Patent Publication Number: US-11647835-B2

Title: Storage assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A storage assembly configured to closely interfit with adjacent storage assemblies in a linearly offset, end-to-end relationship such that the storage assemblies cooperate to provide a storage arrangement configured to subdivide a given floor workspace area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The storage assembly as described herein may include a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of end walls extending between the top and bottom walls and cooperating with the top and bottom walls to define an interior space, and at least one end surface configured to closely interfit with at least one end surface of an adjacent storage assembly that is substantially similar to the storage assembly at a predefined angular orientation such that a longitudinal axis of the storage assembly is angularly offset from a longitudinal axis of the adjacent storage assembly when the at least one end surface of the storage assembly is interfit with the at least one surface of the adjacent storage assembly. 
     The storage assembly may additionally or alternatively include a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, a pair of interior end walls extending between the top and bottom walls and cooperating with the top and bottom walls to define an interior storage space, a pair of exterior end walls extending between the top and bottom walls and spaced outward of the interior end walls, and a handle relief extending into the top wall at a position between one of the interior end walls and one of the exterior end walls and configured for grasping by a user to move the storage assembly. 
     The storage assembly may also alternatively or additionally include a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, a pair of interior end walls extending between the top and bottom walls and cooperating with the top and bottom walls to define an interior storage space, an exterior wall extending between the top and bottom walls and positioned outside of the internal storage space, wherein the top wall, one of the interior walls and the exterior wall cooperate to define an open area, and a frame assembly located within the open area and extending between the top and bottom walls. 
     The storage assembly and related storage arrangements as shown and described herein are configured to advantageously subdivide a given floor workspace area to maximize the use thereof without the use of separate partition or wall assemblies, provide a clean aesthetic look when engaged with one another while simultaneously minimizing the required floor area. The storage assemblies are highly mobile thereby allowing easy movement and reconfiguration of each storage assembly and overall storage arrangement, and provide a highly reconfigurable storage arrangement allowing a user to optimize the use of the associated storage area. 
     These and other advantages of the storage assembly as shown and described herein will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a storage assembly that includes a plurality of shelves subdividing an interior storage space of the storage assembly; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the storage assembly including a plurality of vertical partitions and drawers subdividing the interior storage space of the storage assembly; 
         FIG.  3    is a top plan view of multiple storage assemblies closely interfit with one another in an end-to-end, non-linear orientation, and cooperating to provide a storage arrangement; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the storage assembly having a curved plan form configuration, where the internal storage space of the storage assembly is subdivided by a vertical partition and a plurality of shelves; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the partition assembly having an arcuately-shaped plan form where the internal storage space of the storage assembly is subdivided by vertical partitions, storage shelves and a plurality of drawers; 
         FIG.  6    is a top plan view of multiple storage assemblies closely interfit with one another in an end-to-end, non-linear orientation, and cooperating to provide the storage arrangement; 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded perspective view of the storage assembly as shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  8    is an enlarged view of the area VIII,  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9 A  is an enlarged view of the area IX,  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9 B  is an enlarged, partial plan view of an external wall and a frame assembly; 
         FIG.  9 C  is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional elevational view of the external wall and the frame assembly; 
         FIG.  9 D  is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the external wall and the frame assembly; 
         FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a handle of the storage assembly taken along the line X-X,  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the storage assembly taken along the line XI-XI,  FIG.  1   ; and 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the storage assembly taken along the line XII-XII,  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIGS.  1  and  3   . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The reference numeral  10  generally designates a storage assembly that may be provided in various configurations ( FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5   ) each configured to closely interfit with adjacent storage assemblies in a linearly offset or non-linear, end-to-end relationship ( FIGS.  3  and  6   ), such that a plurality of the storage assemblies  10  cooperate to provide a storage arrangement  11  configured to subdivide a given floor workspace area. 
