Patent Publication Number: US-8967576-B2

Title: Assembly for a storage unit

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     A retail establishment uses various types of display units or shelving units to store, organize or present products to customers for purchase. One kind of display unit is a gondola. Gondola display units are constructed of, but are not limited to, uprights, back panels, base decks and kick plates. The gondola display units can both support products for display while simultaneously providing space for indicating the product price. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     An assembly for a storage unit includes at least one inner skin component made of a first piece of bendable sheet material and including an upper longitudinal edge, a lower longitudinal edge and a pair of lateral side edges. The assembly also includes an outer skin made of a second piece of bendable sheet material and including an upper longitudinal edge, a lower longitudinal edge and a pair of lateral side edges. 
     The at least one inner skin component is formed by bending a plurality of longitudinal bends between the upper longitudinal edge and the lower longitudinal edge of the at least one inner skin component and extending them between the first lateral side edge and the second lateral side edge of the inner skin. Likewise, the outer skin is formed by bending a plurality of longitudinal bends between the upper longitudinal edge and the lower longitudinal edge of the outer skin and extending them between the first lateral side edge and the second lateral side edge of the outer skin. Portions of the bent outer skin abut portions of the bent at least one inner skin component. In one embodiment, the outer skin abuts with the at least one inner skin component in two different areas of contact. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top front perspective view of an assembly as coupled to a storage unit according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a blank for one of the inner skin components of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a left side profile view of the inner skin component after being formed from the blank illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a blank for the outer skin of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a left side profile view of an outer skin after being formed from the blank illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom front perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a right side profile view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top front perspective view of an assembly as coupled to a storage unit according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of a blank for an inner skin of the assembly of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a left side profile view of the inner skin after being formed from the blank illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of a blank for the outer skin of the assembly of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a left side profile view of an outer skin after being formed from the blank illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom front perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 16  is a right side profile view of the assembly of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top front perspective view of an assembly as coupled to a storage unit according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view of a blank for an inner skin of the assembly of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a left side profile view of the inner skin after being formed from the blank illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of a blank for an outer skin of the assembly of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 21  is a left side profile view of the outer skin after being formed from the blank illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is a bottom front perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 23  is a top rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 24  is a right side profile view of the assembly of  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments described herein include an assembly for a storage unit. One exemplary type of storage unit includes a gondola display fixture located in a retail store for displaying products or merchandise to customers for purchase. Another exemplary type of storage unit includes a shelving unit located in a distribution center or warehouse facility. Yet another exemplary type of storage unit includes an indoor or outdoor vending machine. More particularly, the assembly can be a reinforced base front that prevents damage to a base of a storage unit that can be caused by heavy machinery used in stocking the storage unit, such as fork lifts and the like. 
     The assembly is a front facing assembly located on a front of a storage unit and includes at least one inner skin component and an outer skin. The at least one inner skin or component has an upper mounting flange for mounting to the storage unit and, in some embodiments, a lower mounting flange for mounting to brackets of the storage unit. The outer skin directly attaches to and mates with an outer surface of the at least one inner skin or component to form the assembly. 
       FIG. 1  is a top front perspective view of an assembly  100  as coupled to a front of a storage unit  200  according to one embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , caps or end ramps covering the ends of the assembly  100  are removed for purposes of illustration. Storage unit  200  is an exemplary gondola display fixture as used in retail stores for holding products or merchandise for sale. These types of storage units can be wall mounted or free-standing. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , exemplary storage unit  200  is configured to be wall mounted and includes a pair of uprights  201 , a back panel  203 , a top rail  205 , a base deck  207  and base ends  209 . Hidden from view are a pair of base brackets that along with the uprights  201  provide the main support structure for storage unit  200 . 
