U.S. patent application number 09/767440 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-10 for storage device.
Invention is credited to Hurt, Daniel P..
Application Number | 20020144964 09/767440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25079490 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020144964 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hurt, Daniel P. |
October 10, 2002 |
STORAGE DEVICE
Abstract
A storage device for storing and organizing various articles in
interior corners includes a frame having first, second, and third
sides, wherein the first and second sides are substantially
perpendicular to one another, and the third side extends between
respective distal ends of the first and second sides, the frame
further including one or more ribs extending between two of the
first, second, and third sides to thereby define a plurality of
open chambers in the interior space between the first, second, and
third sides. In a particular embodiment, the frame is adapted to
receive fasteners through the first and second sides to removably
and horizontally attach the frame to respective adjacent walls.
Inventors: |
Hurt, Daniel P.; (Edina,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark J. Burns, Esq.
HAUGEN LAW FIRM PLLP
TCF Tower
121 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
25079490 |
Appl. No.: |
09/767440 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/87.01 ;
211/188; 211/60.1; 211/90.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20130101;
B25H 3/00 20130101; B25H 3/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/87.01 ;
211/90.01; 211/60.1; 211/188 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A storage device comprising: a frame having first, second, and
third sides, said first and second sides being substantially
perpendicular to one another, and said third side extending between
respective distal ends of said first and second sides, said first,
second, and third sides, in combination, defining an upper surface
and an opposing lower surface of said frame, and an interior space
in said frame, said frame being configured to be placed in an
interior corner defined by adjacent perpendicular walls such that
said first and second sides are substantially propinquant to
respective said adjacent walls, said first and second sides being
adapted to receive fasteners therethrough to removably and
horizontally attach said frame to said adjacent walls; and one or
more ribs extending between two of said first, second, and third
sides in such interior space, thereby defining a plurality of open
chambers in such interior space.
2. A storage device as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said
chambers is about 1.5 inches in width and about 2 inches in
length.
3. A storage device as in claim 1 wherein said ribs define chambers
of various dimensions.
4. A storage device as in claim 1, including slots disposed in said
first and second sides for receiving said fasteners.
5. A storage device as in claim 1, including one or more
protrusions extending outwardly from said third side.
6. A storage device as in claim 1 wherein said frame includes
post-receiving bores for receiving support posts therein such that
said storage device may be supported by said posts.
7. A storage device as in claim 6 wherein said bores extend
vertically from said bottom surface to a midpoint surface between
said bottom surface and said top surface, and from said top surface
to said midpoint surface.
8. A storage device as in claim 7, including one or more apertures
in said midpoint surface.
9. A storage device as in claim 6 wherein a plurality of distinct
frames may be interconnected via said support posts.
10. A storage device as in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a
polymeric material.
11. A storage device as in claim 10 wherein said frame comprise
polypropylene.
12. A storage device as in claim 1 wherein said frame is
substantially triangular.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to storage devices generally,
and more particularly to devices for storing and organizing various
items adjacent to walls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A number of storage/organizing devices have been developed
which provide convenient storing means for various objects. Such
devices include modular shelving units, rotatable racks, and drawer
systems, among several others. Such devices, however, are limited
in their utility by their geometrical configurations. For example,
storing/organizing devices commonly in use today typically utilize
rectangular configurations, whereby interior corners of rooms or
other structures are not efficiently utilized. In addition, typical
storage devices in use today do not have the capability of storing
a variety of objects including handled implements in a compact
space.
[0003] Thus, it is a principle object of the present invention to
provide a device for efficiently storing various articles in a
compact space, such as in an interior corner.
[0004] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
device for storing various articles including handled implements in
interior corners.
[0005] It is a still further object of the present invention to
provide a wall-mountable device for storing various articles in
compact spaces.
[0006] It is a yet further object of the present invention to
provide a self-supporting device for storing various articles in
interior corners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] By means of the present invention, utilization of spaces
such as interior corners of rooms and other structures for storage
purposes is improved by providing a storage device which is
adaptable to such spaces. The storage device of the present
invention is preferably configured to abut adjacent walls,
particularly converging adjacent walls forming interior corners.
