Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR STORAGE SHED
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved storage shed, and more particularly to a
modular storage shed that is easily assembled and readily adapted to be formed
into
different configurations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modular sheds are used for storing items such as lawn and garden implements.
Individual sheds are typically purchased in the form of unassembled kits that
are readily
transported to a desired location where the shed is assembled together. A
typical shed
includes four walls and a roof with one of the walls including doors that
provide access to
the interior of the shed.
The walls of the modular storage sheds are commonly made up of one or more
subpanels such that the overall size of the shed may be adjusted by adding or
subtracting
subpanels from the walls, floor and roof. The length of the sheds is the most
commonly
adjusted dimension and is increased or decreased by adding or subtracting
subpanels
to/from the sidewalk, the roof and the floor (if one is present).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a modular storage shed that is configured
to be
stronger, less expensive to manufacture, and easier to assemble. The modular
storage shed
is designed to have its overall length changed by inserting additional floor
sections, roof
sections and pairs of sidewalk.
In one form, the modular storage shed includes a roof, sidewall and door. The
sidewall includes an extension that protrudes from an edge of the sidewall.
The extension
includes an outer section and an inner section with the inner section
extending from the
edge of the sidewall. The door includes a channel that mates with the outer
section of the
extension such that the door rotates relative to the sidewall in order to
allow access into the
interior of the shed.
In one embodiment, the channel on the door is parallel to an edge of the door
and a
slot extends inward from the edge of the door into communication with the
channel. The
extension is T-shaped and the slot is sized to allow the inner section of the
T-shaped
extension to pass through the slot until the outer section is aligned with the
channel in the
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door. Once the outer section of the T-shaped extension is positioned within
the channel,
the T-shaped extension prevents the door from being separated from the
sidewall.
It should be noted that the orientation of the T-shaped extension on the
sidewall
and the channel in the door may be reversed (i.e., the sidewall may include
the channel and
the door may include the T-shaped extension) without departing from the scope
of the
present invention. In addition, there may be channels and T-shaped extensions
on both the
door and the sidewall.
In another form, the modular storage shed includes a roof, a plurality of
sidewalls
and an interlocking floor positioned below the sidewalk. The interlocking
floor includes a
first section having a tenon and a second section having a mortise such that
the tenon on
the first section is inserted into the mortise on the second section.
The first and second sections are assembled together by twisting one, or both,
of
the first and second sections. Twisting one, or both, of the first and second
sections allows
the mortise that is in communication with the mating edge of the second
section to receive
the tenon that is in communication with the mating edge of the first section
(see Figs. 5-8).
In a preferred form, the tenon and mortise have a dovetail configuration.
In still another form, the modular storage shed includes a roof, a bracket and
a
plurality of sidewalls. The bracket includes a tenon that extends from an edge
of the
bracket as well as a projection positioned near the tenon. One of the sidewalk
includes a
mortise that is adapted to receive the tenon on the bracket as well as an
indentation that
receives the projection on the bracket. The projection on the bracket abuts an
edge of the
indentation and prevents the tenon from sliding relative to the mortise in the
sidewall once
the tenon is inserted into the mortise and the projection is inserted into the
indentation.
The mortise preferably includes an open end such that the tenon on the bracket
is inserted
into the mortise from the open end.
In yet another form, the modular storage shed includes a plurality of
sidewalls and
a roof secured to the sidewalls. The roof includes a first subpanel and a
second subpanel
with each subpanel having edges that mate with one another to form a water-
tight seal.
The edge on the first section includes a first projection and an undercut
section and the
edge on the second section includes a second projection that fits within the
undercut
section on the first section. In addition, the mating edges are preferably arc-
shaped and the
roof is connected to the sidewalk by a snap-fit connection.
In another form, the modular storage shed includes a roof and a plurality of
sidewalls where one of the sidewalls includes an extension projecting from a
portion of an
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edge on the sidewall. The extension preferably includes a cylindrical insert
that is inserted
into a cylindrical slot which is in communication with an edge of an adjacent
sidewall.
Once the cylindrical insert is positioned within the slot, the adjacent
sidewalls are rotatably
connected together. The adjacent sidewalk are preferably assembled together by
forcing
the insert into the slot.
