U.S. patent application number 12/211165 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for connector for a modular storage assembly.
Invention is credited to Chang-Ming Tsai.
Application Number | 20090166356 12/211165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40796864 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090166356 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsai; Chang-Ming |
July 2, 2009 |
Connector for a Modular Storage Assembly
Abstract
A modular storage assembly includes a plurality of connectors
and a plurality of panels joined together by the plurality of
connectors as to define a compartment. Each of the plurality of
connectors includes a body having a plurality of first slots and a
plurality of second slots. Two blocks are releasably mounted in one
of the plurality of the second slots of the two connectors
respectively. A door is pivotally connected with two blocks as to
close the opening of the compartment and whereby the door is
releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Chang-Ming; (Fang Yuan
Hsiang, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KAMRATH & ASSOCIATES P.A.
4825 OLSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 245
GOLDEN VALLEY
MN
55422
US
|
Family ID: |
40796864 |
Appl. No.: |
12/211165 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.01 ;
403/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 403/443 20150115;
A47F 3/12 20130101; A47B 47/0033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/4.01 ;
403/218 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 31, 2007 |
TW |
96222676 |
Claims
1. A connector for a modular storage assembly having a plurality of
panels which are arranged to define a compartment and of which an
opening is formed for admission of an article to the compartment,
and a door which are utilized to close the opening of the
compartment comprising: a body having a plurality of first slots,
with each of the plurality of slots receiving a corner of one of
the plurality of panels, wherein the corner is defined at a
junction of two peripheral sides thereof, and a plurality of second
slots; and a block releasably mounted in one of the plurality of
second slots and pivotally receiving the door and whereby the door
is releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly.
2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality
of first slots comprises an inner peripheral surface having a first
holding portion formed thereon for securely holding the panel
engaged.
3. The connector according to claim 2 wherein each of the plurality
of second slots comprises an inner peripheral surface having a
second holding portion formed thereon for securely holding the
block.
4. The connector according to claim 2 wherein the first holding
portion comprises a plurality of ridges.
5. The connector according to claim 3 wherein the second holding
portion comprises a plurality of ridges.
6. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises a
first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface,
the first surface has a dimension and the second surface has a
dimension substantially equals to the dimension of the first
surface, and wherein the plurality of second slots are formed
between the first and second surfaces.
7. The connector according to claim 6 wherein each of the plurality
of first slots is formed between two walls extending transverse to
the second surface.
8. The connector according to claim 6 wherein the block has two
lateral sides which are parallel to one another and have dimensions
equal to one another, and wherein each of the plurality of second
slots has sides substantially equal to the lateral sides.
9. A modular storage assembly comprising: a plurality of connectors
and each including a body having a plurality of first slots, each
of the plurality of first slots receiving a corner of one of the
plurality of panels, wherein the corner is defined at a junction of
two peripheral sides thereof, and a plurality of second slots; a
plurality of panels joined together by the plurality of connectors
and defining a compartment with an opening for admission of an
article to the compartment; two blocks releasably mounted in the
two connectors respectively; and a door pivotally connected with
two blocks as to close the opening of the compartment and whereby
the door is releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly.
10. The modular storage assembly according to claim 9 wherein each
of the plurality of first slots comprises an inner peripheral
surface having a first holding portion formed thereon for securely
holding the panel engaged.
11. The modular storage assembly according to claim 10 wherein each
of the plurality of second slots comprises an inner peripheral
surface having a second holding portion formed thereon for securely
holding the block.
12. The modular storage assembly according to claim 10 wherein the
first holding portion comprises a plurality of ridges.
13. The modular storage assembly according to claim 11 wherein the
second holding portion comprises a plurality of ridges.
14. The modular storage assembly according to claim 9 wherein the
body comprises a first surface and a second surface parallel to the
first surface, the first surface has a dimension and the second
surface has a dimension substantially equals to the dimension of
the first surface, and wherein the plurality of second slots are
formed between the first and second surfaces.
15. The modular storage assembly according to claim 14 wherein each
of the plurality of first slots is formed between two walls
extending transverse to the second surface.
16. The modular storage assembly according to claim 14 wherein the
block has two lateral sides which are parallel to one another and
have dimensions equal to one another, and wherein each of the
plurality of second slots has sides substantially equal to the
lateral sides.
17. The modular storage assembly according to claim 9 wherein the
door includes two axially opposite pivotal ends along an edge
thereof, and the two pivotal ends are pivotally received in the two
blocks respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a modular storage assembly,
in particular, to a modular storage assembly with compartments and
each of which has a releasably installed pivotal door.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,036, a modular storage
assembly includes a plurality of walls and connectors holding the
plurality of walls in a way to form a plurality of compartments,
with each of the plurality of compartments defines an opening for
allowing admission of an article inside the compartment.
Unfortunately, the open compartment can not protect the stored
article inside from publicity. In addition, the stored article is
easily covered by dust in atmosphere.
[0005] Referring to TW Pat. No. M318957, a modular storage assembly
includes a door panel for closing a compartment defined thereof is
adapted to resolve the problems. However, it is somewhat
inconvenient if door panels were disassembled from the associated
compartments. For instance, user has to dismount a pivotal
connection of the door panel with a connector and then dismount
another pivotal connection of the door panel with another
connector. Further, if the door panel for the compartment which has
other compartments formed above, user then has to involve in
disassembling the above positioned compartments in order to take
down the door panel, thus result in a very laborious procedure.
[0006] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the present invention, a modular storage
assembly includes a plurality of connectors and a plurality of
panels joined together by the plurality of connectors as to define
a compartment. Each of the plurality of connectors includes a body
having a plurality of first slots and a plurality of second slots.
