Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MODULAR STORAGE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a modular system for storage of
household articles or other items.
BACKGROUND
There are many types of storage containers, of which the following three
are considered the most pertinent to the present invention.
A common storage container for miscellaneous household and garage
items is a stackable plastic or PVC container, sometimes referred to as a
tote. These
containers come in various sizes and are typically closed on four sides and
the
bottom. There may be a lid on some storage containers. These portable storage
containers can be used for short or long-term storage and are ideal for moving
items
from one location to another location. They are lightweight yet strong.
Stackable containers may have the ability to nest into each other when
not in use. If the container comes with a lid, it can be stacked on top of
another
similar storage container. Some containers incorporate a structural design
into the
bottom of one container so that it may securely fit into the top portion of a
second
container allowing for a stable vertical stacking system if multiple
containers are
stacked simultaneously. These may or may not have a lid.
A problem with this scenario is that if a user wants to access the lower
containers, the top containers must be removed off of the lower
containers/lids in
order to gain access to the appropriate container. This can be time consuming
and
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laborious. If the storage area is difficult to access or space is limited,
this task can be
more difficult and time consuming.
To address this problem, users may purchase or build open shelving
units or racks. These may be free standing or fixed to a floor or wall. Once
shelving
units are installed, totes or storage containers can be placed onto the
various shelves.
This allows for easier access to the storage totes/containers.
A problem with this scenario is that depending on the size of the tote and
the limited overhead space between the tote and the shelf above it, there may
not be
sufficient space to open a hinged lid. If the lid is unhinged and free
floating, it can be
removed completely and set aside to access the tote through the top opening.
But
this can be limiting. A user generally has to slide the container forward on
the shelf to
view into, or to remove items from, the tote or storage container. Or the
container may
have to be removed from the shelf entirely and moved to the floor to access
contents
of the container.
An alternate solution is to build or install fixed cupboard units each
having a respective door assembly. The door allows for front access to the
interior
compartment. The benefit is a clear front view of items and ease of access to
the
items. These cupboards are typically built-in units permanently or semi-
permanently
affixed to an underlying structure, and not easily moved. They are usually
made of
composite particle board or wood and are stained or painted. Therefore, these
storage solutions are prone to damage if used as a portable container for
transporting
contents
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Accordingly, there remains room for improved storage solutions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular
storage system comprising:
a plurality of container modules each comprising a container having:
opposed first and second end walls at opposing ends of the
container;
opposed first and second side walls perpendicularly
interconnecting the first and second end walls at opposing sides of the
container and
with said end walls to delimit a rectangular area between said end walls and
said side
walls, the side walls being longer than the end walls in a direction around a
perimeter
of the rectangular area;
a bottom wall spanning between the end walls and the side walls
at lower ends of said end walls and said side walls; and
a top wall residing opposite the bottom wall at a topside of the
container and spanning between the end walls and the side walls at upper ends
of
said end walls and said side walls to cooperate with the bottom wall and the
first,
second, third and fourth side walls to delimit a rectangular interior volume
of the
container;
the first end wall comprising an end door movable between open
and closed positions respectively opening and closing an end door opening that
is
located at a respective one of the opposing ends of the container to enable
access to
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the interior volume of the container through said end door opening when said
end
door is in the open position, said end door opening spanning a majority area
of the
first end wall;
the first side wall comprising at least one side door movable
between open and closed conditions respectively opening and closing a side
door
opening that is located at a respective one of the opposing sides of the
container to
enable access to the interior volume of the container through said side door
opening
when said at least one side door is in the open condition, said side door
opening
being wider than said end door opening in the direction around the perimeter
of the
rectangular area, said side door opening spanning a majority area of the first
side
wall; and
the top wall comprising a lid movable between open and closed states
respectively opening and closing a lid opening located at the topside of the
container
to enable access to the interior volume of the container through said lid
opening when
said lid in the open state, said lid opening spanning a majority area of the
top wall of
the container;
wherein the rectangular interior volume of each module is accessible via
the side door regardless of an obstructed or accessible status of the lid and
the end
door, is accessible via the end door regardless of an obstructed or accessible
status
of the lid and the side door, and is accessible via the lid regardless of an
obstructed or
accessible status of the side door and the end door.
There may be included at least one rectangular rack module having
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upright frame members at four corners thereof, opposing sides of equal or
similar
length to the opposing sides of each container module, and opposing ends of
equal or
similar in length to the opposing ends of each container module, wherein the
rack
module is open at multiple sides thereof and is stackable with each container
module
5 with the four upright frame members of the rack module in general
alignment with four
corners of the container module.
The rack module may be closed at top and bottom sides thereof by
upper and lower plates affixed to the upright frame members.
The rack module with the upper and lower plates may also have at least
one rack module door movable between open and closed conditions respectively
opening and closing one of the opposing sides of the rack module, wherein the
opposing ends of the rack module and the other of the opposing sides of the
rack
module are doorless to provide permanent openings into the rack module.
Preferably the at least one rack module door comprises two adjacent
doors at said one of the opposing sides of the rack module. Preferably the top
wall
has four corners and a set of recesses opening into the top wall at an
exterior side
thereof at respective locations situated proximate the four corners of the top
wall, and
the bottom wall has four corners and a set of protruding feet on an exterior
surface of
the bottom wall at respective sites situated proximate the four corners of the
bottom
wall, the set of recesses and the set of protruding feet having aligned
positions and
matable sizes to enable stacking of the container modules atop one another
with the
protruding feet of one container module received in the recessed of another
container
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module.
Preferably the upright frame members of the optional rack module have
openings at top ends thereof that are sized for receipt of the protruding feet
of any
one of the container modules and bottom elements that are sized for receipt
thereof
within the recesses of said any one of the container modules, thereby enabling
stacking of the rack module above or below said any one of the container
modules.
