Patent Abstract:
A modular storage system comprises boxes and/or bridge frame members. The frame members each have longitudinal tracks and grooves, which allow members to be slotted together to form a rigid, 2-dimensional frame in which drawers can be inserted.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a storage system comprised of modular elements. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known to require the use of storage systems, particularly those using drawers, which can be constructed in a modular fashion. One application in which such a storage system is used is in the retail of small items of metal hardware. 
         [0003]    Known modular storage systems can be limited in strength and/or rigidity. The present invention seeks to provide a modular storage system which provides more rigidity than some known modular storage systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular storage system comprising a plurality of frame members, characterised in that each frame member has a first surface opposed to a second surface, and a first side surface opposed to a second side surface, wherein the frame member includes a first track and a second track extending along the frame member in a longitudinal direction, the first track protruding outwardly from the first surface and the second track protruding outwardly from the second side surface, the frame member further including a first groove and a second groove extending along the frame member in a longitudinal direction, the first groove being recessed inwardly of the second surface and the second groove being recessed inwardly of the first side surface, wherein the first groove is complementary in shape to the first track such that a first track of a first frame member may locate within the first groove of a second frame member, and the second groove is complementary in shape to the second track such that a second track of the first frame member may locate within the second groove of a third frame member. 
         [0005]    Preferably, at least one of the first and second tracks is formed by the insertion of a bead within a third groove. 
         [0006]    Advantageously, this allows the storage system to be constructed in a modular fashion in two dimensions. 
         [0007]    In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular storage system comprising a plurality of frame members, each frame member having a first surface opposed to a second surface, wherein the frame member includes a first track extending along the frame member in a longitudinal direction, the first track protruding outwardly from the first surface, the frame member further including a first groove extending along the frame member in a longitudinal direction, the first groove being recessed inwardly of the second surface, the first groove having a corresponding track on an opposing side of the second surface, wherein the first groove is complementary in shape to the first track such that a first track of a first frame member may locate within the first groove of a second frame member, and wherein, in use, a drawer may locate in relation to and slide along the tracks corresponding to the first groove. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first box extrusion used in the modular storage system of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second box extrusion used in the modular storage system of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first bridge extrusion used in the modular storage system of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second bridge extrusion used in the modular storage system of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a T-piece extrusion used in the modular storage system of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bead used in the modular storage system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring to the Figures, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a frame member in the form of a first box extrusion  10  for use in a modular storage system. The first box extrusion  10  includes a top face  12 , a bottom face  14 , a first side face  16  and a second side face  18 . These four faces are substantially the same length, so as to form a substantially square shaped cross-section. 
         [0016]    The top face  12  has an outwardly facing first surface  20 . The bottom face  14  has an outwardly facing second surface  22 . The first surface  20  is opposed to the second surface  22 . 
         [0017]    The top face  12  includes two longitudinally extending first tracks  24 . Each first track  24  is located near, and parallel to, a side of the top face  12 . The first tracks  24  are formed by an apparent deformation in the cross sectional shape of the top face  12 , with the first tracks  24  protruding outwardly from the first surface  20 . 
         [0018]    The bottom face  14  includes two longitudinally extending first grooves  26 . Each first groove  26  is located near, and parallel to, a side of the bottom face  14 . The first grooves  26  are directly beneath the first tracks  24 . The first grooves  26  are formed by an apparent deformation in the cross sectional shape of the bottom face  14 , with the first grooves  26  being recessed inwardly of the second surface  22 . 
         [0019]    The first tracks  24  are complementary in shape to the first grooves  26 , such that a pair of first tracks  24  of a first frame member may locate, and slide longitudinally, within a pair of first grooves  26  of a second frame member, thus engaging the first and second frame members in a first, vertically aligned orientation. 
         [0020]    The first grooves  26  have corresponding tracks extending inwardly of the bottom face  14 . In use, a drawer (not shown) may have locate in relation to, and slide along, the inwardly extending tracks. Preferably, the drawer has grooves which locate over the inwardly extending tracks, and when located on the tracks the base of the drawer is raised slightly above the bottom face  14 . 
         [0021]    The first side face  16  has an outwardly facing first side surface  30 . The second side face  18  has an outwardly facing second side surface  32 . The first side surface  30  is opposed to the second side surface  32 . 
         [0022]    The first side face  16  includes a longitudinally extending second groove  34 . The second groove  34  is located adjacent, and parallel to, a lower edge of the first side face  16 . The second groove  34  is formed by an apparent deformation in the cross sectional shape of the first side face  16 , with the second groove  34  being recessed inwardly of the first side surface  30 . 
         [0023]    The second side face  18  includes a longitudinally extending third groove  36 . The third groove  36  is located adjacent, and parallel to, a lower edge of the second side face  18 . The third groove  36  is formed by an apparent deformation in the cross sectional shape of the second side face  18 , with the third groove  36  being recessed inwardly of the second side surface  32 . 
