Patent Publication Number: US-2009236958-A1

Title: Multiple tier cabinet storage unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to cabinet storage and more particularly to a multi-tier storage unit that slides in and out of a cabinet. 
     Cabinets such as kitchen and bathroom base cabinets have been equipped with sliding or rollout storage devices of various types in order to enhance access to the items that are stored in the cabinet. To enlarge the effective storage area, two-tier sliding drawers, trays, shelves and other storage devices have been used such that both the lower and upper tiers can store items: However, the two-tier units that have been available in the past are less than satisfactory in a number of respects. 
     Typically, the double tier devices have an all-welded construction in which the upper and lower storage units are permanently welded together. Such a construction requires packaging that is large enough to accommodate the entire device in a fully assembled condition, and this results in considerable “dead space” in the package. A large package is highly undesirable because of the area occupied on the valuable shelf space in retail stores and also because of the undue space occupied during shipping and storage. Double tier units are also characterized by strength problems, wobbling and other instabilities, and high costs. 
     Existing devices that are all-welded have a single, fixed position for the upper storage unit. Because the available cabinet height varies substantially from cabinet to cabinet, fixed height units do not fit in some cabinets at all and fail to take full advantage of the height that is available in others. The lack of height adjustability requires units to be manufactured in a variety of different heights which increases the manufacturing costs and can be confusing and inconvenient to purchasers. 
     While double tier products have been available in configurations intended to fit around under-sink pipes and other obstructions, the practical results have not been wholly satisfactory. The upper unit in this type of drawer is usually about half as wide as the lower unit so that the upper unit can clear drain traps, water lines, garbage disposers and other obstructions that are commonly present in kitchen and bathroom base cabinets. Because the location of obstructions varies, the upper unit must sometimes be on the left side and at other times on the right side to accommodate the obstructions. Existing devices of this type require the purchaser to mount the upper unit on one side or the other, thus requiring the application of numerous fasteners which makes installation more difficult. Typically, the entire device cannot be turned in order to vary the side of the upper unit because a handle is provided on only the front, and the handle would be inaccessible and useless if the device were to be turned to where the handle is on the back. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a multi-tier cabinet storage unit which slides in and out of a cabinet and is constructed in a manner to eliminate or at least minimize the problems that have plagued prior art units. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a double tier cabinet storage device includes detachable posts which connect the upper and lower units (which are preferably drawers but may be other storage devices such as trays, racks or shelves). As a result of the detachability of the posts, the product can be packaged in a disassembled condition with the two drawers (or other storage units) arranged flatly against one another or nested to minimize the height of the package. This allows a much more compact package to be used than is possible with permanently welded products. The benefit is significant because it minimizes the space that is occupied on retail shelves, during shipping and during storage in warehouses or other storage facilities, and it makes the package easier to handle. 
     Preferably, the posts have threaded connections with the upper and lower units. One of the storage units (such as the lower unit) can have internally threaded barrels into which the lower ends of the posts can be threaded. Wrench flats or other tool receiving surfaces on the upper ends of the posts may be provided to allow tight threading of the posts into the barrels. The other unit (for example, the upper unit) may have sleeves that receive the upper ends of the posts, thus concealing the tool receiving surfaces. Screws or other fasteners may be used to secure the posts in the sleeves. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the upper unit may be adjusted to multiple elevations so that cabinets which vary in the height can be accommodated. This height adjustability can be effected in various ways, including the provision of a spacer that may be applied to the post in one position to maintain the upper unit at one elevation, or inverted to maintain the upper unit at a different elevation. The spacer may be removed to provide a third discrete elevation of the upper unit. 
     Another aspect of the invention contemplates a reduced width upper unit for use when obstructions are present in the cabinet. Both the upper and lower units have handles on both the front and the back, so the entire device can be installed with the upper unit on the right or reversed such that the upper unit is on the left, while still providing handles that are accessible for pulling the storage device out or pushing it in. 
     Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a multiple tier cabinet storage unit constructed according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cabinet storage unit of  FIG. 1  in a fully assembled condition; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view, partially exploded, of the cabinet storage unit shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but with a spacer included to allow variation in the height of the upper tier of the storage unit; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detail identified by numeral  4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the spacer inverted from its position in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detail identified by numeral  6  in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a multiple tier cabinet storage unit constructed in accordance with a modified embodiment of the invention wherein an upper tier has a lesser width than a lower tier of the storage unit; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the storage unit shown in  FIG. 7  in a fully assembled condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , numeral  10  generally designates a multi-tier cabinet storage unit constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention. The storage unit  10  includes as its principal components a lower drawer  12 , an upper drawer  14  and a plurality of posts  16  which connect the upper drawer  14  with the lower drawer  12 . The lower drawer  12  is preferably mounted on a glide mechanism, generally identified by reference numeral  18 , in order to allow the storage unit  10  to slide into and out of a storage cabinet such as the cabinet  20  shown fragmentarily in  FIG. 2 . The glide mechanism  18  is preferably of the type disclosed in pending patent application Ser. No. 11/549,485 filed on Oct. 13, 2006, by Richard B. Klein and Mark A. Etter and entitled “Glide Mechanism for Roll Out Drawers and Other Items”. That pending patent application is hereby incorporated by reference. While the illustrated embodiment includes drawers  12  and  14  as the upper and lower units, other types of storage units can be used, including trays, racks, shelves, etc. 