     Assembly  100  closes off the bottom front of the storage unit  200  that is located below base deck  207  and between base ends  209 . However, it should be realized that assembly  100  is not limited to being located at the base of a storage unit. In other embodiments, assembly  100  can be positioned anywhere along the front of the storage unit. Unlike conventional base fronts, which include only a single piece of material, assembly  100  is constructed of at least one inner skin component  102  made of a first piece of sheet material and an outer skin or exterior component  104  made of a second piece of sheet material. As illustrated, assembly  100  includes a pair of substantially identical interior components  102  each made of a first piece of sheet material. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a blank or single, continuous piece of bendable sheet material  106 , such as sheet metal, having a first surface or exterior facing surface  113  and an opposing second surface or interior facing surface  115  ( FIG. 3 ) that is to be formed into one of the inner skin components  102  of assembly  100 . Sheet material  106  includes an upper longitudinal edge  108 , a lower longitudinal edge  110 , a first lateral side edge  112  and a second lateral side edge  114 . Sheet material  106  also includes an upper pair of apertures  116  located near upper longitudinal edge  108 . Apertures  116  are for use in mounting assembly  100  to a storage unit, such as storage unit  200 . 
       FIG. 3  is a left side profile view of one of the pair of inner skin components  102  after being formed from the blank or sheet material  106  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . To form inner skin component  102 , a plurality of longitudinal bends are formed in sheet material  106  that extend from first lateral side edge  112  to second lateral side edge  114  and are located between upper longitudinal edge  108  and lower longitudinal edge  110 . Each of the longitudinal bends provides sheet material with an approximate or substantially 90 degree bend. 
     To form a main body  124  of inner skin component  102 , longitudinal bends  126 ,  128  and  130  are formed. To form an upper mounting flange  132  for mounting to a base deck, such as base deck  207 , of a storage unit, such as storage unit  200 , yet another bend  131  is formed. Upper mounting flange  132  is defined between longitudinal bend  126  and longitudinal bend  131 . 
     Each of the pair of inner skin components  102  also includes a first vertical section or front facing upper panel  142 , a lower horizontal section or lower panel  144  and a second vertical section or front facing lower panel  146 . Lower horizontal section  144  is defined between longitudinal bend  128  and longitudinal bend  130 . First vertical section  142  is substantially orthogonal to lower horizontal section  144 , is defined between longitudinal bend  126  and longitudinal bend  128  and couples upper mounting flange  132  to lower horizontal section  144 . Second vertical section  146  is substantially orthogonal to lower horizontal section  144  and is defined between lower longitudinal edge  110  and longitudinal bend  130 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of a blank or single, continuous piece of bendable sheet material  156 , such as sheet metal, having a first surface or exterior facing surface  163  and an opposing second surface or interior facing surface  165  ( FIG. 5 ) that is to be formed into outer skin  104  of assembly  100 . Sheet material  156  includes an upper longitudinal edge  158 , a lower longitudinal edge  160 , a first lateral side edge  162  and a second lateral side edge  164 . 
       FIG. 5  is a left side profile view of outer skin  104  after being formed from the blank or sheet material  156  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . To form outer skin  104 , a plurality of longitudinal bends are formed in sheet material  156  that extend from first lateral side edge  162  to second lateral side edge  164  and are located between upper longitudinal edge  158  and lower longitudinal edge  160 . Each of the longitudinal bends provides sheet material with an approximate or substantially 90 degree bend. 
     To form outer skin  104 , longitudinal bends  175 ,  176 ,  178  and  179  are formed. Outer skin  104  includes a first vertical section or back facing panel  180 , an upper horizontal section or upper panel  181 , a second vertical section or front facing upper panel  182 , a lower horizontal section or lower panel  184  and a third vertical section or front facing panel  185 . Upper horizontal section  181  is defined between longitudinal bend  175  and longitudinal bend  176 . Lower horizontal section  184  is defined between longitudinal bend  178  and longitudinal bend  179 . First vertical section  180  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  181  and  184  and is defined between upper longitudinal edge  158  and longitudinal bend  175 . Second vertical section  182  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  181  and  184  and is defined between longitudinal bend  176  and longitudinal bend  178 . Second vertical section  182  couples upper and lower horizontal sections  181  and  184  together. Third vertical section  185  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  181  and  184  and is defined between longitudinal bend  179  and lower longitudinal edge  160 . 