The upright frame members of the optional rack module may comprise
tubing members, hollow interiors of which define the openings at the top ends
of said
upright frame members, and the bottom elements comprise foot members that have
lesser cross-sectional area than said tubing members and that are attached to
bottom
ends of said tubing members.
There may be provided at least one set of filler units of similar shape
and size to the set of recesses in each container module for selective
insertion of said
set of filler units into the recesses of one of the container modules to
occupy said
recesses during non-stacking use of said one of the container modules.
There may be provided at least one optional tabletop module having a
flat upper surface and an opposing lower surface, and a set of foot members
for
selective insertion of said set of foot members into the recesses of one of
the
container modules to occupy said recesses and support the tabletop module in a
positioned stacked atop said one of the container modules.
Preferably the end door and the at least one side door comprise flat
exterior faces free of any projecting features jutting outward therefrom to
enable flush
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side-to-side, end-to-end and end-to-side placement of adjacent container
modules
with one another.
Preferably the end door and the at least one side door comprise
recessed handles.
Preferably the end door and the at least one side door comprise
movable locking members mounted in recessed areas accessible from outside the
container and movable between locked positions engaging with frames of the
first end
wall and first side wall that close around the end wall opening and the side
wall
opening, and unlocked positions disengaged from said frames to enable locking
and
unlocking of said end door and said at least one side door.
Preferably the movable locking members comprise slidable thumb
latches.
The second end wall and the second side wall may be free of any
openable and closable doors, as may be the bottom wall.
A shape of each container module may be a rectangular cuboid, of
which the first and second end walls, the first and second side walls, the
bottom wall
and the top wall are the only exterior walls.
The top wall may consist solely of the lid.
Preferably there are clips arranged for selecting coupling together of any
two of the container modules in side-by-side, end-to-end or end-to-side
relation by
clipping over respective upward-facing edges of adjacent walls of said two of
the
container modules.
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Each clip may have a double-U shape embracing individually over the
respective edge of each of the adjacent walls of said two of the container
modules.
Each module may comprise clip-accommodating grooves in the end
walls and side walls, said grooves reaching downwardly from the upward facing
edges at discrete predetermined positions around the rectangular area bound by
said
end walls and said side wall, the predetermined positions being such that
alignment of
a selected first groove on one of said two modules with a selected second
groove on
the other of said two modules places said modules in a predetermined alignment
with
one another in which the two modules can be secured by engagement of a
respective
one of the clips with the selected first and second grooves.
There may be at least one cooler insert sized for placement within the
rectangular interior volume of the container in a position lining interior
surfaces of the
end walls, the side walls and the bottom wall with an open upper end of the
cooler
insert accessible by opening of the lid of the container module, whereby the
container
module and the cooler insert form a cooler for ice-cooled storage food or
beverage
items within said cooler insert while maintaining the end walls, the side
walls and the
bottom wall in a dry state isolated from the ice.
The cooler liner may have an openable/closeable drain port therein.
In one embodiment, each container module comprises an inner rim
projecting a short distance into the interior volume of the container from the
side walls
and the end walls proximate the upper ends thereof, and the cooler insert
comprises
out-turned flanges at an upper end thereof for catching over the rim of the
container
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module.
Preferably the end walls have flat exteriors, and the container module
comprises recessed carry handles recessed into the end walls at the flat
exteriors
thereof, including a carry handle situated outwardly from the end door in a
stationary
perimeter-adjacent frame of the first end wall that borders the end door
opening
therein.
In one embodiment, the bottom wall is defined by a bottom wall panel
that is separate and distinct from the side walls and the end walls, said side
walls and
said end walls being defined by separate and distinct side wall panels and end-
wall
panels respectively, the bottom wall panel comprising raised fastening bodies
protruding from a flat upper surface of the bottom wall panel that defines a
floor of the
container's rectangular interior volume at positions adjacent to and spaced
around a
perimeter of the bottom wall panel, and the side wall panels and the end wall
panels
are joined to the bottom wall panels by fasteners engaged into the fastening
bodies of
the bottom wall panel through the side wall panels and the end wall panels
near the
lower ends thereof.
The fastening bodies may feature pre-defined fastener holes and the
fasteners comprises threaded fasteners engaged into said pre-defined fastener
holes.
In one embodiment, there are four fastening bodies disposed adjacent
four corners of the bottom wall panel, each of said four fastening bodies
having one of
the end wall panels and one of the side wall panels respectively fastened to
said
fastening body at two different sides of said fastening body.
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There may be at least one selectively openable/closable insert unit of a
predetermined size selected to occupy a substantial entirety of the
rectangular interior
volume of the container of any module, the insert unit having an
openable/closeable
air tight seal by which articles can be placed within said insert unit and
stored in an
5 air-tight condition therein within the rectangular interior volume of the
module.
The openable/closable insert may comprise a vacuum port by which a
vacuum source is connectable to said insert and communicable with an interior
thereof to collapse said insert from said predetermined size into a compacted
state by
evacuation of air from said interior of the openable/closable insert.
10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stackable container module featuring
a cuboid container whose interior is accessible on three sides via
openable/closable
doors.
Figure 2 is an overhead plan view schematically illustrating three
container modules clipped together in an unstacked single-level U-shaped
configuration.
Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating use of ten container modules
in a stacked multi-level configuration featuring two U-shaped levels of the
type shown
in Figure 2, and an additional four container modules stacked in two
additional levels
thereatop.
