U.S. patent application number 11/956131 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for storage closet having frame and soft sided storage unit.
Invention is credited to Charles Bain, Paul M. Segall.
Application Number | 20080174214 11/956131 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39640555 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080174214 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Segall; Paul M. ; et
al. |
July 24, 2008 |
Storage Closet Having Frame and Soft Sided Storage Unit
Abstract
A storage closet is disclosed that has a frame that supports a
soft-sided storage unit. The frame is configured for ease of
assembly. Some of the components may be packaged already assembled
or at least partially assembled in subassemblies in order to reduce
the difficulty of sorting. Moreover, the frame may be disposed
externally relative to the soft-sided storage unit in order to
reduce the potential for the frame to cause tears in the soft-sided
storage unit.
Inventors: |
Segall; Paul M.; (El Paso,
TX) ; Bain; Charles; (West Dundee, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITCH EVEN TABIN AND FLANNERY
120 SOUTH LA SALLE STREET, SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60603-3406
US
|
Family ID: |
39640555 |
Appl. No.: |
11/956131 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60869858 |
Dec 13, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 61/00 20130101;
A47B 43/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/6 |
International
Class: |
A47B 43/04 20060101
A47B043/04; A47B 47/00 20060101 A47B047/00 |
Claims
1. A storage closet comprising: a frame having a pair of legs
connected at upper ends by an upper cross member, the upper cross
member having a center beam extending between the pair of legs and
at each end a pair of wings selectively foldable between a position
generally parallel to the center beam and a position extending
outward relative to the center beam; and a soft-sided storage unit
configured to be supported by the frame.
2. The storage closet of claim 1, wherein the pair of legs are
connected at bottom ends by a lower cross member.
3. The storage closet of claim 2, wherein lower cross member
includes a first element pivotably connected to one of the legs and
a second element pivotably connected to another of the legs, the
first and second elements being joinable to form the lower cross
member.
4. The storage closet of claim 1, wherein a wing connection
assembly joins one of the legs, the center beam and a pair of
wings, the wing connection assembly including an unfolded stop
associated with each of the wings to generally maintain each of the
wings in the position extending outward relative to the center beam
and a folded stop associated with each of the wings to generally
maintain each of the wings in the positioned generally parallel to
the center beam.
5. The storage closet of claim 4, wherein a spring is associated
with each of the wings and biases the wings into engagement with
either the unfolded stop or the folded stop.
6. The storage closet of claim 5, wherein the unfolded stop and the
folded stop each include a groove formed in the wing connection
assembly.
7. The storage closet of claim 4, wherein the wings in the folded
position are generally perpendicular to the center beam.
8. The storage closet of claim 4, wherein the wings at one end of
the center beam are at different angles, one of the wings being at
an obtuse angle and the other of the wings being at an acute angle
relative to the center beam.
9. The storage closet of claim 1, wherein the storage unit has an
upper panel hanging from the wings.
10. The storage closet of claim 1, wherein the storage unit has an
upper panel supported on its underside by the wings.
11. The storage closet of claim 1, wherein a pair of wings are
positioned along the center beam between the pairs of wings at the
ends of the center beam and the center beam has two components that
are joined via a center connection assembly, the center connection
assembly being configured to support the pair of wings that are
positioned along the center beam between the pairs of wings at the
ends of the center beam.
12. A subassembly of a frame having legs and a cross beam for
supporting a storage unit, the subassembly comprising: a wing
connection member adapted to join one of the legs and the cross
beam; and a plurality of wings pivotably attached to the wing
connection member and moveable between positions generally parallel
to each other and positions extending outwardly relative to each
other, the plurality of wings be adapted to support the storage
unit.
13. The subassembly of claim 12, wherein the wing connection
element has a first stop associated with each of the wings to
generally maintain each of the wings in the extended position and a
second stop associated with each of the wings to generally maintain
each of the wings in the positioned generally parallel to each
other.
14. The subassembly of claim 13, wherein: a spring is associated
with each of the wings and biases the wings into engagement with
either the unfolded stop or the folded stop; and the unfolded stop
and the folded stop each include a groove formed in the wing
connection assembly.
15. A storage closet comprising: a frame having a pair of legs
connected at top portions by an upper cross member and connected at
bottom portions by a lower cross member, a plurality of wings
extending outwardly relative to the upper cross member; and a
soft-sided storage unit, the soft sided storage unit having an
upper panel disposed between the upper and lower cross members and
hanging from at least some of the plurality of wings.
16. The storage closet of claim 15, wherein the soft-sided storage
unit includes a pair of side panels each disposed between the pair
of legs.
17. The storage closet of claim 16, wherein legs each include
outward extensions adjacent their bottom portions and the
soft-sided storage unit includes a bottom panel that is connected
to the outward extensions of the legs.
