Patent Publication Number: US-10773851-B2

Title: Basket

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a basket for use in shelving storage units. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     A range of modular systems are available for creating shelving racks of various sizes. It is common to require the use of slidable baskets within such shelving racks and systems are available to provide rails to accommodate such baskets. 
     Such systems are often provided in a modular form such that the units can be shipped in pieces and assembled on site. The baskets however are generally supplied as complete units. A further issue with such shelving systems, particularly when used in hospitals and similar environments, relates to the ability for the components to remain clean. It is preferable, for example, for baskets to be able to adequately drain to reduce the likelihood that material will build up around the base of the basket. 
     The present invention relates to a shelving system having features aimed at overcoming, at least in part, the abovementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provides basket comprising: 
     first and second side walls and first and second end walls, wherein upper edges of the side and end walls include a lip portion extending outwardly therefrom; 
     securing clips located adjacent lower sides of the lip portions of the end and side walls; and 
     a retaining loop being generally rectangular in shape 
     wherein the retaining loop is locatable around outer surfaces of the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls such that the retaining loop is received in the securing clips to secure the first and second side walls and first and second end walls together to define an outer wall of the basket. 
     Preferably the outer wall formed by the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls includes an inward taper from an upper end to a lower end thereof. 
     Preferably the securing clips each comprises a projection extending downwardly from a lower surface of the lip portion defining a downwardly facing recess located between the projection and the adjacent side or end wall. 
     Preferably the downwardly facing recesses are dimensioned to receive the retaining loop in a snap fit type connection. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the projections are elongate and parallel to the adjacent side or end walls and the loop comprises a wire of circular cross section and inner faces of the projections are arcuate such that the recesses are generally circular in transverse cross section to receive the loop. 
     Preferably the base extends between lower edges of the first and second side walls and the first and the second end walls and comprises a mesh tray. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the mesh tray comprises a rectangular outer frame and an inner grill formed from a plurality of cross members extending across between sides and ends of the outer frame. 
     Preferably each of the side and end side walls are provided with one or more base connectors arranged at intervals on the lower edges thereof to engage with the base. 
     Preferably the base connectors each comprise an arcuate tab extending on an inner side of the side or end wall to define an upwardly facing channel to receive the outer frame of the base. 
     In a preferred embodiment, apertures are provided in the inner mesh of the base at locations along the outer frame corresponding to the locations of the base connectors such that the base connectors are received in the apertures. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the cross members are teardrop-shaped in transverse cross section such that the cross members include a rounded upper edge and inwardly tapering sides such that the width of the cross members decreases towards the lower sides. 
     Preferably the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls include a plurality of holes therein to allow for air flow within the basket. 
     In one embodiment, the basket is provided with a divider comprising one or more first members and one or more second members wherein the first members extend between the first and second ends of the basket and the second members extend between the first and second sides. 
     Preferably ends of the first and second members are provided with lugs to be received in corresponding openings in the side and end walls. 
     Preferably the ends of the first and second members are each provided with a pair of lugs and each of the side and end walls is provided with a pair of corresponding rows of openings. 
     Preferably ends of the side walls and the end walls are each provided with end connectors such that ends of each of the side walls can engage with adjacent ends of the end walls. 
     In one embodiment, the end connectors on the side walls comprise curved tabs located centrally on end edges of the side walls to be received into corresponding recessed portions provided centrally on end edges of the end walls. 
     Preferably the curved tabs are thinner than the side walls and located adjacent an outer surface of the side walls and the recessed portions include a lip portion located adjacent an inner surface of the end walls to engage with a distal end of the curved tabs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of a basket in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a lower perspective view of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross sectional view of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an upper perspective view of the basket of  FIG. 1  shown incorporating a divider; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the basket of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an upper perspective view of the base of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the base of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a first close up exploded view of ends of the side and end walls of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a second close up view of the ends of the side and end walls; 
         FIG. 13 a    is an upper perspective view of an end of a side wall of the basket; 
         FIG. 13 b    is an upper perspective view of an end of an end wall of the basket; and 
         FIG. 14  is a close up view showing connection of adjacent side and end walls. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, there is shown a basket  10  comprising generally an outer wall  12  and a base  14 . The outer wall  12  is formed from first and second side walls  16  and  17  and first and second end walls  18  and  19 . The first and second side walls  16  and  17  comprise generally planar members located parallel in use and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  also comprise planar members located parallel to each other. The end walls  18  and  19  extend between adjacent ends of the first and second side walls  16  and  17 . The outer wall  12  formed by the first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  is therefore generally rectangular in shape. 
     The first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  are shaped such that when the side walls  16  and  17  and end walls  18  and  19  are connected, the outer wall  12  includes an inward taper from an upper end to a lower end thereof. 
     In the embodiment shown, each of the first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  is formed from a single sheet of suitable material, such as a plastic material. The first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  include a plurality of holes  20  therein to allow for air flow within the basket  10 . In the embodiment shown, the holes  20  are provided in rows, with each row comprising a plurality of holes  20  spaced at regular intervals along the length of the side or end wall  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 . 
     Opposed ends of the side walls  16  and  17  and the end walls  18  and  19  are each provided with end connectors  60 . The end connectors  60  are provided such that ends of each of the side walls  16  and  17  can engage with adjacent ends of the end walls  18  and  19 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the end connectors  60  on the side walls  16  and  17  comprise curved tabs  62  located centrally on end edges of the side walls  16  and  17 . The curved tabs  62  are provided to be received into corresponding recessed portions  64  provided centrally on end edges of the end walls  18  and  19 . The curved tabs  62  are thinner than the side walls  16  and  17  and located adjacent an outer surface of the side walls  16  and  17 . The recessed portions  64  include also a lip portion  66  located adjacent an inner surface of the end walls  18  and  19 . The distal ends of the curved tabs  62  engage with the lip portions  66  in the recessed portions  64  of the adjacent end walls  18  and  19  to assist with securing the end walls  18  and  19  relative to the side walls  16  and  17 . 
