U.S. patent application number 11/120046 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-02 for modular storage system.
Invention is credited to MaryKay Curley, Kenneth P. Richied.
Application Number | 20060244348 11/120046 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37233784 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060244348 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richied; Kenneth P. ; et
al. |
November 2, 2006 |
Modular storage system
Abstract
A modular system including a plurality of modular units, each
modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store
school and office supplies therein. Each modular unit has a
plurality of generally flat outer surfaces. Each modular unit is
configured to be coupled to another modular unit along facing,
parallel outer surfaces thereof when a facing outer surface of one
of the modular units is moved towards the facing outer surface of
the other modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to
the facing outer surfaces until the modular units contact each
other.
Inventors: |
Richied; Kenneth P.;
(Liberty Township, OH) ; Curley; MaryKay;
(Binghamton, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMPSON HINE L.L.P.
P.O. BOX 8801
DAYTON
OH
45401-8801
US
|
Family ID: |
37233784 |
Appl. No.: |
11/120046 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42F 7/14 20130101; A47B
87/0292 20130101; B42F 17/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/108 |
International
Class: |
A47B 87/02 20060101
A47B087/02 |
Claims
1. A modular system comprising a plurality of modular units, each
modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store
school and office supplies therein, each modular unit having a
plurality of generally flat outer surfaces, wherein each modular
unit is configured to be coupled to another modular unit along
facing, parallel outer surfaces thereof when a facing outer surface
of one of said modular units is moved towards the facing outer
surface of the other modular unit in a direction generally
perpendicular to said facing outer surfaces until the modular units
contact each other.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said facing outer surfaces of said
modular units to be coupled are facing each other such that a line
that extends generally perpendicular to the facing outer surfaces
intersects both of the facing outer surfaces when said modular
units are spaced apart but moved towards each other during said
coupling.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said modular system includes at
least two types of modular units, said at least two types of
modular units differing in size or shape.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said at least two types of modular
units differ in both size and shape.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein each modular unit has a generally
rectangular prism shape.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein each modular unit defines a volume
of less than about 1728 cubic inches.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein each modular unit has a weight
less than about two pounds.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modular units
includes at least one of a storage slot module unit, a drawer
module unit, a storage shelf module unit or a hanging file holder
module unit.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said system has a generally
rectangular prism shape when said plurality of modular units are
coupled together.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein each modular unit includes a
cavity for storing school and office supplied therein.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said modular system includes at
least two types of modular units, said at least two types of
modular units differing in size or shape, and wherein each of said
at least two types of modular units has a height dimension, a
length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein at least one of
said dimensions of one of said types of modular units is a positive
integer multiple of another dimension of the other type of modular
units.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein said positive integer is a
positive integer in the range of 1 to 4, inclusive.
13. The system of claim 11 wherein said positive integer number is
a positive integer other than 1.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said modular units is
coupled to another modular unit along at least one of said outer
surfaces.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein each modular unit includes an
attachment structure for coupling said modular unit to another
modular unit.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein each module is configured to be
directly coupled to another module.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein each module includes an outer
covering material covering substantially all of the outer surfaces
thereof, wherein said outer covering material is non-metallic.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein each modular unit is configured
to be coupled to another modular unit along facing, parallel outer
surfaces thereof when a facing outer surface of one of said modular
units is moved towards the facing outer surface of the other
modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to said facing
outer surfaces until said modular units contact each other such
that each module is coupled together by more than frictional or
gravitational forces.
19. A modular system comprising a plurality of modular units, each
modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store
school and office supplies therein, each modular unit having a
plurality of generally flat outer surfaces and being configured to
be coupled to another modular unit when one of said outer surfaces
is moved toward a generally parallel outer surface of said another
modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to one of said
generally parallel outer surfaces such that each module is coupled
together by more than frictional forces, and wherein said generally
parallel outer surfaces face each other during said movement of
said one of said outer surfaces such that said generally parallel
facing surfaces at least partially overlap during said movement of
said one of said outer surfaces.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein each modular unit is configured
to be coupled to said another modular unit when one of said
generally parallel facing surfaces is moved towards and engages a
generally parallel facing surface of said another modular unit.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein each modular unit is directly
coupled to another adjacent modular unit along parallel, facing and
adjacent outer surfaces thereof.