18. The storage closet of claim 15, wherein the wings are pivotably
attached relative to the upper cross member.
19. The storage closet of claim 15, wherein a portion at least one
of the wings is received in a slot in one or more of the top
portions of the legs and the upper cross member.
20. The storage closet of claim 19, wherein the slot is in a
tubular portion of the legs or upper cross member and a plug is
inserterable at least partially into the tubular portion, the plug
having a slot for being positioned adjacent the portion of the
wings.
21. The storage closet of claim 19, wherein the wing has an arcuate
segment for abutting against an arcuate exterior surface of the one
or more of the top portions of the legs and the upper cross member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Appl. No.
60/869,858, filed on Dec. 13, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to storage closets, and in
particular storage closets having a frame supporting a soft sided
storage unit.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Storage closets can be used as temporary or permanent
storage, and can be used in place of or to supplement permanent
storage closets, such as those permanently built into homes.
[0004] One type of storage closet is rigid, and may be made of
particle board or plastic. A disadvantage of such rigid storage
closets is that they can be bulky, as in the case of plastic
storage closets, or heavy, as in the case of particle board storage
closets. Bulky storage closets can be expensive to ship,
particularly as compared to less bulky items and when shipping
rates are based upon volume. Particle board storage closets can be
difficult for purchasers to carry given their weights. Both types
of storage closets can be difficult for consumers to assemble, and
may require multiple bolts, nuts, screws and the like for
assembly.
[0005] Another type of storage closet includes a rigid frame and a
soft-sided storage bag. The rigid frame typically includes multiple
upstanding tubular legs, which are connected at their top ends by
one or more cross tubes and at their bottom ends by one or more
different cross tubes. The soft-sided storage bag may be cloth or
plastic, for example, and is supported on its interior side by the
rigid frame. An example of such a storage closet is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,490.
[0006] Assembly of storage closets having rigid frames and
soft-sided storage bags can be difficult. In many instances,
assembly of the tubular frames requires sorting and joining of
multiple tubes to other tubes and intermediate connecting members.
Some of the tubes, such as the legs and the cross tubes, may
resemble each other and can be difficult to sort. Moreover, in some
circumstances components of the frame can tear the soft-sided
storage bags.
SUMMARY
[0007] A storage closet is disclosed that has a frame that supports
a soft-sided storage unit. The frame is configured for ease of
assembly by reducing the number of components required for assembly
and/or providing the components with features to facilitate their
assembly. Some of the components may be packaged already assembled
or at least partially assembled in subassemblies in order to reduce
the difficulty of sorting. Some of the components may be configured
to readily join to other components, such as without the use of
tools. Moreover, the frame may be disposed externally relative to
the soft-sided storage unit in order to reduce the potential for
the frame to cause tears in the soft-sided storage unit.
[0008] In one aspect, the storage closet includes a frame having a
pair of legs connected at upper ends by an upper cross member. The
upper cross member includes a center beam extending between the
pair of legs. A pair of wings are disposed proximate one or both
ends of the center beam. The wings may be provided already attached
to the center beam in order to reduce the amount of assembly that
is required. In order to reduce the volume of the storage closet
for shipping, storage and retail display, the wings may be
selectively moveable between a collapsed position generally
parallel to the center beam and a position extending outward
relative to the center beam for supporting the soft-sided storage
unit.
[0009] The angle of the wings when in the position extending
outward relative to the center beam can vary, depending upon the
configuration of the storage closet. For instance, the wings may be
generally perpendicular to the center beam when in the position
extending outward relative to the center beam, or they may be at an
angle thereto. Furthermore, the wings at one end of the center beam
may be at different angles, with one of the wings being at an
obtuse angle and the other of the wings being at an acute angle
relative to the center beam.
[0010] In another aspect, a wing connection assembly may be
provided to join one of the legs, the center beam and a pair of
wings. The wing connection assembly may be provided with the wings
already attached, thereby requiring only attachment of the center
beam and the associated leg and thus simplified assembly of the
frame. The wing connection assembly may be provided with the wings
and center beam already attached, thus requiring attachment of only
the associated leg. The wing connection assembly may include an
unfolded stop associated with each of the wings to generally
maintain each of the wings in the position extending outward
relative to the center beam. The wing connection assembly may also
include a folded stop associated with each of the wings to
generally maintain each of the wings in the positioned generally
parallel to the center beam. A spring may be associated with each
of the wings to bias the wings into engagement with either or both
of the unfolded stop and the folded stop.
[0011] The soft-sided storage unit may hang from the wings. To this
end, straps, hooks or the like may be attached to an upper panel of
the storage unit and used to hang the storage unit from the wings.
