U.S. patent application number 14/805457 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-26 for trapezoidal storage device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Artemus Albert Shelton. Invention is credited to Artemus Albert Shelton.
Application Number | 20170021958 14/805457 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57836840 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170021958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shelton; Artemus Albert |
January 26, 2017 |
Trapezoidal Storage Device
Abstract
An exemplary design for upright storage devices, such as
dressers or cabinets or shelving units, to dramatically improve
stability, and thus safety, is provided. In general, such storage
devices can be constructed with one or both base angles measuring
less than 90 degrees, giving them a trapezoidal cross section.
Inventors: |
Shelton; Artemus Albert;
(Hutto, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shelton; Artemus Albert |
Hutto |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57836840 |
Appl. No.: |
14/805457 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 61/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/40 20060101
B65D001/40 |
Claims
1. A storage device with one base angle less than 90 degrees and
one base angle equal to approximately 90 degrees.
2. A storage device with two base angles less than 90 degrees.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to storage
devices and methods for improving the stability of such
devices.
[0002] Upright storage devices, such as dressers or cabinets or
shelving units, typically have a rectangular cross-section, making
them inherently unstable and susceptible to tipping at taller
heights.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0003] A storage device with a trapezoidal cross-section is more
stable and less susceptible to tipping than a storage device with a
rectangular cross-section, making such a device safer for people to
interact with.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows the rectangular cross-section of a typical
storage device with each of the two base angles measuring
approximately 90 degrees.
[0005] FIG. 2 shows the trapezoidal cross-section of a proposed
storage device with one base angle measuring less than 90 degrees
and the second base angle measuring approximately 90 degrees.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows the trapezoidal cross-section of a proposed
storage device with each of the two base angles measuring less than
90 degrees.
[0007] FIG. 4 shows a tipping force comparison between a storage
device with a rectangular cross-section and both base angles
measuring approximately 90 degrees, a storage device with a
trapezoidal cross section and one base angle measuring less than 90
degrees and the second base angle measuring approximately 90
degrees, and a storage device with a trapezoidal cross section and
both base angles measuring less than 90 degrees.
[0008] FIG. 5 shows a tipping moment comparison between a storage
device with a rectangular cross-section and both base angles
measuring approximately 90 degrees, a storage device with a
trapezoidal cross section and one base angle measuring less than 90
degrees and the second base angle measuring approximately 90
degrees, and a storage device with a trapezoidal cross section and
both base angles measuring less than 90 degrees.
[0009] It is noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the
subject matter disclosed herein, and therefore should not be
considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to
provide an overall understanding of the principles of the
structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices disclosed
herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated
in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will
understand that the devices specifically described herein and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary
embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined
solely by the claims. In the present disclosure, like-named
components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and
thus within a particular embodiment each feature of each like-named
component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Additionally,
to the extent that linear, circular, or angular dimensions are used
in the description of the disclosed devices, such dimensions are
not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in
conjunction with such devices. The features illustrated or
described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be
combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications
and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the
present invention.
[0011] In some embodiments, a storage device can include a
trapezoidal cross-section with one or both of its base angles to be
less than 90 degrees, the acuteness of which can vary from slightly
to significantly.
[0012] The storage devices described herein can be used to contain
anything item of any size, or the devices may contain nothing and
exist solely for decorative purposes.
[0013] The storage devices described herein may be constructed of
any material.
[0014] The storage devices described herein may contain shelves,
drawers, or open space and cabinet doors of sliding, hinged, rolled
or other style as an access point to the shelves, drawers, or open
space.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows the rectangular cross-section of a typical
storage device 100 with each of the two base angles 101 and 102
measuring approXimately 90 degrees.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the trapezoidal cross-section of a proposed
storage device 103 with one base angle 104 measuring less than 90
degrees and the second base angle 105 measuring approximately 90
degrees.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows the trapezoidal cross-section of a proposed
storage device 106 with each of the two base angles 107 and 108
measuring less than 90 degrees.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a tipping force comparison between a storage
device with a rectangular cross-section 100 and both base angles
101 and 102 measuring approximately 90 degrees, a storage device
with a trapezoidal cross section 103 and one base angle 104
measuring less than 90 degrees and the second base angle 105
measuring approximately 90 degrees, and a storage device with a
trapezoidal cross section 106 and both base angles 107 and 108
measuring less than 90 degrees. If enough horizontal force is
applied to the top of a storage device, the storage device can be
tipped or raised from the surface on which it is resting. The
horizontal force 109 required to tip a storage device with a
rectangular cross section is significantly less than the horizontal
force 110 required to tip storage devices with trapezoidal cross
sections 103 and 106, given that the heights 111 and bases 112 of
all storage devices are equal. Thus, a storage device with a
trapezoidal cross-section is more stable and less susceptible to
tipping than a storage device with a rectangular cross-section,
making such a device safer for people to interact with.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a tipping moment comparison between a storage
device with a rectangular cross-section 100 and both base angles
101 and 102 measuring approximately 90 degrees, a storage device
with a trapezoidal cross section 103 and one base angle 104
measuring less than 90 degrees and the second base angle 105
measuring approximately 90 degrees, and a storage device with a
trapezoidal cross section 106 and both base angles 107 and 108
measuring less than 90 degrees. If enough vertical force is applied
to the top of a storage device (for example, if the top drawer of a
dresser is pulled open), the storage device can be tipped or raised
from the surface on which it is resting by the resultant moment.
The vertical force 113 required to tip a storage device with a
rectangular cross section is significantly less than the vertical
force 114 required to tip storage devices with trapezoidal cross
sections 103 and 106, given that the heights 111 and bases 112 of
all storage devices are equal. Thus, a storage device with a
trapezoidal cross-section is more stable and less susceptible to
tipping than a storage device with a rectangular cross-section,
making such a device safer for people to interact with.
* * * * *