WO2019150361A1

WO2019150361A1 - Wall mounted container system

Info

Publication number: WO2019150361A1
Application number: PCT/IL2019/050096
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yaron Brunner
Original assignee: Keter Plastic Ltd.
Priority date: 2018-02-01
Filing date: 2019-01-23
Publication date: 2019-08-08
Also published as: IL257310A; IL257310B

Abstract

A container system (10) for mounting on a vertical support surface.

Description

WALL MOUNTED CONTAINER SYSTEM

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to container systems, in particular to container systems for mounting on a vertical support surface.

BACKGROUND

Containers, such as plastic bins, cardboard boxes, etc., are commonly used for storage of household articles. Typically, such containers are designed to be stacked one atop another. When several of such containers are used for storage in a stacked configuration, considerable effort is sometimes required to access articles stored within the bottommost containers. Accordingly, maintaining an organizational system for household items is often seen as a cumbersome task.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a container system comprising a storage bin defining a storage space therein, and a hanging bracket configured to facilitate hanging the storage bin on a vertical support surface. The storage bin comprises at least a rear panel and two side panels adjacent thereto, the hanging bracket comprising two horizontally- spaced vertical posts, and the hanging bracket being slidable between a collapsed position and a mounting position in which it is configured to facilitate the hanging. In the mounting position, the posts are spaced sufficiently to each abut one of the side panels with the rear panel spanning therebetween. The storage bin being configured to nest with a second storage bin identical thereto, such that the portion of the storage space below the second storage bin when nested within the storage bin can accommodate therewithin the hanging bracket in its collapsed position. Any one or more of the following features, designs and configurations can be applied to any container system according to the present disclosure, solely or in various combinations thereof:

• The hanging bracket may comprise first and second bracket members, each of the bracket members comprising one of the posts and a brace extending toward the other of the posts. A first of the braces may be slidable with respect to a second of the braces. The first brace may be received within the second brace in the mounting and collapsed positions.

• The braces may comprise a fixation arrangement configured to secure the bracket members at one or more fixed positions. The fixation arrangement comprising a button on a flexible tab formed on one of the braces, and one or more corresponding fixation apertures formed in the other of the braces, the fixation aperture being configured to receive therewithin the button. One of the fixation apertures may correspond to the mounting position of the mounting bracket. One of the fixation apertures may correspond to the collapsed position of the mounting bracket.

• The hanging bracket may comprise two or more through-going mounting apertures, configured to facilitate mounting the hanging bracket on the vertical support surface. The mounting apertures may be horizontally spaced by 16 inches (40.64 cm) when the hanging bracket is in its mounting position.

• The hanging bracket may further comprise one or more locking arrangements configured to engage with the storage bin for securing thereto.

• The storage bin may comprise a locking element configured to cooperate with the locking arrangement to facilitate the securing.

• Each of the locking arrangements may comprise a bulge, and each of the locking elements comprising a tab, the tab and bulge configured to abut one another when the storage bin is hanging on the hanging bracket.

• At least the tab or the bulge (i.e., either one, or both) may be configured to be displaced by the other and to be biased to its original position thereafter.

• The hanging bracket may further comprise one or more positioning elements, each projecting upwardly therefrom and configured to be snugly received within a corresponding downwardly-facing concavity formed in the storage bin when hanging on the hanging bracket.

• The storage bin may comprise transitional edges formed between the rear panel and each of the side panels, the hanging bracket comprising transition- support surfaces configured to lie in registration with the transitional edges when the storage bin is hanging on the hanging bracket. The transitional edges may be formed as fillets. Each fillet may be angled substantially 45° with respect to the rear panel and its respective side panel.

• The hanging bracket may further comprise a leveling device configured to facilitate horizontal mounting thereof on the vertical support surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1A is a front perspective view of an example of a container system according to the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. IB is a rear perspective view of the container system illustrated in Fig. 1A, with a storage bin and hanging bracket thereof shown separated from each other;

Fig. 2 is a close-up view of a locking element of the storage bin of the container system illustrated in Figs. 1A and 1B;

Fig. 3A is a close-up view of a hinge arrangement of the storage bin;

Fig. 3B is an exploded view of the hinge arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3A;

Fig. 3C is a side view of the container system illustrated in Fig. 1A, mounted to a wall and with a lid thereof in a fully open position;

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a hanging bracket of the container system illustrated in Fig. 1A;

