Bin Storage Rack

Abstract

A storage rack comprising a pair of uprights, with each upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots extending along the upright. A plurality of cross braces is mounted on the uprights, each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end which are shaped to engage the keyhole slots. The fasteners are spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the keyhole slot, each including a head having a dimension greater than at least a portion of the keyhole slot. A plurality of bins is removably mounted on the cross braces. A center support is provided, secured to and extending from the cross braces, and, in one form of the invention, a tray is located at the top of the uprights. The uprights can be secured to a base stand, or secured to a wall.

Description

This invention relates to storage racks, and in particular to a bin type storage rack having multiple racks of bins.

Bin-type storage racks and bin systems are well known. There are hundreds of US patents directed to storage bins and systems of various types and uses. Examples, only, are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,628,153; 5,190,156 and D 475,554.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a storage rack, comprising a pair of elongated, spaced angle uprights, each upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots extending along the upright. A plurality of cross braces is provided, each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end and shaped to engage the keyhole slots. The fasteners are spaced a distance equal to spacing of the keyhole slots, with each fastener including a head extending from a shank. The head has a dimension greater than the shank and greater than at least a portion of the keyhole slot. A center support is provided, secured to and extending between the cross braces. The center support includes a plurality of spaced fasteners, and each cross brace includes a keyhole slot, with each spaced fastener being in registration with a corresponding one of the keyhole slots in the cross braces.

In accordance with one form of the invention, a base stand is provided, with the uprights being secured to and extending from the base stand. A tray may be provided at the top of the uprights.

Each keyhole slot comprises a major opening and a depending minor opening. The minor opening comprises the portion of the keyhole slot that is smaller than the dimension of the head of each fastener.

Each cross brace includes a shelf ledge along a top edge of the cross brace. Each bin includes a depending mounting flange, with the mounting flange engaging the shelf ledge.

In another form of the invention, the storage rack comprises a pair of elongated, spaced angle uprights, each upright including a finish cap extending substantially the length of the upright, and each upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots extending along the upright. A gap is provided between each finish cap and the support member to which it is attached at least proximate the keyhole slots. A plurality of cross braces is provided, each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end which are shaped to engage the keyhole slots. The fasteners are spaced a distance equal to spacing of the keyhole slots, with each fastener including a head extending from a shank. The head has a dimension greater than the shank and greater than at least a portion of the keyhole slot. A plurality of bins is removably mounted on the cross braces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail in the following description of examples embodying the best mode of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one form of the invention,

FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof,

FIG. 3A is an enlarged fragmentary cross section at a keyhole slot showing detail,

FIG. 3B is an enlarged fragmentary view of a keyhole slot,

FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second form of the invention,

FIG. 6 is an isometric assembly view thereof,

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view thereof, and

FIG. 8 is a rear isometric view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES EMBODYING THE BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

A first form of a storage rack according to the invention as shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1-4. The storage rack 10 includes two basic components, first, a pair of elongated, spaced angle uprights 12 and second, a plurality of cross braces 14.

Each of the angle uprights 12 comprises two elements, a support portion 16 and a finish cap 18. The cross braces 14 are “L”-shaped, as are the support portions 16 and the finish caps 18. As illustrated, the finish caps 18 are on one side of the support portions 16, and may be affixed thereto in any manner. A gap 20 is provided between each finish cap 18 and the support portion 16 to allow assembly of the invention, as described in greater detail below.

Each of the uprights 12 has a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots 22 extending along the upright in the support portion 16. Each keyhole slot comprises a major opening 24 and a depending minor opening 26, as best shown in FIG. 3B.

Each of the cross braces 14 include a pair of spaced fasteners 28 at each end thereof. The spaced fasteners 28 are shaped to engage the keyhole slots, with the fasteners 28 being spaced a distance equal to spacing of the keyhole slots 22. Each fastener 28 includes a head 30 extending from a shank 32, with the head 30 having a dimension greater than the shank 32 and greater than at least a portion of the keyhole slot 22. Preferably, the dimension of the head 30 is greater than the minor opening 26, but less than the major opening 24 of the keyhole slot 22, and the shank 32 has a dimension about equal to, or slightly smaller than, the minor opening 26. Therefore, when being installed, the head 30 of the fastener 28 can pass through the major opening 24, and can then be moved downwardly so that the shank 32 is engaged in the minor opening 26, with the head 30 retaining the fastener in place. The support portion 16 is sandwiched between the cross brace 14 and the head 30. This is a conventional keyhole assembly, and is therefore not described in greater detail.

Each of the cross braces 14 includes a shelf ledge 34 along the top edge of each of the cross braces. Preferably, just for ease of assembly of the invention, a shelf ledge 34 can be located on both the top and bottom edges of each of the cross braces 34, as illustrated, so that a particular orientation of each cross brace is not required.

The storage rack 10 can be bolted or otherwise affixed to a wall to maintain the storage rack 10 in an upright position. Alternatively, the storage rack 10 can include a base stand 36. An angle brace 38 is affixed to the base stand 36, and each upright 12 is affixed to the brace 38 by means of fasteners 40 and nuts 42. For additional stability, an angle bracket 44 is used, affixed at one end to the angle upright 12 by a fastener 40 and affixed at its opposite end to the base stand by a further fastener 40 and nut 42.

