is folded 180 degrees on the lengthwise crease  130 . Panel  108  shows one embodiment having an outside glue lap panel  132  to which glue is applied. In various embodiments, full-width panel  108  and glue lap  132  are folded 180 degrees on top of panel  102 , creating an outside glue lap. In various embodiments, sheet  100  is fed through a folder/gluer machine which secures the glue lap  132  to panel  102 .  
         [0023]     In various embodiments, four storage racks are die-cut on a rotary die cutter. The die-cut blanks are then fed through a folder/gluer to complete the assembly. The material used is 275 lb. C-flute corrugated fiberboard, in various embodiments. Additional materials include plastic, corrugated board, chip board, etc.  
         [0024]     In various embodiments, sheets  100  are made with standard cuts and folds typical of corrugated industry standards. In one embodiment, a completed storage rack assembly is constructed by unfolding and squaring up a sheet  100  into a storage rack. Additionally, for each storage rack, an inward bin bottom panel  120  is folded until lock tabs  122  are engaged into lock tab receiver holes  121 . Additionally, for each storage rack, mitered bottom flaps  116  are prefolded inward for placement onto swivel base assembly  204 .  
         [0025]     In various embodiments, multiple storage racks are butted, positioning, for example, the male connectors of a first storage rack proximal the female connector of a second storage rack. The male connectors are then manipulated to mate with the female connectors. For example, in one embodiment, opposing T-locks are pushed through receiver holes and are then flattened on other side.  
         [0026]     In various embodiments, assembled storage racks are placed on top of the swivel base. Various methods of attachment can be used, such as bolts, screws, staples, pressure sensitive tape, etc.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1B  shows a sheet with dimensioned excises and creases, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. Listed dimensions are in inches. In various embodiments, the sheet  100 ′ is used to form a storage rack. The illustration shows solid lines representing areas where excises have occurred. The illustration additionally shows dashed lines representing areas where creases exist.  
         [0028]     In various embodiments, the sheet  100 ′ is folded into a storage rack. In one embodiment, the storage rack includes a plurality of compartments. In some embodiments, the compartments are arraigned in a vertical column. The vertical arrangement of the compartments allows for the display of stowed contents to storage rack users.  
         [0029]     In various embodiments, multiple storage racks are interlocked. In some embodiments, one or more storage racks are connected to a rotational base. Various rotational bases allow for improved display options. For example, in one embodiment, four column shaped storage racks are interlocked in a parallel clover-leaf arrangement with a swiveling base disposed between the interlocked storage racks and a working surface such that a user can rotate the storage racks. This arrangement provides for easy display of contents stowed in any of the storage racks without the user having to walk.  
         [0030]     In various embodiments, a sheet includes a back length panel  102 ′, a cut-out side width panel  104 ′, a front length panel  106 ′ and a full-width side panel  108 ′. In various embodiments, the back length panel  102 ′ includes lock tab receiver holes  110 ′. Additionally, in various embodiments, the back length panel  102 ′ includes male connector  112 ′. In various embodiments, the male connector is a T-lock, but the present subject matter is not so limited. Additionally, the locate and the gender of the connector may vary in different embodiments which fall within the scope of the present subject matter. The back panel  102 ′, in various embodiments, includes a relief slot  114 ′ which is used for half-folding along half-fold crease  128 ′.  
         [0031]     In various embodiments, cut-out side width panel  104 ′ includes individualized cut outs for one or more bins, such as bin  118 ′. In various embodiments, this allows for physical and visual accessibility to each bin compartment. Cut-out side width panel  104 ′ additionally includes half-fold crease  128 ′, in various embodiments.  
         [0032]     Front length panel  106 ′, in various embodiments, includes one or more bin bottom panels. Bin bottom panels, such as bin bottom pane  120 ′ are illustrated for explanation. In various embodiments, bin bottom  120 ′ includes a lock tab  122 ′ which is adapted to lock the bin bottom into a lock tab slot  121 ′. Additionally, in various embodiments, bin bottom  120 ′ includes individualized thumb cuts  124 ′ which aid in the assembly of the storage rack.  
         [0033]     Full-width side panel  108 ′, in various embodiments, includes a female connector  126 ′. In various embodiments, the female connector is adapted to receive a male connector. In one embodiment, the female connector is sized to receive a T-lock style of connect. In various embodiments, female connector  126 ′ is sized to receive a male connector shaped like the male connector  112 ′. Additionally, in various embodiments, full-width side panel  108 ′ includes half-fold crease  128 ′. In various embodiments, half-fold crease  128 ′ enables a glued sheet  100 ′ to be half folded.  
         [0034]     In various embodiments, panels  102 ′,  104 ′,  106 ′ and  108 ′ include a bottom flap  116 . In various embodiments, the bottom flap  116 ′ is mitred. Bottom flap  116 ′, in various embodiments, is used for attachment of the sheet  100  to a swivel base.  
         [0035]     The back length panel  102 ′, in various embodiments, is folded 180 degrees on the lengthwise crease  130 ′. Panel  108 ′ shows one embodiment having an outside glue lap panel  132 ′ to which glue is applied. In various embodiments, full-width panel  108 ′ and glue lap  132 ′ are folded 180 degrees on top of panel  102 ′, creating an outside glue lap. In various embodiments, sheet  100 ′ is fed through a folder/gluer machine which secures the glue lap  132 ′ to panel  102 ′.  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of multiple storage bins partially assembled, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. In various embodiments, bin bottom panel  208  is folded inward so that lock tab  204  is engaged into lock tab receiver holes  206 . This process is repeated for each of the bin compartment thereby creating individualized bins and one of the four completed storage racks  200 . In various embodiments, folding of the bin bottoms occurs after the storage rack has been glued into assembled form.  
         [0037]     In various embodiments, storage racks are assembled by pushing opposing male connector  210  into receiver hole  212 . In various embodiments, four storage racks are assembled into a pin wheel shaped or clover-leaf shaped structure. In various embodiments, interlocking multiple storage racks provides stability to the entire structure.  
         [0038]     In various embodiments, a storage assembly includes a base  204 . In various embodiments, the base swivels. In various embodiments, the base  204  can be made of various materials. For purposes of this illustration, the swivel base is comprised of oriented strand board and a metal ball bearing swivel base which are interconnected with screws.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows an assembly having multiple storage bins, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. Storage rack assembly  300  can be attached to the swivel base assembly  302  by various methods such as pressure sensitive tape, screws, staples, etc.  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of multiple storage bins, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. The view shows that an assembly may include a void  500 .  
         [0041]     Some of the possible uses for the present invention would include but are not limited to commercial display applications, home-use organizational aid for garage, workshop, home office, laundry room, pantry, crafters and hobbyists, dormitory room storage, and anywhere fast retrieval and organization of items is necessary or desired.  
         [0042]     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the present subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.