US20120181907A1

US20120181907A1 - Storage carousel

Info

Publication number: US20120181907A1
Application number: US13/006,837
Authority: US
Inventors: Neil Edwards; Laura Oldham; Stephen Bowden
Original assignee: Liberty Hardware Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Liberty Hardware Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2011-01-14
Filing date: 2011-01-14
Publication date: 2012-07-19

Abstract

A storage unit has a top, a bottom, and a carousel upon which the bottom rotates thereupon. A plurality of drawers is disposed symmetrically between the bottom and the top. Each drawer has a pentagonal shape having a front wall, a pair of front side walls each of which extends from the front wall and are parallel to each other, a pair of back side walls each of which extends from a front side wall and converges towards an other of the back side walls and a back wall attaching to each of the back side walls. Each back side wall of one drawer contacts an adjacent side wall of an adjacent drawer and the back walls of the drawers define a space.

Description

BACKGROUND

Where space is at a premium such as in city apartments, smaller homes and dorm rooms, there is a continuing quest to define and use more storage space.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment shown herein, a storage unit has a top, a bottom, and a carousel upon which the bottom rotates thereupon. A plurality of drawers is disposed symmetrically between the bottom and the top. Each drawer has a pentagonal shape having a front wall, a pair of front side walls each of which extends from the front wall and are parallel to each other, a pair of back side walls each of which extends from a front side wall and converges towards an other of the back side walls and a back wall attaching to each of the back side walls. Each back side wall of one drawer contacts an adjacent side wall of an adjacent drawer and the back walls of the drawers define a space.
According to a further embodiment shown herein, a storage unit has a carousel, a plurality of drawers disposed upon the carousel, each drawer having a first geometry such that each drawer is in close registration with the first geometry of each adjacent drawer if the adjacent drawers are closed, and a plurality of intermediate units, each unit disposed between adjacent drawers, each the intermediate unit having a second geometry.
According to a still further embodiment shown herein, a storage unit has a circular track, a rotatable bottom disposed above the track, and a plurality of drawers disposed upon the bottom. Each drawer has a first geometry such that each drawer is in close registration with the first geometry of each adjacent drawer if the adjacent drawers are closed. A plurality of intermediate units is disposed between adjacent drawers and has a second geometry. The bottom has a wheel disposed therein riding in the track and which is disposed behind the intermediate storage unit and between adjacent drawers.
According to a still further embodiment shown herein, a storage unit has a base having a several faces. A first drawer occupies a first face of the base. A second drawer occupies a diametrically opposite second face of the base relative to the first face. A first rectangular compartment occupies a third face of the base wherein the third face is perpendicular to the first face and the second face and wherein the rectangular compartment defines a race for both the first drawer and the second drawer. A first triangular compartment occupies a fourth face of the base wherein the fourth face is disposed between the third face and the second face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a storage unit described herein.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the storage unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top, partially cut away view of the storage unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cut away view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cut away perspective view of a second embodiment of a storage unit described herein.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the storage unit of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of a storage unit 10 is shown. The storage unit 10 has a top portion 15, a bottom portion 20, a plurality of drawers 25, a plurality of intermediate units 30, and a carousel base 31. The top portion 15 and the bottom portion 20 each have an octagonal shape and enclose the drawers 25 and the intermediate units 30 as will be discussed infra. An intermediate unit 30 is interspersed between each drawer 25 about a periphery of the storage unit 25.
Each drawer 25 has a front portion 35 connected to two parallel front side portions 40, two back side portions 45 that converge towards each other from the front side portions 40 and a back portion 50 that connects to the two back side portions 45. In the embodiment shown there are four drawers 45. Other embodiments in which more than four or less than four drawers are contemplated herein. The front portion 35 of each drawer 25 has a handle 55 (or the like) for manipulation of the drawer 25 inwardly and outwardly.
The octagonal shape of the bottom portion 20 mimics the shape of the top portion 15.
The bottom portion has four intermediate units 30 mounted thereon. Intermediate units 30 are formed in the shape of a trapezoid having a longer front face 60, which may be open, a shorter back face 65 and two side faces 70 that converge towards the back face 65. A bottom 75 and a top 80 connect the faces 60, 65, 70. Each intermediate unit is mounted to the bottom portion 20 by glue or screws or the like. Alternatively, each of the faces 65, 70 may be mounted in grooves 71 in the top portion 15 and bottom portion 20 (see FIGS. 2, 4) and obviate the need for the bottom 75 and top 80. The side faces 70 act as guides for sliding the drawers 25 into and out of the storage unit 10 (see FIG. 3).
