U.S. patent application number 12/053974 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-24 for multiple tier cabinet storage unit.
Invention is credited to Mark A. Etter, Richard B. Klein, Matthew L. Ostmeyer.
Application Number | 20090236958 12/053974 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41088166 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090236958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klein; Richard B. ; et
al. |
September 24, 2009 |
MULTIPLE TIER CABINET STORAGE UNIT
Abstract
A multi-tier cabinet storage installation includes lower and
upper storage units which may be wire drawers. The lower and upper
units are connected by posts having detachable connections allowing
compact packaging in a disassembled condition. A spacer that may be
inverted allows adjustment of the elevation of the upper unit to
accommodate varying cabinet heights. A modified embodiment intended
for use when obstructions are present in the cabinet has a reduced
width upper unit for clearing the obstructions and is reversible
while still providing a handle in the front regardless of which way
the installation is made.
Inventors: |
Klein; Richard B.; (Overland
Park, KS) ; Etter; Mark A.; (Independence, MI)
; Ostmeyer; Matthew L.; (Stilwell, KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HUSCH BLACKWELL SANDERS LLP
4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
KANSAS CITY
MO
64112
US
|
Family ID: |
41088166 |
Appl. No.: |
12/053974 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/332.1 ;
312/348.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/42 20170101;
A47B 87/0223 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/332.1 ;
312/348.3 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/04 20060101
A47B088/04; A47B 95/02 20060101 A47B095/02 |
Claims
1. A multi-tier cabinet storage installation, comprising: a lower
unit constructed for sliding movement in and out of a cabinet and
adapted to store objects; an upper unit adapted to store objects;
and a plurality of posts each having a lower end provided with a
first detachable connection to said lower unit and an upper end
provided with a second detachable connection to said upper unit to
mount said upper unit to said lower unit a spaced distance above
the lower unit when said first and second detachable connections
are effected.
2. A storage installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
first and second detachable connections are threaded
connections.
3. A storage installation as set forth in claim 1, including: a
plurality of barrels on said lower unit; and threads on said lower
end of each post for threaded engagement with said barrel to effect
said first detachable connection.
4. A storage installation as set forth in claim 3, including a stop
on each post engageable with said barrel to limit threading of said
threads into said barrel.
5. A storage installation as set forth in claim 3, including at
least one tool-receiving surface on each post to facilitate
tightening of said threads into said barrel.
6. A storage installation as set forth in claim 5, including a
plurality of sleeves on said upper unit in which said
tool-receiving surface on each post is received when said second
detachable connections are effected.
7. A storage installation as set forth in claim 6, including a
plurality of detachable fasteners for securing said upper ends of
said posts and said tool-receiving surfaces in said sleeves to
effect said second detachable connection.
8. A storage installation as set forth in claim 7, including a stop
on each post engageable with said sleeve to limit extension of said
posts into said sleeves.
9. A storage installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
lower and upper units comprise drawers constructed of spaced apart
intersecting wires.
10. A multi-tier cabinet storage installation, comprising: a lower
unit constructed to hold articles; a slide mechanism for mounting
said lower unit to the cabinet for sliding movement in and out of
the cabinet; an upper unit constructed to hold articles; and a
plurality of posts constructed to connect said upper unit to said
lower unit above said upper unit at a plurality of different
elevations relative to said lower unit.
11. A storage installation as set forth in claim 10, wherein each
post comprises: a main post element having a connection with one of
said lower and upper units; and a spacer having a connection with
said main post element and with the other of said lower and upper
units wherein said spacer is constructed to assume a plurality of
different positions relative to said main post element and said
other of said lower and upper units to vary the elevation of said
upper unit between said plurality of different elevations.
12. A storage installation as set forth in claim 10, wherein each
post comprises: a main post element having a connection with one of
said lower and upper units; and a spacer having opposite first and
second ends, said spacer being applicable in a first position
wherein said first end is detachably connected to said post and
said second end is detachably connected to the other of said lower
and upper units to maintain said upper unit at a first distance
above said lower unit, and a second position wherein said second
end is detachably connected to said post and said first end is
detachably connected to said other of said lower and upper units to
maintain said upper unit at a second distance above said lower unit
greater than said first distance.
13. A storage installation as set forth in claim 12, including a
collar on said spacer for engagement with said other of said lower
and upper units in said first and second positions of said spacer
in a manner to assure that said second distance is greater than
said first distance.