Each of the plurality of first slots is utilized to receive one of
the plurality of panels. Further, two blocks are releasably mounted
in one of the plurality of the second slots of the two connectors
respectively. A door is pivotally connected with two blocks as to
close the opening of the compartment and whereby the door is
releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly. Additionally,
the modular storage assembly is adapted to be built with a
plurality of compartments.
[0008] The primary objective of the modular storage assembly
according to the present invention is that user could uninstall the
door from the modular storage assembly by just taking the blocks
out of the second slots and without involving in uninstalling of
the connectors.
[0009] Another objective of the present invention is that assembly
and disassembly of the door is convenient and simple.
[0010] A further objective of the present invention is that
arrangement of first and second slots prevents interference of the
door with the associated panels.
[0011] A further objective of the present invention is that the
connectors would not interfere pivotal motions of the door.
[0012] Other advantages and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description referring to the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be described through detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the
drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular storage assembly
in accordance with the present invention assembled to form a
compartment.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the modular
storage assembly shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 4.
[0019] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the modular storage
assembly, showing a door installed is open.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the modular storage assembly
assembled to form a plurality of compartments.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention, showing a different door
installed thereto.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a partial, enlarged view of the FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, a modular storage assembly
in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of
connectors 20 and a plurality of panels 10 joined together by the
plurality of connectors 20 as to define a compartment 50 and an
opening 51 for admission of an article to the compartment 50.
[0024] Each of the panels 10 includes a frame 11 which has a
structure with uniform thickness and confines an empty space.
Further, a sheet 12 is attached to the frame 11 to cover the empty
space, however, corners 13 of the frame 11 are not covered by the
sheet 12. It is understood that each corner is defined at a
junction of two peripheral sides of the frame 11.
[0025] Each of the connectors 20 includes a body having a first
surface 21 and a second surface 24 parallel to one another, and the
first and second surfaces 21 and 24 have dimensions substantially
equal to one another. In addition, a plurality of first slots 22
are formed thereon and each first slot 22 is formed between two
walls extending transverse to the second surface 24. In this
preferred embodiment, the plurality of first slots 23 are utilized
to receive the plurality of the panels 10, respectively.
Particularly, one of the corners 13 of the associated panel 10 is
received in one of the plurality of first slots 22. Further, a
plurality of second slots 23 are formed thereon between the first
and second surfaces 21 and 24, which will be described further
hereinafter.
[0026] The modular storage assembly further includes a door 40
pivotally connected with two connectors 20 as to close the opening
51 of the compartment 50. Specifically, two blocks 30 are
releasably mounted in one of the plurality of the second slots 23
of the two connectors 20, respectively; and the door 40 has two
axially opposite pivotal ends 41 formed along an edge of the door
40 and pivotally received in two blocks 30 respectively.
Preferably, each of the two blocks 30 has a cavity 33 defined in a
front side in which one of the pivotal ends 41 is received so that
the door 40 and the blocks 30 are prevented from detachment. In
addition, because the blocks are releasably mounted to the
connectors 20 and the door 40 is pivotally connected to the blocks
30, the door 40 is thus releasably mounted to the modular storage
assembly. In this regard, user could uninstall the door 40 from the
modular storage assembly by just taking the blocks 30 out of the
second slots 23 and without involving in uninstalling of the
connectors 20.
[0027] FIG. 3 also shows a first holding portion 221 is formed on
an inner peripheral surface of each first slot 22 of each connector
20 to afford secure attachment with the panel 10; a second holding
portion 231 is formed on an inner peripheral surface of each second
slot 23 of each connector 20 to afford secure attachment with the
block 30. In addition, the first holding portion 221 includes a
plurality of ridges having equal heights extended from the inner
peripheral surface of each first slot 22. Likewise, the second
holding portion 231 includes a plurality of ridges having equal
heights extended from the inner peripheral surface of each second
slot 23. Also, the block 30 has two lateral sides 31 which are
parallel to one another and have dimensions equal to one another,
and each second slot 23 has sides substantially equal to the
lateral sides 31 of the block 30.
[0028] As also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the door 40 has corners 42
marginally spaced from the connectors 20 so that the connectors 20
would not interfere pivotal motion of the door 40. Additionally,
the door 40 has a through hole formed thereon to assist user to
conveniently open/close it. It is understood that a handle is also
within the scope of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 7 shows the modular storage assembly is built to
include a plurality of compartments 50. It also shows that some
doors 40 are installed to allow user to open them clockwise whereas
some doors are installed to allow user to open them
counterclockwise.
[0030] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative an alternative embodiment
of the present invention, showing a different door 60 installed
thereto. The door differentiate from the door 40 in that the door
40 has a wire frame which has a structure with uniform thickness
and confines an empty space and a sheet is formed on the frame to
cover the empty space, whereas the door 60 is a solid wall.
[0031] In light of the forgoing, the modular storage assembly
according to the present invention exhibits several advantages.
Firstly, user could uninstall the door 40 and 60 from the modular
storage assembly by just taking the blocks 30 out of the second
slots 23 and without involving in uninstalling of the connectors
20.
[0032] Secondly, assembly and disassembly of the door 40 and 60 is
convenient and simple.
[0033] Thirdly, arrangement of first and second slots 22 and 23
prevents interference of the door 40 and 60 with the associated
panels 10.
[0034] Fourthly, the connectors 20 would not interfere pivotal
motions of the door 40 and 60.
[0035] The present invention has been described via the detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art
can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the
preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present
invention defined in the claims.
* * * * *