In still another form, one of the sidewalls includes a plurality of extensions
projecting from an edge of the sidewall with each extension preferably
including a
cylindrical insert. The edge of the adjacent sidewall includes a plurality of
cylindrical
slots that receives one of the cylindrical inserts. The slots and the inserts
are preferably
evenly spaced along the entire edges of the sidewalk. The sidewalls are
assembled
together by snapping the inserts on one of the sidewalk into the slots on an
adjacent
sidewall. Once the extensions are inserted into the slots, the sidewalk are
rotatably
connected.
The adjacent sidewalls include side surfaces and the rotatable movement of the
sidewalls relative to one another is limited in one direction by contact
between one of the
edges and one of the side surfaces and limited in an opposite direction by
contact between
the edges. The sidewalls preferably have 90° of rotatable movement
while the cylindrical
insert in one sidewall is positioned within the slot of an adjacent sidewall.
In yet another form, the modular storage shed includes a plurality of
sidewalls and
a roof secured to the sidewalls. The roof includes a back section, a front
section and an
arcuately shaped extension section positioned between the back section and the
front
section. The arcuately shaped extension section is used to extend the length
of the roof
and includes a support header extending between opposing ends. The extension
section
also includes opposing edges that are adapted to mate with edges on the front
and back
sections to form a water tight seal between the back section, the front
section and the
extension section. The header in the extension section allows the extension
section to
support a snow load when one or more extension sections are added to the roof
between
the front section and the back section. The extension sections are also
preferably
assembled to the front and back sections and/or other extension sections
without using
fasteners.
In still another form, the modular storage shed includes a roof having a void
and a
sidewall having an extension that is adapted to be inserted into the void in
the roof. The
extension on the sidewall includes a projection that is snap-fit into an
indentation within
the void in order to secure the roof to the sidewall. The void is larger than
the extension in
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order to permit a tool to be inserted into the void to facilitate removing the
roof from the
shed. In a preferred form, the extension protrudes from one end of the
sidewall and the
void extends inward at one edge of the roof. The sidewall may also include one
or more
additional extensions and the roof may include one or more additional voids to
receive
each of the additional extensions in order to provide additional connections
between the
roof and the sidewalk.
It should be noted the orientation of the extension and the void in the roof
and the
sidewall may be reversed (i.e., the roof may include the extension and the
sidewall may
include the void) without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In addition,
there may be voids and extensions on the same sections of the roof and
sidewall.
In another form, the modular storage shed includes a plurality of sidewalls, a
roof
extending above the sidewalls and a floor positioned below the sidewalk. The
plurality of
sidewalls include outer surfaces and the floor extends outwardly past each of
the outer
surfaces on the sidewalls such that a lawn mower is able to snugly cut grass
around the
entire shed.
A principle advantage of the invention is to provide a modular storage shed
that
includes a hinge configuration between a door and a side wall where the mid-
portion of the
door is prevented from becoming separated from the wall through 180° of
articulation as
the door is rotated relative to the rest of the shed.
Another advantage of the invention to provide a modular storage shed that
includes
a floor which may be assembled together with minimal mounting hardware.
Yet another advantage of the invention is to provide a modular storage shed
that
includes brackets which are readily and securely connected to the walls of the
storage
shed.
Still another advantage of the invention is to provide a modular storage shed
that
includes roof panels that are joined together in a simple and secure manner
without the use
of mounting hardware.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a modular storage shed that
includes sidewall subpanels which are readily and securely mounted together to
form
sidewalls in the modular storage shed.
Still another advantage of the invention is to provide a modular storage shed
with a
roof extension section that includes a header which allows the roof extension
section to
support a snow load when the roof extension section is used in conjunction
with an
additional floor section and a pair of sidewalls to extend the length of the
shed.
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Yet another advantage of the present invention is provide a modular storage
shed
that permits a tool to be inserted between the top of the sidewalls and the
roof to facilitate
separating the roof from the sidewalk.
Other features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following
drawings, detailed description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled modular storage shed of the
present
invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another form of
the
modular storage shed shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the modular storage shed shown in Fig. 1 with
one
of the shed doors open.
Fig. 4 is a section view of the modular storage shed shown in Fig. 1 taken
along
line 4-4.
Fig. S is a top plan view illustrating a partially assembled interlocking
floor used in
the modular storage shed of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a section view of the interlocking floor of Fig. 5 taken along line
6-6.
Fig. 7 is a front view illustrating one technique for assembling two sections
of the
interlocking floor shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating one of the connections between two
sections of the interlocking floor shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 9 is a section view of the modular storage shed of Fig. 1 taken along
line 9-9.