Fig. 4B is an exploded view of the hanging bracket illustrated in Fig. 4A;

Fig. 5A is a perspective view of two nested storage bins;

Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Fig. 5A; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another example of a container system according to the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in Figs. 1A and 1B, there is provided a container system, which is generally indicated at 10. The container system 10 comprises a storage bin 12 defining a storage space therewithin, and a hanging bracket 16. Hanging bracket 16 is configured to be mounted to a wall or other suitable vertical support surface (the term wall should be understood to be used in the context of the present disclosure in its broadest sense to include any suitable vertical support surface), and to couple with the storage bin for hanging thereon. The storage bin 12 and hanging bracket 16 may define a mounting plane M (e.g., as illustrated in Fig. 3C), which lies in registration with the vertical surface when the container system 10 is mounted thereto.

The storage bin 12 may comprise a plurality of panels 18, one of which may constitute a rear panel 18' . (Herein the present description, each element of the rear panel 18' will be designated by the same reference numeral, with the addition of a prime mark, as its corresponding elements on the other panels. Use of the reference numeral without the prime mark is to be construed those indicated by the prime mark, unless otherwise evident from context).

The panels 18 may be formed such that they are angled slightly inwardly in the downward direction. Each panel may comprise a flat upper surface 20, and a lower surface 22, a portion of which may be ribbed or formed with any suitable non-planar arrangement or texture, with a downwardly facing ridge 24 spanning therebetween. Adjacent panels 18 may be formed with a transitional edge 26 therebetween, for example formed as a chamfer (as illustrated), a fillet, or any other suitable design.

It will be appreciated that in the presently disclosed subject matter and appended claims, terms indicating direction and/or orientation, such as up, down, front, rear, horizontal, vertical, etc., are used with respect to the example illustrated in (and described with reference to) the accompanying drawings, and should not be construed as limiting, e.g., to a particular orientation. The storage bin 12 may further comprise a lip 28, projecting at least rearwardly along a top rim 30 thereof. The lip 28 may comprise a vertical rear surface 32, and a downwardly-facing contact surface 34. Portions of the lip 28 above the transitional edges 26 of the panels 18 may similarly be formed with a lip transitional surface 36, for example formed as a chamfer (as illustrated), or any other suitable design.

The lip 28 may comprise one or more locking elements, generally indicated at 38, for example on each of the two rear lip transitional surfaces 36' (i.e., those formed adjacent the rear portion of the lip 28). As best seen in Fig. 2, each locking element 38 may comprise a outwardly projecting tab 40, and a ramp 42 sloping outwardly from the lip 28 in an upward direction toward the tab 40 (i.e., such that an object traversing the lip in an upward direction ascends the ramp toward the tab). The ramp 42 may comprise several segments, e.g., spaced from one another, as shown, or it may comprise a single element.

According to some examples, the storage bin 12 is provided with a lid 44, which may be hingedly articulated thereto, for example along a hinge axis H which extends along the storage bin’s rear side. The lid 44 is sized and shaped so as to lie in registration over the top rim 30, thereby covering an opening defined thereby.

The storage bin 12 and lid 44 may comprise one or more hinge arrangements 46 to facilitate the articulation. According to some examples, as illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B, each hinge arrangement 46 comprises a plurality of tongues 48 provided on the storage bin 12 and projecting upwardly from the top rim 30 thereof. The tongues 48 define gaps 50 therebetween. Each of the tongues 48 is formed with a through-going aperture 52. The apertures 52 are formed such that they are arranged concentrically along the hinge axis H, and above the top rim 30. The tongues 48 may be disposed along a rearward edge of the top rim 30, for example with a surface thereof being formed as a planar extension of the rear surface 32 of the lip 28. Similarly, each hinge arrangement comprises one or more protrusions 54 projecting upwardly and rearwardly from a top surface of the lid 44, such that they extend beyond a rear edge thereof. The protrusions 54 define gaps 56 therebetween. The protrusions 54 are sized such that they fit within the gaps 50 of the storage bin 12, and the tongues 48 are sized such that they fit within the gaps 56 of the lid 44. Each of the protrusions 54 is formed with a through- going aperture 58. The apertures 58 are formed such that they are arranged concentrically along the hinge axis H and are not disposed over any other portion of the lid 44 (i.e., besides those portions constituting parts of the protrusions). A pin 60 is provided through the apertures 52, 58 formed in the storage bin 12 and lid 44, thereby facilitating pivoting the lid with respect to the storage bin about the hinge axis H , for opening and closing it.