In another aspect, the soft sided-storage unit may have an upper
panel that is positioned on top of the wings, and the wings and
other adjacent components may be configured to reduce tearing of
the storage unit.
[0012] For storage closets that have a longer spacing between the
legs, a pair of intermediate wings may be positioned along the
center beam between the pairs of wings at the ends of the center
beam in order to provide additional support for the soft-sided
storage unit. Like the aforementioned wings, the intermediate wings
may be pivotable between extended and collapsed positions, and may
be provided preassembled with a wing connection assembly. For such
longer storage closets, the center beam may have two components
that are joined via a center connection assembly or the wing
connection assembly.
[0013] In another aspect, the pair of legs of the frame may be
connected at their bottom ends by a lower cross member. The lower
cross member may include a first portion that is pivotably
connected to a lower end of one of the legs. The lower cross member
may also include a second portion pivotably connected to a lower
end of another of the legs. Providing portions of the lower cross
member preassembled to be pivotably connected to lower ends of the
legs can reduce and/or simplify the amount of assembly of the frame
that is required. The first and second portions of the lower cross
member may be joinable to form the lower cross member, or may be
one piece or packaged preassembled into one piece. Similarly, the
legs can include separate portions, or may be one piece or packaged
preassembled into one piece.
[0014] In yet another aspect, a storage closet is disclosed that
includes a frame and a soft-sided storage unit. The frame has a
pair of legs connected at top portions by an upper cross member and
connected at bottom portions by a lower cross member. A plurality
of wings extend outwardly relative to the upper cross member. The
soft-sided storage unit has an upper panel disposed between the
upper and lower cross members and is configured to hang from at
least some of the plurality of wings. The soft-sided storage unit
may include a pair of side panels each disposed between the pair of
legs. The legs may each include outward extensions adjacent their
bottom portions, and the soft-sided storage unit may include a
bottom panel that is connected to the outward extensions of the
legs. The wings are pivotably attached relative to the upper cross
member, and moveable between extended and collapsed positions.
[0015] In another aspect, the storage closet includes a frame
having a pair of legs connected at upper ends by an upper cross
member. The upper cross member includes a center beam extending
between the pair of legs. A pair of wings are disposed proximate
one or both ends of the center beam. The wings are removable from
the center beam to minimize the size of the components when
disassembled. In one example, the wings may each have a portion
that can be inserted into a slot or other opening in an associated
one of the legs to simplify assembly. A plug can be used to secure
the wing relative to the leg. In this or any of the embodiments,
the legs and other tubular members that are to be joined may
include rubber, plastic or other materials on their ends that are
inserted into other tubular members to provide increased friction
to assist in maintaining the members joined.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
storage closet having an external frame supporting a soft-sided
storage unit;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the external frame of the
storage closet of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a lower portion of
the external frame of the storage closet of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of an attachment
between the lower portion of the external frame and the soft-sided
storage unit of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper cross assembly of
the external frame of the storage closet of FIG. 1 showing end
wings and center wings in extended positions;
[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the center wings
and assembly of FIG. 5;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the end wings of the
upper cross assembly of FIG. 5 in folded positions;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the one of the end wings of
the upper cross assembly of FIG. 5 in extended positions;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the end wings and a
center beam being inserted thereinto;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of one of the end wings
and with the center beam inserted thereinto;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
storage closet having an external frame supporting a soft-sided
storage unit;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the external frame of the
storage closet of FIG. 11;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an upper cross assembly of
the external frame of the storage closet of FIG. 11 showing end
wings in folded positions;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an upper cross assembly of
the external frame of the storage closet of FIG. 11 showing end
wings in extended positions;
[0030] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
storage closet having an internal frame supporting a soft-sided
storage unit;
[0031] FIG. 16 is a partial exploded perspective view of an end
wing and center beam of the internal frame of the storage closet of
FIG. 15;
[0032] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a
storage closet having an external frame for supporting a soft-sided
storage unit;
[0033] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the storage
closet of FIG. 17;
[0034] FIG. 19 is a detailed exploded perspective view of a wing,
leg and plug of the storage closet of FIG. 17;
[0035] FIG. 20A is a partial perspective view of a joined center
assembly for use in storage closets; and
[0036] FIG. 20B is a partial exploded perspective view of the
center assembly of FIG. 20A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] Various embodiments of storage closets in accordance with
the above-discussed aspects are illustrated in FIGS. 1-20 herein.
The storage closets illustrated and described herein include a
frame and a soft-sided storage unit. The frame and storage unit are
configured for both reduced volume during shipping, warehousing and
retail display as well as simplified assembly. To this end, the
frame may include components that are preassembled so that sorting
is minimized, the number of components that must be joined to each
other is reduced, and the components are configured for ease of
assembly.
