WO2003065849A1

WO2003065849A1 - Basket type free-standing shelving system

Info

Publication number: WO2003065849A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/003784
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles W. Craft
Original assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
Priority date: 2002-02-07
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2003-08-14
Also published as: US20030146180A1; AU2003215104A1

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a modular free-standing shelving system (20) having a basket (50) is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of risers (30) having a first end and a second end and at least one shelf having a plurality of ends, a plurality of sides, and a plurality of sockets (64). The ends and sides of the shelf encompass an area including a plurality of walls and a recessed surface (70). The walls connect the recessed surface to the ends and sides, which comprises a majority of a surface area of the shelf.

Description

BASKET TYPE FREE-STANDING SHELVING SYSTEM

Related Application Data

The present application is a non-provisional application based on co-pending provisional application 60/355,381 which was filed on February 7, 2002. Technical Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to a storage unit and, more particularly, to a free-standing modular shelving system containing baskets/bins.

Background of the Disclosure

There are many types of storage units available in today's market, fulfilling the needs of many people. The different storage units come in many shapes and sizes, catering to the specific needs of the consumers. Some of the storage units are heavy and bulky, requiring a great amount of strength to move. Similarly, the storage units may require attachment or perhaps may require assembly before use. Other available shelving units are light and flexible, but unfortunately are very unstable and incapable of supporting heavier loads. Another underlying problem with the above units is that they are very limited in their versatility, thereby forcing the user to use the storage unit in a particular place and for a particular purpose. Likewise, the flat surface of the shelf or panel designs of the shelving units are limited to holding flat bottomed items such as cans, boxes, and the like, thereby making it difficult to store such items as balls, bats, and the like.

Some of the above-identified problems have been addressed with modular shelving systems or units, which are known in the art. One type of modular unit includes a plurality of rectangular panels or shelves, wherein each shelf has four sockets, one provided in each comer of the shelf. Successive shelves can be stacked and interconnected to adjacent shelves by inserting a plurality of posts or risers into the sockets. The modular construction provides flexibility for the consumer to assemble a shelf system or unit with a desired number of shelves and/or a desired height. Examples of such shelving systems are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 6,079,339 and 6,178,896, each owned by the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.

The modular shelving systems or units, however, have not been able to adapt for the storage of odd shaped items because each of the shelving units disclosed in these exemplary patents typically provides a planar storage surface for supporting stored objects. Therefore, there remains a need for an improved shelving system or storage unit able to securely hold odd shaped items.

Summary of the Disclosure

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a modular shelving unit including a plurality of risers and a plurality of shelves having baskets, is disclosed. The shelve include a top side and a bottom side, and multiple sockets disposed therebetween. The sockets, having a top portion and a lower portion, are adapted to engage with the risers. The baskets further include a recessed surface and walls, wherein the walls are operatively disposed between the recessed interior surface and the top of the basket.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a free-standing modular shelving system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure; FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a bin of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a partial view of a socket and riser of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 4 is a partial view of a socket of FIG. 1 ; and FIG. 5 is a view of a riser of FIG. 1.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the appended claims.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a storage system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is generally depicted by reference numeral 20. As shown therein, the storage system 20 includes a plurality of full-length risers 30, a plurality of shortened risers 40, and a plurality of bins 50a-d. It is, however, contemplated that the storage system 20 may only include one or more shelves having a basket/bin, wherein the remaining shelves may include other features such as substantially flat or perforated shelves.

As can best be appreciated in FIG. 1, a set of shortened risers 40 having a top portion 42 and a lower portion 44 may rest on the ground such that the ground contacts near the lower portion 44 of the shortened risers 40. The shortened risers 40 may be approximately one-third the length of the full-length risers 30, but is preferably long enough to ensure that the bin 50a, disposed at the top portion 42 of the shortened risers

40, does not contact the ground. The shortened risers 40 may be hollow or solid and may be adapted to receive an end piece at the lower portion 44 of the riser 40.