It will be appreciated that as the protrusions 54 of the lid 44 are formed such that the apertures 58 thereof, and thus the hinge axis H , is not disposed over any other portion of the lid, and as the tongues 48 of the storage bin are formed such that the apertures 52 thereof, and thus the hinge axis, is disposed above the top rim 30 of the storage bin, the lid may be pivoted into its fully open position (i.e., 90° with respect to the top rim 30), even when the storage bin is hung on the wall, i.e., the lid may be pivoted to 90° without passing the mounting plane M, for example as illustrated in Fig. 3C. It will be further appreciated that the hinge arrangements 46 may be provided according to other designs which facilitate pivoting the lid 44 into its fully open position without passing the mounting plane M.

Reverting to Fig. 1A, the front side of the storage bin 12 and lid 44 may be provided with features for facilitating securing and/or locking the lid when in its closed position. These may include, but are not limited to, latch assemblies 62, apertures 64, 66 formed in registration with one another in the storage bin and lid (to allow locking via, e.g., a padlock), etc.

As illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B, the hanging bracket 16 comprises first and second bracket members 68a, 68b, comprising, respectively, generally vertically extending first and second posts 70a, 70b and first and second braces 72a, 72b protruding horizontally therefrom, each toward the other bracket member, defining a hanging space 5 therebetween, for receipt therein of the storage bin 12 when hung. It is noted that in the present description, reference numerals without a trailing letter, i.e., 68, 70, etc., indicate one or more of the elements designated by the respective reference numeral with trailing letters, as per the relevant context; e.g., reference to bracket members 68 refers to the first and second bracket members 68a and 68b, etc.

The first brace 72a is designed such that it is slidingly received within the second brace 72b. The facilitates sliding the hanging bracket 16 between a mounting position (as illustrated in Fig. 3A) in which the posts 70 are spaced such that the hanging space 5 is sufficient to receive therein the storage bin 12, and a collapsed position, in which the posts 70 are closer together.

The mounting bracket 16 may comprise a fixation arrangement, generally indicated at 71, configured to secure the bracket members 68 at one or more fixed positions relative to one another. The fixation arrangement 71 may comprise a flexible tab 74 formed on the first brace 72a and having a frontwardly protruding button 76 formed on a distal end thereof. The tab 74 is configured to be biased frontwardly, such that when the button is depressed rearwardly and released, it returns frontwardly to its original position. The fixation arrangement 71 may further comprise one or more through-going fixation apertures 78 formed in the second brace 72b and sized to as to receive therethrough the button 76. Each of the fixation apertures 78 is disposed such that the button 76 lies in registration therewith at one position of the first brace 72a within the second brace 72b. Accordingly, the bracket members 68 may be snappingly secured to one another at one or more fixed positions, each defined by the longitudinal position of one of the fixation apertures 78. According to some examples, one of the fixation apertures 78 is configured to secure the bracket members 68 at the mounting position of the hanging bracket 16, and another of the fixation apertures is configured to secure the bracket members at the collapsed position of the hanging bracket.

Each of the bracket members 68 may be formed with one or more through-going mounting apertures 80, configured to facilitate mounting of the hanging bracket 16 on the wall. Accordingly, they may each be formed extending along an axis transverse to the mounting plane M. According to some examples, at least one of the fixation apertures 78 is disposed at a location which disposes the bracket members 68 at a mounting position in which the horizontal distance (i.e., along the length of the braces 72) between the mounting apertures 80 is in accordance with a standard distance between wall supports, e.g., 16 inches (approximately 40.64 cm), or a multiple thereof, between centers of the mounting apertures 80, corresponding to the standard distance between vertical wall studs in some locales. It will be appreciated that several mounting apertures may be provided, each in accordance with a standard distance between wall supports in different locales.

The hanging bracket 16 further comprises one or more locking arrangement 86 projecting upwardly therefrom, e.g., corresponding in number and location to the locking elements 38 formed on the lip 28 of the storage bin 12. Each locking arrangement comprises a sloped guide surface 82 above a main surface 84. The guide surface 82 is sloped in an inward direction in a downward direction (i.e., such that an object traversing the guide surface in a downward direction is moved inwardly toward the hanging space 5). The main surface 84 is formed such that it lies in registration with the lip 28 in the vicinity of a locking element 38 (e.g., the rear lip transitional surfaces 36') when the storage bin 12 is hanging on the hanging bracket 16. The locking arrangement 86 further comprises a flexibly-mounted bulge 88, configured to be displaced by the tab 40 of the locking element 38 of the storage bin 12 when placed thereon, and to return to its original position when the tab 40 has passed it. The locking element 38 and locking arrangement 86 are co-configured such that when the lip 28 of the storage bin 12 rests on the upper surface of the braces 72, the tab 40 is disposed immediately above the bulge 88, thereby securing the storage bin on the mounting bracket 16.