       FIGS. 6-8  illustrate the pair of interior components  102  and outer skin  104  assembled together to form assembly  100 . In particular,  FIG. 6  is a top front perspective view,  FIG. 7  is a top rear perspective view and  FIG. 8  is a right side profile view. In addition,  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate only partial views of outer skin  104 . In particular, inner lengths of outer skin  104  are removed as denoted by the broken lines to simplify the views. As illustrated, the pair of components  102  and outer skin  104  interface or mate together so that portions of outer skin  104  directly attach and abut to portions of interior components  102 . Exemplary ways of attaching outer skin  104  to interior components  102  include welding, such as spot welding, using fasteners and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 , outer skin  104  directly attaches to each of interior components  102  at two areas of contact. In particular, a first area of contact includes first surface  163  along first vertical section  180  of outer skin  104  abutting a portion of first surface  113  along first vertical section  142  of each interior component  102 . A second area of contact includes first surface  163  along a portion of third vertical section  185  of outer skin  104  abutting a first surface  113  along first vertical section  142  of each interior component  102 . Outer skin  104  may be mounted, attached, welded or otherwise fixedly abutted to interior components  102  at areas along any or all of the areas of contact. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , these three areas of contact are made possible by the varying shapes of the two different sheet materials  106  and  156 . 
     After outer skin  104  is mounted, attached, welded or otherwise fixedly abutted to each of interior components  102  to form assembly  100 , assembly  100  is then mounted to a storage unit, such as storage unit  200 . For example, fasteners (not shown) can be inserted through the upper pair of apertures  116  to couple to a base deck, such as base deck  207 , of the storage unit. 
       FIG. 9  is a top front perspective view of an assembly  300  as coupled to a front of a storage unit  400  according to another embodiment. In  FIG. 9 , caps or end ramps covering the ends of the assembly  300  are removed for purposes of illustration. Storage unit  400  is an exemplary gondola display fixture as used in retail stores for holding products or merchandise for sale. These types of storage units can be wall mounted or free-standing. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , exemplary storage unit  400  is configured to be wall mounted and includes a pair of uprights  401 , a back panel  403 , a top rail  405 , a base deck  407  and base ends  409 . Hidden from view are a pair of base brackets that along with the uprights  401  provide the main support structure for storage unit  400 . 
     Assembly  300  closes off the bottom front of the storage unit  400  that is located below base deck  407  and between base ends  409 . However, it should be realized that assembly  300  is not limited to being located at the base of a storage unit. In other embodiments, assembly  300  can be positioned anywhere along the front of the storage unit. Unlike conventional base fronts, which include only a single piece of material, assembly  300  is constructed of a two-part assembly including an inner skin or interior component  302  made of a first piece of sheet material and an outer skin or exterior component  304  made of a second piece of sheet material. 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of a blank or single, continuous piece of bendable sheet material  306 , such as sheet metal, having a first surface or exterior facing surface  313  and an opposing second surface or interior facing surface  315  ( FIG. 11 ) that can be formed into inner skin  302  of assembly  300 . Sheet material  306  includes an upper longitudinal edge  308 , a lower longitudinal edge  310 , a first lateral side edge  312  and a second lateral side edge  314 . Sheet material  306  also includes an upper first pair of apertures  316  located near the intersecting corner of upper longitudinal edge  308  and first lateral side edge  312  and an upper second pair of apertures  318  located near the intersecting corner of upper longitudinal edge  308  and second lateral side edge  314 . Sheet material  106  also includes a lower first aperture  320  located near the intersecting corner of lower longitudinal edge  310  and first lateral side edge  312  and a lower second aperture  322  located near the intersecting corner of lower longitudinal edge  310  and second lateral side edge  314 . Apertures  316 ,  318 ,  320  and  322  are for use in mounting assembly  300  to a storage unit, such as storage unit  400 . 
       FIG. 11  is a left side profile view of inner skin  302  after being formed from the blank or sheet material  306  illustrated in  FIG. 10 . To form inner skin  302 , a plurality of longitudinal bends are formed in sheet material  306  that extend from first lateral side edge  312  to second lateral side edge  314  and are located between upper longitudinal edge  308  and lower longitudinal edge  310 . Each of the longitudinal bends provides sheet material with an approximate or substantially 90 degree bend. 
     To form a main body  324  of inner skin  302 , longitudinal bends  326 ,  328 ,  330  and  331  are formed. To form an upper mounting flange  332  for mounting to a base deck, such as base deck  407 , of a storage unit, such as storage unit  400 , longitudinal bends  334 ,  336  and  338  are formed. Upper mounting flange  332  is defined between upper longitudinal edge  308  and longitudinal bend  334  and encompasses longitudinal bend  336  and longitudinal bend  338 . 