Fig. 10 is a section view similar to Fig. 9 illustrating another form of the
connection between a sidewall and the floor of the modular storage shed.
Fig. 11 is a plan view illustrating a pair of sidewalk that are used to form
the walls
of the modular storage shed.
Fig. 12 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the adjacent sidewalls of
Fig. 11
assembled to one another.
Fig. 13 is a section view of the assembled adjacent sidewalls of Fig. 1 taken
along
line 13-13 illustrating the connection between adjacent sidewalk.
Fig. 14 is a section view similar to Fig. 13 illustrating another portion of
the
assembled adjacent sidewalls.
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Fig. 15 is a section view similar to Fig. 13 illustrating another portion of
the
assembled adjacent sidewalls.
Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the connection between a
door,
a sidewall and the floor of the modular storage shed illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 17 is a front plan view illustrating a portion of the door that is
connected to an
adjacent sidewall on the modular storage shed shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 18 is a side plan view illustrating a portion of a sidewall that is
connected to
the door on the modular storage shed shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 19 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the door in the modular
storage shed
that is adapted to be connected to a T-shaped extension on an adjacent
sidewall.
Fig. 20 is a section view similar to Fig. 19 illustrating the door connected
to a T-
shaped extension on an adjacent sidewall.
Fig. 21 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the connection between
a
sidewall and a roof section of the modular storage shed.
Fig. 22 is a section view illustrating the form of the connection between the
roof
and the sidewall shown in Fig. 21.
Fig. 23 is a top plan view illustrating a front section of the roof on the
modular
storage shed.
Fig. 24 is a front plan view illustrating the front section of the roof shown
in Fig.
23.
Fig. 25 is a section view illustrating the front section of the roof shown in
Fig. 23
taken along line 25-25.
Fig. 26 is a section view illustrating the front section of the roof shown in
Fig. 23
taken along line 26-26.
Fig. 27 is a side plan view illustrating the front section of the roof shown
in Fig.
23.
Fig. 28 is a top plan view illustrating an arcuately shaped extension section
in the
roof of the modular storage shed shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 29 is a front plan view of the extension section shown in Fig. 28.
Fig. 30 is a section view of the extension section shown in Fig. 28 taken
along line
30-30.
Fig. 31 is a section view of the extension section shown in Fig. 28 taken
along 31-
31.
Fig. 32 is a side plan view of the extension section shown in Fig. 28.
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Fig. 33 is a section view illustrating a connection between a bracket and a
sidewall
where the bracket is used to support a shelf in the modular storage shed of
the present
invention.
Fig. 34 is a section view similar to Fig. 33 illustrating the attachment of
the bracket
to the sidewall in the modular storage shed.
Fig. 35 is a section view of the connection between the bracket and the door
shown
in Fig. 34 taken along line 35-35.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A modular storage shed 10 of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1-4. Fig.
2
illustrates a smaller version of the modular storage shed 10. The smaller
version includes
a pair of sidewalls 21 (only one is visible in Fig. 2), a roof 31, a floor 41
and doors 50.
The back wall 12 (not visible in Fig. 2) of the shed 10 is made up of three
sidewalls 21.
As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the length of the modular shed 10 can be
increased by
adding additional pairs of sidewalk 21B, 21C, additional floor sections 41B,
41C and
additional roof sections 31B, 31C to the pair of sidewalls 21A, floor section
41A and roof
section 31A. It should be understood that length of the modular storage shed
10 could be
increased even further by adding additional floor sections, roof sections and
pairs of
sidewalls that are similar to the pair of side panels 21B, roof panels 31B and
floor panels
41B shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.
The modular storage shed 10 illustrated in Figs. l, 3 and 4 is assembled by
first
fabricating the floor 41. As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the floor 41
includes a first
section 41A, a second section 41C and an intermediate section 41B inserted
between the
first section 41A and the second section 41C when the length of the shed 10 is
extended.
It should be noted that although the first section 41A and the second section
41C are
shown as having identical configurations, the sections may have different
designs
depending on the application where the modular storage shed 10 is used.
Although there is a similar connection between the first section 41A and the
intermediate section 41B, only the connection between the second section 41C
and
intermediate section 41B will be explained in detail with reference to Figs.