14. A storage installation as set forth in claim 12, including: a
sleeve on said other of said lower and upper units for receiving
said first end of said spacer in said second position thereof and
for receiving said second end of said spacer in said first position
thereof; threads on said first end of said spacer for threaded
attachment to said main post element in said first position of said
spacer; threads on said second end of said spacer for threaded
attachment to said main post element in said second position of
said spacer; and a collar on said spacer for engagement with said
sleeve in said first and second positions of said spacer, said
collar being off-center on said spacer.
15. A storage installation as set forth in claim 14, including a
detachable fastener for securing said first end of said spacer in
said sleeve in said second position of said spacer, and for
securing said second end of said spacer in said sleeve in said
first position of said spacer.
16. A storage installation as set forth in claim 15, wherein said
connection of said main post element with said one of said lower
and upper units is a detachable connection.
17. A storage installation as set forth in claim 11, wherein said
lower and upper units comprise drawers constructed of spaced apart
intersecting wires.
18. A storage installation as set forth in claim 12, wherein said
connection of said main post element with said one of said lower
and upper units is a detachable connection.
19. A multi-tier cabinet storage installation, comprising: a lower
unit constructed for sliding movement in and out of a cabinet and
adapted to store objects, said lower unit having opposite ends and
opposite sides and a width dimension between said sides; an upper
unit having opposite ends and opposite sides and a width dimension
between said sides less than the width dimension of said lower
unit, said upper unit being connected to said lower unit with one
side of said upper unit generally overlying one side of said lower
unit; a handle on each end of said lower unit; and a handle on each
end of said upper unit, wherein one of said handles on said lower
and upper units is accessible from the front when said lower and
upper units are installed in the cabinet with either of said ends
in the front.
20. A storage installation as set forth in claim 19, wherein said
upper unit is connected with said lower unit by detachable
connections.
21. A storage installation as set forth in claim 19, including a
plurality of posts each having a lower end provided with a first
detachable connection to said lower unit and an upper end provided
with a second detachable connection to said upper unit to mount
said upper unit to said lower unit a spaced distance above the
lower unit when said first and second detachable connections are
effected.
22. A storage installation as set forth in claim 21, wherein said
first and second detachable connections are threaded
connections.
23. A storage installation as set forth in claim 19, including a
plurality of posts constructed to connect said upper unit to said
lower unit above said upper unit at a plurality of different
elevations relative to said lower unit.
24. A storage installation as set forth in claim 23, wherein each
post comprises: a main post element having a connection with one of
said lower and upper units; and a spacer having a connection with
said main post element and with the other of said lower and upper
units wherein said spacer is constructed to assume a plurality of
different positions relative to said main post element and said
other of said lower and upper units to vary the elevation of said
upper unit between said plurality of different elevations.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to cabinet storage and more
particularly to a multi-tier storage unit that slides in and out of
a cabinet.
[0003] Cabinets such as kitchen and bathroom base cabinets have
been equipped with sliding or rollout storage devices of various
types in order to enhance access to the items that are stored in
the cabinet. To enlarge the effective storage area, two-tier
sliding drawers, trays, shelves and other storage devices have been
used such that both the lower and upper tiers can store items:
However, the two-tier units that have been available in the past
are less than satisfactory in a number of respects.
[0004] Typically, the double tier devices have an all-welded
construction in which the upper and lower storage units are
permanently welded together. Such a construction requires packaging
that is large enough to accommodate the entire device in a fully
assembled condition, and this results in considerable "dead space"
in the package. A large package is highly undesirable because of
the area occupied on the valuable shelf space in retail stores and
also because of the undue space occupied during shipping and
storage. Double tier units are also characterized by strength
problems, wobbling and other instabilities, and high costs.
[0005] Existing devices that are all-welded have a single, fixed
position for the upper storage unit. Because the available cabinet
height varies substantially from cabinet to cabinet, fixed height
units do not fit in some cabinets at all and fail to take full
advantage of the height that is available in others. The lack of
height adjustability requires units to be manufactured in a variety
of different heights which increases the manufacturing costs and
can be confusing and inconvenient to purchasers.
