Connector for a Modular Storage Assembly

Abstract

A modular storage assembly includes a plurality of connectors and a plurality of panels joined together by the plurality of connectors as to define a compartment. Each of the plurality of connectors includes a body having a plurality of first slots and a plurality of second slots. Two blocks are releasably mounted in one of the plurality of the second slots of the two connectors respectively. A door is pivotally connected with two blocks as to close the opening of the compartment and whereby the door is releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular storage assembly, in particular, to a modular storage assembly with compartments and each of which has a releasably installed pivotal door.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,036, a modular storage assembly includes a plurality of walls and connectors holding the plurality of walls in a way to form a plurality of compartments, with each of the plurality of compartments defines an opening for allowing admission of an article inside the compartment. Unfortunately, the open compartment can not protect the stored article inside from publicity. In addition, the stored article is easily covered by dust in atmosphere.

Referring to TW Pat. No. M318957, a modular storage assembly includes a door panel for closing a compartment defined thereof is adapted to resolve the problems. However, it is somewhat inconvenient if door panels were disassembled from the associated compartments. For instance, user has to dismount a pivotal connection of the door panel with a connector and then dismount another pivotal connection of the door panel with another connector. Further, if the door panel for the compartment which has other compartments formed above, user then has to involve in disassembling the above positioned compartments in order to take down the door panel, thus result in a very laborious procedure.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a modular storage assembly includes a plurality of connectors and a plurality of panels joined together by the plurality of connectors as to define a compartment. Each of the plurality of connectors includes a body having a plurality of first slots and a plurality of second slots. Each of the plurality of first slots is utilized to receive one of the plurality of panels. Further, two blocks are releasably mounted in one of the plurality of the second slots of the two connectors respectively. A door is pivotally connected with two blocks as to close the opening of the compartment and whereby the door is releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly. Additionally, the modular storage assembly is adapted to be built with a plurality of compartments.

The primary objective of the modular storage assembly according to the present invention is that user could uninstall the door from the modular storage assembly by just taking the blocks out of the second slots and without involving in uninstalling of the connectors.

Another objective of the present invention is that assembly and disassembly of the door is convenient and simple.

A further objective of the present invention is that arrangement of first and second slots prevents interference of the door with the associated panels.

A further objective of the present invention is that the connectors would not interfere pivotal motions of the door.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular storage assembly in accordance with the present invention assembled to form a compartment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the modular storage assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the modular storage assembly, showing a door installed is open.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the modular storage assembly assembled to form a plurality of compartments.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing a different door installed thereto.

FIG. 9 is a partial, enlarged view of the FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, a modular storage assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of connectors 20 and a plurality of panels 10 joined together by the plurality of connectors 20 as to define a compartment 50 and an opening 51 for admission of an article to the compartment 50.

Each of the panels 10 includes a frame 11 which has a structure with uniform thickness and confines an empty space. Further, a sheet 12 is attached to the frame 11 to cover the empty space, however, corners 13 of the frame 11 are not covered by the sheet 12. It is understood that each corner is defined at a junction of two peripheral sides of the frame 11.

Each of the connectors 20 includes a body having a first surface 21 and a second surface 24 parallel to one another, and the first and second surfaces 21 and 24 have dimensions substantially equal to one another. In addition, a plurality of first slots 22 are formed thereon and each first slot 22 is formed between two walls extending transverse to the second surface 24. In this preferred embodiment, the plurality of first slots 23 are utilized to receive the plurality of the panels 10, respectively. Particularly, one of the corners 13 of the associated panel 10 is received in one of the plurality of first slots 22. Further, a plurality of second slots 23 are formed thereon between the first and second surfaces 21 and 24, which will be described further hereinafter.

The modular storage assembly further includes a door 40 pivotally connected with two connectors 20 as to close the opening 51 of the compartment 50. Specifically, two blocks 30 are releasably mounted in one of the plurality of the second slots 23 of the two connectors 20, respectively; and the door 40 has two axially opposite pivotal ends 41 formed along an edge of the door 40 and pivotally received in two blocks 30 respectively. Preferably, each of the two blocks 30 has a cavity 33 defined in a front side in which one of the pivotal ends 41 is received so that the door 40 and the blocks 30 are prevented from detachment. In addition, because the blocks are releasably mounted to the connectors 20 and the door 40 is pivotally connected to the blocks 30, the door 40 is thus releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly. In this regard, user could uninstall the door 40 from the modular storage assembly by just taking the blocks 30 out of the second slots 23 and without involving in uninstalling of the connectors 20.