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Figure 4 is a perspective view of the single container module of Figure 1
together with an optional tabletop unit stackable thereatop.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the single container module of Figure 1
with a top-door, or lid, thereof in an open position.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an optional cooler tray insert for the
single container module of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an optional zipper seal vacuum bag
insert for the single container module of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of open skeletal shelving rack module that
is stackable with the single container module of Figure 1.
Figure 8A is a perspective view of a top and bottom plated shelving rack
module that is stackable with the container module of Figure 1 and/or the open
skeletal shelving rack module of Figure 8.
Figure 8B is a perspective view of a door-equipped shelving rack
module that is stackable with the container module of Figure 1 and/or the
shelving
rack module of Figure 8 and/or Figure 8A.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a user-assembled version of the
container module of Figure 1.
Figure 10A is an elevational view of a door-equipped side wall panel of
the user-assembled container module of Figure 9.
Figure 10B is an elevational view of a door-equipped end wall panel of
the user-assembled container module of Figure 9.
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Figure 10C is an elevational view of a doorless side wall panel of the
user-assembled container module of Figure 9.
Figure 10D is an elevational view of a doorless end wall panel of the
user-assembled container module of Figure 9.
Figure 10E is a plan view of the side wall panel of Figure 10A or Figure
10C.
Figure 1OF is a plan view of the end wall panel of Figure 10B or Figure
10D.
Figure 10G is a side elevational view of a bottom wall panel of the user-
assembled container module of Figure 9.
Figure 10H is an end elevational view of the bottom wall panel of Figure
10G.
Figure 101 is a perspective view of a variation of the bottom wall panel of
Figures 10G and 10H.
Figure 11 is partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a
clipped connection between two of the container modules in Figure 2, as viewed
along line XI ¨ XI thereof.
Figure 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a door of the container
module of Figure 1, illustrating a recessed thumb-slide locking mechanism
thereof.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows a single container module 10 of a modular storage
system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The module 10
features a container 12 having opposed first and second side walls 14, 16
lying in
parallel vertical planes, opposed first and second end walls 18, 20 lying in
parallel
vertical planes that are perpendicular to those of the side walls, a bottom
wall 22
spanning horizontally between the end walls and the side walls at lower ends
thereof,
and a top wall 24 residing opposite and parallel to the bottom wall and
spanning
between the end walls and the side walls at upper ends thereof. The container
is a
rectangular cuboid in shape due to the above-described geometric relationship
between the walls 14-24 and a rectangular shape of each of these walls 14-24.
The
side walls 14, 16 and end walls stand upright from the bottom wall 22 along
its four
perimeter edges in order to delimit a rectangular area atop the bottom wall 22
and
thereby cooperate with the top and bottoms walls to delimit a rectangular
interior
volume of the container. The side walls 14, 16 are longer than the end walls
18, 20 in
a direction around the perimeter of the bottom wall's rectangular area. The
end walls
18, 20 are therefore spaced from one another in a horizontal length direction
of the
container that exceeds a horizontal width direction of the container, in which
the side
walls 14, 16 are spaced from one another.
The first side wall 14 features a rectangular frame 26 defining an outer
periphery of the first side wall and closing around a rectangular side door
opening in
which two side doors 30 are mounted for pivotal movement about respective
vertical
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pivot axes between open and closed conditions that respectively open and close
this
side door opening. The rectangular side door opening spans a substantial
majority of
the first side wall's surface area, with the bordering frame 26 occupying only
a
relatively small fraction of the first side wall's height and length.
Accordingly, when
the side doors 30 are opened, the rectangular interior space of the container
is
accessible over a substantial majority or near entirety of its length via the
substantially
sized side door opening.
The first end wall 18 features a rectangular frame 32 defining the an
outer periphery of the first end wall 18 and closing around a rectangular end
door
opening in which a single end door 36 is pivotally mounted for pivotal
movement
about a respective vertical pivot axis between open and closed positions that
respectively open and close the end door opening. The rectangular end door
opening
spans a substantial majority of the first end wall's surface area, with the
bordering
frame 32 occupying only a relatively small fraction of the first end wall's
height and
length. Accordingly, when the end door 36 is opened, the rectangular interior
space
of the container is accessible over a substantial majority or near entirety of
its width
through the substantially sized end door opening 28. In the illustrated
embodiment,
the end walls 18, 20 are exactly or approximately half as long as the side
walls 14, 16,
the end door opening is likewise exactly or approximately half as wide as the
side
door opening, and the end door 36 is exactly or approximately the same width
as
each one of the two side doors 30. The side wall opening is preferably
undivided
rather than being divided into two separate doorways behind the two side
doors, with
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the two die doors being hinged near the ends of the container so as to open
away
from one another, thereby providing entirely unobstructed access to the
container
space over the entire or substantially-full length thereof. Preferably the end-
door is
reversibly mounted, i.e. removably mounted for selective hanging at either the
left or
5 right side of the end door opening.
The top wall 24 is a movable lid hinged to the second side wall 14 along
the top end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal hinge axis between
open
and closed states that respectively open and close a lid opening 38 that is
bound by
the top ends of the side walls and end walls 14-20. In its closed state, the
lid 24
10 resides parallel and opposite to the bottom wall 22 and cooperates with
the side, end
and bottom walls 14-22 to fully enclose the interior space of the container.
In the
open position shown in Figure 5, the lid 24 reveals the lid opening 38,
thereby
providing topside access to the interior space of the container over the
entire, or
substantially entire, length thereof. As shown, an inner rim 40 may project a
short
15 distance into the interior volume of the container from the side walls
and the end walls
at an elevation proximate to, but spaced slightly below, the top ends of the
side and
end walls. This enables seating of the lid 24 atop this inner rim 40 in the
lid's closed
state.