The bin 50a, being representative of all the bins 50a-d in the present disclosure, as best appreciated in FIG. 2, may have a perimeter defining a general rectangular shape including a first long side 52 and a second long side 54, and a first short side 56 and a second short side 58, wherein the short sides 56 and 58 may be relative to the long sides 52 and 54. The bin 50a may further include a top surface 60 and a bottom surface 62 having disposed therebetween a set of sockets 64 adapted to receive the full-length risers 30 and the shortened risers 40. The sockets 64 may be located at the perimeter of the bin

50a, and, more specifically, may be located near each of the comers created by the second short side 58 and the second long side 54, the second long side 54 and the first short side 56, the first short side 56 and the first long side 52, and the first long side 52 and the second short side 58. The bin construction may also vary considerably. For example, the bins 50a-d may be fabricated from plastic materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or other suitable plastic materials. The bins 50a-d may have solid, non- perforated storage surfaces, structural ribs added for panel rigidity, open mesh or grid storage surfaces, or the like, depending on the needs of a given application. Similarly, the bins 50 and the storage system 20 may include other shapes such as triangular, square, round, or oval. The bins may also be molded or otherwise formed utilizing a suitable molding or other process.

Disposed in a central portion of the bin 50a and confined by each of the long sides 52 and 54 and the short sides 56 and 58 may be a recessed surface 70 that may be connectably attached to the bin 50a via a set of walls. More specifically, the recessed surface 70 may be recessed such an amount, from the top of the bin 50a, as to effectively contain items placed thereupon. For example, the recessed surface 70 may be recessed such an amount that a user may place an item such as a tennis ball, bat, basketball, screwdriver, or the like on the recessed surface 70 without the item being able to fall out of the bin 50a. The recessed surface 70, similar to the bin 50a, may have a rectangular shape including a first long side 72 and a second long side 74, and a first short side 76 and a second short side 78, wherein the short sides 76 and 78 may be relative to the long sides 72 and 74.

The walls connectably attaching the recessed surface 70 to the bin 50a, may also include a first long member 80 and a second long member 82, and a first short member 84 and a second short member 86, wherein the first short member 84 connects the first short side 56 of the bin 50a to the first short side 76 of the recessed surface 70, the second short member 86 connects the second short side 58 of the bin 50a to the second short side 78 of the recessed surface 70, the first long member 80 connects the first long side 52 of the bin 50a to the first long side 72 of the recessed surface 72, and the second long member 82 connects the second long side 54 of the bin 50a to the second long side 74 of the recessed surface 70. The walls may be of a solid construction but are preferably perforated in some way. The walls may, for example, have circular, square and/or rectangular apertures located in an arranged fashion. As mentioned above, the sockets 64 may be disposed between the top 60 and the bottom 62 of the bin 50a and may be located at the perimeter of the bin 50a. The sockets 64 may further be adapted to receive risers 30 and 40 from both the top and the bottom of the bin 50a, such that the load from an upper riser may be transferred through the socket to a riser beneath it. More specifically, the sockets 64 have a lower portion 66 and an upper portion 68 adapted to receive the upper portion 42 and the lower portion 44 of the shortened risers 40, and an upper portion 90 and a lower portion 92 of the full-length risers 30, respectively. The upper portion of the socket 68, for example, may include a cylinder 100 having an upper end 102 and a lower ridge 104 adapted to engage with a lip 94 on a riser 30 and the end 96 of a riser 30, respectively. The lower portion 66 of the socket 64 may include a similar cylinder 106 and ridge 108, such that the top portion 90 of a riser 30 may slide into the cylinder 106 and rest against the ridge 108.