[0038] In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, the storage
closet 10 includes a frame 50 that supports a soft-sided storage
unit 20. The frame 50 includes a pair of legs 52 with an upper
cross member 70 extending between top end portions thereof and a
pair of lower cross members 62 extending between bottom end
portions thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The upper cross member
70 includes a center beam 72 and multiple pairs of
outwardly-extending wings 86 and 88. The soft-sided storage unit 20
is adapted to be supported by the wings 86 and 88, such as by
hanging, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or by fitting over the upper
cross member 70.
[0039] The frame 50 of the storage closet 10 is configured for
minimized sorting and simplified assembly. One way that this is
accomplished is by providing a subassembly 15 of the wings 86 and
88 that can be joined to ends of the center beam 72 and one of the
legs 52. The subassembly 15, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8,
includes a pair of wings 86 and 88 that are pivotably attached to a
wing connection member 78. The wings 86 and 88 are moveable from a
compact or collapsed arrangement where they are generally parallel
to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to an extended arrangement
where they extend outwardly relative to each other, as illustrated
in FIG. 8. The wing connection member 78 is adapted to permit
simplified attachment one of the legs 52 and the center beam 72.
The wings 86 and 88 are adapted to permit the soft-sided storage
unit 20 to hang therefrom, such as by providing hooks 90 on the
ends 86 and 88 of the wings that received loops 42 attached to the
top of the storage unit 20.
[0040] Another way that the storage closet 10 is configured for
minimized sorting and simplified assembly is by providing the lower
cross member 62 preassembled with the legs 52. This can
advantageously reduce the amount of sorting of components that
would be required, as well as simplify the assembly of the storage
closet 10. More specifically, the lower cross member 62 comprises
two separate components 64 and 66. One of the components 64 is
pivotably attached to one of the legs 52, and the other of the
components 66 is pivotably attached to another of the legs 52.
Pivotably attaching the components 64 and 66 to the legs permits
the components 64 and 66 to be readily moved from a storage
position where the components 64 and 66 are generally aligned with
the associated leg 52 to an erected position where the components
64 and 66 are generally perpendicular to the legs 52, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The legs 52 may include an attached
transverse outer sleeve 58 that pivotably receives a transverse
extension 60 that is attached to one of the components 64 and 66,
as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. These components 64 and 66 can be
selectively joined to each other once the legs 52 and components 64
and 66 are in the erected position. For example, one of the
components 64 may have a hollow end, opposite the transverse
extension 60, of a first diameter, and the other of the components
66 may have an end, opposite the transverse extension 60, having a
second diameter. The second diameter may be less than the first
diameter to permit the ends of the components 64 and 66 to join. A
friction fit, pin, or the like may be used to secure the ends of
the components 64 and 66 together. Providing the legs 52
preattached to the lower cross member 62 in a subassembly permits
the components 64 and 66 to be readily pivoted from the storage
position to the erected position, thereby simplifying assembly of
the storage closet 10. Footings 140, which can include platforms
142 for supporting the frame 50 on a support surface or floor, are
attached at opposing ends of the transverse extension, as
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0041] Turning now to more of the details of the subassembly of the
wings 86 and 88 and the wing connection element 78, the wing
connection element 78 includes a center stem 120, an upper platform
122, a lower platform 124 and a depending shaft 126. The upper
platform 122 is attached to the top of the center stem 120, and the
lower platform 124 is attached to the bottom of the center stem
120, as illustrated in FIGS. 7-10. The depending shaft 126 extends
from the lower platform 124, on an opposite side thereof from the
center stem 120. The depending shaft 126 and the center stem 120
are generally coaxial, and the upper and lower platforms 122 and
124 are generally perpendicular thereto. The upper and lower
platforms 122 and 124 each include through apertures 138 through
which prongs 106 on the ends of the wings 86 and 88 are inserted,
as illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0042] Upwardly-facing surfaces on the upper and lower platforms
122 and 124 include grooves 128 that function as stops to limit
movement of the wings 86 and 88. In particular, each of the grooves
128 includes a first segment and a second segment that intersect at
a generally right angle. With reference to one of the wings 86, its
prongs 106 each have depending portions and longitudinal portions
that intersect at generally a right angle. The prongs 106 of the
wing 86 are vertically aligned. The depending portion of an
uppermost prong 106 is inserted into the aperture 138 in the upper
platform 122, and a depending portion of a lowermost prong 106 is
inserted into the aperture 138 in the lower platform 124. The
prongs 106 of the wing 86 are pivotable in the apertures 138
between two positions defined by the grooves 128, which function as
a stop. In one of the positions, the longitudinal portion of each
of the prongs 106 at least partially lies in one of the segments of
the groove 128, and in another of the positions, the longitudinal
portion of each of the prongs 106 at least partially lies in the
other of the segments of the groove 128. When the longitudinal
portion of the prongs 106 of the wing 86 lie in an aligned set of
segments of the grooves 128, the wing 86 is generally positioned
either in the collapsed or expanded position.