In addition, the hanging bracket 16 may comprise one or more positioning elements 90 protruding upwardly from an upper surface of the braces 72, configured to be snugly received within a corresponding downwardly-facing concavity formed in the lip 28 of the storage bin 12.

The hanging bracket 16 may be configured to facilitate retaining the storage bin 12, e.g., by bearing upon it in at least one direction substantially normal to the mounting plane M (including in a direction having a substantial component normal to the mounting plane) when the storage bin is coupled therewith for storage. According to some examples, the hanging bracket 16 is configured to bear upon the storage bin 12 in two opposite directions (e.g., antiparallel) substantially normal to the mounting plane M, for example both directed toward the interior of the storage bin.

Accordingly, the posts 70 may each comprise a forwardly-facing rear-support surface 92, disposed substantially parallel to the mounting plane M, an inwardly- directed transition-support surface 94, and an upwardly-facing ledge-support surface 96. The rear- support surfaces 92 are formed so as to lie in registration with the upper surface 20' of the rear panel 18' when the storage bin 12 is hanging on the hanging bracket 16. Similarly, the transition- support surfaces 94 are formed at an angle (e.g., 45°) to the rear-support surfaces 92, so as to lie in registration with the transitional edge 26 of the storage bin 12 when it is hanging on the hanging bracket 16, and the ledge- support surfaces 96 are formed so as to lie in registration and/or support the ledge 34 of the storage bin when it is hanging on the hanging bracket. When the storage bin 12 is hanging on the hanging bracket 16 and secured thereto, e.g., by engagement of the locking elements 38 with their corresponding locking arrangements 86, receipt of the positioning elements 90 within the concavities of the lip 28, etc., the transition- support surfaces 94 may bear on their corresponding transitional edges 26 of the storage bin 12 in a normal direction. As the transition-support surfaces 94 is formed at an angle to the mounting plane M, a component of the force F imparted thereby onto the bin is directed inwardly toward the bin (indicated by F'), parallel to the mounting plane M.

The hanging bracket 16 may further comprise a leveling device 98, such as a spirit level, to facilitate horizontal mounting thereof on the wall.

It will be appreciated that while the hanging bracket 16 has been described above with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings as comprising two bracket members 68, it may be provided with more than two bracket members without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter, mutatis mutandis. For example, one or more additional bracket members (e.g., without vertically extending posts) may be provided, for example attachable at each end to one of the braces 72, to facilitate a collapsed position of the hanging bracket 16 which is smaller than is possible when comprising only two bracket members 68 as described above with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, mutatis mutandis.

The storage bin 12 may be hung on the hanging bracket 16, e.g., when the hanging bracket is secured to the wall, by aligning the rear portion of the rim 18 above the braces 72. The storage bin 12 is brought downwardly, such that the positioning elements 90 of the hanging bracket 16 are received within the concavities in the lip 28, while bottom edges of the rear lip transitional surface 36' slide downwardly along the main surfaces 84 of the locking arrangements 86 (the guide surfaces 82 may direct the rear lip transitional surfaces such that they are aligned with the main surfaces 84). As the storage bin 12 descends, the flexibly-mounted bulge 88 ascends the ramp 42 toward the tab 40 while being displaced thereby, and returns to its original place when it passes the tab 40. At this point, the downwardly-facing contact surface 34 of the lip 28 rests on the upper surface of the braces 72, and the rear-support surfaces 92, transition-support surfaces 94, and ledge-support surfaces 96 of the posts 70 of the hanging bracket 16 lie in registration with, respectively, the upper surface 20' of the rear panel 18', the transitional edge 26 of the storage bin 12, and the ledge 34 of the storage bin.

