Storage Assembly

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to a storage assembly adapted to seat atop of a cabinet. One storage assembly comprises a plurality of corner pieces with each of the plurality of corner pieces fixed to the cabinet. A plurality of wire hoops is engaged across areas between adjacent corner pieces to define a storage area.

Description

BACKGROUND

Embodiments described herein relate to a storage assembly. One embodiment comprises four corner pieces and four interconnecting wire forms that engage between adjacent corner pieces and facilitate creation of defined areas of storage, such as atop airline cabinets mounted to a wall or below a ceiling.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein relate to a storage assembly adapted to seat atop of a cabinet. One storage assembly comprises a plurality of corner pieces with each of the plurality of corner pieces fixed to the cabinet. A plurality of wire hoops is engaged across areas between adjacent corner pieces to define a storage area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an assembly described herein.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one corner piece of the assembly showing how an opposite end of each of two contiguous wire forms engage and showing how a lace or similar item may be engaged to or between corner pieces to hold an item within a storage area defined by the assembly.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one corner piece of the assembly showing how one wire form is held thereby when stored.

FIG. 4 shows corner pieces of the assembly in an environment of use, engaged atop an airline cabinet.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flap mounted on a wire of the assembly.

FIG. 6 shows optional cover wires for engagement to the corner pieces to retain objects within the storage area created by the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures show one embodiment of a storage assembly 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage assembly 10 comprises four corner pieces 12 and four wire hoops 14 that engage across adjacent corner pieces 12 to create a storage area 16 within an area defined by the wire hoops 14 and corner pieces 12. It is to be recognized that any appropriate number of corner pieces 12 and wire hoops 14 can be used in various applications of the storage assembly 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the wire hoops 14 are substantially rectangular in shape, having two upright end portions 18 and 20 and a top portion 22. End portion 18 has a free end 24 which seats within a turret 26 of a corner piece 12. End portion 20 incorporates an angled hook 28 on a free end 30 of the end portion 20, which is received within a catch 32 on another of the corner pieces 12.

In one application of an embodiment of the storage assembly 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each corner piece 12 includes a base 40 which is substantially L shaped and seats across one corner 39 of a top surface 41 of an airline cabinet 42. Legs of the L shaped base 40 are mirror images of each other. As the illustrated airline cabinet 42 has four corners 39, this application of the storage assembly 10 includes four corner pieces 12. The wire hoops 14 engage across and between adjacent, aligned corner pieces 12.

The base 40 of each corner piece 12 includes a corner 50. A bore 52 is located at the corner 50. A connector 54, such as a screw 54, passes through the bore 52 to engage the corner piece 12 to the top surface 41 of the airline cabinet 42. Once four such corner pieces 12 are mounted at corners 39 of the airline cabinet top surface 41, the wire hoops 14 are engaged between adjacent sections of adjacent corner pieces 12, defining a storage area 16. It will be noted that two sections 56 and 58 of each corner piece 12, bisected through the center of the corner 50, are substantial mirror images of each other.

Each free end 59 of corner piece 12 includes the turret 26, and, intermediate to the turret 26 and bore 52, toward an outer edge 60 of the base 40 is provided the catch 32. In one embodiment, the catch 32 is configured as a loop 32 for engagement of the hook 28 of a wire 14. The loop 32 is of sufficient diameter to allow passage of a boot lace 61, or other such structure, through the loop 32 for retaining an item in the storage area 16.

A snap fit track element 66 is disposed along an inner edge 62 of the base 40. A latch 68 is disposed along a corner area of the corner piece 12, adjacent the inner edge 62 adjacent the bore 52. The latch 68 may be used in conjunction with two snap fit track elements 66 to hold a wire hoop 14 in place, when not in use, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Any desired number of storage assemblies 10 may be used contiguously across contiguous top surfaces 41 of adjacent cabinets 42. Wire hoops 14 extending across such contiguous areas may be used, as desired, to create a desired configuration of the storage area 16 created by the number of storage assemblies 10. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a flap 70 may be engaged with at least one wire hoop 14 to create confined, rather than open storage areas 16. In one embodiment, the flap 70 comprises a covered frame which is pivotably engaged between adjacent corner pieces. If desired, as illustrated in FIG. 6, overlapping cover pieces 72 may be provided which suitably engage adjacent corner pieces 12 to provided hidden, rather than visible storage areas 16. Such cover pieces 72 may include a covered frame 74 which is suitably engaged within the snap fit track elements 66, in one embodiment, and may rotate over the storage area 16.

Claims

1. A storage assembly adapted to seat atop of a cabinet, comprising:

a plurality of corner pieces, each of the plurality of corner pieces fixed to the cabinet; and

a plurality of wire hoops engaged across areas between adjacent corner pieces to define a storage area.

2. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the storage area is bounded by the plurality of wire hoops and the plurality of corner pieces.

3. The storage assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a flap engaged with at least one of the plurality of wire hoops and covering the storage area.

4. The storage assembly of claim 3 wherein the flap comprises a covered frame which is pivotably engaged between adjacent corner pieces.

5. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein a plurality of storage assemblies are disposed across adjacent cabinets.

6. The storage assembly of claim 5 wherein the plurality of wire hoops is provided between adjacent storage assemblies

7. The storage assembly of claim 5 wherein the plurality of wire hoops is absent between adjacent storage assemblies.

8. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of corner pieces includes a base which is L shaped.

9. The storage assembly of claim 8 wherein legs of the base are mirror images of each other.

10. The storage assembly of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of corner pieces includes a bore for receiving a connector for engaging the cabinet.

11. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of wire hoops includes a free end which seats in a turret on each of the plurality of corner pieces.

12. The storage assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a snap fit track element is disposed along an inner edge of each of the plurality of corner pieces.

13. The storage assembly of claim 12 further comprising:

a latch disposed on each of the plurality of corner pieces.