[0043] The longitudinal portion of the prongs 106 of the wing 86
are biased into the segments of the grooves 128, such as by a
spring 134, and thus generally held in either the collapsed or
expanded position. The spring 134 may be a compression spring, and
surrounds the depending portion of at least one of the prongs 106,
as illustrated in FIG. 10. One end of the spring 134 abuts against
an underside of the lower platform 124, and the other end of the
spring 134 abuts against an end cap 136 secured at the end of the
depending portion of the prongs 106. In this manner, the spring 138
biases the longitudinal portion of the prong 106, which is disposed
on an opposite side of the lower platform 124 from the spring 138,
into the groove 128. To move the wing 86 between collapsed and
extended positions, the wing 86 is lifted, against the biasing
force of the spring, until the longitudinal portion of the prong
106 is spaced from one of the segments of the groove 128, and then
can be rotated into a position above the other of the segments of
the groove 128 and released to allow the spring 138 to bias the
longitudinal portion of the prong 106 into the aligned segment of
the groove 128. Although a spring 138 has been illustrated as being
on only one of the two prongs 106 of the wings 86 and 88, a spring
138 may be placed on both of the two prongs 106.
[0044] The wing connection element 78 is adapted to connect to both
one of the legs 52 and to the center beam 72 in order to join the
wings 86 and 88, the one of the legs 52 and the center beam 72. The
center beam 72 has a pair of vertically-arranged depending prongs
116 at each end, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. A lowermost
prong 116 is adapted to be inserted through a through slot 130
formed in the center stem 120, while an uppermost prong 116 is
adapted to be inserted into an aperture in the upper platform 122.
Each of the platforms 122 and 124 includes a groove 132 for
receiving a longitudinal portions of the prongs 116 adjacent each
of the depending portions of the prongs 116. When the longitudinal
portions of the prongs 116 are received in the grooves 132, and
when the depending portions of the prongs 116 are received in the
aperture in the upper platform 122 and the through slot 130 in the
center stem 120, the center beam 72 is connected to the wing
connection element 78. The interior of the wing connection element
78 may have a bore that is optionally sized to provide a friction
fit with the depending portions of the prongs 116 of the center
beam 72 in order to provide additional securement between the
center beam 72 and the wing connection element 78. In order to
connect the upper end of the legs 52 to the wing connection
elements 78, the bottom of the depending shaft 126 may have a bore
with an opening on an opposite end from the lower platform 124. The
bore may have an internal diameter dimensioned to receive an
external diameter of the upper end of one of the legs 52 to join
the leg 52 to the wing connection element 78. Alternatively, the
outer diameter of the depending shaft 126 may be dimensioned to be
received in a bore on the upper end of the leg 52. In either case,
the diameters may be configured to provide a friction fit to secure
the leg 52 to the wing connection element 78.
[0045] In order to reduce the required length of any packaging of
the unassembled storage closet 10, several of the longer components
may comprise multiple elements that are easily joined to form a
single component. As discussed above, the lower cross member 62 may
include multiple components 64 and 66, of less length than when
combined, that are configured to be easily joined to each other to
form the longer lower cross member 62. Similarly, the legs 52 may
each comprise two separate components, and upper leg component 54
and a lower leg component 56, that can be easily joined to form the
leg 52. Like the lower cross member 62, one of the leg components
54 and 56 may have a reduced diameter end that is received in a
larger diameter end of the other of the leg components 54 and 56. A
friction fit, pin, or the like may be used to secure the ends of
the upper and lower leg components 54 and 56 together.
[0046] In addition to having the legs 52 and lower cross member 62
formed of separate components in order to reduce the require length
of any packaging of the unassembled storage closet 10, the upper
cross member 70 may also be formed of separate components. In
particular, the center beam 72 may be formed of two separate
components 82 and 84 in order to reduce the unassembled length of
the center beam 72. Each of the components 82 and 84 of the center
beam 72 has an end with a pair of prongs 116 for joining to one of
the wing connection elements 78 and an opposite end configured to
be joined relative to the like end of the other of the components
82 and 84. The components 82 and 84 may each include a hinge
cylinder. That is, one of the components 82 may include a hinge
cylinder 94, and the other of the components 84 may include a hinge
cylinder 96 positioned below the other hinge cylinder 94 when the
components 82 and 84 are arranged with axes of bores of the hinge
cylinders 94 and 96 aligned. A hinge pin 112 can be inserted
through the aligned bores of the hinge cylinders 94 and 96 to
pivotably join the components 82 and 84 of the center beam 72.