[0006] While double tier products have been available in
configurations intended to fit around under-sink pipes and other
obstructions, the practical results have not been wholly
satisfactory. The upper unit in this type of drawer is usually
about half as wide as the lower unit so that the upper unit can
clear drain traps, water lines, garbage disposers and other
obstructions that are commonly present in kitchen and bathroom base
cabinets. Because the location of obstructions varies, the upper
unit must sometimes be on the left side and at other times on the
right side to accommodate the obstructions. Existing devices of
this type require the purchaser to mount the upper unit on one side
or the other, thus requiring the application of numerous fasteners
which makes installation more difficult. Typically, the entire
device cannot be turned in order to vary the side of the upper unit
because a handle is provided on only the front, and the handle
would be inaccessible and useless if the device were to be turned
to where the handle is on the back.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a multi-tier cabinet
storage unit which slides in and out of a cabinet and is
constructed in a manner to eliminate or at least minimize the
problems that have plagued prior art units.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a double
tier cabinet storage device includes detachable posts which connect
the upper and lower units (which are preferably drawers but may be
other storage devices such as trays, racks or shelves). As a result
of the detachability of the posts, the product can be packaged in a
disassembled condition with the two drawers (or other storage
units) arranged flatly against one another or nested to minimize
the height of the package. This allows a much more compact package
to be used than is possible with permanently welded products. The
benefit is significant because it minimizes the space that is
occupied on retail shelves, during shipping and during storage in
warehouses or other storage facilities, and it makes the package
easier to handle.
[0009] Preferably, the posts have threaded connections with the
upper and lower units. One of the storage units (such as the lower
unit) can have internally threaded barrels into which the lower
ends of the posts can be threaded. Wrench flats or other tool
receiving surfaces on the upper ends of the posts may be provided
to allow tight threading of the posts into the barrels. The other
unit (for example, the upper unit) may have sleeves that receive
the upper ends of the posts, thus concealing the tool receiving
surfaces. Screws or other fasteners may be used to secure the posts
in the sleeves.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
upper unit may be adjusted to multiple elevations so that cabinets
which vary in the height can be accommodated. This height
adjustability can be effected in various ways, including the
provision of a spacer that may be applied to the post in one
position to maintain the upper unit at one elevation, or inverted
to maintain the upper unit at a different elevation. The spacer may
be removed to provide a third discrete elevation of the upper
unit.
[0011] Another aspect of the invention contemplates a reduced width
upper unit for use when obstructions are present in the cabinet.
Both the upper and lower units have handles on both the front and
the back, so the entire device can be installed with the upper unit
on the right or reversed such that the upper unit is on the left,
while still providing handles that are accessible for pulling the
storage device out or pushing it in.
[0012] Other and further objects of the invention, together with
the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the
course of the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0013] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith in which
like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts
in the various views:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a multiple tier
cabinet storage unit constructed according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet storage unit of
FIG. 1 in a fully assembled condition;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially exploded, of
the cabinet storage unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but with a spacer
included to allow variation in the height of the upper tier of the
storage unit;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detail
identified by numeral 4 in FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but
showing the spacer inverted from its position in FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detail
identified by numeral 6 in FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a multiple tier
cabinet storage unit constructed in accordance with a modified
embodiment of the invention wherein an upper tier has a lesser
width than a lower tier of the storage unit; and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the storage unit shown in
FIG. 7 in a fully assembled condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially
to FIGS. 1 and 2, numeral 10 generally designates a multi-tier
cabinet storage unit constructed according to one embodiment of the
present invention. The storage unit 10 includes as its principal
components a lower drawer 12, an upper drawer 14 and a plurality of
posts 16 which connect the upper drawer 14 with the lower drawer
12. The lower drawer 12 is preferably mounted on a glide mechanism,
generally identified by reference numeral 18, in order to allow the
storage unit 10 to slide into and out of a storage cabinet such as
the cabinet 20 shown fragmentarily in FIG. 2. The glide mechanism
18 is preferably of the type disclosed in pending patent
application Ser. No. 11/549,485 filed on Oct. 13, 2006, by Richard
B. Klein and Mark A. Etter and entitled "Glide Mechanism for Roll
Out Drawers and Other Items". That pending patent application is
hereby incorporated by reference. While the illustrated embodiment
includes drawers 12 and 14 as the upper and lower units, other
types of storage units can be used, including trays, racks,
shelves, etc.
[0023] As described more fully in pending application Ser. No.
11/549,485, the glide mechanism 20 includes a pair of parallel
rails 22 which are rigidly connected by flat cross bars 24 near
their front and back ends. Runners 26 fit in the respective tracks
22 and may be extended out of the tracks 22 and retracted into the
tracks 22 to the fully retracted position shown in FIGS. 1-2. The
cross bars 24 are provided with openings (not shown) that may
receive conventional screws or other fasteners (also not shown) in
order to secure the glide mechanism 18 in the cabinet 20. The
runners 26 are equipped with brackets that provide horizontal
mounting plates 28 (FIG. 1). The bottom of the lower drawer 12 is
provided with mounting tabs 30 (FIG. 1) which may be secured to the
plates 28 by special fasteners 32, with pads 34 preferably
interposed between the plates 28 and tabs 30.