     Inner skin  302  also includes an upper horizontal section or upper panel  340 , a first vertical section or front facing upper panel  342 , a lower horizontal section or lower panel  344 , a second vertical section or front facing lower panel  346  and a lower mounting flange or lower mounting panel  348 . Upper horizontal section  340  is defined between longitudinal bend  326  and the upper mounting flange  332  or longitudinal bend  334 . Lower horizontal section  344  is defined between longitudinal bend  328  and longitudinal bend  330 . First vertical section  342  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  340  and  344 , is defined between longitudinal bend  326  and longitudinal bend  328  and couples upper and lower horizontal sections  340  and  344  together. Second vertical section  346  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  340  and  344  and is defined between longitudinal bend  330  and longitudinal bend  331 . Lower mounting flange  348  is configured to mount to base brackets of a storage unit, such as storage unit  400 , and is defined between lower longitudinal edge  310  and longitudinal bend  331  and is oriented substantially orthogonal to second vertical section  346  except for two small notches  350  and  351  ( FIGS. 11 and 15 ) that do not extend from first lateral side edge  312  to second lateral side edge  314 . Notches  350  and  351  are bent at an approximate 45 degree angle relative to lower mounting flange  348 . 
       FIG. 12  is a plan view of a blank or single, continuous piece of bendable sheet material  356 , such as sheet metal, having a first surface or exterior facing surface  1363  and an opposing second surface or interior facing surface  365  ( FIG. 13 ) that can be formed into outer skin  304  of assembly  300 . Sheet material  356  includes an upper longitudinal edge  358 , a lower longitudinal edge  360 , a first lateral side edge  362  and a second lateral side edge  364 . 
       FIG. 13  is a left side profile view of outer skin  304  after being formed from the blank or sheet material  356  illustrated in  FIG. 12 . To form outer skin  304 , a plurality of longitudinal bends are formed in sheet material  356  that extend from first lateral side edge  362  to second lateral side edge  364  and are located between upper longitudinal edge  358  and lower longitudinal edge  360 . Each of the longitudinal bends provides sheet material with an approximate or substantially 90 degree bend. 
     To form outer skin  304 , longitudinal bends  376  and  378  are formed. Outer skin  304  includes an upper horizontal section or upper panel  380 , a first vertical section or front facing upper panel  382  and a lower horizontal section or lower panel  384 . Upper horizontal section  380  is defined between longitudinal bend  376  and upper longitudinal edge  358 . Lower horizontal section  384  is defined between longitudinal bend  378  and lower longitudinal edge  360 . First vertical section  382  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  380  and  384 , is defined between longitudinal bend  376  and longitudinal bend  378  and couples upper and lower horizontal sections  380  and  384  together. 
       FIGS. 14-16  illustrate inner skin  302  and outer skin  304  assembled together to form assembly  300 . In particular,  FIG. 14  is a bottom front perspective view,  FIG. 15  is a top rear perspective view and  FIG. 16  is a right side profile view. In addition,  FIGS. 14 and 15  are partial views of inner skin  302  and outer skin  304 . In particular, inner lengths of inner skin  302  and outer skin  304  are removed as denoted by the broken lines to simplify the views. As illustrated, inner skin  302  and outer skin  304  interface or mate together so that portions of second surface  365  of outer skin  304  directly attach and abut to portions of first surface  313  of inner skin  302 . Exemplary ways of attaching outer skin  304  to inner skin  302  include welding, such as spot welding, using fasteners and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 14-16 , outer skin  304  directly attaches to inner skin  302  at three areas of contact. In particular, a first area of contact includes second surface  365  along upper horizontal section  380  of outer skin  304  abutting a portion of first surface  313  along upper horizontal section  340  of inner skin  302 . A second area of contact includes second surface  365  along a portion of first vertical section  382  of outer skin  304  abutting a first surface  313  along first vertical section  342  of inner skin  302 . A third area of contact includes lower longitudinal edge  360  of outer skin  304  abutting a portion of first surface  313  along second vertical section  346  of inner skin  302 . Outer skin  304  may be mounted, attached, welded or otherwise fixedly abutted to inner skin  302  at areas along any or all of the areas of contact. As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , these three areas of contact are made possible by the varying shapes of the two different sheet materials  306  and  356 . In particular, the fact that a distance  390  between first horizontal section  340  and second horizontal section  344  of inner skin  302  is less than a distance  392  between first horizontal section  380  and second horizontal section  384  of outer skin  304  provides for less than full sections between longitudinal bends of inner skin  302  and outer skin  304  to contact each other. 