Each intermediate unit 30 has a fold down flap or door 85 extending from a living hinge 90, like a piece of plastic or fabric, for covering the front face 60. A retaining wall 95 extends across the front face 60 to prevent items stored therein (not shown) from falling out when the door 85 is opened. Each door 85 may be secured shut by means of hook and lock fastener 100 or the like.
Referring to FIG. 3, if all four storage drawers 25 are inserted in the storage unit 10, the intermediate unit side faces 70 interact with the front side portions 40 of each drawer to retain the drawers 25 therein. The back side portions 45 of each drawer 25 cooperate with the back side portions 45 of each adjacent drawer 25 sides and if the drawers 25 are fully closed, each back side portion 45 is in contact with an adjacent side portion 45. In such a situation, the drawers 25 all mate with each adjacent drawer 25. The back portions 50 form a rectangular area 53. Though the intermediate unit 30 is trapezoidally shaped and the drawers 25 are pentagonally shaped, other geometries that allow the drawers and the intermediate units to cooperate and allow the drawers to create an area 53 are contemplated herein
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a wheel 105 is disposed adjacent to each back face 70 of each corner unit 30. Each wheel 105 is supported by an axle 110 that is attached to upright ears 115 that extend from the bottom portion 20. The wheels 105 rotate within a circular track 120 within the carousel base 31, which is made of plastic or the like. The circular base 31 has a post 125 extending therethrough for aligning within hole 130 of the top portion 15 and hole 135 of the bottom portion 20. The rectangular area 53 allows the post to pass therethrough without interference from any of the doors 25. Once the post 125 is inserted through the holes 130, 135 and the wheels 105 are inserted in the track 120, the storage unit may rotate freely about the post.
The trapezoidal shape of each intermediate unit 30 and the cooperating shapes of the back side portions 45 of each drawer 25 provide a storage unit 10 that is compact, utilizing as much of the space within the storage unit 10 as possible. The carousel feature allows a user to rotate the storage unit 10 and access any remote drawer 25 or intermediate unit 30 making the storage unit 10 ideal for areas where remote access is limited like under beds, cabinets, stairs and tables (not shown) for example. Each intermediate unit 30 may also be a simple nook 140 or open space between the drawers 25.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of a storage unit 200 is shown. The storage unit 200 has an octagonal shape and includes a base 205 that supports two drawers 210, 215, two rectangularly- shaped compartments 220, 225, and four triangularly- shaped compartments 230, 235, 240, and 245. Each of the compartments 220, 225, 230, 235, 240, and 245, has a rectangularly-shaped door 250 that pivots about a hinge 255. Each of the rectangularly-shaped doors 250 has a pull 260 to help a user open and close a rectangularly-shaped door 250. Similarly, each of the rectangularly- shaped drawers 210, 215 has a pull 260 to help a user open and close that drawer 210, 215.
The two drawers 200 are disposed at diametrically opposite faces 265 of the base 205 and have a width W that extends a width of the each face 265. The drawers 210, 215 slide in and out of the base 205 and, if closed extend a diameter of the base. The two rectangularly-shaped compartments 220, 225 each extend along an edge 275 that is perpendicular to the face 265 of the base 205 and back to sides 270 of the two drawers 210, 215. The rectangularly-shaped compartments 220, 225 and the triangularly-shaped compartments 230, 235, 240, and 245 form a race 272 in which the drawers 210, 215 travel.
Each triangularly-shaped compartment 230, 235, 240, and 245 is disposed on a face of the base and between a drawer 210, 215 and a rectangular compartment 220, 225. For instance, triangularly-shaped compartment 230 is disposed between drawer 215 and rectangularly-shaped compartments 220; triangularly-shaped compartment 235, is disposed between drawer 210 and rectangularly-shaped compartments 220; triangularly-shaped compartment 240, is disposed between drawer 210 and rectangularly-shaped compartments 225; and, triangularly-shaped compartment 245, is disposed between drawer 215 and rectangularly-shaped compartments 225.
The bottom 280 of the base 205 has a plurality of concentric rings 285 that mate with a plurality of concentric rings 290 disposed on a platform 295. The base 205 and the platform 295 are made of a plastic material which allows the base to rotate to slide around on the mating concentric rings 285, 290.
Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments.
The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. A storage unit comprising:

a top,

a bottom,

a carousel upon which said bottom rotates,

a plurality of drawers disposed symmetrically between said bottom and said top each drawer having a pentagonal shape and having

a front wall,

a pair of front side walls each of which extending from said front wall and that are generally parallel to each other,

a pair of back side walls each of which extends from a front side wall converges towards an other of said back side walls and

a back wall attaching to each of said back side walls,

wherein each back side wall of one drawer contacts an adjacent side wall of an adjacent drawer and said back walls define a space.