     The first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  each include a lip portion  22  along a longitudinal edge, being the edge located uppermost in use. The lip portions  22  of each of the first and second side walls  16  and  17  and of the first and second end walls  18  and  19  are aligned such that a continuous upper lip is defined when the basket  10  is constructed. 
     The base  14  of the basket  10  is located in use extending between lower edges of the first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and the second end walls  18  and  19 . The base  14  comprises a planar mesh tray  26 . The mesh tray  26  comprises a rectangular outer frame  28  and an inner grill  30 . The inner grill  30  is formed from a plurality of perpendicular cross members  38  extending across between the sides and ends of the outer frame  28 . In the embodiment shown, the outer frame  28  and the inner grill  30  are integrally formed from a plastic material. 
     The first and second side walls  16  and  17  and first and second end walls  18  and  19  are secured together by a retaining loop  32 . The retaining loop  32  comprises a rectangular frame formed of a suitable material, such as a metallic wire. The dimensions of the retaining loop  32  are such that the retaining loop  32  can be received around the periphery of the connected side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19  from a lower end of the outer wall  12 . 
     Each of the first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  is provided with one or more securing clips  34 . Each securing clip  34  comprises a projection  35  extending downwardly from a lower surface of the lip portion  22 . The projections  35  comprise elongate projections located parallel to the adjacent side or end wall  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19  such that the projections  35  define downwardly facing recesses located between the projections  35  and the side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 . The downwardly facing recesses are dimensioned to receive the retaining loop  32  in a snap fit type connection. In the embodiment shown where the loop  32  comprises a wire of circular cross section, inner faces of the projections  35  are arcuate such that the recesses are generally circular in transverse cross section to receive the loop  32 . 
     Each of the first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  are provided with one or more base connectors  36  on the lower edges thereof. The base connectors  36  each comprise an arcuate tab extending from an inner side of the side or end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 . The arcuate tabs define upwardly facing channels provided to receive the outer frame  28  of the base  14 . 
     The mesh tray  26  is also provided with apertures  44  at locations along the outer frame  28  corresponding to the locations of the base connectors  36 . The apertures  44  are provide in the inner grill  30  adjacent the outer frame  28  such that the base connectors  36  are received in the apertures  44 . The transverse cross sectional shape of the channels defined by the base connectors  36  corresponds to the transverse cross sectional shape of the outer frame  28  such that the outer frame  28  engages into the channels in a snap fit manner. 
     The cross members  38  of the inner grill  30  are teardrop-shaped in transverse cross section, as can be seen in  FIG. 10 . The cross members  38  include a rounded upper edge  40  and inwardly tapering sides  42  such that the width of the cross members  38  decreases towards the lower sides thereof. The rounded upper edge  40  and tapering sides  42  reduce the likelihood of dust or debris collecting on the upper surface of the mesh tray  26 . 
     The basket  10  is also provided with a divider  46 . The divider  46  comprises one or more first members  48  and one or more second members  50 . The first and second members  48  and  50  each comprise a rectangular planar member. The first members  48  extend between the first and second ends  18  and  19  of the basket  10  and the second members  50  extend between the first and second sides  16  and  17 . 
     The first members  48  include slots  54  extending inwardly from a lower edge thereof and the second members  50  include slots  54  extending inwardly from an upper edge thereof. The slots  54  of the first member  48  can be engaged into the slots  54  of the second member  50  to secure the first and second members  48  and  50  together at right angles to each other. 
     Ends of the first and second members  48  and  50  are provided with lugs  56  to be received in corresponding openings  58  in the side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19 . In the embodiment shown, the ends of the first and second members  48  and  50  are each provided with a pair of lugs  58  thereon. Each of the side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  is provided with a pair of corresponding rows of openings  58 . The rows of openings  58  comprise a plurality of openings  58  provided at regular intervals along the length of the side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  such that the first and second members  48  and  50  can be positioned at any required position relative to the side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  by insertion of the lugs  56  into the appropriate pairs of openings  58 . 
     In use, the basket  10  may be formed by locating the first and second side walls  16  and  17  and the first and second end walls  18  and  19  to form the outer wall  12  such that the end and side walls  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  are connected together by the end connectors  60 . The retaining loop  32  may then be slid upwardly around the lower edges of the side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  to engage into the securing clips  34  adjacent the upper edges of the side and end walls  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19 . The retaining loop  32  engages into the securing clips  34  of each of the side walls  16  and  17  and end walls  18  and  19  and thereby secures the side walls  16  and  17  and the end walls  18  and  19  together. 
     The base  14  may be inserted into the outer wall  12  downwardly until the outer frame  28  thereof engages into the upwardly facing channels formed by the base connectors  36 . The basket  10  may therefore be transported in a disassembled, flat-packed configuration. When assembled, a secure basket  10  is formed having an open base through which liquid or other matter may fall. The inner surfaces of the side walls  16  and  17  and the end walls  18  and  19  are planar from upper edges to lower edges with no inward protrusions other than the base connectors  36  required to engage the base  14 . Therefore any material falling downwardly along the side wall  16  and  17  or end walls  18  and  19  will pass directly through the basket  10 , providing a hygienic design. 
     It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.