Patent Publication Number: US-8113607-B2

Title: Storage assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a storage assembly, and in particular to a storage assembly comprising a track arrangement allowing a compact, flush positioning of a plurality of doors of the storage assembly when the doors are in a closed position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A storage assembly comprises a storage unit including top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of sidewalls that cooperate to form an interior space in an opening and communication with the interior space. The storage assembly also comprises a first track and a second track, the first track disposed across a bottom of the opening of the storage unit and including a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width that is different than the first width, wherein the first portion is at least partially vertically offset and at least partially offset along a length of the first portion from the second portion, the second track disposed across the bottom of the opening of the storage unit and including a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width that is different than the first width of the first portion of the second track, wherein the first portion of the second track is at least partially vertically offset and at least partially offset along the length of the first portion of the second track from the second portion of the second track. The storage assembly further comprises a first door assembly slidably disposed within the opening between a first position and a second position that is at least partially laterally offset from the first position, the first door including a pair of first guide members each having a width that is less than the first width of the first portion of the first track and less than the first width of the first portion of the second track respectively, wherein the pair of first guide members guide within the first portion of the first track and the first portion of the second track, respectively. The storage assembly further includes a second door assembly slidably disposed within the opening between a first position and a second position that is at least partially laterally offset from the first position of the second door assembly, the second door including a pair of first guide members each having a width that is greater than the first width of the first portion of the first track and less than the second width of the second portion of the second track, and greater than the first width of the first portion of the first track and less than the second width of the second portion of the second track, respectively, wherein the pair of first guide members of the second door assembly guide within the second portion of the first track and the second portion of the second track, respectively, and wherein the first and second door assemblies are substantially co-planar when in the first positions thereof. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a door track assembly adapted to slidably support a pair of doors within a storage assembly, the door track assembly comprising a first track positionable across a select one of a bottom wall and a top wall of the storage assembly, the first track including a first portion having a first width adapted to slidably receive a first door guide member therein, and a second portion having a second width that is different than the first width and that is adapted to slidably receive a second door guide member therein, wherein the first portion is at least partially vertically offset and at least partially offset along a length of the first portion from the second portion. The door track assembly further comprises a second track positionable across the select one of the bottom wall and a top wall of a storage assembly, the second track including a first portion having a first width adapted to slidably receive a third door guide member therein, and a second portion having a second width that is different than the first width of the second track and that it is adapted to slidably receive a fourth door guide member therein, wherein the first portion of the second track is at least partially vertically offset and at least partially offset along the length of the first portion from the second portion of the second track. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a storage assembly that comprises a storage unit including a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of sidewalls that cooperate to form an interior space and an opening in communication with the interior space, a first track disposed across the bottom wall of the storage unit and having at least one longitudinally-extending channel, a second track disposed across the bottom wall of the storage unit and having at least one longitudinally-extending channel, a first door slidably supported within the first and second tracks by at least one first guide member, and a second door slidably supported within the first and second tracks by at least one second guide member. The storage assembly further comprises a lock assembly including a lock member having a plurality of reliefs and movable between an unlocked position, wherein the plurality of reliefs are aligned with the channels of the first and second tracks, thereby allowing the at least one first guide member and the at least one second guide member to pass by the lock member and move along the length of the first and second tracks, and a locked position, wherein the plurality of reliefs are not aligned with the channels of the first and second tracks, thereby preventing the at least one first guide member and the at least one second guide member to pass by the lock member and move along the length of the first and second tracks. 
     The present invention provides a storage assembly having an uncomplicated design that can be easily and quickly assembled and operated by even unskilled personnel. The present inventive storage assembly is economical to manufacture, capable of a long-operating life, provides a pleasing aesthetic appearance, and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use. 
     These and other advantages of the invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a top, front and first end of a storage assembly, wherein a pair of doors are in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the storage assembly, wherein one of the doors is in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a front wall assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the pair of doors; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the pair of doors; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a pair of guide members; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top plan view of area  6   a ,  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a lower track assembly; 
         FIG. 7A  is an enlarged top plan view of area  7   a ,  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 7B  is an enlarged plan view of area  7   b ,  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 7C  is an enlarged plan view of area  7   c ,  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of a lock assembly; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the lock assembly in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 9B  is a rear elevational view of the lock assembly in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 9C  is a perspective view of the lock assembly in a locked position; 
         FIG. 9D  is a rear elevational view of the lock assembly in a locked position; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a locking member of the locking assembly; 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of the locking member in an unlocked position; and 
         FIG. 11B  is perspective view of the locking member in a locked position. 
     
    
    