22. An assembled modular system comprising a plurality of modular
units, each modular unit being sized to be hand carried and
configured to store school and office supplies therein, each
modular unit having a plurality of generally flat outer surfaces,
wherein each modular unit is coupled to another modular unit along
facing, parallel outer surfaces thereof, and is coupled thereto by
moving a facing outer surface of one of said modular units towards
the facing outer surface of the other modular unit in a direction
generally perpendicular to said facing outer surfaces until said
modular units contact each other.
23. A modular unit that is sized to be hand carried and configured
to store school and office supplies therein, said modular unit
having a generally rectangular prism shape with a plurality of
generally flat outer surfaces, wherein said modular unit has an
outer coupling surface that is configured to be coupled to an outer
coupling surface of another modular unit when said coupling surface
of said modular unit faces and is generally parallel to said
coupling surface of said another modular unit, and when at least
one of said coupling surfaces is moved towards the other coupling
surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said coupling
surfaces until said modular unit and said another modular unit
contact each other.
24. A method for assembling a modular system comprising the steps
of: providing a first and a second modular unit, each modular unit
being sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and
office supplies therein, each modular unit having a plurality of
generally flat outer surfaces; arranging said first and second
modular units such that an outer surface of said first modular unit
faces a generally parallel outer surface of said second modular
unit; and moving at least one of said modular units in a direction
generally perpendicular to said facing surfaces until said facing
surfaces engage each other to couple said first and second modular
unit together.
Description
[0001] The present invention is directed to a modular storage
system, and more particularly to a modular storage system for use
with school and office supplies.
BACKGROUND
[0002] School and office supplies, such as notebooks, binders,
pens, pencils, staplers, scissors, binding clips, loose leaf
papers, rubber bands, correction tape, correction fluid, drawing
guides, letter openers, highlighters, erasers, calculators and the
like are often desired to be stored in a storage unit. However, the
storage needs for any individual user will vary from user to user
and thus a single storage unit of fixed capacity may not meet the
needs of different users. In addition, a user may often desire to
utilize the storage unit in a portable manner, or desire to modify
the configuration of the storage unit. Accordingly, there is a need
for a storage unit which can be assembled to meet the needs of
individual users, and which provides portable storage units.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one embodiment, the present invention is a modular
storage system which can be assembled in various configurations,
and which provides individual modular units which can be separated
from each other and used as a standalone component. More
particularly, in one embodiment the invention is a modular system
comprising a plurality of modular units, each modular unit being
sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and office
supplies therein. Each modular unit has a plurality of generally
flat outer surfaces. Each modular unit is configured to be coupled
to another modular unit along facing, parallel outer surfaces
thereof when a facing outer surface of one of the modular units is
moved towards the facing outer surface of the other modular unit in
a direction generally perpendicular to the facing outer surfaces
until the modular units contact each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
modular storage system of the present invention;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a front view of the modular storage system of FIG.
1;
[0006] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the modular storage
system of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the modular storage system
of FIG. 3, with the various drawers moved to their open
positions;
[0008] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the modular storage system of
FIG. 3;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the modular storage system of
FIG. 5;
[0010] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1
rearranged in a different configuration;
[0011] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the modular storage system of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment
of the modular storage system of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the modular storage system of
FIG. 9;
[0014] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the modular storage system of
FIG. 9, showing the locations of various magnetized or attachment
surfaces; and
[0015] FIG. 12 is a side cross section taken along line 12-12 of
FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment the modular system of
the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a
plurality of modules or modular units 12 which are directly coupled
together to form the modular system 10. Each modular unit 12 may
have various sizes and shapes, and may be configured to be hand
carried and to store school and office supplies therein. The
modular system 10 may be configured such that when the modular
units 12 are assembled, the modular system 10 forms a generally
rectangular prism.
[0017] As best shown in FIG. 5, in the illustrated embodiment the
modular system 10 includes five modular units 12. However, the
modular system 10 may have any of a wide variety of numbers of
modular units 12, and the modular units 12 can vary from those
shown herein. In the illustrated embodiment, the modular system 10
includes a storage shelf modular unit 12a, a storage slot modular
unit 12b, a pair of drawer modular units 12c, 12d, and a hanging
file folder modular unit 12e. The storage shelf modular unit 12a
includes a pair of vertically spaced shelves 14 extending
substantially the entire length and width of the modular unit 12a
such that the storage shelf modular unit 12a can receive loose leaf
papers, notebooks, binders and the like therein. The storage shelf
modular unit 12a may be sized to relatively closely receive a
notebook of 81/2.times.11 sheets of paper therein.