Alternatively, the components 82 and 84 may be provided already
hinged together, whether permanently or otherwise.
[0047] In order to prevent the connected components 82 and 84 of
the center beam 72 from pivoting when the storage closet 10 is
fully assembled, an upper bracket 80 may be positioned around an
upper side of the components 82 and 84 and a lower bracket 98 may
be positioned around a lower side of the components 82 and 84, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. With reference to the lower bracket 98, it
being understood that the upper bracket 80 is similar in
construction, a longitudinal channel 100 is provided for receiving
ends of the components 82 and 84 and preventing them from pivoting
about the hinge pin 112. Internal ribs 102 may be disposed on the
internal and facing surfaces of the channel 100 in order to provide
a friction fit with the ends of the components 82 and 84 of the
center beam 72. In order to secure the upper and lower brackets 80
and 98 with the ends of the components 82 and 84 therebetween, the
hinge pin 112 extends through central openings in both brackets 80
and 98. One end of the hinge pin 112 has a gripping knob 114, and
the other end of the hinge pin 112 has external threading. The end
of the hinge pin 112 with threading can be inserted through the
central opening in the lower bracket 98, through the bores of the
hinge cylinders 92 and 94, and through the central opening in the
upper bracket 80. A cap 110 having internal threading may be
threaded onto the external threading of the hinge pin 112 to secure
the upper and lower brackets 80 and 98 together, with the ends of
the components 82 and 84 of the center beam 72 sandwiched
therebetween. The hinge pin 112 is restricted from removal by the
gripping knob 114 at one end and the cap 110 at the other end. To
simplify assembly of the center beam 72, the cap 110 may have an
external polygonal shape that is received in and prevented from
rotating by a corresponding polygonal-shaped recess 96 formed about
the central opening in the upper bracket 80. Thus, when the knob
114 is rotated to rotate the attached hinge pin 112, the cap 110
does not rotate and the threaded end of the hinge pin 112 can be
threaded into the cap 110.
[0048] In order to provide additional support for the soft-sided
storage unit 20, a pair of wings 86 and 88 may be attached to the
upper and lower brackets 80 and 98. More specifically, the upper
and lower brackets 80 and 98 may each have a projecting platform
104 on opposite sides of the channels 100, extending transverse to
an axis of the channels 100, with a through aperture for receiving
the depending portion of the prongs 106. The platforms 104 also can
include grooves 108 disposed on upper surfaces to receive
longitudinal portions of the prongs 106 of the wings 86 and 88 to
assist in preventing the wings 86 and 88 from rotating and maintain
the wings 86 and 88 in positions extending outwardly from the
center beam 72.
[0049] Turning now to more of the details of an exemplary
embodiment of the soft-sided storage unit 20, the unit 20 has
multiple rectangular-shaped panels, including a top panel 22, and
bottom panel 24, a pair of side panels 26, a back panel 28 and a
front panel 30. The front panel 30 may include a large opening 38,
selectively coverable by an attached door panel 40, for providing
access to an interior of the unit 20. Clothes may be hung on the
interior of the storage unit 20, such as on hangers hung from an
interior rod. The interior rod may in turn be connected to the
underside of the top panel 22, hang from the center beam 72, or
otherwise be supported inside the unit 20. The front panel 30 may
also include a small opening 32, selectively coverable by an
attached door panel 36, for providing access to an interior of the
unit 20. The interior of the unit 20 disposed behind the small
opening 32 may include shelves 34 suspended in the interior of the
unit 20, such as in the same manner as the rod. The doors 36 and 40
may be removably attached to the front panel 30 via zippers, Velcro
or the like. As discussed above, the top panel 22 may have loops
for attachment to the hooks 90 of the wings 86 and 88 to hang the
soft-sided storage unit 20 from the frame. In order to provide
additional securement, the bottom panel 24 of the storage unit 20
may include straps 44 that can be positioned between a body 144 and
a projection 146 of the footing 140, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0050] Another embodiment of a storage closet 200 is illustrated in
FIGS. 11-14. The storage closet 200 of FIGS. 11-14 is similar in
many aspects to the storage closet 10 of FIGS. 1-10, with the
primary difference being that the storage closet 200 of FIGS. 11-14
has a reduced length.
[0051] The storage closet 200 includes a frame 250 that supports a
soft-sided storage unit 210, as illustrated in FIG. 11. The storage
unit 220 is formed of generally rectangular panels, including a top
panel 214, a bottom panel 216, a pair of side panels 212, a front
panel 220 and a back panel 218. The front panel 220 includes an
opening 222 selectively coverable by a door panel 224. The interior
of the storage unit 210 includes a rod for hanging clothes on
hangers.
