Snap together modular storage

• US 7,048,346 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cube Concepts LLC
• Original Assignee: Cube Concepts LLC
• Inventors: Saravis, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/271,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 312107-109, 312/111, 312/263, 312/265.5, 312/265.6, 403381-382, 403402-403, 525/81, 525/881, 525/891, 525/913.1, 525/921
• US Class Current: 312/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0033 Corners
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/042 Panels connected without frames
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/46 Non-metal corner connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/30 Dovetail-like connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings

Abstract

A modular storage rack, display structural element or cube system formed by snap together panels with alignment guides, which may also support wheels, shelves, drawers and doors. The system is assemble-in-place and may shipped and displayed for sale in a flat pack.

Claims

1. A snap together attachment system comprising:

a plurality of panels each with a front side and a back side and at least one edge, said front side defining a plane each front side having alternating catches with elongated, deformable slot walls having a length and latches with elongated, projecting enlarged heads having a length substantially similar as the length of the slot walls, each catch being substantially rigid and having adequate memory and elasticity to deform and snap back, wherein a pair of said catches and latches extend at a fixed angle relative to each other and outwardly along said at least one edge, said pair of said catches and latches also extend at an angle relative to said plane, and one of said catches is configured to snap into engagement with at least one latch of an adjacent panel, the latch and catch combination being firmly mated with each other, through which a structure can be constructed from, panels attached to other panels by snapping the enlarged head of one panel into a catch of another panel by displacing the deformable slot walls of the catch.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each latch and catch extends at approximately a 45 degree angle from the panel.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one alignment stop on each edge whereby movement of attached panels along the length of the slot walls is inhibited.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a receiving catch formed on the edge of one or more of the panels through which a latch closure can mate.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

at least two hinges support from an edge of a panel;

a movable door affixed on one side to the at least two hinges; and

at least one latch closure affixed to the movable door in a location suitable for mating with the receiving catch.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the panels are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, high durometer rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acetal, acylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polypropylene and polyurethane.

7. The system or claim 1 wherein the panels are used to form structural elements to construct structures selected from the group consisting of racks, carts, desks, cubes, storage units, display centers and cabinets.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the panels are used to form structures with at least two varying dimensional opposing wall pairs.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one latch or catch formed on the backside of at least one panel.

10. A snap together attachment system comprising;

at least one panel having an edge, a front side defining a plane, a back side, and means for attaching at least one panel cover to said panel; and

a panel cover with at least one latch and catch supported on the front side of the panel cover, wherein a pair of said catches and latches extend at a fixed angle relative to each other and outwardly along the edge, said pair of said catches and latches also extend at an angle relative to said plane,

said catch with elongated, deformable slot walls having a length and being substantially rigid and having adequate memory and elasticity to deform and snap back and said latch with a projecting, elongated, enlarged head,

wherein the elongated, enlarged head has a length which is substantially the same as the length of the slot walls,

through which a structure can be constructed from panel covers attached to other panel covers by snapping the elongated, enlarged head of one panel cover into a catch of another panel cover by displacing the elongated deformable slot walls of the catch.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein each latch and catch extends at approximately a 45 degree angle from the panel.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising at least one stop on each panel cover through which movement of an attached panel along the length of the slot walls is inhibited.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising a receiving catch formed at one or more of the panel covers through which a latch closure can mate.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

at least two hinges support from an edge of a panel;

a movable door affixed on one side to the at least two hinges; and

at least one latch closure affixed to the movable door in a location suitable for mating with the receiving catch.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the panel covers are formed of a material selected form the group consisting of plastic, rubber, high durometer rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acetal, acylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polypropylene and polyurethane.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising at least one latch or catch formed on the back side of at least one panel cover.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the panel covers and panels are constructed of dissimilar materials.

18. The system of claim 10 further comprising a buttress formed on at least two panels, through which connection of panels with adjacent buttresses forms a larger panel support.

19. The system of claim 10 further comprising a buttress formed on an at least two panel covers, through which connection of panels with adjacent buttresses forms a larger panel support.

20. The system of claim 10 wherein the attaching means is a slide-on mount over a panel edge.

21. The system of claim 10 wherein the attaching means is a snap-on mounting catch over a panel edge.

22. The system of claim 10 wherein the attaching means comprises:

a mounting plate, extending from the panel cover, with a through-mount attachment guide which fits over a side of the panel; and

a fastener which extends through the panel and the through mount attachment guide.

23. The system of claim 10 wherein the attaching means comprises:

a mounting plate, extending from the panel cover, with a through-mount attachment guide which fits into a support slot along an edge of the panel; and

a fastener which extends through the panel and the through mount attachment guide.

24. The system of claim 10 wherein the attaching means comprises:

a mounting plate, extending from the panel cover, with a glue mount attachment guide which fits into a support slot along an edge of the panel; and

a glue or adhesive which cures within the support slot and glue mount attachment guides.

25. The system of claim 10 wherein the material to construct at least one of the panels is selected from one or more of the group consisting of framed wire mesh, coated wire, plastic grids, wood, metal, plastic, composites, sheet steel, stainless, hot rolled, stainless cold rolled, carbon steel, alloy, brass, or copper stamped, copper formed, woven metal, woven plastic and metal frames inserted molded into plastic.

26. The system of claim 10 wherein the attaching means is selected from the group consisting of adhesives, locking tabs, sonic welds, glue, rivets, fasteners and crimping.