5, 7 and 8. The
second section 41C includes dove-tailed tenons 42 that are in communication
with a lower
surface 43 on the second section 41C. The tenons 42 extend out from a mating
edge 44 of
the second section 41C and are adapted to be inserted into mortises 45 on one
end of the
intermediate section 41B to form a connection between the intermediate section
41B and
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the second section 41C. The mortises 45 extend inward from a mating edge 46 on
the
intermediate section 41B and are in communication with a lower surface 47 on
the
intermediate section 41B.
The second section 41C and the intermediate section 41B are also connected on
an
opposing end in a manner similar to the connection between the intermediate
section 41B
and the second section 41C on the end described above except the intermediate
section
41B includes dove-tailed tenons 48 that are in communication with the lower
surface 47 of
the intermediate section 41B. The tenons 48 extend outward from the mating
edge 46 of
the intermediate section 41B and are adapted to be inserted into mortises 52
within the
second section 41C. The mortises 52 on the second section 41C extend inward
from the
mating edge 44 and are in communication with the lower surface 43 of the
second section
41C.
The second section 41C and the intermediate section 41B (as well as any other
floor sections) are assembled by (i) twisting one, or both, of the sections,
(ii) abutting the
mating edges 44, 46 together, and (iii) inserting the tenons 42, 48 into the
appropriate
mortises 45, 52 (see Figs. 7 and 8). Fasteners are not required to assemble
the tenons 42,
48 and the mortises 45, 52 together, although as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, a
fastener 95
could be used to provide a more secure connection between the sections of the
floor 41.
The floor sections 41A-C preferably include a raised pattern that serves to
provide
an improved gripping surface on the floor 41 of the modular shed 10. Although
the raised
pattern is shown in a square configuration in Figs. 5 and 8, it should be
understood that the
raised pattern can take any conventional form that provides a superior
gripping surface.
Once the floor 41 is assembled together, the sidewalk 21 are assembled to the
floor
41 and one another. As shown most clearly in Fig. 9, the sidewalk 21 are snap-
fit into one
of the sections that make up floor 41. In a preferred form, the sidewalk 21
includes a
projection 19 having an undercut section 22. The projection 19 is sized so
that it must be
forced through a narrowed section within an opening 42 in the floor 41. As the
projection
19 passes through the narrowed section of the opening 42, the undercut section
22 engages
a lateral edge 43 within the opening 42. Once the undercut section 22 engages
the lateral
edge 43, the sidewall 21 is prevented from exiting the opening 42 thereby
securing the
sidewall 21 to the floor 41. The projection 19 on the sidewall 21 and opening
42 in the
floor section 41 are preferably sized so that a bottom edge 24 on the sidewall
21 engages a
top surface 74 on the floor 41 once the undercut section 22 engages the
lateral edge 43.
The floor 41 extends outwardly past any of the sidewalk 21 and the doors 50
that make up
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the modular storage shed 10 (see Figs. 1 and 2) a sufficient distance such
that a
conventional lawn mower can be maneuvered around the entire modular storage
shed in
order to cut any grass growing around the modular storage shed.
It should be understood that the snap-fit configuration between the sidewall
21 and
the floor section 41 could be any configuration that is commonly known in the
art. In
addition, the snap-fit configuration may be eliminated entirely and/or may
also be used in
combination with a fastener 45 (see Fig. 10).
Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a pair of sidewalls 21A, 21B (shown assembled in
Fig.
12) that each include an upper edge 25 and a bottom edge 24. As stated
previously,
projections 19 extend downward from the bottom edge 24 while similar
projections 19
extend upward from the upper edge 25. One of the lateral edges 27 on each of
the
sidewalk 21A, 21B includes an outwardly projecting extension 23. The opposing
lateral
edge 28 includes either (i) a slot 29 that is aligned with the extension 23
(Fig. 12); or
includes T-shaped extensions 51 that are adapted to mate with one of the doors
50 on the
modular storage shed 10 (Fig. 11).
The extension 23 on the sidewall 21B is adapted to be inserted into the slot
29 on
the lateral edge 28 of the adjacent sidewall 21A in order to connect the
adjacent sidewalk
21A, 21B together. The sidewall 21B is assembled to sidewall 21A by
positioning the
extension 23 adjacent to the slot 29 and snapping the extension 23 into the
slot 29. Once
the extension 23 is inserted into the slot 29, the projections 19 on the
bottom edge 24 of
the sidewall 21B are snap-fit into the openings 42 in the floor 41.