[0052] The frame 250 includes a pair of legs 252, lower cross
members 262 extending between bottom ends of the legs 252 and an
upper cross member 270 extending between top ends of the legs 252.
Like the prior embodiment, the legs 252 may include two separate
components 254 and 256 that can readily be joined and the lower
cross members 262 may include two separate components 264 and 266
that can readily be joined. The lower cross members 62 can be
preassembled with the legs 52 to reduce the amount of sorting of
components that would be required, as well as simplify the assembly
of the storage closet 200. One of the components 264 is pivotably
attached to one of the legs 252, and the other of the components
266 is pivotably attached to another of the legs 252. The legs 252
include an attached transverse outer sleeve 258 that pivotably
receives a transverse extension 260 that is attached to one of the
components 264 and 266, as illustrated in FIG. 12. These components
264 and 266 can be selectively joined to each other once the legs
52 and components 264 and 266 are in the erected position.
[0053] The upper cross member 270 of the storage closet 200
includes pairs of wings 286 and 288 attached via wing connection
elements 278 disposed at opposite ends of a center beam 272. The
subassemblies of the wings 286 and 288 and the wing connection
element 278 is generally the same as that described above with
respect to the storage closet 10 of FIGS. 1-10. However, the center
beam 272, due to its decreased length as compared to the center
beam 72 of the storage closet 10, is unitary. A center hook 292 is
provided in the mid-section of the center beam 272 to receive a
loop attached to the top panel 214 of the soft-sided storage unit
210 for providing additional support. The subassemblies of the
wings 286 and 288 and the wing connection element 278 may be
provided either already attached to the center beam 272 or
separate. If the subassemblies are already attached, as illustrated
in FIG. 13, the wings 286 and 288 can simply be pivoted from their
collapsed positions, illustrated in FIG. 13, to their expanded
positions, illustrated in FIG. 14.
[0054] Another embodiment of a storage closet 300 is illustrated in
FIGS. 15 and 16. The storage closet 300 of FIGS. 15 and 16 is
similar in many aspects to the storage closet 10 of FIGS. 1-10 and
the storage closet 200 of FIGS. 11-14, with the primary difference
being that the storage closet 300 of FIGS. 15 and 16 is
non-rectangular. That is, the soft-sided storage unit 310 is
trapezoidal, having non-parallel side panels 316 and a front panel
312 with a length greater than a back panel 314.
[0055] The storage closet 300 includes a frame 350 that supports
the soft-sided storage unit 310, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The
interior of the storage unit 310 includes a rod for hanging clothes
on hangers. Instead of hanging from the frame 350, as in the
previous embodiments, the soft-sided storage unit 310 is
illustrated as fitting around the frame 350. Specifically, a top
panel 318 of the soft-sided storage unit 300 is disposed on top of
wings 386 and 388 and a center beam 372 of an upper cross element
370. Alternatively, the storage closet 300 could be configured, as
described with respect to the above embodiments, to have the top
panel 318 disposed below and hung from the upper cross member
370.
[0056] The subassemblies of the wings 386 and 388 and the wing
connection element 378 is similar to those subassemblies discussed
above with respect to the previous embodiments. However, in order
to accommodate the trapezoidal shape of the storage unit 310,
several modifications are made to the frame 350 as compared to the
frames 50 and 250 of the previous embodiments. In particular, the
prong 316 on each end of the center beam 372 is positioned at an
angle. When the prong 316 is inserted into an aperture 382 of the
wing connection element 378, and a cross-tie 318 is nested in a
vertical groove 380 on the wing connection element 378, as
illustrated in FIG. 16, the wings 386 and 388 are at different
angles relative to the center beam 372. One of the wings 386 is at
an acute angle .theta. and the other of the wings 388 is at an
obtuse angle .alpha. in order to support the trapezoidal top panel
318 of the soft-sided storage unit 310. Ends of the wings 386 and
388 are rounded so that they will not tear the soft-sided storage
unit 310.
[0057] In another embodiment of a storage closet 400 as illustrated
in FIGS. 17-19, wings 430 are provided separate from a center beam
assembly 410 but are configured to be readily joined during
assembly of the storage closet 400. The center beam assembly 410
includes a truss 428 extending between a pair of connector posts
412. The connector posts 412 are adapted to mate with associated
legs 414, as will be discussed in greater detail below. Each of the
wings 430 has a central cross piece 434, a central arcuate support
piece 436 and a pair of closet support hooks 432 at opposing ends,
as illustrated in FIG. 19. To facilitate joining the wings 430 to
the center beam assembly 410, the cross piece 434 is configured to
be received in a slot 438 formed in an end of the connector post
412 of the center beam assembly 412. Engagement between the cross
piece 434 and the portions of the connector post 412 adjacent the
slot 438 can restrict rotation of the wing 430 about a longitudinal
axis of the post 412. When the cross piece 434 is seated in the
slot 438, the arcuate support piece 436 abuts against the exterior
of the connector post 412, as illustrated in FIG. 17, to further
restrict the wing 430 from movement relative to the post 412 in a
direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post 412.