[0018] The storage slot modular unit 12b includes a plurality of
generally vertically-extending cavities 16 in which various school
and office supplies such as pens, pencils, staplers, scissors,
letter openers, highlighters, erasers and the like may be
stored.
[0019] Each of the drawer modular units 12c, 12d includes an outer
drawer casing 18, as well as a drawer 20 that is movably, slidably,
or rollably received in the outer drawer casing 18. Each drawer 20
has a pull handle 22 to aid in opening and closing the drawer 20.
FIG. 4 illustrates the drawers 20 of the drawer modular units 12c,
12d moved at least partially to their open positions. Each drawer
20 defines an inner cavity 24 in which papers and various school
and office supply products can be stored.
[0020] Drawer modular unit 12d has a lesser depth than the drawer
modular unit 12c. In particular, drawer modular unit 12d has a
depth that is less than the drawer modular unit 12c by a distance
about equal to the depth of the storage slot modular unit 12b such
that when the drawer modular unit 12d and storage slot modular unit
12b are placed adjacent to each other, their combined depth is
substantially equal to the depth of the drawer modular unit
12c.
[0021] The hanging file folder modular unit 12e includes a main
inner cavity 26 in which a plurality of folders, including, but not
limited to, hanging file folders 28, may be received for storing
and organizing various papers and the like.
[0022] The modular system 10 may have various sizes and dimensions.
For example, in one embodiment the system 10 may have a height of
about 13.5 inches, a width (i.e., along dimension w.sub.1 of FIG.
1) of about 9.25 inches, and a depth of about 12.25 inches. The
modular system 10 may define a volume of less than abut 8600 cubic
inches, or less than about 1296 cubic inches and may have a weight
of less than about 30 lbs, or less than about 15 lbs, or less than
about 10 lbs. Each modular unit 12 may be a generally rectangular
prism defining a volume of less than about 1720 cubic inches, or
less than about 500 cubic inches, and may have a weight of less
than about 10 lbs, or less than about 5 lbs, or less than about 3
lbs.
[0023] As noted above, each of the modular units 12 may be shaped
as a generally rectangular prism having a plurality (i.e., six) of
generally flat, planar outer surfaces and a storage cavity therein.
At least one or perhaps more of the outer surfaces of each modular
units 12 may include an attachment structure or fastening means 32
forming or located adjacent to one of the outer surfaces for
coupling each modular unit 12 to another modular unit 12. For
example, as best shown in FIG. 6, each of the modular units 12 may
include a foot or protrusion 34 extending outwardly from a bottom
surface thereof.
[0024] Each foot 34 may be generally rectangular in top view, and
may cover at least about 50%, or at least about 80%, or at least
about 90% of the surface area of the associated outer surface of
the modular unit 12. Each foot 34 may have a height of about 0.15
inches, or less than about 0.5 inches, or less than about 0.25
inches. Each foot 34 may have a height that is less than about 10%,
or less than about 5% of the height of the associated modular unit
12.
[0025] As best shown in FIG. 5, some or all of the modular units 12
may include a recess 36 forming or located adjacent to an upper
outer surface thereof. Each recess 36 can be considered to be part
of the attachment structure or fastening means 32. In the
illustrated embodiment, the storage slot modular unit 12b and
drawer modular units 12c, 12d each include a recess 36 on an upper
surface thereof. Each recess 36 may be sized to generally closely
receive the foot or feet 34 of other modular units 12 therein.
[0026] Each recess 36 may be generally rectangular in top view, and
may cover at least about 50%, or at least about 80%, or at least
about 90% of the surface area of the associated outer surface of
the modular unit 12. Each recess 36 may have a depth of about 0.15
inches, or less than about 0.5 inches, or less than about 0.25
inches. Each recess 36 may have a depth that is less than about
10%, or less than about 5% of the height of the associated modular
unit 12.