     After outer skin  304  is mounted, attached, welded or otherwise fixedly abutted to inner skin  302  to form assembly  300 , assembly  300  is then mounted to a storage unit, such as storage unit  400 . For example, fasteners (not shown) can be inserted through the upper first pair of apertures  316  and the upper second pair of apertures  318  to couple to a base deck, such as base deck  407 , of the storage unit and fasteners (not shown) can be inserted through lower first aperture  320  and lower second aperture  322  to couple to base brackets of the storage unit. In addition, notches  350  and  351  can be configured to mate with the base brackets. 
       FIG. 17  is a top front perspective view of an assembly  500  as coupled to a front of a storage unit  600 , such as a gondola display fixture, according to yet another embodiment. In  FIG. 9 , caps covering the ends of assembly  500  are removed for purposes of illustration. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , storage unit  600  is configured to be wall mounted and includes a pair of uprights  601 , a back panel  603 , a top rail  605 , a base deck  607  and base ends  609 . Hidden from view are a pair of base brackets that along with the uprights  601  provide the main support structure for storage unit  600 . 
     Assembly  500  closes off the bottom front of the storage unit  600  that is located below base deck  607  and between base ends  609 . As is assembly  300  of  FIG. 9 , assembly  500  is constructed of two-parts including an inner skin or interior component  502  made of a first piece of sheet material and an outer skin or exterior component  504  made of a second piece of sheet material. 
       FIG. 18  is a plan view of a blank or single, continuous piece of bendable sheet material  506 , such as sheet metal, having a first surface or exterior facing surface  513  and an opposing second surface or interior facing surface  515  ( FIG. 19 ) that can be formed into inner skin  502  of assembly  500 . Sheet material  506  includes an upper longitudinal edge  508 , a lower longitudinal edge  510 , a first lateral side edge  512  and a second lateral side edge  514 . Sheet material  506  also includes a first upper slot  516  located near the intersecting corner of upper longitudinal edge  508  and first lateral side edge  512  and a second upper slot  518  located near the intersecting corner of upper longitudinal edge  508  and second lateral side edge  514 . Sheet material  506  also includes a lower first aperture  520  located near the intersecting corner of lower longitudinal edge  510  and first lateral side edge  512  and a lower second aperture  522  located near the intersecting corner of lower longitudinal edge  510  and second lateral side edge  514 . Slots  516  and  518  and apertures  520  and  522  are for use in mounting assembly  500  to a storage unit, such as storage unit  600 . 
       FIG. 19  is a left side profile view of inner skin  502  after being formed from the blank or sheet material  506  illustrated in  FIG. 18 . To form inner skin  502 , a plurality of longitudinal bends are formed in sheet material  506  that extend from first lateral side edge  512  to second lateral side edge  514  and are located between upper longitudinal edge  508  and lower longitudinal edge  510 . Each of the longitudinal bends provides sheet material with an approximate or substantially 90 degree bend. 
     To form inner skin  502 , longitudinal bends  526 ,  528 ,  530 ,  531  and  534  are formed. Inner skin  502  includes an upper horizontal section, upper panel or upper mounting flange  540 , a first vertical section or front facing upper panel  542 , a lower horizontal section or lower panel  544 , a second vertical section or front facing lower panel  546  and a lower mounting flange or lower mounting panel  548 . Upper horizontal section  540  is defined between longitudinal bend  526  and upper longitudinal edge  508 . Lower horizontal section  544  is defined between longitudinal bend  528  and longitudinal bend  530 . First vertical section  542  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  540  and  544 , is defined between longitudinal bend  526  and longitudinal bend  528  and couples upper and lower horizontal sections  540  and  544  together. Second vertical section  546  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  540  and  544  and is defined between longitudinal bend  530  and longitudinal bend  531 . Lower mounting flange  548  is configured to mount to base brackets of a storage unit, such as storage unit  400 , and is defined between lower longitudinal edge  510  and longitudinal bend  531  and includes longitudinal bend  534 . 