Turning back to Figure 1, the exterior side of the top-wall/lid 24 features
a set of four recesses 42 therein at respective locations situated proximate
the four
corners of the top-wall/lid 24. Similarly, a set of four protruding feet 44
are provided
on the downward-facing exterior surface of the bottom wall at respective sites
situated
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proximate the four corners of the bottom wall 22. The set of recesses and the
set of
protruding feet having aligned positions and matable sizes in order to enable
stacking
of container modules atop one another with the protruding feet of one
container
module received in the recessed of another container module. A set of block-
shaped
filler units 43 are of similar shape and size to the lid recesses 42 to enable
selective
insertion of the filler units 43 into the lid recesses 42 of any container
module in order
to occupy said recesses during non-stacking use of the container module. Each
container module may be the sold to the consumer with a respective set of
block-
shaped filler units 43. While the illustrated embodiment features recesses 42,
feet 44
and filler units 43 of rectangular cuboid shape, it will be appreciated that
other
matable shapes may be employed.
The side doors 30, end door 36 and lid (or top door) 24 all have
recessed handles 46 featuring a pocket recessed into the door/lid from the
exterior
face thereof. Except for its foot-accommodating recesses 42 and the recessed
handle 46, the exterior side of the top-wall/lid 24 is planar over its entire
remainder.
Likewise, except for the protruding feet 44, the entire underside of the
bottom wall 22
is planar. The depth of each recess 42 in the lid 24 may be equal to or
slightly greater
than the height of each protruding foot 44 on the bottom wall 44, whereby the
flat
exterior surface of the bottom wall 22 of a first container module is seated
flat atop the
flat exterior side of the lid 24 of a second container module when said first
container
module is stacked atop the second container module to insert the first
container
module's bottom 44 feet into the top lid recesses 42 of the second container
module.
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Such configuration distributes the weight of the first module over a greater
surface
area of the second module. Alternatively, the feet 44 may be slightly taller
than the
top lid recesses 42 so that the feet weight of the first module is exerted
entirely at the
lid recesses 42 near the corners of the second module to prevent sagging of
the
second module's lid 24 at central areas thereof.
The side doors 30 and end door 36 each have at least one recessed
locking mechanism for securing the door in the closed position. These locking
mechanisms are shown schematically without detail in most of the figures, with
the
exception of Figure 12, which shows the details of one such locking mechanism.
A
recessed area 48 at the exterior face of the door 30/36 is positioned near one
of either
the door's top or bottom edge 30a/36a. Inside this recessed area 48, a
vertical bore
50 opens through an end-wall 48a of this recessed area and onward through the
door's top or bottom edge 30a/36a. When the door 30/36 is closed, this bore 50
aligns with a blind hole 52 that is provided in the bordering frame 26/32 that
delimits
the respective door opening. A thumb latch 58 features a stem 58a slidably
disposed
in the vertical bore 50 of the door 30/36 and a thumb tab 58b jutting
outwardly from
the stem 58a near a drive end thereof that resides within the recessed area 48
of the
door. The thumb tab 58b terminates within the recessed area 48 of the door
30/36
without projecting beyond the fiat exterior face 30b, 36b of the door 30, 36.
A locking end of the stem 58a located furthest from the thumb tab 58b is
suitably sized for selective receipt thereof within the blind hole 52 in the
surrounding
frame 26/32. When the thumb latch 58 is extended in a locking direction to
drive this
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locking end outwardly from the top or bottom edge of the door into the blind
hole 52 of
the surrounding frame, the thumb latch thus achieves a locking position in
which the
locking end of the stem 58a blocks movement of the door 30/36, thereby locking
the
door in the closed position. Sliding the thumb latch 58 in an opposite
unlocking
direction retracts the locking end of the stem 58a inwardly from the top or
bottom
perimeter edge of the door in order to withdraw the stem 58a from the blind
hole 52,
thereby unlocking the door. When the thumb latch is in the locking position, a
retention feature on the thumb latch cooperates with a catch feature to
prevent
inadvertent withdrawal of the thumb latch from the locking position. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the retention feature 59a on the thumb latch is a raised nodule on
a rear
side of the thumb latch stem 58a, and the catch is a corresponding raised
nodule on a
boundary wall of the recessed area 48 of the door 30/36. In the thumb latch's
locked
position shown in Figure 12, the retention nodule 59a resides immediately
above the
catch nodule 59b. The thickness of each nodule (i.e. the dimension thereof by
which
it is raised from the corresponding surface of the thumb latch or door) is
such that the
two nodules interfere with one another during sliding movement of the latch.
Accordingly, sliding of the latch into and out of the locking position
requires application
of sufficient manual sliding force to the thumb latch to overcome the
resistance
caused by the interference between the two nodules. So with reference to the
illustrated example of Figure 12, in which the thumb latch reaches upwardly
from the
top edge of the door in the locking position, the weight of the latch is
insufficient to
overcome the sliding resistance provided by the two interfering nodules,
thereby
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preventing the locking end of the latch from gravitationally falling from the
blind hole
52 in the frame into the retracted position. Only with sufficient manual
application of
downward force to the thumb tab will the retention nodule 59a slide downwardly
past
the catch nodule 59b to retract the thumb latch and unlock the door.
The thumb latches of the side doors and end door thereby define
movable locking members mounted in respective recessed areas that are
accessible
from outside the container. These locking members are movable between locked
positions engaging with frames of the first end wall and first side wall and
unlocked
positions disengaged from said frames to enable locking and unlocking of the
end
door and the side doors. The illustrated embodiment features two recessed
locking
mechanisms per door, one operable at the top perimeter edge of the door to
engage
the top side of the respective door frame, and the other at the bottom
perimeter edge
of the to engage the bottom side of the respective door frame. In other
embodiments,
it may be sufficient to employ only one locking mechanism per door. While the
illustrated embodiment lacks such a locking mechanism at the lid 24, which is
gravitationally biased into the closed state in the normal upright orientation
of the
container module, other embodiments may include one or more similar locking
mechanisms, which would therefore be operable to lock the lid to one or more
of the
side and end walls.