     In the illustrated example, the storage assembly  10  may include a top wall  12 , a bottom wall  14  spaced vertically below the top wall  12 , a pair of internal side walls  16  extending vertically between the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  14 , and a pair of external side walls  18  located outwardly from the internal side walls  16  along the length of the storage assembly  10 . The top wall  12 , the bottom wall  14  and the internal side walls  16  may cooperate to define an internal storage space  20  that may be subdivided by various internal components to meet a particular user&#39;s requirements, while the internal side walls  16  cooperate with the external side walls  18  to define open spaces  21  therebetween. In the illustrated examples, the storage assembly  10  ( FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5   ) may include one or more horizontal shelves  22  extending an entire distance between the internal side walls  16  ( FIG.  1   ), one or more vertical partitions  24  ( FIGS.  2 ,  4  and  5   ) extending between the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  14  and spaced between the internal side walls  16 , horizontal shelves  26  ( FIGS.  4  and  5   ) extending between one of the internal side walls  16  and a vertical partition  24  and/or between a pair of the vertical partitions  24 , one or more drawers  28  ( FIGS.  2  and  5   ) movable between a retracted position A where the door  28  is received within the interior space  20  and an extended position B where the drawer  28  extends from within the interior storage space  20 , and/or any combination thereof. 
     The storage assembly  10  may also include a rear wall  30  that may be secured to the top wall  12 , the bottom wall  14  and/or the interior side walls  16 . The storage assembly  10  may also be constructed without the rear wall  30  thereby allowing access to the interior storage space  20  from both sides of the storage assembly  10 . One or more shelf support brackets  34  ( FIGS.  7  and  8   ) may support the shelves  22 ,  26  at various, pre-selected vertical positions within the interior storage space  20 . In the illustrated example, the shelf support brackets  34  are configured to engage one or more vertical rows of spaced apertures  36 . Each support bracket  34  may include a vertical portion  35 , a horizontal shelf-supporting portion  37 , and an outwardly-positioned guide portion  39  configured to abut an edge of the shelf  22  and keep the shelf  22  centered between cooperating support brackets  34 . It is also noted that the configuration of the support brackets  34  that include the guide portion  39  allow the associated shelves  22 ,  26  to be supported in an angular or tilted orientation within the interior storage space  20  with the support brackets  34  located at the front of the storage assembly  10  being positioned lower than the support brackets located at the rear of the storage assembly  10 . 
     The top wall  12 , the bottom wall  14 , the internal side walls  16 , the shelves  22 ,  26 , and the rear wall  30  may comprise metal, wood, plastic or various combinations thereof. In the illustrated example, the top wall  12 , the bottom wall  14 , the internal side walls  16 , the shelves  22 ,  26  and the rear wall  30  comprise wood or laminated wood, while the external side walls  18  comprise plastic and may include a layered configuration as discussed below. 
     The top wall  12  ( FIGS.  1  and  7   ) may include a central portion  38  vertically aligned with the interior storage space  20 , and a pair of opposite end portions  40  extending outward from the central portion  38  beyond the internal side walls  16 . Similarly, the bottom wall  14  may include a central portion  42  vertically aligned with the interior storage space  20 , and a pair of opposite end portions  44  extending outward from the central portion  42  beyond the interior side walls  16 . Alternatively, the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  14  may include a single end portion  40 ,  44 , respectively. Each end portion  40  of the top wall  12  may include an end surface  46 , while each end portion  44  of the bottom wall  14  may include an end surface  48 . In the illustrated example, the end surface  46  of each end portion  40  of the top wall  12  includes a pair of substantially straight edge portions  50 , while the end surface  48  of each end portion  44  of the bottom wall  14  includes a pair of substantially straight edge portions  52 . Preferably, each straight edge portion  50 ,  52  extends at an angle α ( FIG.  3   ) of less than 90° from a centerline or longitudinal axis  54  of the storage assembly  10 . More preferably, each straight edge portion  50 ,  52  extends at an angle of less than or equal to about 60° from the longitudinal axis  54 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG.  7   , each external side wall  18  may include a plurality of layered components such as an internal structural reinforcement member  58  and an aesthetic external cover member  62 . In the illustrated example, each external side wall  18  includes a pair of end surfaces  64  each including a pair of substantially straight portions  66  each extending from the longitudinal axis  54  of the storage assembly  10  at a similar angle to that as discussed above with respect to the straight edge portions  50 ,  52  of the top and bottom walls  12 ,  14 . The vertical outer edges  70  ( FIGS.  7  and  9 A ) of the internal structural reinforcement member  58  and/or the vertical outer edges  72  of the external cover member  62  may include a curved or structural reinforcement edge  74 ,  76 , respectively, to structurally reinforce the external side wall  18 . As best illustrated in  FIGS.  9 B- 9 D , the cover member  62  includes an upper wrap portion  59  that wraps over an upper edge of the reinforcement member  58 , as described below. The external side wall further includes a J-shaped clip member  75  secured to the vertical outer edges  72  of the cover member  62 , and J-shaped clip members  77  secured to an inner edge of the upper wrap portion  59  of the cover member  62 . 
