Abstract:
A storage device including two opposing side panels, a plurality of shelves and a plurality of crossed support devices. The plurality of shelves interconnect the side panels. The plurality of crossed support devices are capable of being attached to one of a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are located opposite one another and provide access to an interior cavity capable of supporting storage materials.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/137,830, filed Jun. 6, 1999, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of storage devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a storage device having improved stability with easy access from two opposing sides.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In many work environments, two employees work in closely spaced adjacent work areas. These works areas often include elements such a desk or a meeting table. However, many times a worker needs additional space for the storage of materials such books or papers. While two storage devices such as traditional book shelves can be positioned adjacent each other such that each user can place work objects therein, this configuration can involve a somewhat wasteful use of space if only one bookshelf is necessary. Yet, two bookshelves have previously been necessary because they are not designed to provide access from two opposing directions. Rather, traditional bookshelves generally include a rear panel that prevents access to the bookshelf from the rear. This rear panel is necessary to provide the bookshelf with the required stability.  
           [0004]    Therefore, there is a need for an improved storage device which has the required stability while also being capable of being accessed from two opposing directions. This storage device must also be capable of easy assembly while being easily constructed in a cost-efficient manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is directed to an improved storage device that provides easy access from two opposing sides while also capable of being easily reconfigured and assembled.  
           [0006]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, a storage device is provided. The storage device includes two opposing side panels, a plurality of shelves and a plurality of crossed support devices. The plurality of shelves interconnect the side panels. The plurality of crossed support devices are capable of being attached to one of a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are located opposite one another and provide access to an interior cavity capable of supporting storage materials.  
           [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, a storage device is provided. The storage device includes two opposing side panels, a plurality of shelves and a plurality of crossed support cables. The plurality of crossed support cables are capable of being attached to one of a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are located opposite one another and provide access to an interior cavity capable of supporting storage materials. The cables can be adjustably secured to impart a tension to the side panels thereby providing an improved stability to the storage device.  
           [0008]    According to a further aspect of the invention, a storage device is provided. The storage device includes two opposing side panels, a plurality of shelves and a plurality of crossed support cables. The two opposing side panels have a vertical channel extending along the ends thereof. A plurality of shelves interconnect the side panels. A plurality of crossed support devices are capable of being attached to one of a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are located opposite one another and provide access to an interior cavity capable of supporting storage.  
           [0009]    The present invention, together with attendant objects and advantages, will be best understood with reference to the detailed description below in connection with the attached drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage device constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the shelves and support cables in accordance with a preferred embodiment;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an inner perspective view of a side panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 4;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an insert; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a partially broken away view of the preferred embodiment of the cable connection assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a storage device  10  constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention. It should be recognized that the storage device  10  can be constructed in a wide variety of sizes and alternate configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, while the storage device  10  illustrated in the drawings includes four shelves and a top work surface, the present invention may also be embodied with two, or three shelves. The present invention could also be constructed without the top work surface. In addition, the shelves may be constructed to have a wide variety of widths.  
         [0019]    With reference to FIG. 1, storage device  10  is shown having feet  12 . The feet  12  are preferably manufactured from a thermoplastic polymer material. In the alternative, the feet  12  could be constructed using casters to provide the storage device  10  with easier movability. The feet  12  are connected to side panels  14 . The feet  12  include a threaded top portion that is fit within a leg  16  extending from a lower portion  18  of the side panel  14 .  
         [0020]    The side panel  14  is preferably manufactured from a thermoplastic polymer. A low-pressure gas assist molding press is preferably used to manufacture the side panels  14 . The side panels  14  include a plurality of vertically aligned pairs of apertures  20 . The apertures  20  are adapted to receive an attachment portion of a utility piece, such as a paper tray. This feature is particularly useful when the storage member  10  is positioned adjacent the work surface of a user.  
         [0021]    The side panels  14  include an inner side  30  that is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 &amp; 5. The inner side  30  includes a plurality of crisscrossed ribs  32  that provide support the storage device  10 . A plurality of spaced pairs of horizontally extending ribs  34  extend intermittently between a top portion  40  and the lower portion  18  of the side panel  14 . The horizontal ribs  34  include end portions  44 . A plurality of passageways  46  extend coaxially with the apertures  20 .  
         [0022]    Inserts  50  are best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The inserts  50  are positioned adjacent to each end portion  44  of the horizontal ribs  34 . The inserts  50  are molded into the side panel  12  during manufacture thereof. There are two inserts  50  molded into each side panel  14  at each tier such that four inserts  50  are adjacent each shelf  54 . In the preferred embodiment, the insert  50  is formed from an alloy material and manufactured using a permanent mold.  