Finally, a plug 442 can be inserted into the open end of the
tubular connector post 412 to restrict the wing 430 from being
lifted away from the post 412.
[0058] The plug 442 has a circular cap portion 444 with a circular
depending skirt 446. The skirt 446 has a slot 448 formed therein
for receiving the portion of the cross piece 434 of the wing 430
that is positioned in the post 412 to further restrict movement of
the wing 430. The diameter of the cap portion 444 is preferably,
though not necessarily, larger than the inner diameter of the post
412 such that the cap portion 444 limits the extent to which the
plug 442 can be inserted into the post 412. The diameter of the
skirt 446 can be less than or about the same as the inner diameter
of the post 412 to permit the skirt 446 to be inserted into the
post 412, and can be sized to provide a friction fit
therebetween.
[0059] Turning now to other details of the storage closet 400, the
frame includes legs 414 that are joined to transverse legs 422 at
one end and to the connector posts 412 at an opposite end. As in
the aforementioned embodiments, the legs 414 may include two
separate components 416 and 418 that can readily be joined. The
transverse legs 422 can include footings 426, such as those
discussed above. The transverse legs 422 may also include a
perpendicularly extending portion 424 comprising a tubular member
that is configured to mate with the legs 414. Lower cross members
420 are also provided extending between the transverse legs 422, as
illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. The lower cross members 420 may be
unitary, or may comprise multiple components. To join the lower
cross members 420 to the transverse legs 422, the transverse legs
422 may each have openings 456 facing each other for receiving the
ends of the lower cross members 420. To this end, the openings 456
have a diameter larger than that of the lower cross members 420.
Once received in the opening 456, a screw 452 can be inserted
through an aligned but outwardly facing opening 450 in the
transverse legs 422 and threaded into an internally threaded
portion 454 on the end of the lower cross member 420 to secure the
lower cross member 420 to the transverse legs 422.
[0060] The tubular elements of the storage closet 400 that are to
be assembled, including the leg components 416 and 418, the
connector posts 412 and the perpendicularly extending portion 424
of the transverse legs, are configured for simplified assembly
having narrow diameter ends that are insertable into hollow
standard diameter ends of adjacent components to secure the
components to each other. To further facilitate assembly, the
narrow diameter ends may have a different type of material thereon
to provide a friction fit with the hollow standard diameter ends.
For example, if the tubular components are metal, then a rubber or
plastic coating, sleeve, or protruding plug 440 can be fitted to
the narrow diameter ends for frictional engagement with the inner
walls of the hollow standard diameter ends of the adjacent
components. Such a friction component can be used with any of the
aforementioned embodiments when a like method is used to join the
components.
[0061] Although not illustrated, a soft sided storage bag of the
types discussed above can be used with the frame of the storage
closet 400 of FIGS. 17-19. The storage bag can hang from the hooks
432 of the wings 430, and may include a central fabric loop that
can be attached to a midpoint of the center beam assembly 410. To
provide a hanging rod in this or other of the disclosed
embodiments, s-shaped hooks, or other suitable hooks, are hung at
one of their ends from the truss 428 and have their opposite ends
inserted through openings in the top panel of the storage bag. A
plurality of such hooks can be used to hang a rod in the interior
of the storage bag. The openings in the top panel may be surrounded
by rivet rings for reinforcement.
[0062] In one aspect, the aforementioned center beam assemblies may
be divided into two or more components joinable using a combination
of pins and apertures, as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B. This
can result in center beam assemblies 500 that can be shipped in
shorter packaging, then assembled after shipping or after sale to
the end user. The center assembly 500 includes two components 502
and 504 in the illustrated example, although more than two could
also be used. Each of the components 502 and 504 includes a plate
512 and 514 having an aperture 518 and 520. When the plates 512 and
514 are aligned, a pin 516 or the like can be inserted through the
apertures 518 and 520 to assist in joining the components 502 and
504. One of the components 504 may also include an extending pin
510 that can be inserted through an aperture 508 in a plate 506
attached to the other of the components 502 to assist in joining
the components 502 and 504.
[0063] The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended
to represent the only forms of the storage closets in regard to the
details of construction and manner of operation. Changes in form
and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of
equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or
render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed,
they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not
for the purposes of limitation.
* * * * *