Patent EA-004959-B1 (EA)
Title: Assemble-in-place modular storage
IPC: A47B88/00
Filed: 2002-01-11
Abstract: 1. A snap together construction system comprising: a plurality of interchangeable panels each with four edges, four corners, a front side and a back side; alternating plastic latches and catches, each catch with deformable slot walls and each latch with a projecting enlarged head extending near each corner on the front side of each panel to engage a corresponding latch of an interchangeable panel, whereby panels are attached when the enlarged head of one panel snaps into a catch of another panel by displacing the slot walls; and at least one alignment stop at each corner to align the panels by prohibiting sliding movement of an attached panel along the length of the slot walls. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein each latch and catch extends at approximately a 45 degree angle from the panel. 3. The storage system of claim 1 wherein the panels are constructed from plastic and windows are formed within the panels creating a panel grid appearance, whereby one may view the inside a cube formed by a group of panels through a panel. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein one or more guides are formed on a panel whereby a shelf or drawer may be supported. 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one alignment stop on each edge whereby movement of attached panels along the length of the slot walls is inhibited. 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a corner buttress with a support edge, formed at each corner, whereby upon connection of any two panels the support edges of the adjacent corner buttresses contact each other and form a corner support. 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of wheels each connected to a mounting post; a wheel boss formed in each corner of a panel adapted to engage a mounting post; and a stop extending from each post whereby the insertion of a post into a wheel boss is restricted. 8. The storage system of claim 6 wherein each corner buttress is roughly a concave diamond shaped. 9. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a door; at least two hinges affixed on one side to said door; and, an alternating latch or catch extending from each hinge to engage a corresponding latch or catch on the back side of a panel. 10. The storage system of claim 1 wherein the panels are formed of a plastic-like material selected from the group consisting of, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene "ABS", Acetal, Acylic, Nylon, polycarbonate, polypropylene, or polyurethane. 11. The system of claim 3 further comprising a raised grid support formed along the grid. 12. A snap together construction system comprising: a plurality of interchangeable panels each with four edges, four corners, a front side and a back side; a plastic corner cover mounted over each of the corner of each panel, with alternating latches and catches supported thereon extending towards the front side of each panel, each catch with a deformable slot wall and each latch with a projecting enlarged head, whereby panels are attached when the enlarged head of a latch on panel snaps into a catch of another panel by displacing the slot walls; and, at least one alignment stop formed as part of each corner to align the panels by inhibiting sliding movement along the length of the slot walls. 13. The storage system of claim 12 wherein each latch and catch corner cover is permanently affixed to said panel's corners. 14. The storage system of claim 12 wherein the corner covers and panels are constructed of dissimilar materials. 15. A snap together storage system comprising: a plurality of substantially square interchangeable plastic panels each with four edges, four corners, a front side and a back side; alternating plastic latches and catches, each catch with deformable slot walls and each latch with a projecting enlarged head formed near the corners on the front side of each panel, whereby an enlarged head on one panel can snap into a catch of another panel by displacing the slot walls; at least one alignment stop formed substantially at each corner, whereby sliding movement of attached panels along the length of the slot walls is inhibited; and a corner buttress with a support edge formed at each corner, whereby connection of any two or more panels places the support edges of adjacent corner buttresses in contact with each other to form a larger corner support. 16. The storage system of claim 15 wherein one or more guides are formed on a panel whereby a shelf or drawer may be supported. 17. The storage system of claim 15 further comprising: a plurality of wheels each connected to a mounting post; a wheel boss formed in each corner of a panel adapted to engage a mounting post; and a stop extending from each post whereby the insertion of a post into a wheel boss is restricted. 18. The storage system of claim 15 further comprising: a door; at least two hinges affixed on one side to said door; and, an alternating latch or catch extending from each hinge to engage a corresponding latch and/or catch on the back side of a panel. 19. A method of constructing a snap together storage box comprising the steps of: snapping the latches and catches of a first side panel, with alternating latches and catches extending from its edges, into the latches or catches of an interchangeable second side panel; snapping the latches and catches of a third interchangeable side panel, with alternating latches and catches extending from its edges, into the latches or catches of an interchangeable second side panel opposite the first panel; snapping the latches and catches of a fourth interchangeable side panel, with alternating latches and catches extending from its edges, into the latches or catches of the third and the first side panels forming a box open at the top and bottom. 20. The method of claim 19 whereby adding a bottom or top to the box by snapping the latches and catches of a fifth interchangeable side panel with alternating latches and catches extending from its edges into the latches and catches of the first, second, third and fourth side panels. 21. The system of claim 1 further comprising plastic latches formed on the back side of at last two panels opposite each frontside catch and plastic catches formed on the back side of each panel opposite each frontside latch. 22. The system of claim 12 further comprising backside facing latches opposite each frontside catch and backside facing catches opposite each frontside latch. 23. The storage system of claim 15 further comprising alternating plastic latches and catches formed near the corners on the back side of each panel, each extending from said back side, each latch positioned opposite a front side catch and each catch positioned opposite a front side latch. 24. The method of claim 19 the method further comprising providing alternating latches and catches on both the front and back sides of each corner, wherein each backside latch extends opposite a front side catch and each backside catch extends opposite a front side latch. 25. The system of claim 12 further comprising a corner buttress with a support edge formed at each corner, whereby upon connection of any two panels the support edges of the adjacent corner buttresses contact each other and form a corner support. 26. The system of claim 1 further comprising on the back side of at least one panel a plastic catch formed opposite each latch and a plastic latch formed opposite each catch. 27. The system of claim 25 wherein the latches and the catches on the backside of at least one panel extend at approximately a 45 degree angle from the backside of the panel. 28. The system of claim 12 wherein the projecting enlarged heads and the catches each extend at approximately a 45 degree angle from the side of the panel they are oriented to. 29. The storage system of claim 15 wherein the projecting enlarged heads and the catches each extend at approximately a 45 degree angle from the side of the panel they are oriented to. 30. The storage system of claim 21 wherein the projecting enlarged heads and the catches each extend at approximately a 45 degree angle from the side of the panel they are oriented to. 31. The storage system of claim 22 wherein the backside facing projecting enlarged heads and catches extend at approximately a 45 degree angle from the side of the panel they are oriented to. 32. The system of claim 1 wherein each catch is constructed of a material with at least one of the following characteristics, elasticity, memory and lubricity to allow the catch to deform upon insertion or removal of the corresponding latch and to substantially snap-back into place after deformation. 33. The system of claim 12 wherein each catch is constructed of a material with at least one of the following characteristics, elasticity memory and lubricity to allow the catch to deform upon insertion or removal of the corresponding latch and to substantially snap-back into place after deformation. 34. The system of claim 12 wherein at least one corner cover and panel are constructed of the same material. 35. The system of claim 12 wherein at least one corner cover and panel are constructed of different material. 36. The system of claim 34 wherein the material to construct at least one of the corner covers and the attached panel is selected from one or more of the group consisting of framed wire mesh, coated wire, plastic grids, wood, metal, plastic, composites, sheet steel, stainless, hot rolled, stainless cold rolled, carbon steel, alloy, brass, or copper stamped, copper formed, woven metal, woven plastic and metal frames inserted molded into plastic. 37. The system of claim 35 wherein the material to construct at least one of the corner cover and the attached panel one each selected from a different one of the group consisting of framed wire mesh, coated wire, plastic grids, wood, metal, plastic, composites, sheet steel, stainless, hot rolled, stainless cold rolled, carbon steel, alloy, brass, or copper stamped, copper formed, woven metal, woven plastic and metal