[0024] The lower drawer 12 preferably has a wire construction and a
generally rectangular shape that provides a lightweight yet sturdy
and convenient structure. A floor of the drawer 12 is formed by a
plurality of lateral wires 36 welded or otherwise connected to
longitudinal wires 38 which extend from front to back. The floor of
drawer 12 may have a rim wire 40 from which four barrels 42 extend
upwardly at or near the four corners of the drawer 12. An upper rim
wire 44 extends around the periphery of the drawer 12 at its upper
edge and is connected with the upper ends of the barrels 42. Wire
44 is bent downwardly in a curved fashion at the front of drawer 12
to provide a handle 46. An intermediate rim wire 48 extends along
the sides, back and part of the front of the drawer at a location
between the rim wires 40 and 44. Wire 44 is connected with each of
the barrels 42 near their midpoints. The barrels 44 are hollow
members which are open at their upper ends and internally
threaded.
[0025] The upper drawer 14 has a wire construction which is
identical in most respects to the lower drawer 12, with like
numerals identifying the parts of the upper drawer 14 that
correspond to the parts of the lower drawer 12. Sleeves 50 are
provided at the four corners of the upper drawer 14 and generally
correspond in construction and location with the barrels 42. The
sleeves 50 are open at the bottom and need not be internally
threaded.
[0026] The posts 16 may all be constructed in the same manner. Each
post 16 may be a straight member having a lower flange 52 near but
spaced above its lower end and another flange 54 near but spaced
below its upper end. The lower end portion 56 of each post 16 is
externally threaded to mate with the internal threads of the
barrels 42. Wrench flats 58 or other tool receiving surfaces are
provided on the upper end portion 59 of each post 16 above the
upper flange 54. The upper end portion 59 of each post 16 is open
and is internally threaded. A plurality of screws 60 or other
detachable fasteners may be provided to secure the posts 16 to
sleeves 50.
[0027] The storage unit 10 may be packaged in a disassembled
condition with the drawers 12 and 14 detached from the posts 16 and
the lower drawer 12 detached from the glide mechanism 18. This
allows for a compact package with minimal dead space and has the
great advantage of minimizing the package size so that the space
occupied on retail shelves and during shipping and storage is
minimized.
[0028] The storage unit 10 can be assembled by mounting the glide
mechanism 18 in the cabinet 20 and then connecting the lower drawer
12 to the glide mechanism 18. The posts 16 can be installed by
threading their lower ends 56 into the barrels 42, with the wrench
flats 58 allowing the posts 16 to be fully tightened until the
flanges 52 seat securely on top of the barrels 42. The upper drawer
14 can be installed by applying the sleeves 50 to the upper ends of
the posts 16 until the lower ends of sleeves 50 seat on the flanges
54. The screws 60 can then be applied into the sleeves 50 and
threaded into the upper ends of the posts 16 and fully tightened to
complete the assembly. The wrench flats 58 are enclosed within the
sleeves 50 when the unit is fully assembled so that the wrench
flats do not detract from the aesthetic appeal of the unit. It is
noted that the presence of the flanges 52 and 54 provides large
surface areas on the posts 16 for contact with the barrels 42 and
sleeves 50, thereby rigidifying the structure and resisting any
tendency for wobbling.
[0029] FIGS. 3-6 illustrate a modification in which the lower
drawer 12 and upper drawer 14 may have the same construction
previously described. However, the unit shown in FIGS. 3-6 includes
a two-piece post construction in which each of the posts includes a
main post 116 and a spacer 117. Each post 116 may be similar to the
posts 16 previously described and may be connected with the barrels
42 in the manner described for posts 16. However, posts 116
preferably do not include the upper flanges 54 or the wrench flats
58.
[0030] The spacer 117 is considerably shorter than post 116 and is
a straight tubular member having an exterior collar 119 offset from
the longitudinal center of the spacer 117. The spacer 117 thus has
a relatively short end portion 121 on one side of the collar 119
and a longer portion 123 on the other side of the collar 119. Both
portions 121 and 123 may be threaded both internally and
externally.
[0031] The unit shown in FIGS. 3-6 allows for adjustability of the
height of the upper unit 14 among three different elevations. The
highest elevation results when the spacer is used in the
orientation shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Then, end 123 is the lower end
of the spacer and is threaded into the upper end of post 116. The
sleeves 50 are applied to the upper ends 121 of the spacers and
seat on the collars 119. The screws 60 may be inserted into sleeves
50 and threaded into the ends 121 of the spacers to complete the
assembly.