     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  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, 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 exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The reference numeral  2  ( FIG. 1 ) generally designates a storage assembly embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, the storage assembly  2  includes a top wall  4 , a bottom wall  6 , a pair sidewalls  7 , and a rear wall  8  that cooperate with one another to define an interior space  9  and an opening  11  ( FIG. 2 ) in communication with the interior space  9 . A front wall assembly  10  includes a first door assembly  12  and a second door assembly  14  slidably disposed within a frame assembly  16  between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ), and an open position ( FIG. 2 ), a lower track assembly  18  ( FIG. 3 ), an upper track assembly  20 , and a lock assembly  22 . 
     The first door assembly  12  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) includes a planar door member  24 , a door handle  26  positioned within the door member  24 , a door handle housing  28 , a pair of downwardly-extending guide members  30  and a pair of upwardly-extending guide members  32 . The second door assembly  14  includes a planar door member  34 , a door handle  36  located within the door member  34 , a door handle housing  38 , a pair of downwardly-extending guide members  40  and a pair of upwardly-extending guide members  42 . The door handle  26  and the door handle housing  28  of the first door assembly  12  each include an aperture  44 ,  46  that receives a portion of the lock assembly  22  therethrough, as described below. As best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , each of the downwardly-extending guide members  30  and upwardly-extending guide members  42  include an L-shaped mounting portion  48  secured to a rear surface  50  of the associated door member  24 ,  34 , and a guide pin  52  having a diameter d 1  and a length l 1 . As also illustrated in  FIG. 6 , each of the upwardly-extending guide members  32  and downwardly-extending guide members  40  include a mounting portion  54  secured to a rear surface  50  of the associated door member  24 ,  34 , and a guide pin  56  having a diameter d 2  and a length l 2  and. 
     The frame assembly  16  includes a c-shaped bottom frame member  58 , a c-shaped top frame member  60  and a pair of side frame members  62  that cooperate to surround the opening  11 . The bottom frame member  58  is configured to house the lower track assembly  18 , while the top frame member  60  is configured to house the upper track assembly  20  as well as portions of the lock assembly  22  therein, as described below. 
     The lower track assembly  18  ( FIGS. 7-7C ) comprises three separate pieces including a first end piece  64 , a second end piece  66  and a central piece  68  located between the first end piece  64  and the second end piece  66  and coupled thereto. As the upper track assembly  20  is a rotation of the lower track assembly  18 , description of only the lower track  18  is provided herein. The lower track assembly  18  includes a pair of channels extending therealong including a first channel  70  and a second channel  71 . The first channel  70  includes a first portion  72  having a first width  74  and a second portion  73  with a second width  76 . The first portion  72  of the first channel  70  includes a forwardly-extending end portion  78  having the first width  74 , while the second portion includes a forwardly-extending end portion  80  having the second width  76 . 
     The second channel  71  includes a first portion  85  having a first width  87  that is the same as the second width  76 , and a second portion  89  with a second width  91  that is the same as the first width  87 . The second portion  89  of the second channel  71  includes a forwardly-extending end portion  93  having the first width  87 , while the second portion  89  includes a forwardly-extending end portion  95  having the second width  91 . 
     The first width  74  and second width  91  are each sized with respect to width and depth to slidably guide the diameter d 1  and length l 1  of the guide members  30  and  42  therealong, respectively, while the width and depth of the second width  76  and first width  87  are sized so as to slidably guide the diameter d 2  and length l 2  of the guide members  32  and  40  therealong, respectively. It is noted that the diameter d 2  of each of the guide pins  56  is larger than the first width  74  and the second width  91 , thereby preventing guide pins  56  from entering any section a channel having the second width  74  or first width  91 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 6A , at least one of the guide pins  56  is provided with a tear-drop-shape defining a narrowed or tapered end  57  that is received within a correspondingly-shaped notch  83  located within an end of a corresponding track, thereby biasing the associated door into flush position when in the closed position. 
     In operation, the first door assembly  12  and the second door assembly  14  are positioned such that they are planar with one another with the relative guide pins  52  and  56  being located within the associated end portions  78 ,  80 ,  93 ,  95  of the first and second channels  70 ,  71 . Each door assembly  12 ,  14  may be opened and positioned rearwardly of the other door by forcing the door being opened rearwardly such that the associated pins  52 ,  56  guide within the associated channels. 
     The lock assembly  22  ( FIG. 8 ) includes a keyed lock tumbler  90  and a lock strike assembly  92  operably engageable with a lock rod assembly  94  ( FIG. 9A ) and a locking member  97 . The lock strike assembly  92  includes a two-bar linkage assembly including a first member  96  having a first end  98  coupled for rotation with the lock tumbler  90  about a pivot point  100 , and a second member  102  having a first end  104  pivotally coupled to a second end  106  of the first member  96  for rotation about a pivot point  108 . A second end  110  of the second member  102  is slidably and pivotally coupled with respect to the first door assembly  12  about a pivot point  112 . Second member  102  includes a longitudinally-extending slot  114  that slidably and pivotally receives a pivot pin  116  defining the pivot point  112 . The second end  110  of the second member  102  further includes an orthogonally-extending striker element  118 . The lock rod assembly  94  includes a lock rod  120  extending between a catch  122  and the lock member  97 . The lock rod assembly  94  is slidably positioned within the upper track assembly  20 , such that the lock member  97  is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position as described below. The lock member  97  ( FIG. 10 ) includes a plurality of reliefs extending therethrough that allow passage of the guide pins  52 ,  56  along the channels  70 ,  71  of the upper track assembly  20  depending on the position of the lock member  97  within the upper track assembly  20 . Specifically, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 9A-9D ,  11 A and  11 B, the lock tumbler  90  is used to actuate the lock strike assembly  92 , which in turn is used to move the lock rod assembly  94  within the upper track assembly  20 . When moved to the unlocked position, the locking member  97  is positioned such that the reliefs  124  of the lock member  97  are aligned with the channels  70 ,  71 , thereby allowing the pins  52 ,  56  to travel therealong and either of the door assemblies  12 ,  14  to be moved from the closed to the opened position. When in the locked position, the lock member  97  is positioned with respect to the upper track assembly  20  such that the lock member  97  is located within the first channel  70  and the second channel  71 , thereby preventing the pins  52 ,  56  from traveling along the channels  70 ,  71 , and preventing the door assemblies  12 ,  14  from being moved from the closed to the open positions. A spring  128  biases the lock rod assembly  94  into an unlocked position. 
     In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention 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.