     Each end portion  40  of the top wall  12  may also include a handle  92  configured so as to be easily gripped by a user to facilitate movement of the storage assembly  10  within a given workspace area. In the illustrated example, the handle  92  is provided as a triangularly-shaped relief  100  extending into the top wall  12  downward from a top surface  102  of the top wall  12 . The relief  100  ( FIG.  10   ) may extend completely through the top wall  12  from the top surface  102  through the bottom surface  104 . In the illustrated example, the handle  92  is vertically aligned with the corresponding open space  21 . The storage assembly  10  may also include a cap member  106  configured so as to cover a corresponding end portion  40  of the top wall  12 . In the illustrated example, each cap member  106  is triangularly-shaped so as to correspond to the triangle shape of the corresponding end portion  40 , and includes an upwardly-opening relief  108  that is co-aligned with the relief  100  of the corresponding end portion  40 . The relief  108  is provided a triangularly-shaped cross-sectional configuration that corresponds to the triangle shape of the relief  100  of the end portion  40  of the top wall  12 , however other cross-sectional configurations of the relief  100  and relief  108  may be utilized. Each cap member  106  may also include a bottom wall  110 . It is noted that the cap member  106  is sized such that the cap member  106  extends completely through the relief  100  of the end portion  40  and into the open space  21  between the internal side wall  16  and the external side wall  18 . The cap member  106  may be secured to the top wall  12  via a plurality of mechanical fasteners such as screws or bolts  111  threadably received within corresponding bosses  112  integrally molded with the cap member  106 . A cover  114  may be positioned within the relief  108  so as to aesthetically cover at least some of the screws  111 , and may be held within the relief  108  via a frictional engagement and/or an adhesive. 
     The storage assembly  10  may also include a plurality of caster assemblies  120  secured to and extending downward from the bottom wall  14  and positioned so as to movably support the storage assembly on a floor surface. In the illustrated example, each caster assembly  120  includes a caster mount  122  secured to an underside of the bottom wall  14  via a plurality of mechanical fasteners such as screws  124 , a socket insert  126  press-fit within the corresponding caster mount  122 , and a caster  128  pivotably received within the socket insert  126 . 
     The storage assembly  10  may also include a pair of cover members  130  ( FIGS.  1 ,  7  and  11   ) configured so as to wrap about the end surface  48  of the lower wall  14 . In the illustrated example, each cover member  130  is provided with an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration including a horizontal bottom portion  132  and a vertical top portion  136 . Each cover member  130  may be secured to the bottom surface  121  of the bottom wall  14  via a plurality of mechanical fasteners such as screws  138  extending through the bottom portion  132  and into the bottom wall  14 . 
     The storage assembly  10  ( FIG.  7   ) may further include a pair of frame assemblies  140  positioned within the corresponding open areas  21 . The frame assemblies  140  may include an upper frame portion  142  positioned adjacent the top wall  12 , a lower frame portion  144  positioned adjacent the bottom wall  14 , and a plurality of vertical frame members  146  extending between the upper frame portion  142  and the lower frame portion  144 , where the vertical frame members  146  are welded to the upper and lower frame portions  142 ,  144  or secured thereto in another suitable manner. In the illustrated example, the upper frame portion  142  and the lower frame portion  144  are each triangularly-shaped corresponding to the shape of the associated end portions  40 ,  44 , and include a straight frame portion  147  and an angular frame portion  149  that cooperate to define an opening  150 . The frame assembly comprises a metal, however, other suitable materials may also be utilized. In assembly, each frame assembly  140  is positioned between one of the end portions  40  of the top wall  12  and one of the end portions  44  of the bottom wall  14 , and is secured to the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  14  via a plurality of mechanical fasteners such as bolts  152  and nuts  154  where the bolts  152  extend through the top and bottom walls  12 ,  14  and the upper and lower frame portions  142 ,  144 . The external side wall  18  may be placed over the corresponding frame assembly  140  such that the external side wall  18  is also positioned between the end portion  40  of the top wall  12  and the end portion  44  of the bottom wall  14 . It is noted that the cap member  106  includes a flange  107  that extends downwardly below an upper edge of the external side wall  18 , while the top portion  136  of the cover member  30  extends upwardly from a bottom edge of the external side wall  18 , such that the exterior side wall  18  is trapped between the flange  107  of the cap member  106  and the top wall  12  ( FIG.  10   ) and between the top portion  136  of the cover member  130  and the bottom wall  14  when the cap member  106  and the cover member  130  are secured to the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  14 , respectively. The J-shaped clip  75  extends over the outer edge  70  of the reinforcement member  58 . The upper wrap portion  59  wraps or extends over the upper edge of the reinforcement member  58  and the angular frame portion  149  of the upper frame portion  142 , and the J-shaped clip members  77  are received within elongated aperture  151  of the angular frame portion  149 . The top wall  12  is then secured such that the top wall  12  abuts the upper wrap portion  59  thereby tightening the cover member  62  in the vertical direction. 