[0027] The feet 34 and recesses 36 of the modular units 12 can
cooperate to couple the modular units 12 together to form an
assembled modular system 10. For example, the feet 34 of the
hanging file folder modular unit 12e and the drawer modular unit
12c can be received in the recess 36 of the storage shelf modular
unit 12a such that the hanging file folder modular unit 12e and
drawer modular unit 12c are thereby coupled to the storage shelf
modular unit 12a. Similarly, the feet 34 of the drawer modular unit
12d and storage slot modular unit 12b can be received in the recess
36 of the drawer modular unit 12c such that the drawer modular unit
12d and storage slot modular unit 12b are thereby coupled to the
drawer modular unit 12c. In this manner, each of the modular units
12 can be coupled together to form the modular unit system 10 of
FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates the modular unit system 10 wherein each
foot 34 of the upper modular units 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e is received
in a corresponding recess 36.
[0028] In this manner each modular unit 12 can be coupled together.
For example, with reference to FIG. 5, when the foot 34 of the
hanging file modular unit 12e is to be received in the recess 36 of
the storage slot module 12a, the hanging file modular unit 12e is
arranged and positioned such that its bottom surface 30a faces and
is located above the top surface 30b of the storage slot module
12a. More particularly the bottom surface 30a of the hanging file
modular unit 12e and the top surface 30b of the storage slot module
12a (i.e. the facing or engaging or coupling surfaces) are arranged
such that they are facing and generally parallel and at least
partially overlapping such that a line that is generally
perpendicular to the facing or engaging surfaces 30a, 30b extends
through both of the facing surfaces 30a, 30b. The facing surfaces
30a, 30b are then moved toward each other in a direction generally
perpendicular to the facing surfaces 30a, 30b until said modular
units 12d, 12e contact each other and the foot 34 is received in
the recess 36.
[0029] Various other shapes and arrangements of the protrusions 34
and recesses 36 may be utilized without departing from the scope of
the invention. However, the use of relatively shallow protrusions
34 and recesses 36 that cover relatively wide areas of the
associated surface of the modular unit 12 may be desired to provide
relatively secure coupling of the modular units 12 without
sacrificing space in the storage cavities of the modular units 12.
In particular, if the protrusions 34 and recesses 36 were to be
relatively deep, then the recesses 36 may protrude into the inner
cavity of a modular unit 12 and reduce its storage capacity. In
addition, the protrusions 34 and recesses 36 may allow the modular
units 12 to be relatively quickly and easily coupled to and
uncoupled from each other. The weight of the modular units 12,
along with the weight of any components or supplies stored in the
modular units 12 may serve to couple the modular units 12 together
by gravity forces.
[0030] The modular system 10 allows each module 12 to be separated
from the modular system 10 for stand-alone use, or for use as a
portable storage component. The modular units 12 may also be able
to be coupled together in various other configurations beyond those
identically shown herein. For example, the attachment structure 32
can be utilized to couple the modules 12 together in the
configuration shown in FIG. 7 wherein the position of the drawer
modular unit 12d and storage slot modular unit 12b are reversed
from their positions of FIG. 1.
[0031] Each of the modular units 12 may have a height dimension, a
length dimension, and a width dimension, and at least one of the
dimensions of one of the modular units 12 may be a positive integer
multiple (i.e., in one case between one and four, inclusive) of one
of the dimensions of at least one of the other modular units. For
example, the storage shelf modular unit 12a may have a width
w.sub.1 (FIG. 1), and the hanging file folder modular unit 12e may
have a width w.sub.2. The width w.sub.2 may be half the width
w.sub.1 such that two hanging file modular units 12e can be stacked
on top of the storage shelf modular unit 12a, as shown in FIG. 8 to
form a modular system 10'. Thus, the modular units 12 may have
various dimensions to allow various stacking arrangements. However,
the modular units 12 may not necessarily have dimensions which are
positive integer multiples of any other modular unit 12.
[0032] FIGS. 9-12 illustrate another embodiment of the modular
system 10'' wherein the modules 12 can be coupled together by
magnets, and in which case the attachment structure 32 includes
magnets or magnetic strips 46. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 11
and 12 each module 12 may include strip or plurality of strips or
portions of magnetized material 46 (i.e., a permanently magnetized
and/or ferromagnetic material) located on or adjacent to one of the
outer surfaces. Each outer surface of each module 12 may include
one or more of the magnetic strips 46, but each outer surface need
not necessarily include any magnetized strips 46. The magnetized
strips 46 may be made of a relatively thin material or may have a
thickness of less than, for example, about 0.5 mm.