     As described more fully in pending application Ser. No. 11/549,485, the glide mechanism  20  includes a pair of parallel rails  22  which are rigidly connected by flat cross bars  24  near their front and back ends. Runners  26  fit in the respective tracks  22  and may be extended out of the tracks  22  and retracted into the tracks  22  to the fully retracted position shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The cross bars  24  are provided with openings (not shown) that may receive conventional screws or other fasteners (also not shown) in order to secure the glide mechanism  18  in the cabinet  20 . The runners  26  are equipped with brackets that provide horizontal mounting plates  28  ( FIG. 1 ). The bottom of the lower drawer  12  is provided with mounting tabs  30  ( FIG. 1 ) which may be secured to the plates  28  by special fasteners  32 , with pads  34  preferably interposed between the plates  28  and tabs  30 . 
     The lower drawer  12  preferably has a wire construction and a generally rectangular shape that provides a lightweight yet sturdy and convenient structure. A floor of the drawer  12  is formed by a plurality of lateral wires  36  welded or otherwise connected to longitudinal wires  38  which extend from front to back. The floor of drawer  12  may have a rim wire  40  from which four barrels  42  extend upwardly at or near the four corners of the drawer  12 . An upper rim wire  44  extends around the periphery of the drawer  12  at its upper edge and is connected with the upper ends of the barrels  42 . Wire  44  is bent downwardly in a curved fashion at the front of drawer  12  to provide a handle  46 . An intermediate rim wire  48  extends along the sides, back and part of the front of the drawer at a location between the rim wires  40  and  44 . Wire  44  is connected with each of the barrels  42  near their midpoints. The barrels  44  are hollow members which are open at their upper ends and internally threaded. 
     The upper drawer  14  has a wire construction which is identical in most respects to the lower drawer  12 , with like numerals identifying the parts of the upper drawer  14  that correspond to the parts of the lower drawer  12 . Sleeves  50  are provided at the four corners of the upper drawer  14  and generally correspond in construction and location with the barrels  42 . The sleeves  50  are open at the bottom and need not be internally threaded. 
     The posts  16  may all be constructed in the same manner. Each post  16  may be a straight member having a lower flange  52  near but spaced above its lower end and another flange  54  near but spaced below its upper end. The lower end portion  56  of each post  16  is externally threaded to mate with the internal threads of the barrels  42 . Wrench flats  58  or other tool receiving surfaces are provided on the upper end portion  59  of each post  16  above the upper flange  54 . The upper end portion  59  of each post  16  is open and is internally threaded. A plurality of screws  60  or other detachable fasteners may be provided to secure the posts  16  to sleeves  50 . 
     The storage unit  10  may be packaged in a disassembled condition with the drawers  12  and  14  detached from the posts  16  and the lower drawer  12  detached from the glide mechanism  18 . This allows for a compact package with minimal dead space and has the great advantage of minimizing the package size so that the space occupied on retail shelves and during shipping and storage is minimized. 
     The storage unit  10  can be assembled by mounting the glide mechanism  18  in the cabinet  20  and then connecting the lower drawer  12  to the glide mechanism  18 . The posts  16  can be installed by threading their lower ends  56  into the barrels  42 , with the wrench flats  58  allowing the posts  16  to be fully tightened until the flanges  52  seat securely on top of the barrels  42 . The upper drawer  14  can be installed by applying the sleeves  50  to the upper ends of the posts  16  until the lower ends of sleeves  50  seat on the flanges  54 . The screws  60  can then be applied into the sleeves  50  and threaded into the upper ends of the posts  16  and fully tightened to complete the assembly. The wrench flats  58  are enclosed within the sleeves  50  when the unit is fully assembled so that the wrench flats do not detract from the aesthetic appeal of the unit. It is noted that the presence of the flanges  52  and  54  provides large surface areas on the posts  16  for contact with the barrels  42  and sleeves  50 , thereby rigidifying the structure and resisting any tendency for wobbling. 
       FIGS. 3-6  illustrate a modification in which the lower drawer  12  and upper drawer  14  may have the same construction previously described. However, the unit shown in  FIGS. 3-6  includes a two-piece post construction in which each of the posts includes a main post  116  and a spacer  117 . Each post  116  may be similar to the posts  16  previously described and may be connected with the barrels  42  in the manner described for posts  16 . However, posts  116  preferably do not include the upper flanges  54  or the wrench flats  58 . 