As illustrated in Figs. 5A and 5B, two or more storage bins 12 may be stacked by nesting one within another. The panels 18 are formed such that when the storage bins 12 are nested, i.e., inserted one inside the other to the maximum extent possible without damaging the panels, and disposed in the same orientation (or rotated 90 180° if the panels 18 are rotationally symmetric), adjacent storage bins are vertically spaced by a stacking distance A (i.e., between corresponding points thereof). The stacking distance A may be sufficient to accommodate the tongues 48 of the hinge arrangements 46, thereby allowing the lids 44 to hang to the sides, thus allowing the storage bins 12 to be nested without the lids interfering. In addition, it gives rise to nested storage space 100 between bottom panels 102 of the storage bins 12, of sufficient height to accommodate therein at least one of the hanging brackets 16 when in its collapsed position, as illustrated in Fig. 5C. Accordingly, several container systems 10 may be nested, while accommodating the mounting brackets 16 in their collapsed positions therewithin, thereby facilitating efficient storage thereof. In addition, the lids 44 may be removed (not illustrated) and stacked above the storage bins 12, further conserving space required for a stack of container systems 10 (i.e., with the storage bins thereof nested one within another).

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter, mutatis mutandis. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the storage bin 12 may be provided without a lid or its associated hinge arrangements.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container system comprising a storage bin defining a storage space therein, and a hanging bracket configured to facilitate hanging the storage bin on a vertical support surface, the storage bin comprising at least a rear panel and two side panels adjacent thereto, the hanging bracket comprising two horizontally- spaced vertical posts; said hanging bracket being slidable between a collapsed position and a mounting position in which it is configured to facilitate the hanging, wherein, in said mounting position, said posts are spaced sufficiently to each abut one of the side panels with the rear panel spanning therebetween; and

said storage bin being configured to nest with a second storage bin identical thereto, such that the portion of said storage space below said second storage bin when nested within said storage bin can accommodate therewithin said hanging bracket in its collapsed position.

2. The container system of claim 1, said hanging bracket comprising first and second bracket members, each of said bracket members comprising one of said posts and a brace extending toward the other of said posts.

3. The container system of claim 2, wherein a first of said braces is slidable with respect to a second of said braces.

4. The container system of claim 3, wherein the first brace is received within the second brace in said mounting and collapsed positions.

5. The container system of claim 3 or 4, wherein said braces comprise a fixation arrangement configured to secure said bracket members at one or more fixed positions.

6. The container system of claim 5, said fixation arrangement comprising a button on a flexible tab formed on one of said braces, and one or more corresponding fixation apertures formed in the other of said braces, said fixation aperture being configured to receive therewithin said button.

7. The container system of claim 6, wherein one of said fixation apertures corresponds to said mounting position of the mounting bracket.

8. The container system of claim 6 or 7, wherein one of said fixation apertures corresponds to said collapsed position of the mounting bracket.

9. The container system of any one of the preceding claims, said hanging bracket comprising two or more through-going mounting apertures, configured to facilitate mounting the hanging bracket on the vertical support surface.

10. The container system of claim 9, wherein said mounting apertures are horizontally spaced by 16 inches (40.64 cm) when the hanging bracket is in its mounting position.

11. The container system of any one of the preceding claims, said hanging bracket further comprising one or more locking arrangements configured to engage with the storage bin for securing thereto.

12. The container system of claim 11, said storage bin comprising a locking element configured to cooperate with said locking arrangement to facilitate the securing.

13. The container system of claim 11, each of said locking arrangements comprising a bulge, and each of said locking elements comprising a tab, said tab and bulge configured to abut one another when the storage bin is hanging on the hanging bracket.

14. The container system according to claim 13, wherein at least said tab or said bulge is configured to be displaced by the other and to be biased to its original position thereafter.

15. The container system of any one of the preceding claims, said hanging bracket further comprising one or more positioning elements, each projecting upwardly therefrom and configured to be snugly received within a corresponding downwardly- facing concavity formed in the storage bin when hanging on the hanging bracket.

16. The container system of any one of the preceding claims, said storage bin comprising transitional edges formed between said rear panel and each of said side panels, said hanging bracket comprising transition-support surfaces configured to lie in registration with said transitional edges when the storage bin is hanging on the hanging bracket.

17. The container system of claim 16, wherein said transitional edges are formed as fillets.

18. The container system of claim 17, wherein each fillet is angled substantially 45° with respect to the rear panel and its respective side panel.

19. The container system of any one of the preceding claims, said hanging bracket further comprising a leveling device configured to facilitate horizontal mounting thereof on the vertical support surface.