A center support 46 is secured to and extends between the cross braces 14. The center support includes a plurality of spaced fasteners 28, identical to the fasteners 28 of the cross braces 14. The fasteners 28 engage keyhole slots 22 which preferably are identical to the keyhole slots 22 of the uprights 12. Each of the fasteners 28 is in registration with a corresponding one of the keyhole slots 22, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A plurality of bins 50 of varying sizes are mounted on the cross braces 14, and are removable therefrom. Bins 50 may be of any size or shape, and each bin 50 includes a depending mounting flange 52. The mounting flange 52 engages the shelf ledge 34, as illustrated. Therefore, each bin 52 is readily removable by simply lifting it upwardly, disengaging the flange 52 from the shelf ledge 34. The flanges 52 are spaced sufficiently from their respective bins 50 so that the shelf ledge 34 can extend between the bin 50 and flange 52 when the bins 50 are mounted.

A second form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 and is shown generally at 10′. Those elements of the invention which are the same are identified with the identical reference numerals as above, and are therefore not described in greater detail.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-8, the orientations of the angle uprights 12 are reversed in relation to the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4. Therefore, the braces 38 on the base stand 36 are also reversed for proper mounting. However, the orientation of the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 may also be used here.

In this form of the invention, the storage rack 10′ is physically taller than that shown in FIGS. 1-4. For additional stability, the base stand 36 also includes a cross member 54.

This form of the invention includes a top shelf 56. The shelf 56 is mounted on the angle uprights 12 by means of downwardly depending angle braces 38 that are secured to the angle uprights 12 by means of fasteners 40 and nuts 42. While a shelf 56 is not shown in relation to the first embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 1-4, obviously a shelf could be used with that form of the invention, as well.

Just as in the first form of the invention, that of FIGS. 5-8 includes a series of bins 50 of various sizes, which are mounted on the cross braces 14 in precisely the same manner as shown and described in relation to the first form of the invention. Obviously, the number of bins 50, and the number of cross braces 14, can be varied depending on use of the storage rack 10 or 10′ and sizes of the bins 50 employed.

Various changes can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A storage rack, comprising

a. a pair of elongated, spaced angle uprights, each upright including a support portion and a finish cap extending substantially the length of said upright, and each upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots extending along the upright in the support portion,

b. a gap between each said finish cap and each said support portion at least proximate said keyhole slots,

c, a plurality of cross braces, each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end shaped to engaged said keyhole slots, said fasteners being spaced a distance equal to spacing of said keyhole slots, each fastener including a head extending from a shank, said head having a dimension greater than said shank and greater than at least a portion of a said keyhole slot, and

d. a plurality of bins removably mounted on said cross braces.

2. The storage rack according to claim 1, including a base stand, said uprights being secured to and extending from said base stand.

3. The storage rack according to claim 1, including a tray at the top of said uprights.

4. The storage rack according to claim 1, in which each keyhole slot comprises a major opening and a depending minor opening.

5. The storage rack according to claim 4, in which said minor opening comprises said portion of said keyhole slot.

6. The storage rack according to claim 1, in which each cross brace includes a shelf ledge along a top edge of the cross brace.

7. The storage rack according to claim 6, in which each bin includes a depending mounting flange, said mounting flange engaging said shelf ledge.

8. The storage rack according to claim 1, including a center support secured to and extending between said cross braces.

9. The storage rack according to claim 8, in which said center support includes a plurality of spaced fasteners and each cross brace includes a keyhole slot, each spaced fastener being in registration with a corresponding one of said keyhole slots.

10. A storage rack, comprising

a. a pair of elongated, spaced angle uprights, each upright having a plurality of equally-spaced keyhole slots extending along the upright,

b. a plurality of cross braces, each cross brace having a pair of spaced fasteners at each end shaped to engaged said keyhole slots, said fasteners being spaced a distance equal to spacing of said keyhole slots, each fastener including a head extending from a shank, said head having a dimension greater than said shank and greater than at least a portion of a said keyhole slot,

c. a center support secured to and extending between said cross braces, and

d. said center support including a plurality of spaced fasteners and each cross brace including a keyhole slot, each spaced fastener being in registration with a corresponding one of said keyhole slots in said cross braces.

11. The storage rack according to claim 10, including a base stand, said uprights being secured to and extending from said base stand.

12. The storage rack according to claim 10, including a tray at the top of said uprights.

13. The storage rack according to claim 10, in which each keyhole slot comprises a major opening and a depending minor opening.

14. The storage rack according to claim 13, in which said minor opening comprises said portion of said keyhole slot.

15. The storage rack according to claim 10, including a plurality of bins removably mounted on said cross braces.

16. The storage rack according to claim 15, in which each cross brace includes a shelf ledge along a top edge of the cross brace.

17. The storage rack according to claim 16, in which each bin includes a depending mounting flange, said mounting flange engaging said shelf ledge.