     The spacer  117  is considerably shorter than post  116  and is a straight tubular member having an exterior collar  119  offset from the longitudinal center of the spacer  117 . The spacer  117  thus has a relatively short end portion  121  on one side of the collar  119  and a longer portion  123  on the other side of the collar  119 . Both portions  121  and  123  may be threaded both internally and externally. 
     The unit shown in  FIGS. 3-6  allows for adjustability of the height of the upper unit  14  among three different elevations. The highest elevation results when the spacer is used in the orientation shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Then, end  123  is the lower end of the spacer and is threaded into the upper end of post  116 . The sleeves  50  are applied to the upper ends  121  of the spacers and seat on the collars  119 . The screws  60  may be inserted into sleeves  50  and threaded into the ends  121  of the spacers to complete the assembly. 
     A lower elevation of the upper drawer  14  may be achieved by utilizing the spacer  117  in the orientation shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , wherein the spacer  117  is inverted from the position of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the orientation of the spacers shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , end  121  is the lower end of the spacer and is threaded into the top end of post  116 . The sleeves  50  are applied to the ends  123  of the spacer until the lower ends of the sleeves seat on the collar  119 . Screws  60  may be extended into the sleeves  50  and threaded into the ends  123  of the spacers to complete the assembly. Because of the off-center position of the collar  119 , the upper drawer  14  is at a lower elevation and is spaced a lesser distance above the lower drawer  12  in the orientation of the sleeves shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     The third elevation of the upper drawer  14  which is lower than the elevation in  FIGS. 5 and 6  can be achieved by not using the spacer  117 . Then, the sleeves  50  are applied to the upper ends of the posts  116  and secured by the screws  60 . A suitable stop (not shown) may be used to prevent the upper drawer  14  from sliding downwardly on the posts  116 . 
     In the foregoing manner, the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 3-6  accommodates three different elevations of the upper drawer  14  relative to the lower drawer  12 . Accordingly, cabinets of various heights can be accommodated, and the full cabinet height available can be utilized by adjusting the upper drawer  14  to the appropriate elevation for the particular cabinet in which the storage unit is installed. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict an alternative embodiment of the invention which is intended for use when obstructions are present in the cabinet, typically including drain traps, water lines, garbage disposers and other obstructions that are commonly present in kitchen and bathroom cabinets located under a sink. Numeral  110  generally designates a cabinet storage unit with a glide mechanism  18  identical to the glide mechanism  18  previously described used to install the storage unit  110  in an under-sink base cabinet such as cabinet  120  ( FIG. 8 ). The storage unit  110  includes a lower drawer  112  which may be mounted to the glide mechanism  18  and which is constructed in a manner generally similar to the drawer  12 . However, drawer  112  has its rim wire  144  bent downwardly on both ends to provide handles  146  on both ends. Additionally, rather than mounting barrels at the four corners of the drawer, four barrels  142  are mounted to one of the sides of drawer  112 . Preferably, the barrels  142  are mounted in pairs located near the opposite ends of the drawer  112 . Posts  16  identical to the posts  16  previously described may be used in the storage unit  110 . Alternatively, posts  116  and spacers  117  may be used. 
     The storage unit  110  has an upper drawer  114  which has a lesser width dimension side to side than the lower drawer  112 . Preferably, the width of the upper drawer  114  is approximately one-half the width of the lower drawer  112 , although its width can vary. The length dimension of the upper drawer  114  between its opposite ends may be equal to that of the lower drawer  112 , or the upper drawer length may be shorter than the lower drawer length to allow nesting while packaged for compactness. The upper drawer  114  may have a wire construction similar to that of drawer  14  except that its width is only approximately half that of drawer  14 . Additionally, instead of sleeves being located at the four corners of the drawer, sleeves  150  are mounted to one side of drawer  114 . The sleeves  150  are located such that they may be aligned directly above the barrels  142 . Sleeves  150  may be connected with the posts  16  (or with the posts  116  and spacers  117 ) in the same manner as with sleeves  50 . Both ends of the upper rim wire  244  of drawer  114  are bent downwardly to provide curved handles  246  on both ends of drawer  114 . 
     The reduced width of the upper drawer  114  allows the unit  110  to be used in an installation where obstructions must be cleared. Because the handles  146  and  246  are provided on both ends of the lower drawer  112  and on both ends of the upper drawer  114 , the storage unit  110  can be installed with the upper drawer  114  either on the right side of the storage unit or on the left side of the storage unit to provide enough versatility that obstructions on the left or the right can be cleared while providing handles  146  and  246  on the front of the unit regardless of whether the installation has the upper drawer  114  on the right or the left. 
     The storage unit  110  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  has all of the advantages discussed previously for storage unit  10 , including compact packaging and adjustability of the height of the upper drawer  114  among three different elevations relative to the lower drawer  112 . 
     While the preferred embodiments are disclosed as having two drawers, it is contemplated that three or more drawers may be constructed using the principles and techniques of the invention. 
     From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.