IP Library Granted Patent US 11,577,661
Granted Patent B2
US 11,577,661 · App. 17/080,386 · Granted Feb 14, 2023

Storage organizing article and system

Inventors: David Reband (Antioch, IL); Robert Price (Mettawa, IL)
Assignee: THERMOFLEX CORP.
B60R11/00B60P7/0892B60R7/02B60R2011/0029
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,577,661
App. No.
17/080,386
Granted
Feb 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A storage organizing article, comprising a foundation comprising a horizontal floor; a vertical wall comprising a plurality of vertical wall segments; wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to each other; wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to the foundation via a plurality of engagement footings of the plurality of vertical wall segments; wherein the horizontal floor has a base wall, a plurality of retention members and a plurality of engagement receptacles; wherein each engagement receptacle is formed by a sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members, respectively; and wherein, when the foundation and vertical wall are connected, each of the engagement footings is disposed one of the engagement receptacles, respectively, and forms a releasable interference fit with the sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members which form the engagement receptacle, respectively.

Claims (46)

1. A storage organizing article, comprising:

a foundation comprising a horizontal floor;

a vertical wall comprising a plurality of vertical wall segments;

wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to each other;

wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to the foundation via a plurality of engagement footings of the plurality of vertical wall segments;

wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to the foundation along a first axis;

wherein the plurality of the vertical wall segments comprise at least one linear vertical wall segment and at least one corner vertical wall segment with a fixed 90 degree bend;

wherein the at least one linear vertical wall segment of the plurality of vertical wall segments has two opposite end faces which are each releasably connectable with an end face of two other vertical wall segments of the plurality of vertical wall segments, respectively, along a second axis, wherein at least one of the two other vertical wall segments comprises the at least one corner vertical wall segment;

wherein the first axis and the second axis are substantially perpendicular to each other;

wherein the horizontal floor has a base wall, a plurality of retention members and a plurality of engagement receptacles;

wherein each engagement receptacle of the plurality of engagement receptacles is formed by a sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members, respectively; and

wherein, when the foundation and vertical wall are connected, each of the engagement footings of the plurality of engagement footings is respectively disposed in one of the engagement receptacles of the plurality of engagement receptacles and forms a releasable interference fit with the sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members forming the engagement receptacle.

2. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein each of the engagement footings of the plurality of engagement footings comprises a projection;

wherein each retention member of each sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members comprises a projection which projects vertically upward relative to the base wall; and

wherein, when the foundation and vertical wall are connected, each projection of each of the engagement footings is disposed in one of the engagement receptacles and forms a releasable interference fit with each of the projections of each sub-grouping forming the engagement receptacle.

3. The storage organizing article of claim 2 , wherein the projection of each of the engagement footings is substantially identical.

4. The storage organizing article of claim 2 , wherein the projection of each of the engagement footings is cylindrical in cross-section.

5. The storage organizing article of claim 2 , wherein the projection of each retention member of each sub-grouping is substantially identical.

6. The storage organizing article of claim 2 , wherein the projection of each retention member of each sub-grouping is polygonal in cross-section.

7. The storage organizing article of claim 2 , wherein the projection of each retention member of each sub-grouping is square in cross-section.

8. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein each engagement receptacle of the plurality of engagement receptacles formed by a sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members is formed by at least two retention members.

9. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein each sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members is formed by four retention members.

10. The storage organizing article of claim 9 , wherein the four retention members of each sub-grouping are substantially equally spaced around a center of each engagement receptacle of the plurality of engagement receptacles, respectively.

11. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retention members are arranged in a plurality of rows;

wherein a first set of the plurality of rows are substantially parallel to one another;

wherein a second set of the plurality of rows are substantially parallel to one another; and

wherein the first set of the plurality of rows and the second set of the plurality of rows are substantially perpendicular to one another.

12. The storage organizing article of claim 11 , wherein the first set of the plurality of rows comprises at least 2 rows, at least 3 rows, at least 4 rows, at least 5 rows, at least 6 rows, at least 7 rows, at least 8 rows, at least 9 rows, at least 10 rows, at least 11 rows, at least 12 rows or at least 13 rows; and

the second set of the plurality of rows comprises at least 2 rows, at least 3 rows, at least 4 rows, at least 5 rows, at least 6 rows, at least 7 rows, at least 8 rows, at least 9 rows, at least 10 rows, at least 11 rows, at least 12 rows or at least 13 rows.

13. The storage organizing article of claim 11 , wherein each row of the first set of the plurality of rows comprises at least 2 retention members, at least 3 retention members, at least 4 retention members, at least 5 retention members, at least 6 retention members, at least 7 retention members, at least 8 retention members, at least 9 retention members, at least 10 retention members, at least 11 retention members, at least 12 retention members or at least 13 retention members; and

wherein each row of the second set of the plurality of rows comprises at least 2 retention members, at least 3 retention members, at least 4 retention members, at least 5 retention members, at least 6 retention members, at least 7 retention members, at least 8 retention members, at least 9 retention members, at least 10 retention members, at least 11 retention members, at least 12 retention members or at least 13 retention members.

14. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein each vertical wall segment of the plurality of vertical wall segments comprises at least a portion of at least one engagement footing of the plurality of engagement footings.

15. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein at least one vertical wall segment of the plurality of vertical wall segments comprises at least one engagement footing of the plurality of engagement footings.

16. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein at least one vertical wall segment of the plurality of vertical wall segments comprises more than one engagement footing of the plurality of engagement footings.

17. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein at least one vertical wall segment of the plurality of vertical wall segments comprises at least two engagement footings of the plurality of engagement footings.

18. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein at least one engagement footing of the plurality of engagement footings comprises a first half portion provided by one of the vertical wall segment of the plurality of vertical wall segments, and a second half portion provided by another one of the vertical wall segment of the plurality of vertical wall segments.

19. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to each other along a third axis;

wherein the third axis and the first axis are substantially perpendicular to each other; and

wherein the third axis and the second axis are substantially perpendicular to each other.

20. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to each other via a male connector and a female connector which are connectable to provide a connection with positive mechanical engagement.

21. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the base wall is planar.

22. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the foundation further comprises a perimeter rim which at least partially surrounds the horizontal floor.

23. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the foundation further comprises a perimeter rim which completely surrounds the horizontal floor.

24. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the foundation is in a form of a tray.

25. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the foundation is formed of an injection molded thermoplastic composition.

26. The storage organizing article of claim 1 , wherein the vertical wall segments are formed of an injection molded thermoplastic composition.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: THERMOFLEX CORP.; RANGER COMPOUNDING LLC; REDJ, INC.; NAMC, INC.; SALEX PRODUCTS INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065077/0878 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2021
From: REBAND, DAVID; PRICE, ROBERT
To: THERMOFLEX CORP.
Reel/Frame 056196/0324 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220126760A1 · Apr 28, 2022
Cited By (3)
US 12,221,071 US 12,344,197 US 12,459,442