Once again referring to FIG. 1, the upper portion 90 of the full-length risers 30 may be similar to the upper portion 42 of the shortened risers 40 and will herein be described simultaneously. The upper portions 42 and 90 of the risers 30 and 40 may be cylindrical in shape, as may be the rest of the riser, having an upper ridge 110 and 112 located at the end of the upper portion of the riser 30 and 40, respectively. The upper portions 90 and 42 of the risers 30 and 40 may be adapted to slide into the lower portion 66 of the socket 64, such that the ridges 110 and 112 located at the upper portions 90 and 42 of the riser may engage with the ridges 108 located in the lower portion 66 of the socket 64. The lower portion 92 of the full-length risers 30 may also have a generally cylindrical shape adapted to engage with the upper portion 68 of the sockets 64. More specifically, the lower portion 92 of each full-length riser 30 may include a set of ridges. The first ridge being the end 96 of the lower portion 92 of the riser, and the second ridge being a lip 94 created by a recess area spanning from the end 96 of the lower portion 92 of the riser to the lip 94. Preferably, the lower portion 92 of the full-length risers 30 are designed such that the end 96 of the lower portion 92 of the riser 30 and the lip 94 engage with the upper end 102 and a lower ridge 104 of the upper portion 68 of the socket 64. Either one or both end sections of the risers 30 and 40 can be designed and adapted with specific structural features and characteristics that mate with corresponding features and characteristics of the sockets 64. Similarly, either the upper portion 68, the bottom portion 66, or both sides of the socket 64 can be similarly constructed as desired. Alternatively, one or both ends of each riser 30 and 40 can simply be a circular cylinder of the same or a reduced diameter relative to the diameter of the riser exterior surface. The sockets 64, at the appropriate sides, can be further adapted to accept this simple

cylindrical construction.

As discussed earlier, in one example, the shelving system 20 may be of a generally rectangular shape. As such, four shortened risers 40 may be disposed between the first bin 50a and the ground, such that the lower portion 44 of the shortened risers 40 are near the ground and the upper portion 42 of the shortened risers 40 are engaged with the lower portion 66 of the sockets 64, located near the comers of the first bin 50a. Disposed between the first bin 50a and the second bin 50b may be four full-length risers 30, such that such that the lower portions 92 of the full-length risers 30 are engaged with the upper portion 68 of the sockets 64 and the upper portion 90 of the full-length risers 30 are engaged with the lower portion 66 of the sockets 64, located near the comers of the bin. Disposed between the second bin 50b and the third bin 50c may be four more full- length risers 30, such that such that the lower portions 92 of the full-length risers 30 are engaged with the upper portions 68 of the sockets 64 and the upper portions 90 of the full-length risers 30 are engaged with the lower portions 66 of the sockets 64, located near the comers of the bin. Disposed between the third bin 50c and the fourth bin 50d, thereby completing the presently described system 20, may be another set of four full- length risers 30, such that such that the lower portions 92 of the full-length risers 30 are engaged with the upper portions 68 of the sockets 64 and the upper portions 90 of the full-length risers 30 are engaged with the lower portions 66 of the sockets 64, located near the comers of the fourth bin 50d.

In general, the risers 30 and 40 and bins 50a-d are preferably fabricated from relatively light-weight, durable, and sturdy plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or other suitable plastic materials. The process or processes used to form the various components of the shelving system 20 can also vary considerably as necessary to form each given component. For example, the risers 30 and 40 in one example are elongate hollow plastic tubes. The risers may be injection molded, blow molded, continuously molded, extruded, vacuum formed, rotation molded, or the like. The manufacturing process or processes can be selected based on feasibility, cost, tooling concerns, as well as other factors for a given application.

It should also be noted at this point, that the disclosure has been and will be herein described in term of certain examples. It is apparent, to those skilled in the art, that the shelving system 20 may be enabled with other examples. The general shape of the shelving system 20, for example, including the bins 50a-d and recessed surfaces 70 may be square, oval, triangular, or circular. A square system may have square bins, square recessed surfaces, and four equally sized walls, whereas a circular system may have circular bins, circular recessed surfaces, and one circular wall. Likewise, the number of bins in any one shelving system 20 may vary depending on usage and need. Therefore, the system may have four bins, but the system may contain more or less bins, and should not be limited to the four bins disclosed. Similarly, the number and shapes of the risers may also vary according to the general shape of the shelving system 20. The number of risers may increase or decrease to accommodate the different shaped shelving system, such as a triangular shaped shelving system, for example, which may have three risers per bin to optimize the available space. The risers may also vary to a great degree in shape and size and should not be limited to the cylindrical shape disclosed.

