U.S. patent application number 12/868897 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for bin storage rack.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEELONG SALES COMPANY INTERNATIONAL LTD.. Invention is credited to Jamie L. Enger, Jon Fiscus.
Application Number | 20120048818 12/868897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45695743 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120048818 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fiscus; Jon ; et
al. |
March 1, 2012 |
Bin Storage Rack
Abstract
A storage rack comprising a pair of uprights, with each upright
having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots extending along
the upright. A plurality of cross braces is mounted on the
uprights, each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at
each end which are shaped to engage the keyhole slots. The
fasteners are spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the keyhole
slot, each including a head having a dimension greater than at
least a portion of the keyhole slot. A plurality of bins is
removably mounted on the cross braces. A center support is
provided, secured to and extending from the cross braces, and, in
one form of the invention, a tray is located at the top of the
uprights. The uprights can be secured to a base stand, or secured
to a wall.
Inventors: |
Fiscus; Jon; (Lake Geneva,
WI) ; Enger; Jamie L.; (Lindenhurst, IL) |
Assignee: |
GEELONG SALES COMPANY INTERNATIONAL
LTD.,
Kowloon
HK
|
Family ID: |
45695743 |
Appl. No.: |
12/868897 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/71.01 ;
211/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/067 20130101;
A47F 5/0025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/71.01 ;
211/183 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00; A47B 96/00 20060101 A47B096/00 |
Claims
1. A storage rack, comprising a. a pair of elongated, spaced angle
uprights, each upright including a support portion and a finish cap
extending substantially the length of said upright, and each
upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots
extending along the upright in the support portion, b. a gap
between each said finish cap and each said support portion at least
proximate said keyhole slots, c, a plurality of cross braces, each
cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end shaped to
engaged said keyhole slots, said fasteners being spaced a distance
equal to spacing of said keyhole slots, each fastener including a
head extending from a shank, said head having a dimension greater
than said shank and greater than at least a portion of a said
keyhole slot, and d. a plurality of bins removably mounted on said
cross braces.
2. The storage rack according to claim 1, including a base stand,
said uprights being secured to and extending from said base
stand.
3. The storage rack according to claim 1, including a tray at the
top of said uprights.
4. The storage rack according to claim 1, in which each keyhole
slot comprises a major opening and a depending minor opening.
5. The storage rack according to claim 4, in which said minor
opening comprises said portion of said keyhole slot.
6. The storage rack according to claim 1, in which each cross brace
includes a shelf ledge along a top edge of the cross brace.
7. The storage rack according to claim 6, in which each bin
includes a depending mounting flange, said mounting flange engaging
said shelf ledge.
8. The storage rack according to claim 1, including a center
support secured to and extending between said cross braces.
9. The storage rack according to claim 8, in which said center
support includes a plurality of spaced fasteners and each cross
brace includes a keyhole slot, each spaced fastener being in
registration with a corresponding one of said keyhole slots.
10. A storage rack, comprising a. a pair of elongated, spaced angle
uprights, each upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole
slots extending along the upright, b. a plurality of cross braces,
each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end
shaped to engaged said keyhole slots, said fasteners being spaced a
distance equal to spacing of said keyhole slots, each fastener
including a head extending from a shank, said head having a
dimension greater than said shank and greater than at least a
portion of a said keyhole slot, c. a center support secured to and
extending between said cross braces, and d. said center support
including a plurality of spaced fasteners and each cross brace
including a keyhole slot, each spaced fastener being in
registration with a corresponding one of said keyhole slots in said
cross braces.
11. The storage rack according to claim 10, including a base stand,
said uprights being secured to and extending from said base
stand.
12. The storage rack according to claim 10, including a tray at the
top of said uprights.
13. The storage rack according to claim 10, in which each keyhole
slot comprises a major opening and a depending minor opening.
14. The storage rack according to claim 13, in which said minor
opening comprises said portion of said keyhole slot.
15. The storage rack according to claim 10, including a plurality
of bins removably mounted on said cross braces.