The sidewalk 21 are inserted around the edges of the floor 41 until the walls
of the
modular storage shed 10 are formed. One edge of the floor 41 does not include
sidewalk
because that side of the shed 10 includes doors 50 (see Figs. 1 and 3) which
are assembled
to lateral edges 28 that are similar to one included in sidewall 21B.
The configuration for the connection between the extension 23 and the slots 29
in
the adjacent sidewalk 21A, 21B is further shown in Figs. 13-15. The extension
23
projects from the lateral edge 27 of the sidewall 21B and includes a
cylindrical insert 25.
The slot 29 in the adjacent sidewall 21A include a cylindrical section 9 that
is sized to
receive the cylindrical insert 25. Once the cylindrical insert 25 is
positioned within the
slot 29, the adjacent sidewalk 21A, 21B can be rotated 90° relative to
one another unless
both of the sidewalk 21A, 21B are secured to the floor 41.
Figs. 13-15 show the adjacent sidewalk 21A, 21B positioned 180°
apart. When
the adjacent sidewalk 21A, 21B are in this position, the lateral edges 27, 28
of the adjacent
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sidewalk 21A, 21B are positioned against one another to form part of a common
wall on
the modular storage shed 10. When the adjacent sidewalk 21A, 21B are
positioned at 90°
relative to one another, the lateral edge 27 of the sidewall 21B is positioned
against a side
surface 8 of the adjacent sidewall 21A such that the sidewalk 21A, 21B are on
different
sides of the modular storage shed 10.
In one embodiment, the extensions 23 on the sidewalk 21 extend along the
entire
length of the lateral edges 27. The sidewalk 21 are assembled according to one
of two
methods. The first method includes inserting the extension 23 up or down
through the
open ends (usually the upper end) on one of the slots 29. In the second and
more practical
method, the cylindrical insert 25 is forced into the cylindrical portion 9
within the slot 29
because the relative sizes of the cylindrical insert 25 and the cylindrical
portion 9 allow the
cylindrical insert 25 to be snap-fit into the slot 29. The adjacent sidewalk
21A, 21B are
preferably positioned about 135° apart relative to one another when the
cylindrical insert
25 is forced into the slot 29 (shown in phantom in Fig. 13).
The extension 23 on each sidewall 21 includes intermittently and evenly spaced
relief sections 24 extending along the length extension 23 (see Fig. 11). The
relief sections
24 facilitate molding the sidewalk 21 from plastic.
Referring to Figs. 11-13, one or more recesses 26 are positioned adjacent to
the
extension 23 on the sidewall 21B. The sidewall 21A includes a corresponding
number of
projections 36 that are inserted into the recesses 26 when the sidewalls are
assembled
together and positioned 180° apart. As stated previously, the sidewalk
21A, 21B are
preferably snapped together when they are 135° apart relative to one
another and as the
sidewalk are moved so that they are 180° apart the projections 36 on
sidewall 21A move
into the recesses 26 on sidewall 21B. Once the projections 36 are inserted
into the
recesses 26 the sidewalk 21A and 21B are prevented from moving vertically
relative to
one another.
Once the sidewalk 21 are secured to one another and the floor 41, each of the
doors 50 is assembled to the floor 41 and one of the sidewalk 21. As shown
most clearly
in Figs. 16-20, the particular sidewalls 21 that are connected to the doors 50
include
extensions 51 that project from a lateral edge 29 of a sidewall 21. The
extensions are
preferably T-shaped and include an outer section 53 and an inner section 54.
The outer
section 53 fits within a channel 55 in the door 50. Once the outer section 53
is inserted all
of the way into the channel 55, the door 50 is able to rotate more than
180° relative to the
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sidewall 21. The T-shaped extension 51 restrains the door 50 from moving
laterally
relative to the sidewall 21.
The door 50 is assembled to the sidewall 21 by inserting the outer section 53
of the
T-shaped extension 51 into the channel 55 in the door 50 and rotating the door
50 until the
inner section 53 passes through the slot 56. The slot 56 is in communication
with both the
channel 55 and a lateral edge 57 of the door 50.
Figs. 16-18 illustrate that the door 50 includes a cylindrical extension 58
which
projects from a bottom edge 59 of the door 50. The cylindrical extension 58 is
adapted to
fit within an opening 40 (see Fig. 16) in the floor 41. Once the cylindrical
extension 58 is
inserted into the opening 40 in the floor 41, the door 50 is able to rotate
relative to the
floor 41.
