Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20100237755?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-09-22 01:16:21
Document Index: 401246082

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'application No. 29', 'application No. 29', 'application No. 29', 'Application No. 61', 'application No. 29', 'application No. 29', 'application No. 29', 'application No. 29']

Patent US20100237755 - Storage and organization system and connectivity of the components therein - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA storage shell includes a plurality of sidewalls to collectively define a chamber therebetween. A first sidewall defines a panel and a track. The panel defines an outer perimeter edge, an exterior surface, and holes extending through the panel. The track is coupled to the panel and includes a first...http://www.google.com/patents/US20100237755?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20100237755 - Storage and organization system and connectivity of the components thereinAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20100237755 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 12/554,034Publication dateSep 23, 2010Filing dateSep 4, 2009Priority dateMar 17, 2009Also published asUS8113600, US8186776, US8414092, US8573716, US20100237754, US20120139397, US20120229006Publication number12554034, 554034, US 2010/0237755 A1, US 2010/237755 A1, US 20100237755 A1, US 20100237755A1, US 2010237755 A1, US 2010237755A1, US-A1-20100237755, US-A1-2010237755, US2010/0237755A1, US2010/237755A1, US20100237755 A1, US20100237755A1, US2010237755 A1, US2010237755A1InventorsKevin ZalewskiOriginal AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (1), Classifications (7), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetStorage and organization system and connectivity of the components thereinUS 20100237755 A1Abstract A storage shell includes a plurality of sidewalls to collectively define a chamber therebetween. A first sidewall defines a panel and a track. The panel defines an outer perimeter edge, an exterior surface, and holes extending through the panel. The track is coupled to the panel and includes a first rib and a second rib each extending from the exterior surface. The first rib is positioned inside the outer perimeter edge. The second rib is concentric with and shaped similarly to the first rib. The first rib and the second rib each separately border each one of the holes where each of the holes is formed between the first rib and the second rib. Related storage and organization systems, accessories and methods are also disclosed and provide additional advantages.
2. The storage shell of claim 1, wherein the first rib and the second rib are each shaped similarly to, but sized smaller than, the outer perimeter edge of the substantially planar panel.
7. The storage shell of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls is substantially similar to the first sidewall.
8. The storage shell of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls are all collectively formed as a single contiguous piece of material.
9. The storage shell of claim 1, further comprising flanges each radially extending away from an intersection line defined along the outer perimeter edge of the substantially planar panel, wherein each of the flanges extends from the first sidewall with an angle between about 30� and about 60�.
10. The storage shell of claim 9, wherein the storage shell is a first storage shell and is provided in combination with a second storage shell, the second storage shell is similar to the first storage shell and comprises:
a plurality of sidewalls including a first sidewall of the second storage shell, and flanges of the second storage shell, wherein the first storage shell and the second storage shell are positioned adjacent one another such that the flanges of the first storage shell interface with the flanges of the second storage shell in a manner maintaining the first sidewall of the first storage shell spaced from and substantially parallel to the first sidewall of the second storage shell. 11. The combination of claim 10, further comprising:
a clip extending between the first sidewall of the first storage shell and the first sidewall of the second storage shell, the clip being substantially unsupported between the first sidewall of the first storage shell and the first sidewall of the second storage shell for at least half a length of the clip. 12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the clip comprises:
a head defining a substantially planar surface and an outer diameter, the outer diameter being larger than an outer dimension of one of the plurality of holes of the first storage shell; a pair of legs extending from the substantially planar surface of the head to define free ends opposite the substantially planar surface, wherein the free ends are configured to flex toward one another into a flexed position when corresponding forces are applied to the free ends and to return to an original position upon removal of the corresponding forces, the free ends define two claws each extending outwardly from a different one of the free ends of the pair of legs, the two claws collectively being wider than the outer dimension of the one of the plurality of holes of the first storage shell when the clip is in the original position, and the two claws are collectively narrower than the outer dimension of the one of the plurality of holes when the clip is in the flexed position. 13. The storage shell of claim 1, in combination with a support base comprising:
a planar member, support legs extending from one side of the planar member; and pillars each extending from an opposite side of the planar member in an opposite direction as support legs, wherein each pillar fits within one of the plurality of holes defined by the first sidewall. 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the pillars is tapered as it extends away from the planar member.
15. The storage shell of claim 1, in combination with a tray defining a substantially planar bottom panel and at least two rails extending downwardly from the substantially planar bottom panel, wherein each of the at least two rails is selectively positioned adjacent to and within a corner of the track when the tray is placed on the first sidewall.
second flanges each extending away from a second intersection line defined along an outside perimeter of each of the second side panels,
wherein first and second boxes are positioned adjacent one another such that two or more of the first flanges contact two or more of the second flanges, wherein one of the first side panels is adjacent each of two or more of the first flanges, and one of the second side panels is adjacent each of the two or more of the second flanges, the one of the first side panels is positioned spaced from and extends generally parallel to the one of the second side panels to define a cavity therebetween; and
a connecting device extending through the first aperture and the second aperture to couple the first box to the second box, wherein the connecting device independently extends through the cavity defined between the one of the first side panels and the one of the second side panels. 17. The storage and organization system of claim 16, wherein each of the first flanges radially extends outwardly away from a center of the first box, and each of the second flanges radially extends outwardly away from a center of the second box.