In embodiments where the end door is reversibly mounted, for example
by having pivot pins at the top and bottom edges door that be engaged in
either one
of two sets of cooperating vertical holes in the top and bottom parts of the
surrounding
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frame 32 of the end wall 18, the frame 32 of the end wall 18 likewise has
multiple sets
of blind holes for accommodating reversal of the door's left-handed or right-
handed
hanging orientation.
In the closed position of each door 30/36, the flat exterior face 30b, 36b
5 thereof is coplanar with the surrounding frame 26/32 of the respective
wall of the
container module, which is likewise flat at its exterior. Similarly, the
doorless second
end wall 20 and doorless second side wall 16 are both entirely flat at their
exterior.
Accordingly, any of the end walls and side walls of one module can be butted
flat
against any of the end walls and side walls of another module. Figure 2 shows
three
10 modules 10a, 10b, 10c abutted against one another in such a manner to
form a U-
shaped layout in which a first module 10a has its first side wall 14 abutted
flat against
the first end wall 18 of a second module 10b, whose second end wall 20 is
abutted flat
against the first side wall 14 of a third module 10c. The second side wall 16
of the
second module 10b resides flush with the second end wall 20 of the first
module 10a
15 and the first end wall 18 of the third module 10b, which as shown in the
illustrated
scenario, may be placed up against a wall 200. The two side doors 30 of the
second
module 10b are thus accessible at a space between the first and third modules
10a,
10c on the side of the second module facing away from the wall 200. The end
doors
36 of the second and third modules 10b, 10c are not accessible, being blocked
by the
20 first module 10a and wall 200 respectively. The end door 36 of the first
module 10a is
accessible at the end thereof facing away from the wall 200. In Figure 2, no
additional
modules are stacked atop the first three, and access to the interior space of
each and
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
21
every module is available through the openable/closeable lid 24 thereof. One
of the
two side doors 30 of each of the first and third modules 10a, 10c is also
openable and
closable for access to the interior space of these modules.
While Figure 2 illustrates a two-dimensional single-level layout of
container modules, Figure 3 illustrates a three-dimensional multiple-level
configuration
of container modules, thereby providing greater storage capacity, while at the
same
time still using flat-side mating of the modules together into a compact space-
efficient
footprint and employing the multiple door design of the container modules to
enable
access to the interior space of each and every container module regardless of
whether one or more of its doors are obstructed by another module situated
beside or
atop the module concerned. The illustrated configuration also illustrates
creation of
an available working space atop a reduced-height stack of modules that is
lesser in
number than one or more adjacent stacks of modules. In the illustrated four-
level
configuration, the two lower levels employ a U-shaped layout like that of
Figure 2,
while the two upper levels each lack a module at the center of the U-shaped
layout of
the lower levels, whereby the lid 24 of the uppermost center module 10d can be
used
as a table-like workspace, for example for temporary placement of one or more
objects thereon during retrieval of objects from the modules, or during
placement of
objects within the modules.
The adjacent modules in Figure 2, and in the two lower levels of Figure
3, are secured together by clips 64, one of which is shown in more detail in
the cross-
sectional view of Figure 11. The clip has a downward-opening double-U shape
that
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
22
embraces over the upward facing top edges of the adjacently positioned and
abutted-
together walls 14, 18 of the two container modules 10a, 10b in order to hook
the two
container modules together and prevent separation thereof at these adjacent
walls 14,
18. At a half-way point along the length of each end wall of each container
module,
and at one-quarter and three-quarter distances along the length of each side
wall of
each module, the respective wall features an inside groove 66 extending
downward
from the top edge of the wall on the inside thereof, and a corresponding
outside
groove 68 extending downward from the top edge of the wall on the outside
thereof.
Accordingly, the pair of grooves 66, 68 on the first container module 10a of
Figures 2
and 11 are centrally located over one of the side doors 30 thereof, while the
grooves
66, 68 on the second container module 10b of Figures 2 and 11 are centrally
located
over the end door 36 thereof. The double-U shape of the clip 64 features a
first
downward-opening (or inverted) "U" 64a, whose parallel downward-extending legs
slide downward into the grooves 66, 68 of the first module 10a, and a second
downward-opening "U" 64b, whose parallel downward-extending legs slide
downward
into the grooves 66, 68 of the second module 10b such that each downward-
opening
(or inverted) "U" embraces over the top edge of the wall 14, 18 of the
respective
container module.
As shown, the first "U" 64a and second "U" 64b may share a common
center-leg of the double-U shaped clip 64. In another embodiment, the clip may
have
a singular-U shape of wider extent between its two legs, whereby the clip
would
embrace collectively over the two walls from the inside groove 66 of one wall
to the
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
23
inside groove 66 of the other wall without individually embracing the two
walls. In
such instance, the singular-U shape of such a clip would not reach downwardly
between the two walls, in which case the outer grooves 68, may be omitted.
With the end wall of each module being half as long as the side walls,
one set of grooves being positioned half way along each end wall, and two sets
of
grooves being positioned at one-quarter and three-quarter positions along each
side
wall, two container modules can be clipped together end-to-end, side-to-side
or end-
to-side. When two modules are clipped together end-to-end, the two side walls
of
each module are respectively coplanar with the side walls of the other module.