         [0023]    With particular reference to FIG. 6, the insert  50  includes a double keyhole opening  60 , a screw boss  62  and a utility hole  64 . The double keyhole opening  62  includes a central and generally circular opening  66  with the narrow channels  68  extending above and beneath the circular opening  66 . The screw boss  62  includes an interior surface to receive a thread-cutting screw (not shown). The utility hole  64  is a smooth passageway adapted to receive the attachment portion of a utility member that extends through a coaxial aperture  20 . The double keyhole opening  60  serves as the attachment point for the support cables  70 .  
         [0024]    The support cables  70  are best illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 , and  7 . With particular reference if FIG. 7, the support cables  70  include a first piece  72  and a second piece  74 . At each end of each piece  72 ,  74 , a rounded end portion  76  is fixedly attached to the cable. The rounded end portion  76  is preferably formed from an alloy material and die cast onto an end of the cable. In the preferred embodiment, a steel wire body  80  interconnects the end portions  76 . The length of the body  80  can be adjusted to suit the varying widths of the storage devices  10  that can be constructed in accordance with the present invention. The first piece  72  is approximately 4″ long in the preferred embodiment. The second piece  74  extends the balance of the length from the first side of the storage device  10  to the second side of the storage device  10 .  
         [0025]    A bullet-shaped connector  90  interconnects the first piece  72  and the second piece  74 . The connector  90  provides for a connection between the first piece  72  and second piece  74 . The connector  90  includes a first member  92  having a threaded end  94  adapted to be received within the second member  96 . The first member  92  and second member  96  can rotate with respect to the bodies  80  of the first piece  72  and the second piece  74 . The threaded end  94  is adapted to be screwed into a boss  98  within the second member  96 . As a result, the support cables  70  impart the required stress to the storage device  10  to thereby improve its stability. The connector  90  is preferably formed from cold rolled steel with a plated finish. The first member  92  and the second member  96  are slid onto the cable during manufacture thereof and retained by the end portions  76 .  
         [0026]    Shelves  54  interconnect the side panels  14 . Shelves  54  are preferably manufactured from a steel material. The shelves  54  include a plurality of apertures  102  as shown in FIG. 3. The apertures  102  provide the passageway for screws (not shown) which pass through the shelves  54  and into the screw bosses  62  within the inserts  50 . In this manner, the shelves  54  are attached to side panels  14  of the storage device  10 . A second set of apertures  104  are aligned with the utility holes  64  for use with a utility member. The shelves  54  include a ridge  106  that passes horizontally along end portions  108  thereof. Support cables  70  are aligned with the ridges  106 . The ridge  106  can also be used as a mounting feature for a tool or prevent a work object from being pushed off the shelf  54 .  
         [0027]    A top work surface portion  110  is illustrated in the FIGURES of this preferred embodiment. The work surface  110  is attached to the support rods  112 . The support rods  112  are mounted to aluminum mounting members  114  which are attached to an upper portion of the side panels  14 . The work surface  110  includes a bottom portion having a steel plate  116  extending thereacross. The steel plate  116  is welded to the support rods  112 . The steel plate  116  further includes additional openings that allow fasteners to passed into the work surface  110 . The work surface  110  can be constructed from a wide variety of materials including wood.  
         [0028]    The storage device  10  is assembled securing the shelves  54  to the side panels  14  using screws which pass through apertures  102  into the screw bosses  62  in the inserts  50 . Feet  12  are secured to the lower portion  18  of the side panel  14 . The round end portions  76  of the cables  70  are fit within the double keyhole opening  60  of the inserts  50 , The body portion  80  passes through one of the narrow channels  68 . The first member  92  are the second member  96  are connected by threading the threaded end  94  into the boss  98 . The body portions  80  are sized such that when the first member  92  and the second member  96  are screwed together that the proper tension is imparted to the storage device  10 . The work surface  110  is screwed to steel plate  116  which is welded to the support rods  112 .  
         [0029]    The storage device  10  is designed such that a user could remove the support cables  70  from one opposing side of the storage device and reattach the support cables  70  to an opposing side. The support cables  70  would then be located on opposite sides of the storage device such that the storage device  10  could be used by two workers in adjacent work spaces.  
         [0030]    The embodiments described above and shown herein are illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description and attached drawings. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the storage device may be configured to provide a wide variety of vertical and horizontal sizes without departing from the claimed invention. Accordingly, these and any other changes which come within the scope of the claims are intended to be embraced herein.