18. The storage and organization system of claim 16, wherein the first side panels each include a track defined by a pair of ribs shaped similarly to and slightly offset from an outside perimeter of first side panel.
19. The storage and organization system of claim 16, wherein the connecting device comprises:
a head having an outer dimension larger than the first aperture and defining a substantially planar surface; a pair of legs extending away from the substantially planar surface of the head, the pair of legs extending spaced from and substantially parallel to one another and extending substantially perpendicularly relative the substantially planar surface of the head, wherein the pair of legs are configured to flex toward one another to allow the pair of legs to pass through the first aperture and the second aperture, and wherein the pair of legs only fit through the first aperture and the second aperture when the pair of legs are flexed toward one another. 20. The storage and organization system of claim 16, wherein one of the first side panels faces the second box, the one of the first side panels is substantially planar, defines a exterior surface, and the first aperture is one of a plurality of first apertures defined by and extending through the one of the first side panels and is positioned near an outside perimeter of the one of the first side panels, and the first box further comprises:
a second rib concentric with and shaped similarly to the first rib and positioned further away from the outside perimeter of the one of the first side panels than the first rib, the second rib extending from the exterior surface in the first direction away from the first compartment,
wherein the first rib borders each the plurality of first apertures defined by the one of the first side panels, and the second rib separately borders each of the plurality of first apertures, wherein each of the plurality of first apertures of the one of the first side panels is formed between the first rib and the second rib. 21. A method of providing a storage and organization system, the method comprising:
providing a first shell and a second shell each comprising four sidewalls collectively defining a chamber therebetween, wherein each of the sidewalls defines an exterior surface and a pair of concentric ribs extending outwardly from the exterior surface of a corresponding one of the sidewalls, the pair of concentric ribs is shaped similar to but smaller than an outer perimeter of the corresponding one of the sidewalls, and apertures are defined through each of the sidewalls between a corresponding pair of concentric ribs such that each rib of the corresponding pair of concentric ribs directly borders a different portion of each of the apertures; providing a clip configured to extend through one of the apertures formed in one of the sidewalls of the first shell and through one of the apertures formed in one of the sidewalls of the second shell to selectively couple the first shell to the second shell, wherein the one of the sidewalls of the first shell and the one of the sidewalls of the second shell that the clip extends through are entirely spaced from one another; and providing instructions for coupling the first shell to the second shell using only the clip and additional similar clips without use of tools. 22. The method of claim 21, providing an auxiliary member configured to be selectively coupled to the first shell via apertures defined by the first shell.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the auxiliary member is coupled to the first shell such that the auxiliary member is positioned within the chamber of the first shell.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the first shell and the second shell includes displaying the first shell and a second shell as part of a retail display including depicting at least one configuration of a storage and organization system using at least two shells representative of the first shell and the second shell. Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a Non-Provisional Application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/160,977, entitled �STORAGE AND ORGANIZATION SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVITY OF THE COMPONENTS THEREIN,� filed on Mar. 17, 2009, which is related to pending U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/851,165, entitled �STORAGE AND ORGANIZATION SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS THEREOF,� filed Sep. 6, 2007; pending U.S. Design application No. 29/284,375, entitled �STORAGE BIN,� filed Sep. 6, 2007; pending U.S. Design application No. 29/284,379, entitled �LID PORTION,� filed Sep. 6, 2007; pending U.S. Design application No. 29/329,629, entitled �STORAGE BIN,� filed Dec. 18, 2008; pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/161,019, entitled �STORAGE AND ORGANIZATION SYSTEM WITH STACKABLE SHELLS,� filed on Mar. 17, 2009; pending U.S. Design application No. 29/333,915, entitled �STORAGE UNIT AND STORAGE UNIT PORTIONS,� filed on Mar. 17, 2009; pending U.S. Design application No. 29/333,916, entitled �DRAWER AND DOOR,� filed on Mar. 17, 2009; pending U.S. Design application No. 29/333,917, entitled �SUPPORTING BASE,� filed on Mar. 17, 2009; and pending U.S. Design application No. 29/333,918, entitled �TRAY,� filed on Mar. 17, 2009; all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
An intersection line 62 is defined at the border between any one sidewall 20, rear wall 22, or front opening 28 and another sidewall 20, rear wall 22, or front opening 30. Accordingly, in one embodiment, twelve intersection lines 62 are formed by storage shell 10 including four around front opening 30, four around rear wall 22, and four extending front to back and being defined at the boundary between adjacent sidewalls 20. Additionally referring to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10, in one embodiment, a flange 64 extends radially outwardly from one or more of the intersection lines 62, for example, from each intersection line 62, in a plane angled with respect to adjacent ones of sidewalls 20, rear wall 22, and front opening 30. As used herein, �radially� refers to a divergent extension of a member relative to a center of a corresponding storage shell 10 unless another reference is specifically provided. In one embodiment, each flange 64 radially extends from intersection line 62 at an angle between about 30� and about 60� as measured from each adjacent sidewall 20, rear wall 22, or front opening 30, for example, at an angle of about 45�.