16. The storage rack according to claim 15, in which each cross
brace includes a shelf ledge along a top edge of the cross
brace.
17. The storage rack according to claim 16, in which each bin
includes a depending mounting flange, said mounting flange engaging
said shelf ledge.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to storage racks, and in particular
to a bin type storage rack having multiple racks of bins.
[0002] Bin-type storage racks and bin systems are well known. There
are hundreds of US patents directed to storage bins and systems of
various types and uses. Examples, only, are U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,628,153; 5,190,156 and D 475,554.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention is directed to a storage rack, comprising a
pair of elongated, spaced angle uprights, each upright having a
plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots extending along the
upright. A plurality of cross braces is provided, each cross brace
having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end and shaped to engage
the keyhole slots. The fasteners are spaced a distance equal to
spacing of the keyhole slots, with each fastener including a head
extending from a shank. The head has a dimension greater than the
shank and greater than at least a portion of the keyhole slot. A
center support is provided, secured to and extending between the
cross braces. The center support includes a plurality of spaced
fasteners, and each cross brace includes a keyhole slot, with each
spaced fastener being in registration with a corresponding one of
the keyhole slots in the cross braces.
[0004] In accordance with one form of the invention, a base stand
is provided, with the uprights being secured to and extending from
the base stand. A tray may be provided at the top of the
uprights.
[0005] Each keyhole slot comprises a major opening and a depending
minor opening. The minor opening comprises the portion of the
keyhole slot that is smaller than the dimension of the head of each
fastener.
[0006] Each cross brace includes a shelf ledge along a top edge of
the cross brace. Each bin includes a depending mounting flange,
with the mounting flange engaging the shelf ledge.
[0007] In another form of the invention, the storage rack comprises
a pair of elongated, spaced angle uprights, each upright including
a finish cap extending substantially the length of the upright, and
each upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots
extending along the upright. A gap is provided between each finish
cap and the support member to which it is attached at least
proximate the keyhole slots. A plurality of cross braces is
provided, each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at
each end which are shaped to engage the keyhole slots. The
fasteners are spaced a distance equal to spacing of the keyhole
slots, with each fastener including a head extending from a shank.
The head has a dimension greater than the shank and greater than at
least a portion of the keyhole slot. A plurality of bins is
removably mounted on the cross braces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention is described in greater detail in the
following description of examples embodying the best mode of the
invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing figures, in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one form of the
invention,
[0010] FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the form of the invention
shown in FIG. 1,
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof,
[0012] FIG. 3A is an enlarged fragmentary cross section at a
keyhole slot showing detail,
[0013] FIG. 3B is an enlarged fragmentary view of a keyhole
slot,
[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view of the form of the invention
shown in FIG. 1,
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second form of the
invention,
[0016] FIG. 6 is an isometric assembly view thereof,
[0017] FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view thereof, and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a rear isometric view thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES EMBODYING THE BEST MODE OF THE
INVENTION
[0019] A first form of a storage rack according to the invention as
shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1-4. The storage rack 10 includes
two basic components, first, a pair of elongated, spaced angle
uprights 12 and second, a plurality of cross braces 14.
[0020] Each of the angle uprights 12 comprises two elements, a
support portion 16 and a finish cap 18. The cross braces 14 are
"L"-shaped, as are the support portions 16 and the finish caps 18.
As illustrated, the finish caps 18 are on one side of the support
portions 16, and may be affixed thereto in any manner. A gap 20 is
provided between each finish cap 18 and the support portion 16 to
allow assembly of the invention, as described in greater detail
below.
[0021] Each of the uprights 12 has a plurality of equally-spaced
keyhole slots 22 extending along the upright in the support portion
16. Each keyhole slot comprises a major opening 24 and a depending
minor opening 26, as best shown in FIG. 3B.