The storage device of the present invention is also preferably
configured to store articles of various sizes and shapes.
[0008] A particular embodiment of the storage device of the present
invention includes a substantially triangular frame having first,
second, and third sides, wherein the first and second sides are
substantially perpendicular to one another, and the third side
extends between respective distal ends of the first and second
sides. The first, second, and third sides, in combination, define
an interior space therebetween which interior space preferably
includes one or more ribs extending between two of the first,
second, and third sides through the interior space, thereby
defining a plurality of open chambers in the interior space. The
storage device is preferably configured to be placed in an interior
corner defined by adjacent perpendicular walls such that the first
and second sides are substantially propinquant to the respective
adjacent walls. Additionally, the first and second sides are
adapted to receive fasteners therethrough to removably and
horizontally attach the storage device to the adjacent walls.
[0009] Particular features of the preferred embodiment include
slots disposed in the first and second sides for receiving the
fasteners therethrough. The storage device of the present invention
also preferably includes one or more protrusions extending
outwardly from the third side for grasping additional articles
thereon.
[0010] An additional aspect of the present invention includes a
plurality of post-receiving bores for receiving support posts
therein such that the storage device may be supported by the posts.
In such an embodiment, the bores may both extend vertically from a
bottom surface to a midpoint between the bottom surface and the top
surface, and extend vertically from the top surface to the
midpoint.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the storage device of
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the storage device illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the storage device
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The objects and advantages enumerated above together with
other objects, features and advances represented by the present
invention will now be presented in terms of detailed embodiments
described with reference to the attached drawing figures which are
intended to be representative of various possible configurations of
the invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are
recognized as being within the grasp of those having ordinary skill
in the art.
[0015] Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings,
and first to FIG. 1, a storage device 10 of the present invention
is shown. As illustrated in FIG. 1, storage device 10 is
substantially triangular, and includes a first side 12, a second
side 14, and a third side 16. In preferred embodiments, first side
12 and second side 14 are substantially perpendicular to one
another, though various other angular relationships are
contemplated by the present invention. Side 12 further includes a
proximal end 20 and a distal end 22, which proximal end 20
coincides with proximal end 26 of second side 14, thereby forming
vertex 30. Second side 14 further includes a distal end 28. Third
side 16 extends between respective distal ends 22, 28 of first and
second sides 12, 14.
[0016] First, second, and third sides 12, 14, 16, in combination,
define an upper surface 36 and a generally opposing lower surface
38. First, second, and third sides 12, 14, 16, in combination,
further define an interior space therebetween as designated at
40.
[0017] In preferred embodiments of the present invention storage
device 10 includes one or more ribs 50 extending between two of
sides 12, 14, 16 to thereby define a plurality of open chambers as
designated at 52 in interior space 40. In such embodiments, various
articles may be supported on upper surfaces 51 of ribs 50, or may
be retained within open chambers 52. As shown in FIG. 1, chambers
52 are open between upper surface 36 and lower surface 38. Examples
of articles that may be desirably retained within chambers 52 and
thus conveniently stored include handled articles such as brooms,
mops, shovels, hammers, and so on. Most preferably, a plurality of
ribs 50 extend between respective sides 12, 14, 16, thereby
defining a plurality of open chambers 52. Such chambers 52 may be
of various dimensions, and a single storage device 10 may include a
plurality of chambers 52 of various dimensions. Preferably, at
least some of the chambers 52 are about 1.5 inches in width and
about 2 inches in length.
[0018] In other embodiments of the present invention, at least a
portion of interior space 40 may include a continuous flat or
multiple-level surface for more efficiently storing various
articles, particularly relatively small articles.
[0019] Storage device 10 is preferably sized and configured to be
placed at or near the convergence of adjacent perpendicular walls.
In particular, first and second sides 12, 14 are preferably
configured to abut adjacent walls such that vertex 30 is
substantially adjacent to the convergence of such perpendicular
walls. In other embodiments of the present invention, the angular
relationship between first and second sides 12, 14 may be
non-perpendicular such that storage device 10 may be utilized in
non-perpendicular applications.