         [0024]    The third groove  36  is arranged to receive a bead  38 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The bead  38  is longitudinally extending, and is substantially figure-8 shaped in cross section. The bead is sized such that one side of the figure-8 shape may be inserted within, and slid along, the third groove  36 . When in this position, the other side of the figure-8 shape forms a second track protruding from the second side surface  32 . 
         [0025]    The second track is complementary in shape to the second groove  34 , such that a second track of a first frame member may locate, and slide longitudinally, within a second groove  34  of a second frame member, thus engaging the first and second frame members in a second, horizontally aligned orientation. 
         [0026]    Whilst the modular storage system of the present invention may be constructed solely from first box extrusions  10  as described herein above, it may also use other types of frame members. One such frame member is a second box extrusion  40  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0027]    The second box extrusion  40  is rectangular in shape, with a height the same as that of the first box extrusion  10  and a width twice that of the first box extrusion  10 . The second box extrusion  40  has first and second side faces  16 ,  18  identical to those of the first box extrusion  10 . The second box extrusion  40  has a top face  42  identical in shape to two top faces  12  of the first box extrusion  10 , joined side-by-side. The second box extrusion  40  has a bottom face  44  identical in shape to two bottom faces  14  of the first box extrusion  10 , joined side-by-side. 
         [0028]    It will thus be appreciated that the second box extrusion  40  has four first tracks  24  across the top face  42 , with two located adjacent edges and two located substantially centrally. Similarly, the second box extrusion  40  has four first grooves  26  complementary in shape and position to the four first tracks  24 . 
         [0029]    In use, two substantially square drawers may locate within, and slide within, the second box extrusion  40 . Alternatively, one rectangular drawer may be used. 
         [0030]    The second box extrusion  40  may be joined horizontally to a first box extrusion  10 , or another second box extrusion  40 , by the same mechanism described with respect to the first box extrusion  10 . 
         [0031]    The second box extrusion  40  may be joined vertically to two horizontally-connected first box extrusions  10  by location of the first tracks of one within the first grooves of another. Alternately, the second box extrusion  40  may be joined vertically to another second box extrusion  40  in a similar fashion. 
         [0032]    Another possible frame member is a first bridge extrusion  50 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first bridge extrusion  50  is comprised of a longitudinally extending, substantially flat member having the same width as the first box extrusion  10 . The first bridge extrusion  50  has a first, upper surface  52  and a second, lower surface  54 . A pair of longitudinally extending first tracks  24  are located near, and parallel to, the sides of the first bridge extrusion  50 . The first tracks  24  are formed by an apparent deformation in the cross sectional shape of the first bridge extrusion  50 , with the first tracks  24  protruding outwardly from the first surface  52 . Corresponding first grooves  26  are recessed inwardly of the second surface  54 . 
         [0033]    The first bridge extrusion  50  has lip portions  56  at each side thereof. The lip portions include second and third tracks  58 ,  59  extending outwardly. 
         [0034]    In use, a first bridge extrusion  50  may be joined horizontally between two box extrusions  10  or  40 . Where this bridge extrusion  50  is within an array of box extrusions  10 ,  40 , it may provide a location on which a drawer may be located, with side walls being provided by adjacent box extrusions  10 ,  40 . 
         [0035]    A second bridge extrusion  60  as shown in  FIG. 4  may be used in a similar fashion. The second bridge extrusion  60  is the same width as the second box extrusion  40 , and is similar in shape to the top face  42  of the second box extrusion  40 , with lip portions  56  similar to that of the first bridge extrusion  50 . 
         [0036]    A further frame member, in the form of a T-piece extrusion  70 , is shown in  FIG. 5 . The T-piece extrusion  70  has a central wall  72  which is slightly smaller in height than the side faces  16 ,  18  of the box extrusions  10 ,  40 . The T-piece extrusion  70  has a top flange  74  perpendicular to the central wall  70 . The top flange  74  has two first tracks  24  located adjacent side edges thereof. The top flange  74  is sized such that the two first tracks  24  are spaced from each other by the same distance as the two centrally located first tracks  24  of a second box extrusion  40 . 
         [0037]    The T-piece extrusion  70  has an elongate lower lip  76  which extends along the base of the central wall  72 . 
         [0038]    In use, the T-piece extrusion  70  may be used within an array of frame members to provide a side wall as required, with adjacent bridge extrusions  50 ,  60  providing tracks on which drawers maybe located. The elongate lower lip  76  of the T-piece extrusion  70  maybe complementary in shape to recesses  78  located in the lip portions  56  of the bridge extrusions  50 ,  60 . 
         [0039]    Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0