[0032] A lower elevation of the upper drawer 14 may be achieved by
utilizing the spacer 117 in the orientation shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
wherein the spacer 117 is inverted from the position of FIGS. 3 and
4. In the orientation of the spacers shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, end
121 is the lower end of the spacer and is threaded into the top end
of post 116. The sleeves 50 are applied to the ends 123 of the
spacer until the lower ends of the sleeves seat on the collar 119.
Screws 60 may be extended into the sleeves 50 and threaded into the
ends 123 of the spacers to complete the assembly. Because of the
off-center position of the collar 119, the upper drawer 14 is at a
lower elevation and is spaced a lesser distance above the lower
drawer 12 in the orientation of the sleeves shown in FIGS. 5 and
6.
[0033] The third elevation of the upper drawer 14 which is lower
than the elevation in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be achieved by not using
the spacer 117. Then, the sleeves 50 are applied to the upper ends
of the posts 116 and secured by the screws 60. A suitable stop (not
shown) may be used to prevent the upper drawer 14 from sliding
downwardly on the posts 116.
[0034] In the foregoing manner, the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3-6
accommodates three different elevations of the upper drawer 14
relative to the lower drawer 12. Accordingly, cabinets of various
heights can be accommodated, and the full cabinet height available
can be utilized by adjusting the upper drawer 14 to the appropriate
elevation for the particular cabinet in which the storage unit is
installed.
[0035] FIGS. 7 and 8 depict an alternative embodiment of the
invention which is intended for use when obstructions are present
in the cabinet, typically including drain traps, water lines,
garbage disposers and other obstructions that are commonly present
in kitchen and bathroom cabinets located under a sink. Numeral 110
generally designates a cabinet storage unit with a glide mechanism
18 identical to the glide mechanism 18 previously described used to
install the storage unit 110 in an under-sink base cabinet such as
cabinet 120 (FIG. 8). The storage unit 110 includes a lower drawer
112 which may be mounted to the glide mechanism 18 and which is
constructed in a manner generally similar to the drawer 12.
However, drawer 112 has its rim wire 144 bent downwardly on both
ends to provide handles 146 on both ends. Additionally, rather than
mounting barrels at the four corners of the drawer, four barrels
142 are mounted to one of the sides of drawer 112. Preferably, the
barrels 142 are mounted in pairs located near the opposite ends of
the drawer 112. Posts 16 identical to the posts 16 previously
described may be used in the storage unit 110. Alternatively, posts
116 and spacers 117 may be used.
[0036] The storage unit 110 has an upper drawer 114 which has a
lesser width dimension side to side than the lower drawer 112.
Preferably, the width of the upper drawer 114 is approximately
one-half the width of the lower drawer 112, although its width can
vary. The length dimension of the upper drawer 114 between its
opposite ends may be equal to that of the lower drawer 112, or the
upper drawer length may be shorter than the lower drawer length to
allow nesting while packaged for compactness. The upper drawer 114
may have a wire construction similar to that of drawer 14 except
that its width is only approximately half that of drawer 14.
Additionally, instead of sleeves being located at the four corners
of the drawer, sleeves 150 are mounted to one side of drawer 114.
The sleeves 150 are located such that they may be aligned directly
above the barrels 142. Sleeves 150 may be connected with the posts
16 (or with the posts 116 and spacers 117) in the same manner as
with sleeves 50. Both ends of the upper rim wire 244 of drawer 114
are bent downwardly to provide curved handles 246 on both ends of
drawer 114.
[0037] The reduced width of the upper drawer 114 allows the unit
110 to be used in an installation where obstructions must be
cleared. Because the handles 146 and 246 are provided on both ends
of the lower drawer 112 and on both ends of the upper drawer 114,
the storage unit 110 can be installed with the upper drawer 114
either on the right side of the storage unit or on the left side of
the storage unit to provide enough versatility that obstructions on
the left or the right can be cleared while providing handles 146
and 246 on the front of the unit regardless of whether the
installation has the upper drawer 114 on the right or the left.
[0038] The storage unit 110 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has all of the
advantages discussed previously for storage unit 10, including
compact packaging and adjustability of the height of the upper
drawer 114 among three different elevations relative to the lower
drawer 112.
[0039] While the preferred embodiments are disclosed as having two
drawers, it is contemplated that three or more drawers may be
constructed using the principles and techniques of the
invention.
[0040] From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is
one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set
forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and
which are inherent to the structure.
[0041] It will be understood that certain features and
subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without
reference to other features and subcombinations. This is
contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
[0042] Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention
without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood
that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying
drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a
limiting sense.
* * * * *