In operation, the shelving system 20 may be purchased as a ready-to-assembly system so that the cost of packaging and transportation may be minimized due to the compact size and due to the lack of need for tools. The user, after unpacking the parts, may proceed to push the upper portion 42 of the shortened risers 40 into the lower portion 66 of the socket 64, such that the upper portion 1 12 of the shortened risers 40 are fully engaged with lower portion 66 of the sockets 64, of the bin 50a. Placing the assembly with the lower portion 44 of the shortened risers 40 on the ground, the user may proceed to push full-length risers 30 into the upper sockets 68 of the bin 50a, such that the lower portion 92 of the full-length risers 30 are fully engaged with upper portion 68 the sockets 64. The remainder of the shelving system 20 may be assembled in a similar fashion until the lower portion 66 of the sockets 64 of the fourth bin 50c are securely placed on the upper portion 110 of the last four remaining full-length risers 30.

Once assembled, the shelving system 20 may be utilized as an individual unit or may be combined with other units to create a wholly different unit. When being utilized as an individual unit, the user may adjust the number of bins in the system to suit a particular purpose and may then proceed to store items in the bins knowing the walls prevent the items from falling. If, however, the bins are combined with other units, a wholly different unit may be created. For example, the shelving system 20 may be combined or mixed with such shelving systems as are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,079,339 and 6, 178,896. It is therefore contemplated that the storage system 20 may include various other types of shelves aside from the basket/bin 50, such as substantially flat or perforated shelves.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A modular free-standing shelving system comprising: a plurality of risers having a first end and a second end; and at least one shelf having a perimeter and a plurality of sockets, wherein the perimeter encompasses an area including a recessed surface, the recessed surface comprised of at least part of a surface area of the shelf, thereby creating a basket in the shelf.

2. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of risers include short risers.

3. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of risers include short risers and full-length risers.

4. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein the at least one shelf is constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.

5. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of risers are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.

6. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein walls are perforated.

7. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sockets are adapted to engage with the plurality of risers.

8. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein an upper portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the second end of the plurality of risers.

9. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein a lower portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the first end of the plurality of risers.

10. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein the first end and the second end of the risers are interchangeable.

11. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein an upper portion and a lower portion of the plurality of sockets are each adapted to receive the first end or the second end of the plurality of risers.

12. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein an upper portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the second end of the plurality or risers, and a lower portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the first end of the plurality or risers.

13. A modular free-standing shelving system comprising: a plurality of short risers each having a first end and a second end; a plurality of full-length risers each having a first end and a second end; and a first and second shelf, wherein the shelves include a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a plurality of sockets having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ends and sides encompass an area including at least one inclined wall and a recessed surface, the recessed surface comprising a majority of a surface area of the shelf, and the at least one inclined wall connecting the recessed surface to the ends and sides, thereby creating a basket, the first end of the plurality of short risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the sockets of the first shelf and the second end of the plurality of short risers adapted to abut a ground surface, and the first end of the plurality of full-length risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the sockets of the second shelf and the second end of the plurality of full- length risers being adapted to engage with the upper portion of the sockets of the first shelf.

14. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 13 wherein the shelves are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.

15. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of risers are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.

16. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 13 wherein the at least one wall is perforated.

17. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 13 wherein the first end and the second end of the risers are interchangeable.

18. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 13 wherein an upper portion and the lower portion of the plurality of sockets are each adapted to receive the first end and the second end of the plurality of risers.

19. A modular free-standing shelving system comprising: four short risers having a first end and a second end; at least four full-length risers each having a first end and a second end; and at least a first and a second shelf, wherein the shelves include a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and four sockets each with an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ends and sides of at least one of the first and second shelves encompass a shelf surface area that includes a plurality of inclined walls supporting a surface that is recessed below a height defined by a top edge of the inclined walls, the recessed surface comprising a majority of the shelf surface area, and the plurality of walls connecting the recessed surface to the ends and sides, thereby creating a basket; the first end of the four short risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the four sockets of the first shelf and the second end of the plurality of short risers being adapted to abut a ground surface on which the shelving system is supported, the first end of the at least four full-length risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the four sockets of the second shelf and the second end of the at least four full-length risers being adapted to engage with the upper portion of the four sockets of the first shelf.

20. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 17 wherein the shelves are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.

21. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 17 wherein the short and full-length risers are constmcted from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.

22. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of inclined walls are perforated.

23. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 17 wherein the first end and the second end of the risers are interchangeable.

24. The modular free-standing shelving system of claim 1 wherein the upper portion and a lower portion of the sockets are each adapted to receive the first end and the second end of the four short risers and the at least four full-length risers.