When
two modules are clipped together side-to-side, since each side wall has two
sets of
clip-accommodating grooves, the two modules may be aligned with one another in
order to place each end wall of each module coplanar with a respective end
wall of
the other module, or may be offset from one another so that one end wall of
each
module resides at a vertical mid-plane of the other module at a half way point
between the two end walls thereof. When two container modules are clipped
together
end-to-side so as to lie perpendicular to one another, the container module
that is
being clipped at its end wall (i.e. the "end-clipped" container module) will
have one of
its side walls coplanar with one end wall of the other "side-clipped"
container module.
The particular end-wall of the side-clipped container module at which the end-
clipped
container module will reside will depend on which of the the two available
clip-
accommodating sites on the side wall of the side-clipped module was selected
by the
user as the coupling site at which the two container modules will be coupled.
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
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The clip-accommodating sites defined by the grooves in the container
module walls, together with the flat exterior of each container module on all
sides
thereof and the accessibility of the interior space of each container module
from the
side, end and top thereof, therefore allows for a multitude of possible
configurations of
stacked and clipped-together container modules. This flexibility allows the
system to
be configured in order to suit particular storage needs, and in order to suit
rooms or
environments of different size and shape constraints. The depth of each inside
groove 66 in the thickness direction of the respective module wall preferably
equals or
slightly exceeds the thickness of the respective outer leg of the clip 64 so
that the clip
does not project beyond the inside surface of the respective wall and
interfere with
closing of the module lid 24.
To enable convenient transport, stacking and unstacking of the
modules, each container module features two carrying handles 70, each recessed
into one of the two end walls 18, 20. In the case of the door-equipped end
wall 18,
the recessed carrying handle 70 is situated in the upper part of the frame 32
that
borders the topside of the end door 36. The other carrying handle 70 in the
opposing
end wall 20 is positioned in a matching position near the top of the wall at a
midpoint
of the end wall's length.
The container modules of the present invention may be pre-assembled
by a manufacturer or distributor prior to sale or delivery to the consumer.
However, to
enable more compact and efficient storage and transport, each module may
alternatively be provided as a flat-pack kit of parts to be assembled by the
consumer.
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
On such flat-pack module design is described as follows with reference to
Figures 9
and 10, of which Figure 9 shows an assembled flat-pack module 10' and Figures
10A
through 10H show flat-pack panels from which the module may be assembled.
Figures 100 and 10E show a doorless side wall panel 16' for defining
5 the doorless second side wall of the assembled container module 10'. The
doorless
side wall panel 16' is a flat rectangular panel having two fastener openings
72 therein
near the two bottom corners of the panel. A pair of block-shaped stops 74
project
from the inner side of the panel that faces into the interior space of the
container in
the module's final assembled state near the two upper corners of the panel.
These
10 stops 74 are an alternative to the flange-like inner rim 40 that juts
inwardly from the
side and end walls of the pre-assembled container module 10 of Figure 5, and
thus
enable seating of the closed lid 24 atop these stops 74 in the final assembled
state of
the flat-pack container module 1-0'. A door-equipped side wall panel 14' has
the same
rectangular outer perimeter, fastener openings 72 and stop blocks 74 as the
doorless
15 side wall panel 16', but instead of a solid rectangular panel features a
rectangular
door frame 26 delimiting the opening in which the two side doors 30 are
pivotally
mounted, for example by pivot pins projecting from top and bottom edges of
each side
door into the top and bottom parts of the frame 26. A door-equipped end wall
panel
18' likewise features a rectangular door frame 32 delimiting a door opening in
which
20 the single end door 36 is pivotally mounted, and again features the same
fastener
holes and stop blocks 74 near the lower and upper corners of the frame 32, but
is
smaller than the door-equipped side wall panel 14' so as to the define the
first door-
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
26
equipped end wall of the assembled module. A doorless end wall panel 20' is a
solid
rectangular panel like the doorless side wall panel 16', again featuring stop
blocks 74
and fastener holes 72, but being smaller in size than the doorless side wall
panel so
as to define the second doorless end wall of the assembled module.
A bottom wall panel 22' of the flat-pack container module 10' features a
solid rectangular panel defining the floor of the container, four block-shaped
feet 44 of
the type described above for the preassembled module 10 at the underside of
the
panel 22', and four raised, block-shaped fastening bodies 76 protruding upward
from
an otherwise flat upper surface of the bottom wall panel that defines the
floor of the
assembled module's interior space. The four fastening bodies 76 are situated
near
the four corners of the bottom wall panel, therefore residing adjacent to the
perimeter
of the bottom wall panel at spaced apart positions therearound. A predefined
fastener
hole 78 is pre-drilled or tapped into each fastening body by the manufacturer
at
outward facing sides thereof that face toward a respective end and side of the
rectangular bottom wall panel. At each end of the bottom wall panel, one of
the end
wall panels is erected atop the bottom wall panel at an edge-adjacent area
thereof
between the respective end of the bottom wall panel and the pair of fastening
blocks
adjacent that end of the bottom wall panel. The end wall panel is fixed in
this erected
position by driving threaded fasteners through the fastener holes 72 of the
end panel
and into the pre-defined fastener holes 78 of the two fastening bodies 76.
Likewise,
at each side of the bottom wall panel, one of the side wall panels is erected
atop the
bottom wall panel at an edge-adjacent area thereof between the respective
perimeter
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
27
side of the bottom wall panel and the pair of fastening blocks adjacent that
end of the
bottom wall panel, and the side wall panel is fixed in this erected position
by driving
threaded fasteners through the fastener holes 72 of the side wall panel and
into the
pre-defined holes 78 of the two fastening bodies 76.