[0020] The present invention further contemplates a variety of
configurations which incorporate the desired angular relationship
between first and second sides 12, 14. For example, storage device
10 may employ a variety of structural configurations in place of
third side 16 including, but not limited to, curved surfaces,
multiple-faceted surfaces, and discontinuous surfaces. It is
therefore contemplated by the present invention that numerous
configuration variants may be developed which harness the
advantages stated herein.
[0021] The preferred configuration of storage device 10 as
described above, provides unique functionality not found in typical
storage devices. In particular, storage device 10 efficiently
utilizes space in interior corners created by the convergence of
adjacent walls. Such interior corner space is often times
ineffectively utilized with the configurations employed in common
storage systems. Storage device 10 may be of any desired size,
though in a particularly preferred embodiment, first and second
sides 12, 14 are between about 6 inches and 24 inches in length,
thus defining a support surface area of between 18 inches squared
and about 290 inches squared. Additionally, first, second, and
third sides 12, 14, 16 are each preferably between about 0.25
inches and about 4 inches in height. Other sizes and configurations
of storage device 10 are contemplated in the present invention to
accomplish the stated goals which are not accomplished by typical
systems in use today.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, storage device 10 may also include a
plurality of slots 60 disposed in first and second sides 12, 14,
which slots 60 are preferably sized and configured to receive
fasteners therethrough to removably and horizontally attach storage
device 10 to respective adjacent walls. Slots 60 preferably extend
through respective sides 12, 14, and extend vertically a distance
from bottom surface 38. Slots 60 may also be in the form of holes
or other apertures, so long as fasteners may be received
therethrough to removably attach storage device 10 to respective
adjacent walls.
[0023] In preferred embodiments, storage device 10 may also include
one or more protrusions 68 extending outwardly from an outer
surface 17 of third side 16. Protrusions 68 are preferably directed
upward, such that various items may be hung or grasped thereon for
additional storage purposes.
[0024] Some embodiments of the present invention include
post-receiving bores 72 for receiving support posts (not shown)
therein. Post-receiving bores 72 may be more easily viewed in the
top view of FIG. 2, or the bottom view of FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS.
2 and 3, post-receiving bores 72 generally form cylinders for
receiving respective support posts. Bores 72 preferably extend
vertically from a top surface 36 to a midpoint surface, as
designated at 74, which midpoint surface 74 is located between
upper surface 36 and lower surface 38, and between lower surface 38
and midpoint surface 74. In such a manner, any number of storage
devices 10 may be utilized in combination to create an overall
storage system. For example, two storage devices 10 may be utilized
in combination as an upper storage device and a lower storage
device respectively, wherein the two storage devices are coupled
via support posts. The support posts may preferably be inserted
into bores 72 through top surface 36 to form the bottom storage
device, while the distal ends of the support posts may be inserted
into bores 72 of the upper storage device through its respective
lower surface 38. This process may be repeated such that a
plurality of storage devices are created to form a multiple-surface
storage system in a given interior corner.
[0025] Bores 72 are preferably located at respective ends of sides
12, 14, 16, but may be placed elsewhere for various applications.
Additionally, bores 72 may be of any desired shape to receive
correspondingly shaped support posts.
[0026] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, midpoint surface 74
preferably includes an aperture 76 therein, which aperture 76 forms
an open channel extending through midpoint surface 74. Aperture 76
may be utilized for receiving support structures such as coat
hangers, plant hooks, or the like. It is contemplated that aperture
76 may be of any desired size and configuration, as limited by the
size of bores 72.
[0027] Storage device 10 is preferably fabricated from a
lightweight, durable material. Storage device 10 is preferably
manufactured from polymeric materials, or lightweight metals such
as aluminum. Most preferably, storage device 10 is fabricated from
polypropylene, and is injection molded.
[0028] The invention has been described herein in considerable
detail in order to comply with the patent statutes, and to provide
those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the
novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the
invention as required. However, it is to be understood that the
invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and
that various modifications can be accomplished without departing
from the scope of the invention itself.
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