Interaction between flanges 64 maintains top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a spaced from and positioned substantially parallel to bottom sidewall 20 c of second storage shell 10 b. For example, first auxiliary legs 74 of flanges 64 adjacent bottom sidewall 20 c of second storage shell 10 b rests on first auxiliary legs 74 of flanges 64 adjacent top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a. The above-described flange 64 interactions maintain top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a spaced from bottom sidewall 20 c of second storage shell 10 b. Notably, first auxiliary leg 74 of flanges 64 adjacent bottom sidewall 20 c of second storage shell 10 b are shown slightly spaced from first auxiliary leg 74 of flanges 64 adjacent top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a, in FIG. 10 for clarity of illustration as will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the present application. When stacked, a cavity 78 is defined between bottom sidewall 20 c of second storage shell 10 b and top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a. More specifically, a first distance D1 (i.e., thickness of cavity 78) is defined between exterior surface 42 of bottom sidewall 20 c of second storage shell 10 b and exterior surface 42 of top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a. In one embodiment, distance D1 is substantially larger than a total thickness of each sidewall 20 defined between the respective interior surface 44 and exterior surface 42 thereof. In one example, distance D1 is at least four times larger than a total thickness of any one of sidewalls 20. A second distance D2 is defined between interior surface 44 of bottom sidewall 20 c of second storage shell 10 b and interior surface 44 of top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a. When first storage shell 10 a and second storage shell 10 b are stacked, holes 60 extending through top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a and holes 60 extending through bottom sidewall 20 b of second storage shell 10 b align with one another (e.g., from front to back and from left to right). As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, clips 14 are used to secure adjacent storage shells 10 to one another. Each clip 14 includes a head 82 and two symmetrical legs 84 (i.e., first leg 84 a and second leg 84 b or, collectively, a pair of legs). Head 82 defines a substantially planar surface 86 having a larger outer perimeter than holes 60 and may be formed circular, square, or any other suitable shape. In one example, a surface 88 of head 82 opposite substantially planar surface 86 is substantially flat; however, surface 88 may be rounded or otherwise shaped.
Additional storage shells 10 may be similarly coupled to one another using clips 14. Similarly, storage shells 10 may be secured side to side with clips 14 as generally indicated in FIG. 9 with first storage shell 10 a and third storage shell 10 c. Clips 14 also allow coupled storage shells 10 to be uncoupled from one another and reconfigured without the use of additional tools. For example, once again referring to FIG. 10, a user may apply a force as indicated by arrows 92 to free ends 90 of clip legs 84 causing free ends 90 to flex inward and to fit within the confines of holes 60. More specifically, while free ends 90 are flexed inward, a user pushes clip 14 toward second storage shell 10 b causing free ends 90 to move through hole 60 within and through top sidewall 20 a of first storage shell 10 a. As such, first storage shell 10 a is separated from second storage shell 10 b. Clip 14 can similarly be flexed and moved back through bottom sidewall 20 of second storage shell 10 b to separate clip 14 from second storage shell 10 b. Besides facilitating coupling of storage shells 10 to one another, tracks 46 and holes 60 also facilitate coupling of accessory members 110 with storage shells 10. For example, referring to FIGS. 9 and 11, in one embodiment, accessory members 110 of storage and organization system 12 include a box or tray 112 defining one or more cavities 114 for storing or otherwise holding items. Tray 112 includes a bottom wall 116, which is substantially planar and may or may not be continuous. Ribs 118 extend downwardly from bottom wall 116, which, in one example, is substantially square or rectangular, near an outer perimeter thereof. In one example, a separate rib 118 is placed in each corner of bottom wall 116 and is generally L-shaped such that one leg 120 extends substantially perpendicular to another leg 122 of each rib 118. In one embodiment, ribs 118 are connected to one another to collectively define a closed-looped rib.
In one embodiment, accessory member(s) 100 also include interior members such as drawer unit 150 as illustrated in FIG. 14. Drawer unit 150 is configured to be inserted into compartment 26 of shell 12. In one embodiment, drawer unit 150 provides a pre-assembled and separately purchasable drawer sub-unit specifically configured to fit within a compartment 26 of shell storage 10. Drawer unit 150 is thereby configured to have similar, but slightly smaller, outside dimensions as compared to the inside dimensions of compartment 26 of storage shell 10. More specifically, drawer unit 150 includes vertical support walls 152 defining the outside dimensions of drawer unit 150. Support rails 154 extend inwardly from vertical support walls 152 and define a drawer support surface 156 on an upper portion thereof.
Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS20120242200 *Mar 22, 2011Sep 27, 2012Rukshan KeragalaModular Interior Design System* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification312/111, 312/352International ClassificationF16B12/00, A47B97/00, A47B87/00Cooperative ClassificationA47B47/0041European ClassificationA47B47/00H4Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 9, 2009ASAssignmentEffective date: 20090623Owner name: TARGET BRANDS, INC., MINNESOTAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ZALEWSKI, KEVIN;REEL/FRAME:023351/0001RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google