IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0449298
(2003-05-29)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman &
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
15 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
Modular storage and/or display system including substantially rectangular modules each including opposed first and second sides, opposed third and fourth sides perpendicular to the first and second sides and coupled thereto. A male connecting member is provided on an outer surface of each of the fir
Modular storage and/or display system including substantially rectangular modules each including opposed first and second sides, opposed third and fourth sides perpendicular to the first and second sides and coupled thereto. A male connecting member is provided on an outer surface of each of the first and third sides and a female connecting member is provided on an outer surface of each of the second and fourth sides. The female connecting member has a structure complementary to the male connecting member. An additional male or female connecting member is provided on each of the first and second sides. By providing the same male and female connecting members on all sides of the modules, each module is connectable to any other module by coupling a connecting member on that module to an opposite connecting member on the other module.
대표청구항
▼
I claim: 1. A modular storage and/or display system, comprising: a plurality of modules, each of said modules including opposed first and second sides, each of said first and second sides having front and rear edges and lateral edges, opposed third and fourth sides, each of said third and fourth si
I claim: 1. A modular storage and/or display system, comprising: a plurality of modules, each of said modules including opposed first and second sides, each of said first and second sides having front and rear edges and lateral edges, opposed third and fourth sides, each of said third and fourth sides having front and rear edges and lateral edges, said third and fourth sides being perpendicular to said first and second sides and said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides being coupled to said lateral edges of said first and second sides to thereby provide said module with a rectangular shape, a male connecting member provided on an outer surface of each of said first and third sides, a female connecting member provided on an outer surface of each of said second and fourth sides, said female connecting member having a structure complementary to said male connecting member, and only a single additional male or female connecting member provided on each of said first and second sides such that each of said first and second sides includes only two connecting members, said single additional connecting member provided on said first side being a female connecting member and said single additional connecting member provided on said second side being a male connecting member, said two connecting members on each of said first and second sides being spaced apart from one another by a portion of said outer surface of said first or second side, each of said third and fourth sides including only one connecting member, said male and female connecting members being arranged on said first, second, third and fourth sides such that said male and female connecting members follow one another around the periphery of said module in an alternating manner whereby said male connecting member on said third side is not adjacent to said male connecting members on said first and second sides and said female connecting member on said fourth side is not adjacent to said female connecting members on said first and second sides, each of said modules being connectable to any other of said modules by coupling one of said male and female connecting members on said module to an opposite one of said male and female connecting members on the other one of said modules to thereby enable the formation of various configurations of said modules. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said male connecting members are arranged on said first and second sides opposite one another and said female connecting members are arranged on said first and second sides opposite one another. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein a length of said first and second sides is defined between said lateral edges of said first and second sides and a length of said third and fourth sides is defined between said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides, said male and female connecting members on each of said first and second sides are each centered at a location about 25% of the length of said first and second sides from a respective one of said lateral edges of said first and second sides and said male and said female connecting members on said third and fourth sides are centered between said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said connecting members are dovetails. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising positioning means arranged on an inner surface of said first and second sides or on an inner surface of said third and fourth sides for enabling placement of a shelf or partition in a space defined by said first, second, third and fourth sides. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said positioning means comprise elongated projections. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said male and female connecting members are parallel to said lateral edges of said first, second, third and fourth sides. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a square module engageable with each of said modules, said square module including opposed first and second sides, opposed third and fourth sides perpendicular and connected to said first and second sides, a single male connecting member provided on each of said first and second sides and identical to said male connecting members of said plurality of modules, and a single female connecting member provided on each of said third and fourth sides and identical to said female connecting members of said plurality of modules. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said modules further comprise a rear wall connected to said rear edges of said first, second, third and fourth sides. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said rear wall of each of said modules includes attachment means for attaching said module to a substrate and to a rear wall of another one of said modules. 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drawer insertable into an opening defined by said front edges of said first, second, third and fourth sides. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an accessory having a male or female connecting member on an outer surface identical to said male and female connecting members of said modules such that said accessory is engageable with said modules. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said accessory is selected from a group consisting of a book-end, a file organizer, a file holder and a pencil holder. 14. The system of claim 1, further comprising wheel assemblies including a wheel and a supporting member having an outer surface and a male or female connecting member on said outer surface identical to said male and female connecting members of said modules such that said wheel assemblies are engageable with said modules to thereby form a cart. 15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a table top having a lower surface and at least one male or female connecting member on said lower surface identical to said male and female connecting members of said modules such that said table top is engageable with said modules to thereby form a desk. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said modules further comprises at least one door hinged to a respective one of said first, second, third and fourth sides for closing an opening defined by said first, second, third and fourth sides of said module. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein said male and female connecting members are positioned on said modules such that when said first or second side of a first one of said modules is engaged via cooperating male and female connecting members to said third or fourth side of a second one of said modules, said third or fourth side of said first module is flush with said first or second side of said second module. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein a length of said first and second sides defined between said lateral edges of said first and second sides is a whole number multiple (N) of a length of said third and fourth sides defined between said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of said male and female connecting members on said third and fourth sides is arranged such that when in engagement with an opposite one of said male and female connecting members on said first and second sides of another one of said modules, said third and fourth sides adjoin only a portion (1/N) of said first and second sides. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein said male connecting members project from said outer surface of said first and third sides and define an indentation in an inner surface of said first and third sides. 21. A modular storage and/or display system, comprising: a plurality of modules, each of said modules including a plurality of sides having opposed lateral edges and being connected to one another at said lateral edges to thereby define an interior space, said plurality of sides including a first side, a second side and at least one additional side, said first and second sides being opposed to one another, each of said first and second sides having front and rear edges, said at least one additional side including opposed third and fourth sides, each of said third and fourth sides having front and rear edges, said third and fourth sides being perpendicular to said first and second sides and said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides being coupled to said lateral edges of said first and second sides to thereby provide said module with a rectangular shape, a single male connecting member projecting from a substantially planar outer surface of said first side and parallel to said lateral edges of said first side, said single male connecting member being centered between lateral edges of said first side with portions of said planar outer surface extending from said single male connecting member to both of said lateral edges, a single female connecting member formed in a substantially planar outer surface of said second side and parallel to said lateral edges of said second side, said female connecting member having a structure complementary to said male connecting member, said single female connecting member being centered between lateral edges of said second side with portions of said planar outer surface extending from said single female connecting member to both of said lateral edges, each of said third and fourth sides of said module including a male connecting member and a female connecting member, said male and female connecting members being arranged on said first, second, third and fourth sides such that said male and female connecting members follow one another around the periphery of said module in an alternating manner whereby said male connecting member on said first side is not adjacent to said male connecting members on said third and fourth sides and said female connecting member on said second side is not adjacent to said female connecting members on said third and fourth sides, each of said modules being connectable to any other of said modules by coupling one of said male and female connecting members on said module to an opposite one of said male and female connecting members on the other one of said modules to thereby enable the formation of various configurations of said modules. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein said male connecting members are arranged on said third and fourth sides opposite one another and said female connecting members are arranged on said third and fourth sides opposite one another. 23. The system of claim 21, wherein said male and female connecting members on each of said third and fourth sides are each centered at a location about 25% of a length of said third and fourth sides defined between said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides from a respective one of said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides. 24. The system of claim 21, wherein a length of said third and fourth sides defined between said lateral edges of said third and fourth sides is twice a length of said first and second sides defined between said lateral edges of said first and second sides. 25. The system of claim 21, further comprising positioning means arranged on an inner surface of opposed one of said sides for enabling placement of a shelf or partition in said space. 26. The system of claim 21, wherein said modules further comprise a rear wall connected to rear edges of said sides and including attachment means for attaching said module to a substrate and to a rear wall of another one of said modules.
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