[0022] Each of the cross braces 14 include a pair of spaced
fasteners 28 at each end thereof. The spaced fasteners 28 are
shaped to engage the keyhole slots, with the fasteners 28 being
spaced a distance equal to spacing of the keyhole slots 22. Each
fastener 28 includes a head 30 extending from a shank 32, with the
head 30 having a dimension greater than the shank 32 and greater
than at least a portion of the keyhole slot 22. Preferably, the
dimension of the head 30 is greater than the minor opening 26, but
less than the major opening 24 of the keyhole slot 22, and the
shank 32 has a dimension about equal to, or slightly smaller than,
the minor opening 26. Therefore, when being installed, the head 30
of the fastener 28 can pass through the major opening 24, and can
then be moved downwardly so that the shank 32 is engaged in the
minor opening 26, with the head 30 retaining the fastener in place.
The support portion 16 is sandwiched between the cross brace 14 and
the head 30. This is a conventional keyhole assembly, and is
therefore not described in greater detail.
[0023] Each of the cross braces 14 includes a shelf ledge 34 along
the top edge of each of the cross braces. Preferably, just for ease
of assembly of the invention, a shelf ledge 34 can be located on
both the top and bottom edges of each of the cross braces 34, as
illustrated, so that a particular orientation of each cross brace
is not required.
[0024] The storage rack 10 can be bolted or otherwise affixed to a
wall to maintain the storage rack 10 in an upright position.
Alternatively, the storage rack 10 can include a base stand 36. An
angle brace 38 is affixed to the base stand 36, and each upright 12
is affixed to the brace 38 by means of fasteners 40 and nuts 42.
For additional stability, an angle bracket 44 is used, affixed at
one end to the angle upright 12 by a fastener 40 and affixed at its
opposite end to the base stand by a further fastener 40 and nut
42.
[0025] A center support 46 is secured to and extends between the
cross braces 14. The center support includes a plurality of spaced
fasteners 28, identical to the fasteners 28 of the cross braces 14.
The fasteners 28 engage keyhole slots 22 which preferably are
identical to the keyhole slots 22 of the uprights 12. Each of the
fasteners 28 is in registration with a corresponding one of the
keyhole slots 22, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0026] A plurality of bins 50 of varying sizes are mounted on the
cross braces 14, and are removable therefrom. Bins 50 may be of any
size or shape, and each bin 50 includes a depending mounting flange
52. The mounting flange 52 engages the shelf ledge 34, as
illustrated. Therefore, each bin 52 is readily removable by simply
lifting it upwardly, disengaging the flange 52 from the shelf ledge
34. The flanges 52 are spaced sufficiently from their respective
bins 50 so that the shelf ledge 34 can extend between the bin 50
and flange 52 when the bins 50 are mounted.
[0027] A second form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5-8
and is shown generally at 10'. Those elements of the invention
which are the same are identified with the identical reference
numerals as above, and are therefore not described in greater
detail.
[0028] In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-8, the
orientations of the angle uprights 12 are reversed in relation to
the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4. Therefore, the
braces 38 on the base stand 36 are also reversed for proper
mounting. However, the orientation of the first form of the
invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 may also be used here.
[0029] In this form of the invention, the storage rack 10' is
physically taller than that shown in FIGS. 1-4. For additional
stability, the base stand 36 also includes a cross member 54.
[0030] This form of the invention includes a top shelf 56. The
shelf 56 is mounted on the angle uprights 12 by means of downwardly
depending angle braces 38 that are secured to the angle uprights 12
by means of fasteners 40 and nuts 42. While a shelf 56 is not shown
in relation to the first embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 1-4,
obviously a shelf could be used with that form of the invention, as
well.
[0031] Just as in the first form of the invention, that of FIGS.
5-8 includes a series of bins 50 of various sizes, which are
mounted on the cross braces 14 in precisely the same manner as
shown and described in relation to the first form of the invention.
Obviously, the number of bins 50, and the number of cross braces
14, can be varied depending on use of the storage rack 10 or 10'
and sizes of the bins 50 employed.
[0032] Various changes can be made to the invention without
departing from the spirit thereof or scope of the following
claims.
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