In the flat-pack design, the lid 24 may be pre-attached to one of the
side-wall panels by a suitable hinge that enables the lid 24 to lie flat
against the side
wall panel prior to assembly of the module. Alternatively, the lid 24 may
initially be
provided as a separate piece that is to be fastened in place by the consumer
during
assembly of the module. While the use of block-shaped stops 74 reduces
material
requirements to accommodate seating of the closed lid of the final assembled
module,
longer flanges may be employed to instead form a rim-like lid support like the
inner
rim 40 of the preassembled module shown in Figure 5. Figure 10E shows a
variation
of the bottom wall panel 22' which, in addition to the raised fastening bodies
76 at the
four corners of the panel, also features a central block-shaped stop 80
positioned in
line between a respective pair of the fastening bodies near some or all of the
perimeter edges of the bottom wall panel. These block-shaped stops 80 further
reinforce the erected walls, and/or provide a door stop that blocks movement
of the
side doors and/or end door past their closed positions.
Figure 4 illustrates an optional table-top module 82 that may accompany
a set of container modules as part of a modular storage system. The table-top
module features a slab or panel 84 having a flat upper surface and an opposing
flat
lower surface parallel thereto. A set of foot members 44' are affixed to the
lower
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
28
surface of the slab or panel 84 and project downwardly therefrom near the
corners
thereof for selective insertion of the foot members 44' into the lid recesses
42 of one
of the container modules. In occupying these lid recesses 42, the foot members
44'
support the tabletop module 82 in a positioned stacked atop said one of the
container
modules to create a flat, uninterrupted working surface spanning the full lid
area of the
underlying container modules.
Figures 6 shows a plastic cooler insert 86 that may accompany a set of
container modules as part of a modular storage system. The cooler insert 86
has
opposing first and second walls 88, 90 for internally lining the end walls 18,
20 of one
of the container modules, opposing third and fourth walls 92, 94 for
internally lining
the side walls 14, 16 of the container module, and a fifth wall 96 spanning
between
the first four walls 88-94 at lower ends so that the five walls cooperatively
define a
tray-shaped insert that can be placed in any one of the container modules. An
openable/closeable drain port 98 is provided in at least one wall of the
cooler insert
86. The cooler insert 86 is sized for placement within the rectangular
interior volume
of the container module in a position lining interior surfaces of the
container module's
walls 14-22. An open upper end of the cooler insert is accessible by opening
the lid
24 of the container module. The container module and the cooler insert thereby
collectively form a cooler for storage of ice-cooled food or beverage items
within the
cooler insert while maintaining the end walls, the side walls and the bottom
wall in a
dry state isolated from the ice. As shown, the cooler insert 86 features out-
turned
flanges 100 on all sides of the insert at an upper end thereof for catching
over the
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
29
inner rim 40 of the module.
Figure 7 shows an openable/closeable vacuum seal bag 102 that may
accompany a set of container modules as part of a modular storage system. In
an
expanded state, the bag 102 has a four rectangular perimeter wall panels
cooperating
with a floor panel and an openable closeable flap panel 104 to enclose a
predetermined rectangular volume that is similar in size to the interior
volume of each
container module 10. The bag, in its expanded state, will therefore occupy a
substantial entirety of said interior volume of the container module. A zipper
seal 106
is provided between the flap panel 104 and the perimeter wall panels on three
sides
of the top flap. A fourth side of the flap panel 104 is seamlessly integral
with the
fourth perimeter wall of the bag to form an integral extension thereof,
whereby this
integral connection between the flap and the fourth perimeter wall forms a
living hinge
by which the flap 104 is movable in a generally pivotal manner to open and
close the
bag 102 at its upper end. In its closed state, the zipper seal acts to seal
off the
interior of the bag 102 from the surrounding environment in an air-tight
state. A
vacuum port 108 is provided in one of the panels to enable connection of a
vacuum
source to the port in a manner communicating with the bag's interior, whereby
activation of the vacuum source will draw air out of the bag, causing the bag
to
collapse into tight conformance with its contents for air-tight storage of
said contents
within the bag. This enables storage of perishables in one or more container
modules
an air-tight state to increase the shelf life thereof, and/or storage of
clothing or other
fabric articles within a container module in a compacted, space efficient
condition
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
constrained by the vacuum-collapsed bag.
Figure 8 shows an optional shelving rack module 110 that may
accompany a set of container modules as part of a modular storage system. The
rack
module has a skeletal frame of rectangular shape. The skeletal frame has
vertically
5 upright frame members 112 at four corners thereof, top and bottom side
members
114, 116 running perpendicularly between two of the upright frame members on
each
of two opposing sides of the rack unit, and top and bottom end members 118,
120
running perpendicularly between two of the upright frame members at each of
two
opposing ends of the rack unit. Each side of the rack is equal or similar in
length to
10 the opposing sides of each container module, and each end of the rack is
equal or
similar in length to the opposing ends of each container module. The rack
module
110 is stackable with each container module. More specifically, the center-to-
center
distance between the two upright frame members 112 on each side of the rack
unit
equals the center-to-center distance between the two lid recesses 42 on each
side of
15 each container module 10. Likewise, the center-to-center distance
between the two
upright frame members 112 at each end of the rack unit equals the center-to-
center
distance between the two lid recesses 42 at each end of each container module
10.
Each upright frame member is a piece of rectangular tubing whose hollow
interior
112a is of sufficient cross-sectional area to accommodate receipt of the feet
44 of any
20 container module 10 within the open upper end of the frame member's
hollow interior
112a in order to seat said container module atop the rack unit. A foot member
44" is
attached to the lower end of each upright frame member 112 and has a lesser
cross-
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
31
sectional area than the hollow interior 112a of the upright frame member in
planes
normal to the longitudinal axis of the upright frame member so that the foot
members
44' of the rack unit 110 are receivable in the open upper ends of the upright
frame
members 112 of another rack unit 110, and are likewise receivable in the lid
recesses
42 of any of the container modules.