     The frame assemblies  140  may also be configured to support the caster assemblies  120 . Specifically, and as best illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the caster mount  122  may be secured directly to the lower frame portion  144  of the frame assembly  140  via a mechanical fastener such as a screw  161  and nut  163 . 
     As noted above, the storage assembly  10  may be provided in various configurations. For example, the storage assembly  10  may be provided in a relatively straight configuration as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , a curved configuration as shown in  FIGS.  4 - 6   , or other configurations. In the configuration as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , the forward edge  160  and the rear edge  162  of the top wall  12 , the forward edge  164  and the rearward edge  166  ( FIG.  7   ) of the bottom wall  14 , and the forward edge  168  and the rear edge  170  of the shelves  22  are each substantially straight along the length thereof, while the rear wall  30  is substantially planar. In the configuration as illustrated in  FIGS.  4 - 6   , the forward edge  160  and rear edge  162  of the top wall  12 , the forward edge  164  and the rear edge  166  of the bottom wall  14  and the forward edge  168  and the rear edge  170  of each of the shelves  22  may be curved along the length thereof, while the rear wall  30  may be provided in the shape of a curved plane. 
     As discussed above, multiple storage assemblies  10  may be positioned adjacent one another and cooperate to form the storage arrangement  11 . In the illustrated example, adjacent storage assemblies  10  may be positioned with respect to one another such that the straight edge portions  50  of the top wall  12 , the straight edge portions  52  of the bottom wall, the portions  66  of the exterior side walls  18 , the cap member  106 , and/or the cover members  130  of the adjacent storage assemblies in a closely interfit manner as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  6   . Preferably, adjacent storage assemblies  10  are configured to closely interfit with one another such that the centerline of adjacent storage assemblies extend at an angle β of greater than 90° from one another, and more preferably of greater than or equal to about 120° when the storage assemblies  10  are closely interfit with one another. The storage arrangement  11  may be formed utilizing storage assemblies of the straight configuration ( FIGS.  1 - 3   ), of the curved configuration ( FIGS.  4 - 6   ), other suitable configurations, or combinations thereof. While the top wall  12 , the bottom wall  14 , the exterior end wall  18 , the cap member  106  and the cover member  130  are each illustrated as including a pair of straight portions or surfaces, it is noted that each of the elements may be configured to include one or more straight portions or surfaces configured such that adjacent storage assemblies  10  may closely interfit with one another in an offset of non-linear, end-to-end relationship so as to divide a given floor workspace area in the manner described above. The storage arrangement  11  may also include multiple storage assemblies  10  positioned proximate one another in a linearly offset, end-to-end, daisy chain-type relationship where at least one storage assembly  10  is positioned between two adjacent storage assemblies located at opposite ends thereof. 
     In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. While certain claims may depend from a certain claim or certain number of claims, each claim as presented herein may alternatively be combined with any other claim or claims. Components, parts, elements, assemblies, sub-assemblies and arrangements of any particular embodiment or configuration of the storage assemblies may be combined with the components, parts, elements, assemblies, sub-assemblies and arrangements of another embodiment, embodiments or configurations of the storage assemblies disclosed herein.