2. The storage unit of claim 1 wherein said bottom and said top have an octagonal shape.

3. The storage unit of claim 1 wherein a nook is disposed between each adjacent drawer.

4. The storage unit of claim 1 wherein an intermediate storage unit is disposed between said drawers.

5. The storage unit of claim 4 wherein said bottom has a wheel disposed therein riding in said carousel, said wheel disposed behind said intermediate storage unit and between adjacent drawers.

6. The storage unit of claim 4 wherein an intermediate storage unit has sides that guide each adjacent drawer.

7. The storage unit of claim 5 wherein an intermediate storage unit has a trapezoidal shape.

8. The storage unit of claim 6 wherein a front of said intermediate storage unit is supported by a living hinge.

9. The storage unit of claim 7 wherein said front of said intermediate storage unit is secured by a hook and loop fastener.

10. The storage unit of claim 1 wherein a support post extends from said carousel through said bottom into said area.

11. A storage unit comprising:

a carousel,

a plurality of drawers disposed upon said carousel, each drawer having a first geometry such that each drawer is in close registration with said first geometry of each adjacent drawer if said adjacent drawers are closed, and

a plurality of intermediate units, each unit disposed between adjacent drawers, each said intermediate unit having a second geometry.

12. The storage unit of claim 11 wherein said first geometry is a pentagon and said second geometry is a trapezoid.

13. The storage unit of claim 11 wherein said first geometries and said second geometries form an octagon.

14. The storage unit of claim 13 wherein said first geometry is a pentagon and said second geometry is a trapezoid.

15. The storage unit of claim 11 wherein said carousel further comprises a bottom upon which said drawers and intermediate units are disposed said bottom having a wheel disposed therein riding in said carousel, said wheel disposed behind said intermediate storage unit and between adjacent drawers.

16. A storage unit comprising:

a circular track,

a rotatable bottom disposed above said track,

a plurality of drawers disposed upon said bottom, each drawer having a first geometry such that each drawer is in close registration with said first geometry of each adjacent drawer if said adjacent drawers are closed, and

a plurality of intermediate units, each unit disposed between adjacent drawers, each said intermediate unit having a second geometry, said bottom having a wheel disposed therein riding in said track, said wheel disposed behind said intermediate storage unit and between adjacent drawers.

17. The storage unit of claim 16 wherein said first geometry is a pentagon and said second geometry is a trapezoid.

18. The storage unit of claim 16 wherein said first geometries and said second geometries form an octagon.

19. The storage unit of claim 18 wherein said first geometry is a pentagon and said second geometry is a trapezoid.

20. A storage unit, said storage unit comprising:

a base having a several faces;

a first drawer occupying a first face of said base;

a second drawer occupying a diametrically opposite second face of said base relative to said first face,

a first rectangular compartment occupying a third face of said base wherein said third face is perpendicular to said first face and said second face and wherein said rectangular compartment defines a race for both said first drawer and said second drawer, and

a first triangular compartment occupying a fourth face of said base wherein said fourth face is disposed between said third face and said second face.

21. The storage unit of claim 20 wherein said triangular compartment further defines said race.

22. The storage unit of claim 20 further comprising a second rectangular compartment occupying a fifth face of said base, wherein said fifth face of said base occupies a diametrically opposite face of said base relative to said third face and wherein said second rectangular compartment further defines said race.

23. The storage unit of claim 22, further comprising a second triangular compartment occupying a sixth face of said base wherein said sixth face is disposed between said fifth face and said first face and said second triangular compartment further defines said race.

24. The storage unit of claim 22, further comprising a second triangular compartment occupying a sixth face of said base wherein said sixth face is disposed between said fifth face and said second face.

25. The storage unit of claim 22, further comprising a platform upon which a bottom of said base rotates.