Once the sidewalk 21 and the doors 50 are assembled to the floor 41, the roof
31 is
assembled to the modular storage shed 10. The shed 10 illustrated in Figs. 1,
3 and 4
includes three sidewalk 21A, 21B, 21C on each side of the modular storage shed
10. The
three sidewalk 21A, 21B, 21C are adapted to mate with three separate sections
31A, 31B,
31C of the roof 31. Specifically, the roof 31 includes a front section 31A, a
back section
31C and an extension section 31B positioned between the front section 31A and
the back
section 31C. As stated previously, when it is desired to increase the length
of the modular
storage shed 10 additional floor sections 41B, pairs of sidewalls 21B and roof
extension
sections 31B are added to the modular storage shed 10.
Each of the roof sections 31A-C includes voids 34 that are adapted to receive
the
projections 19 which extend upward from the upper edges 25 of the sidewalk 21
(see Figs.
9, 21 and 22). The voids 34 include indentations that are adapted to receive
the
projections 19 on each of the sidewalk 21 via a snap-fit connection. The snap-
fit
connections between the projections 19 on the sidewalk 21 and the indentations
within
each void 34 in the roof 31 are similar to the connections between the floor
41 and each of
the projections 19 extending from the lower edges 26 of the sidewalk 21.
An alternative form of the connection between the sidewalk 21 and the roof 31
is
illustrated in Fig. 22. In this form, the sidewall 21 is connected to the roof
31 by using a
fastener 71 instead of a snap-fit connection.
The voids 34 in the roof sections 31A-C are longer than the individual
projections
19 on the sidewalk 21 so that a tool 35 (see Fig. 21) can be inserted into
that portion of the
void 34 that is not occupied by the projection 19. The ability to insert a
tool in such a
manner facilitates removing a particular roof section 31 from a sidewall 21.
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The front section 31A of the roof 31 is illustrated more clearly in Figs. 23-
27. The
front section 31A includes a sloped forward surfaces 35, 36 that extend
downward from an
upper arcuate surface 37 to the front one of the substantially flat surfaces
38 that are on
three sides of the front section 31A (see Fig. 23). An arcuately shaped back
edge 39
extends across the front section 31A on the remaining side. The surfaces 38
preferably
include a gradual one-quarter inch rise as they move inwardly from the outside
edges of
front section 31A. The rise on the surfaces 38 facilitates molding the roof
with plastic.
The arcuately shaped edge 39 is adapted to mate with an arcuately shaped front
edge 78 on
the extension section 31B shown in Figs. 28-32.
The arcuately shaped back edge 39 on the first section 31A include a
projection 60
that extends upwardly from the upper arcuate surface 37. A channel 61 extends
along the
length of the projection 60 and is adapted to receive an adhesive or some type
of seal that
facilitates maintaining the water-tight integrity of the roof 31 once its is
assembled. The
extension section 31B includes a C-shaped projection 62 that extends along the
arcuately
shaped edge 78 of the extension section 31B. The interior side of the
projection 62
includes an undercut section 63 that is adapted to fit over the projection 60
when the
extension section 31B is assembled to the front section 31A so that the
arcuately shaped
edges 39, 78 form a water tight seal without the use of fasteners (see Figs. 4
and 31).
The extension section 31B is shown most clearly in Figs. 28-32. The extension
section 31B includes substantially flat surfaces 76 that are positioned on
opposing sides of
the extension section 31B (see Figs. 28 and 29) and further includes an
arcuately shaped
surface 75 that extends upward from the substantially flat surfaces 76. The
flat surfaces 76
preferably include a one-quarter inch rise similar to the substantially flat
edges 38 on the
front section 31A. The arcuate surface 75 on the extension section 31B has a
curvature
that matches the arcuate surfaces 37 on the front and back sections 31A, 31C
so that the
surface of the roof 31 provides a smooth appearance. The extension section 31B
further
includes a header 73 that is positioned near the middle of the extension
section 31B and
extends along substantially the entire length of the extension section 31B
(see Figs. 29-31).
The header 73 supports the roof 31 when one or more extension sections 31B are
added to
the modular storage shed 10 to increase the length of the modular storage shed
10. The
header 73 also helps the roof 31 to handle a snow load when the modular
storage shed 10
is used in colder environments.