[0033] The magnetic strips 46 may be configured and located to
couple the plurality of modular units 12 together to form the
modular system 10 shown in, for example, FIG. 9. By way of example,
in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 the storage shelf module 12a
includes three magnetic strips 46 located along a top surface
thereof, and the lower right drawer module 12c includes three
magnetic strips 46 along its bottom surface that are configured to
magnetically interact with the magnetic strips 46 of the storage
shelf module 12a to magnetically couple the storage shelf module
12a and drawer module 12c.
[0034] The storage slot modular unit 12b may then be located on top
of the drawer module 12c such that the magnetic strip 46 on the
lower surface of the storage slot modular unit 12b magnetically
interacts with a magnetic strip 46 on top of the drawer module 12c
to magnetically couple the storage slot modular unit 12b and the
drawer module 12c. The various other modules 12 can be coupled
together in a manner which is readily apparent. Of course, in this
embodiment each of the modules, including modules 12a, 12b, 12c,
12d and 12e may include and can be coupled together by the magnetic
strips 46.
[0035] When the attachment structure 32 is in the form of the
magnetic strips 46, the magnetic strips 46 may be located internal
to each modular unit 12. In particular, as shown in FIG. 12, each
modular unit 12 may include an outer covering material 50, such as
fabric, plastic, vinyl, polyester/nylon, woven materials, leather
or other nonmagnetized, nonmetallic or nonmagnetizable material
such that the magnetic strips 46 are located between the outer
covering material 50 and an inner support wall 52 which defines the
storage cavities of the associated modular unit 12.
[0036] The inner support walls 52 of the modular units can be made
of a variety of materials, including cardboard, plastic (such as
PVC), non-metallic materials or other materials of sufficient
strength to give each module the desired shape. In this manner, the
outer covering material 50 provides a smooth and pleasing
appearance to each modular unit 12 yet does not interfere with the
magnetic interaction or forces between the magnetic strips 46 to
allow coupling of the modular units 12 together. The use of a
nonmetallic outer covering material 50 may also help to reduce the
weight of the modules 12 and increase ease of handling and
carrying. It should be noted that the thickness of the magnetic
strips 46 of FIG. 12 is exaggerated from the thickness that may
actually be used, as the strips 46 may be sufficiently thin that
they do not protrude outwardly and may form a smooth transition at
their outer ends. In the embodiments not using magnetic strips as
the coupling structure 32, the cross section may be the same as
that in FIG. 12 but will lack the strips 46.
[0037] Rather than utilizing magnetic material as the attachment
structure 32, each module 12 may include strips or pieces of
hook-and-loop fastening material (such as VELCRO.RTM. hook and loop
fastening material). Thus, the strips 46 shown in FIG. 11 may be
made of hook-and-loop fastening material. In this case, however,
the outer covering material 50 may not be located over the strips
46 to allow the pieces of hook and loop fastening material to
engage each other. In this case, the strips of hook-and-loop
fastening material may be located on or form part of the flat,
planar outer surfaces of the modular units 12.
[0038] In addition, rather than utilizing VELCRO.RTM. or magnetized
material as the attachment means, various other means, such as
interengaging geometries, clasps, brackets, clips and the like may
be used as the attachment structure 32. However, the attachment
structures 32 may be configured such that the outer surfaces of
each modular unit 12 are coupled by moving the outer surfaces of
one modular unit 12 toward and engaging a generally parallel outer
surface of another modular unit 12, while such movement is in a
direction generally perpendicular to one of the engaging outer
surfaces. For example, when utilizing the feet/protrusion, magnetic
or hook-and-loop fastening material as the attachment structure 32,
the modular units 12 may be joined in this manner (i.e., by moving
the module 12 towards each other in a perpendicular manner as
opposed to joining surfaces by sliding). Thus, the engaging faces
may face each other when one of the outer surfaces are moved toward
and engages a parallel outer surface of the other module 12, and
the engaging surfaces may at least partially overlap during
engagement. The attachment structure 32 ensures that when the
modules 12 are coupled, they are coupled by more than mere
frictional/gravitational forces (i.e. when one module 12 is simply
loosely placed on top of another module).
[0039] Having described the invention in detail and by reference to
the various embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and
variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of
the invention.
* * * * *