       FIG. 20  is a plan view of a blank or single, continuous piece of bendable sheet material  556 , such as sheet metal, having a first surface or exterior facing surface  563  and an opposing second surface or interior facing surface  565  ( FIG. 21 ) that can be formed into outer skin  504  of assembly  500 . Sheet material  556  includes an upper longitudinal edge  558 , a lower longitudinal edge  560 , a first lateral side edge  562  and a second lateral side edge  564 . 
       FIG. 21  is a profile view of outer skin  504  after being formed from the blank or sheet material  556  illustrated in  FIG. 20 . To form outer skin  504 , a plurality of longitudinal bends are formed in sheet material  556  that extend from first lateral side edge  562  to second lateral side edge  564  and are located between upper longitudinal edge  558  and lower longitudinal edge  560 . Each of the longitudinal bends provides sheet material with an approximate or substantially 90 degree bend. 
     To form outer skin  504 , longitudinal bends  576 ,  578  and  579  are formed. Outer skin  504  includes an upper horizontal section or upper panel  580 , a first vertical section or first front facing upper panel  582 , a lower horizontal section or lower panel  584  and a second vertical section or second front facing panel  585 . Upper horizontal section  580  is defined between longitudinal bend  576  and upper longitudinal edge  558 . Lower horizontal section  584  is defined between longitudinal bend  578  and longitudinal bend  579 . First vertical section  582  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  580  and  584 , is defined between longitudinal bend  576  and longitudinal bend  578  and couples upper and lower horizontal sections  580  and  584  together. Second vertical section  585  is substantially orthogonal to upper and lower horizontal sections  580  and  584  and is defined between longitudinal bend  579  and lower longitudinal edge  560 . 
       FIGS. 22-24  illustrate inner skin  502  and outer skin  504  assembled together to form assembly  500 . In particular,  FIG. 22  is a bottom front perspective view,  FIG. 23  is a top rear perspective view and  FIG. 24  is a right side profile view. In addition,  FIGS. 22 and 23  are partial views of inner skin  502  and outer skin  504 . In particular, inner lengths of inner skin  502  and outer skin  504  are removed as denoted by the broken lines to simplify the views. As illustrated, inner skin  502  and outer skin  504  interface or mate together so that portions of second surface  565  of outer skin  504  directly attach and abut to portions of first surface  513  of inner skin  502 . Exemplary ways of attaching outer skin  504  to inner skin  502  include welding, such as spot welding, using fasteners and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 22-24 , outer skin  504  directly attaches to inner skin  502  at three areas of contact. In particular, a first area of contact includes second surface  565  along upper horizontal section  580  of outer skin  504  abutting a portion of first surface  513  along upper horizontal section  540  of inner skin  502 . A second area of contact includes second surface  565  along a portion of first vertical section  582  of outer skin  504  abutting a first surface  513  along first vertical section  542  of inner skin  502 . A third area of contact includes second surface  565  along second vertical section  585  of outer skin  504  abutting a portion of first surface  513  along second vertical section  546  of inner skin  502 . As illustrated in  FIG. 24 , these three areas of contact are made possible by varying shapes of the two different sheet materials  506  and  556 . Outer skin  504  may be mounted, attached, welded or otherwise fixedly abutted to inner skin  104  at points along any or all of the areas of contact. In particular, the fact that a distance  590  between first horizontal section  540  and second horizontal section  544  of inner skin  502  is less than a distance  592  between first horizontal section  580  and second horizontal section  584  of outer skin  504  provides for less than full sections between longitudinal bends of inner skin  502  and outer skin  504  to contact each other. 
     After outer skin  504  is mounted, attached, welded or otherwise fixedly abutted to inner skin  502  to form assembly  500 , assembly  500  is then mounted to a storage unit, such as storage unit  400 . For example, fasteners (not shown) can be inserted through the upper slots  516  and  518  to couple to a base deck, such as base deck  607 , of the storage unit and fasteners (not shown) can be inserted through lower apertures  520  and  522  to couple to base brackets of the storage unit. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.