US3311437A - Storage boxes adapted to coact with shelf structure for sealing - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1967 M, PEEBLEs 3,311,437

STORAGE BOXES ADAPTED TO COAST WITH SHELF STRUCTURE FOR SEALING Filed July 6, 1965 HG. E I H6. 2

2 l4 ii) W B I i ll INVENTOR DAVID MEADE PEEBLES ATTORNEY I W Wig/MW;

United States Patent 3,311,437 STORAGE BOXES ADAPTED T0 COACT WITH SHELF STRUCTURE FOR SEALING David Meade Peebles, 325 Marcy Ave., Oxon Hill, Md. 21117 Filed July 6, 1%5, Ser. No. 469,655 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-296) This invention relates to improvements in storage receptacles and to a shelf-type storage cabinet or unit.

It is common practice to provide steel or wooden shelf units and storage boxes with slip top covers or lids to rest upon the shelves in fairly close fitting relation to the shelves. Various items can be stored in this type of unit. One difiiculty experienced is that each storage box must be removed from its shelf to allow lifting of the cover or lid. This is inconvenient and time-consuming. Furthermore, the usual slip top cover does not form an effective seal with the box and this precludes the storage of certain articles which must be protected from. mildew, dust or the ravages of insects.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a storage device or unit which will overcome the above difficulties and to provide a storage box partioularly constructed for yielding engagement with the shelves of the storage unit, whereby the usual box covers may be eliminated and a substantially dust-proof seal achieved between the open top of the box and the overlying shelf.

Another o'bject of the invention is to provide a self-sealing storage box which contains a cushioning member at its top or bottom for yielding engagement with an adjacent rigid shelf.

Still another object is to provide a storage device which is very economical to manufacture, reliable and efiicient in operation, durable and capable of a wide range of utility in the home and elsewhere.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a complete storage unit embodying the invention including a plurality of the invention storage boxes of various sizes;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the storage unit of FIGURE 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of receptacle;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another modification; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 77 of FIGURE 6.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, attention being directed first to FIGURES 1-3, the numeral 10 design-ates a storage unit in its entirety including a suitable supporting frame 11 for a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal wooden shelves 12 or the like. The shelves are conventional and are secured to the supporting framework in any desired manner.

A plurality of rectangular open top storage boxes or receptacles 13 is provided for the unit 10' and these boxes may be in various sizes as shown in FIGURE 1. When the boxes are in place upon the shelves, they occupy substantially the entire space between adjacent shelves so that no space is lost in the storage unit.

Patented Mar. 28, 1967 Each box 13 is provided upon its top edge with a continuous compressible cushioning element or rim 14 formed of foam rubber or certain well-known foam plastics or the like. Compressible rim 14- extends continuously around all four sides of the box and is relatively thick vertically beyond the top edge of the box as best shown in FIGURE 3. Compressible rim 14 preferably includes a thin skin 15 which is relatively tough and smooth surfaced, although yielding. The rim 14 may be adhesively secured to the box 13 and the box is formed of fiberboard, plastic or any other suitable material.

When each box 13 is placed in the unit 10 between a pair of the spaced shelves 12, the flat bottom: of the box engages the underlying shelf, which is rigid, and compressible rim 14 engages the overlying shelf and yields appreciably as the box is introduced into the space between shelves. The extent of yielding or compression of the rim 14 is sufficient to cause each box to have a snug fit between the shelves 12 and to effectively seal the open top of the box against dust, mildew, and moisture. When the box is removed from the shelf structure, its overall height including the relaxes rim 14 exceeds the vertical distance between the shelves 12, thus assuring compression of the rim 14 for sealing when the box is in place. By this means, the necessity for a slip cover or lid on the box is completely eliminated and an even more effective box closure is formed by the engagement of the overlying shelf 12 with the top of the box. This arrangement is also more convenient because there is no need to handle the lid and the box need not be entirely removed from the shelves in order to gain access thereto.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show a modification wherein the box 16 has the compressible rim omitted from its top edge and in place thereof a pair of parallel runners 17 formed of compressible rubber-like material are secured adhesively to the 'bottom wall 18 of the box near the opposite sides thereof. The bottom faces of the compressible runners 17 may also have adhesively secured thereto thin plates 19 of stiff sheet material such as plastic or sheet metal.

In the use of the modified box 16, the results are substantially the same in connection with the unit 10. When the box 16 is introduced into the space between a pair of shelves 12, the runners 17 yield and become compressed to allow entry of the box and the top edge 20 is forced into firm engagement with the flat underface of the overlying shelf 12 to close and seal the box.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show another modification wherein the box 21 has a slab 22 of compressible material adhesively secured to its bottom face and preferably enclosed in a smooth skin 23. The mode of operation or use of the box 21 is substantially the same as described above in connection with FIGURES 4 and 5.

If preferred, the rim 14 may be employed in conjunction with the compressible runners 17 or the compressible slab 22.

It is believed that the advantages and utility of the construction will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without the need for a further detailed description.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A storage unit structure comprising supporting means, a plurality of vertically spaced superposed horizontal rigid shelves fixedly secured to the supporting means, a plurality of rectangular open top storage boxes having substantially fiat rigid bottoms adapted to engage and rest upon the upper faces of the shelves and being of a size whereby a group of said boxes in side-by-side substantially contacting relation on each shelf substantially completely fills the space between such shelf and the next uppermost shelf of the storage unit so that the entire volume of the storage unit is utilized by the storage boxes, and a continuous resilient compressible rim on the top edges of each open top box extending entirely around the four sides of the box and substantially above the top of the box whereby said rim is compressed due to contact with the bottom surface of the next uppermost shelf when the box is introduced into the space between a pair of shelves, the compression of said rim firmly sealing the open top box and also serving to stabilize and secure the box upon the shelf which supports it in said unit.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, and wherein the spaces between said shelves at the front and back of the supporting means are open and said compressible rim is generally U-shaped and straddles the top edges of the References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,095,088 4/1914 De Witt 211-76 2,665,564 1/1954 Janos et al. 312-270 X 2,668,091 2/1954 Clark 31227O CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

F. D. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A STORAGE UNIT STRUCTURE COMPRISING SUPPORTING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED SUPERPOSED HORIZONTAL RIGID SHELVES FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE SUPPORTING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF RECTANGULAR OPEN TOP STORAGE BOXES HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RIGID BOTTOMS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND REST UPON THE UPPER FACES OF THE SHELVES AND BEING OF A SIZE WHEREBY A GROUP OF SAID BOXES IN SIDE-BY-SIDE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTACTING RELATION ON EACH SHELF SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY FILLS THE SPACE BETWEEN SUCH SHELF AND THE NEXT UPPERMOST SHELF OF THE STORAGE UNIT SO THAT THE ENTIRE VOLUME OF THE STORAGE UNIT IS UTILIZED BY THE STORAGE BOXES, AND A CONTINUOUS RESILIENT COMPRESSIBLE RIM ON THE TOP EDGES OF EACH OPEN TOP BOX EXTENDING ENTIRELY AROUND THE FOUR SIDES OF THE BOX AND SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE TOP OF THE BOX WHEREBY SAID RIM IS COMPRESSED DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE NEXT UPPERMOST SHELF WHEN THE BOX IS INTRODUCED INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN A PAIR OF SHELVES, THE COMPRESSION OF SAID RIM FIRMLY SEALING THE OPEN TOP BOX AND ALSO SERVING TO STABILIZE AND SECURE THE BOX UPON THE SHELF WHICH SUPPORTS IT IN SAID UNIT.

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