The extension section 31B also includes an areuately shaped back edge 79 that
has
a configuration similar to the arcuately shaped back edge 39 of the front
section 31A (see
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Fig. 31). The back edge 79 of the extension section 31B is configured similar
to the back
edge 39 on the front section 31A so that either of the back edges 39, 79 on
the front
section 31A and the extension section 31B are adapted to mate with a front
arcuately
shaped edge 89 on the back section 31C (see Fig. 4).
When the modular storage shed 11 does not include an extension section 31B,
the
back edge 39 on the front section 31A mates directly with the front edge 89 on
the back
section 31C to form a water tight seal. When additional extension sections 31B
are added
to the modular storage shed 10, the front edge 78 on each extension section
31B mates
with either the back edge 39 of the front section 31A, or the back edge 79 of
an adjacent
extension section 31B, and the back edge 79 on each extension section 31B
mates with
either the front edge 89 on the back section 31C or the front edge 78 of an
adjacent
extension section 31B.
The front section 31A of the roof is connected to a top edge of the door 50 in
a
manner similar to the connection between the door 50 and the floor 41.
Specifically, the
front section 31A of the roof 31 includes a pair of openings that are similar
to the openings
40 in the floor 41. These openings are adapted to receive a cylindrical
extension that
projects from the top edge of the door 50. The cylindrical extension that
projects from the
top edge of the door 50 is similar to the cylindrical extension 58 that
projects from the
bottom edge 59 of the door. Once the cylindrical extension that projects from
the top edge
of the door is positioned within the opening in the front section 31A of the
roof, the door
50 is able to rotate relative to the roof 31.
The back section 31C of the roof 31 is similar to the front section 31A except
that
the front section includes the openings that are adapted to receive the
cylindrical
extensions projecting from the top edge of the door 50. The arcuately shaped
edges 39, 89
on each section are also different because they are configured to mate with
one another (or
opposing sides of an extension section 31B).
Another form of the modular storage shed 10 is shown in Figs. 33-35. In this
form,
the modular storage shed 10 includes a bracket 90 that is adapted to support a
shelf 91 or
some other device that is commonly used to store items. The bracket includes a
tenon 92
and a projection 93 both of which extend from an edge 94 of the bracket 90.
During assembly of the bracket 90 to the sidewall 21, the tenon 92 on the
bracket
90 is inserted into a mortise 96 that extends inward from a side surface 95 of
the sidewall
21. The mortise 96 includes an open end (partially defined by a void 97 in the
sidewall
21), and the tenon 92 on the bracket 90 is inserted into the open end of the
mortise 96. As
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the tenon 92 is inserted into the mortise 96, the projection 93 on the bracket
90 comes into
alignment with an indentation 99 in the sidewall 21. Once the projection 93
and the
indentation 99 are aligned, the projection 93 is inserted into the indentation
thereby
preventing the bracket 90 from moving relative to the sidewall 21. As the
tenon 92 is
inserted into the mortise 96, an edge 100 on the tenon 92 comes into contact
with a closed
edge 101 of the mortise 96 thereby limiting any further insertion of the tenon
92 into the
mortise 96.
In another form, the indentation 99 in the sidewall 21 may be much larger than
the
projection 93 on the bracket 90 (e.g., where the indentation is a channel that
extends along
the width of a sidewall 21). When the indentation 99 is much larger than the
projection
93, the indentation 99 is only able to prevent movement of the bracket 90
relative to the
sidewall 21 in one direction, usually the direction opposite to the direction
limited by the
mating edges 100, 101 of the tenon 92 and the mortise 96.
It should be noted that the bracket 90 could be any device that is commonly
hung
within the interior of a modular storage shed (e.g., a hook for hanging lawn
and garden
implements) without departing from the scope of the present invention. In
addition,
although the tenon 92 and mortise 96 are shown with a dove-tail configuration,
the
configuration of the connection could be any type that is commonly known in
the art.
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for
purposes
of illustration and description. The description is not intended to limit the
invention to the
form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate
with the
above teachings, and the skill or knowledge of the prior art, are within the
scope of the
present invention. The embodiments described herein are intended to explain
the best
modes for practicing the invention and to enable other skilled in the art to
utilize the
invention in the disclosed or other embodiments, and with various
modifications required
by the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is
intended that the
appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent
permitted
by prior art.
Various features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the
following claims.