Like the feet 44 of the container modules, the foot members 44' are
sized and shaped for mating cooperation with the lid-recesses to limit
relative
movement between the modules (including the container modules and rack
modules)
when stacked atop one another, thereby providing stability to the stacked
modules.
The rack can be used as the lowest module in a stack, for example to elevate
one or
more container modules upwardly from a ground surface, e.g. to prevent
exposure of
contents of the storage container to potential flood waters or other ground-
level
contaminants. The rack module 110 can also be used anywhere else in a stack of
modules, e.g. to provide more open access to frequently needed articles or to
accommodate larger articles that won't fit within the enclosed space of the
container
modules. The open skeletal structure of the rack unit enables longer articles
to be
laid across the rail-like side and end members and to project beyond the sides
or
ends of
Figure 8A shows a first variant of the rack module of Figure 8, which
instead of a fully open skeletal structure that is open on all six sides, is
closed off on
its top and bottom sides by upper and lower plates 130, 132 that both span
between
the four upright frame members 112 at the corners of the module. The plated
rack
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
32
110' however remains open at the four remaining sides to provide horizontal
access
to the storage space delimited between the upper and lower plates 130, 132.
The
upper plate 130, near each of its four corners, features a respective opening
134 for
receiving the respective foot 44/44' of another container or rack module. The
lower
plate 132, near each of its four corners features a respective foot 44' just
like the open
skeletal rack of Figure 8.
The four doorless open sides of the plated rack module 110' allow
storage of articles that won't fit within a container module by allowing such
articles to
overhang one or both of two opposing sides of the plated module 110', but
provides
improved flexibility over the open skeletal rack 110 of Figure 8 by also
allowing
storage of articles that wouldn't fully span between two opposing sides of the
rack, as
such articles can simply be seated on the bottom panel 132 of the plated rack
110'.
Articles can also be seated on the top panel 130 of the plated rack 110' if
another
module is not stacked atop same. The four open sides allow convenient doorless
access to frequently needed items. The upper and lower plates 130 may each
have
an outer perimeter area 136 of thicker and/or materially distinct composition
of greater
rigidity than a central area 138 of the plate, whereby the more robust outer
perimeter
areas of the plates serve to define functional equivalents of the side and end
members 114, 116, 118, 120 of the skeletal rack module 110 of Figure 8, which
rigidly
maintain the rectangular form of the module by holding the upright frame
members
112 at fixed distances from one another. Alternatively, the plated rack module
110'
may feature the same side and end members of the skeletal rack module, with
upper
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
33
and lower plates of uniform or non-uniform composition and/or cross-section
affixed to
such separately formed frame members.
Figure 8B shows a further variant of the rack module, which adds a pair
of side doors 30 to one of the two longer sides of the plated rack module 110'
of
Figure 8A, while leaving the three remaining doorless sides of the rack module
open.
The door-equipped rack module 110" allows storage of items that exceed the
interior
length of the rack module between the two ends thereof by allowing these items
to
reach externally outward from the module at the two ends thereof, for example
into
adjacent door-equipped modules with matching open ends, while allowing
concealment of these long items behind the side doors 30 when closed. Shorter
articles may also be stored atop the lower plate 132 within the storage space
of the
rack module between the upper and lower plates and behind the closed side
doors
30. As shown, the doors 30 may feature the same recessed handles 46 and
recessed locking mechanisms as the doors of the container modules.
In brief summary of the disclosed invention, a portable storage container
system is designed with a modular, customizable configuration. Each container
module consists of a six-sided rectangular box shape. Three sides of the six
total
sides have opening doors, for a total of four doors altogether. Three of the
four doors
are side mounted on the rectangular box (one set of double doors at one of the
longer
sides of the box, and one single door at one of the shorter sides or ends of
the box).
The top of the rectangular box has a lid acting as the fourth door. This
lid/door has a
set of four female recessed pockets to allow for a second storage container to
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
34
securely fit onto it by way of four corresponding feet provided on the bottom
of each
container. There are four filler units, e.g. plastic blocks, that fill the
female pockets if
the storage container is not required for use in a stacked manner. All doors
are
secured by recessed pivot hinge mechanisms so as to avoid any protruding parts
at
the flat sides of the container. Each door has a recessed pocket acting as the
door
opening mechanism or handle. The doors may be configured to open left or
right.
The doors incorporate recessed "sliding thumb" door pins to secure the doors
so that
shifting contents will not force the doors open during transportation.
Each storage container is preferably accompanied by six double-U
shaped clips, which may be formed of metal or plastic for example. When the
storage
containers are aligned horizontally, these double-U shaped clips slide into
predefined
(e.g. machined or molded) grooves in the upper section of each container.
These
clips give the storage system additional structural support with respect to
horizontal
pull forces that might otherwise cause separation between adjacent container
modules.
Each container module sits on bottom legs or feet, for example in the
form of square or rectangular male protrusions. These male protrusions act as
stabilizers for horizontal and vertical forces when the containers are
positioned in a
stacked system. If the container is on the bottom of the stack, these male
protrusions
raise the base of the container off the ground allowing for easy access to a
dolly for
easy transportation. The container modules may also be accompanied plastic
shims,
which allow the containers to be adjusted to sit level on the ground. The
container
CA 02947929 2016-11-09
may be comprised of various materials, including plastic or lightweight
metals, or a
combination of such materials. The straight lines and non-protruding features
of the
container allow the system "fit" together in a structural sound and efficient
manner,
similar to building blocks, which also makes it customizable and configurable.
5 Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
within the scope of the claims without departure from such scope, it is
intended that all
matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as
illustrative
only and not in a limiting sense.