FIG. 3 also shows a first holding portion 221 is formed on an inner peripheral surface of each first slot 22 of each connector 20 to afford secure attachment with the panel 10; a second holding portion 231 is formed on an inner peripheral surface of each second slot 23 of each connector 20 to afford secure attachment with the block 30. In addition, the first holding portion 221 includes a plurality of ridges having equal heights extended from the inner peripheral surface of each first slot 22. Likewise, the second holding portion 231 includes a plurality of ridges having equal heights extended from the inner peripheral surface of each second slot 23. Also, the block 30 has two lateral sides 31 which are parallel to one another and have dimensions equal to one another, and each second slot 23 has sides substantially equal to the lateral sides 31 of the block 30.

As also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the door 40 has corners 42 marginally spaced from the connectors 20 so that the connectors 20 would not interfere pivotal motion of the door 40. Additionally, the door 40 has a through hole formed thereon to assist user to conveniently open/close it. It is understood that a handle is also within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the modular storage assembly is built to include a plurality of compartments 50. It also shows that some doors 40 are installed to allow user to open them clockwise whereas some doors are installed to allow user to open them counterclockwise.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing a different door 60 installed thereto. The door differentiate from the door 40 in that the door 40 has a wire frame which has a structure with uniform thickness and confines an empty space and a sheet is formed on the frame to cover the empty space, whereas the door 60 is a solid wall.

In light of the forgoing, the modular storage assembly according to the present invention exhibits several advantages. Firstly, user could uninstall the door 40 and 60 from the modular storage assembly by just taking the blocks 30 out of the second slots 23 and without involving in uninstalling of the connectors 20.

Secondly, assembly and disassembly of the door 40 and 60 is convenient and simple.

Thirdly, arrangement of first and second slots 22 and 23 prevents interference of the door 40 and 60 with the associated panels 10.

Fourthly, the connectors 20 would not interfere pivotal motions of the door 40 and 60.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A connector for a modular storage assembly having a plurality of panels which are arranged to define a compartment and of which an opening is formed for admission of an article to the compartment, and a door which are utilized to close the opening of the compartment comprising:

a body having a plurality of first slots, with each of the plurality of slots receiving a corner of one of the plurality of panels, wherein the corner is defined at a junction of two peripheral sides thereof, and a plurality of second slots; and

a block releasably mounted in one of the plurality of second slots and pivotally receiving the door and whereby the door is releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly.

2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of first slots comprises an inner peripheral surface having a first holding portion formed thereon for securely holding the panel engaged.

3. The connector according to claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of second slots comprises an inner peripheral surface having a second holding portion formed thereon for securely holding the block.

4. The connector according to claim 2 wherein the first holding portion comprises a plurality of ridges.

5. The connector according to claim 3 wherein the second holding portion comprises a plurality of ridges.

6. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface, the first surface has a dimension and the second surface has a dimension substantially equals to the dimension of the first surface, and wherein the plurality of second slots are formed between the first and second surfaces.

7. The connector according to claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of first slots is formed between two walls extending transverse to the second surface.

8. The connector according to claim 6 wherein the block has two lateral sides which are parallel to one another and have dimensions equal to one another, and wherein each of the plurality of second slots has sides substantially equal to the lateral sides.

9. A modular storage assembly comprising:

a plurality of connectors and each including a body having a plurality of first slots, each of the plurality of first slots receiving a corner of one of the plurality of panels, wherein the corner is defined at a junction of two peripheral sides thereof, and a plurality of second slots;

a plurality of panels joined together by the plurality of connectors and defining a compartment with an opening for admission of an article to the compartment;

two blocks releasably mounted in the two connectors respectively; and

a door pivotally connected with two blocks as to close the opening of the compartment and whereby the door is releasably mounted to the modular storage assembly.

10. The modular storage assembly according to claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of first slots comprises an inner peripheral surface having a first holding portion formed thereon for securely holding the panel engaged.

11. The modular storage assembly according to claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of second slots comprises an inner peripheral surface having a second holding portion formed thereon for securely holding the block.

12. The modular storage assembly according to claim 10 wherein the first holding portion comprises a plurality of ridges.

13. The modular storage assembly according to claim 11 wherein the second holding portion comprises a plurality of ridges.

14. The modular storage assembly according to claim 9 wherein the body comprises a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface, the first surface has a dimension and the second surface has a dimension substantially equals to the dimension of the first surface, and wherein the plurality of second slots are formed between the first and second surfaces.

15. The modular storage assembly according to claim 14 wherein each of the plurality of first slots is formed between two walls extending transverse to the second surface.

16. The modular storage assembly according to claim 14 wherein the block has two lateral sides which are parallel to one another and have dimensions equal to one another, and wherein each of the plurality of second slots has sides substantially equal to the lateral sides.

17. The modular storage assembly according to claim 9 wherein the door includes two axially opposite pivotal ends along an edge thereof, and the two pivotal ends are pivotally received in the two blocks respectively.