Modular storage assembly

Abstract

A storage assembly has a plurality of panels that are assembled to form a plurality of storage spaces, a plurality of connectors for coupling adjacent panels to form the plurality of storage spaces, and at least one tray positioned inside one of the storage spaces. Each connector has a generally circular body having a plurality of spaced-apart scalloped regions, with a recess provided at each of the locations of the scalloped regions. The storage system includes a caster having a wheel and a caster frame. The caster frame has a body, a bore provided therethrough for receiving the wheel, and at least two spaced-apart passages formed in the circumference of the body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In combination: 
 a. a panel having a plurality of crossing bars that define a plurality of grids; and    b. a caster having a wheel and a caster frame, the caster frame including: 
 a body having a circumference, and a bore provided therethrough for receiving the wheel; and  
 at least two spaced-apart passages formed in the circumference of the body;  
   c. wherein a separate one of the bars is fitted in each of the passages.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two spaced-apart passages comprises a first passage, a second passage, a third passage and a fourth passage, with the first and second passages provided at a vertical level that is different from the vertical level of the third and fourth passages.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second passages are spaced apart by about ninety degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein each passage is spaced apart from an adjacent passage by about ninety degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two spaced-apart passages comprises a first passage and a second passage, and a concave side wall between the first and second passages.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the caster frame further includes a stop surface adjacent the first passage.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the stop surface is a first stop surface, and wherein the caster frame further includes a second stop surface opposite the first stop surface.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the caster frame further includes a first flange edge extending between the first and fourth passages.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the caster frame further includes a second flange edge extending between the second and third passages.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the caster frame further includes a third flange edge extending between the third and fourth passages.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the caster frame further includes a first vertical wall extending from the first flange edge.  
     
     
         12 . In combination: 
 a panel having a plurality of crossing bars that define a plurality of grids, and a plurality of border bars; and    a connector having a generally circular body having a plurality of spaced-apart scalloped regions, with a recess provided at each of the locations of the scalloped regions;    wherein one of the border bars is retained inside the recess.    
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each scalloped region is defined by a concave edge.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the connector has four recesses, each recess provided at each of the locations of the scalloped regions, with the recesses spaced-apart by about ninety degrees.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the connector further includes at least one set of two spaced-apart walls extending from the body, with the two spaced-apart walls defining a space.  
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a caster to a panel, the panel having a plurality of crossing bars that define a plurality of grids, the plurality of grids having at least one corner grid defined by first and second adjacent border bars, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a caster having a wheel and a caster frame, the caster frame including: 
 a body having a circumference, and a bore provided therethrough for receiving the wheel; and  
 a first passage and a second passage formed in the circumference of the body;  
   b. inserting the caster frame through a corner grid opening to position the caster frame inside the corner grid opening; and    c. rotating the caster frame to cause the first border bar to be slid into the first passage, and to cause the second border bar to be slid into the second passage.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including: 
 d. providing a stop surface to limit rotation of the caster frame.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the caster frame further includes a third passage and a fourth passage that are spaced apart from the first passage and the second passage, wherein step (c) further includes: 
 c1. sliding one of the crossing bars of the corner grid opening into the third passage; and    c2. sliding a bar that is orthogonally adjacent to the one crossing bar into the fourth passage.    
     
     
         19 . A storage system having at least one tray, the tray having opposing sides edges, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of panels that are assembled to form a plurality of storage spaces, each panel having a plurality of crossing bars that define a plurality of grids;    a plurality of connectors for coupling adjacent panels to form the plurality of storage spaces; and    a pair of tracks that are positioned on opposing panels of one of the storage spaces, each track having a body that has a first end and an opposing second end, and a horizontal groove for receiving one side edge of the tray, each track further including a first attachment mechanism and a second attachment mechanism spaced-apart from the first attachment mechanism, with each of the first and second attachment mechanisms receiving a separate bar of a panel, and with the first attachment mechanism positioned on the body at a first distance from the first end, and with the second attachment mechanism positioned on the body at a second distance from the second end, the first distance being greater than the second distance.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the pair of tracks comprises a first track and a second track, and wherein the first track is coupled to a first side of a first panel at a first vertical level, the system further including a third track having the same structure as the first track, and coupled to a second side of the first panel at the first vertical level.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each connector has a generally circular body having a plurality of spaced-apart scalloped regions, with a recess provided at each of the locations of the scalloped regions.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , further including a caster having a wheel and a caster frame, the caster frame including: 
 a body having a circumference, and a bore provided therethrough for receiving the wheel; and    at least two spaced-apart passages formed in the circumference of the body, with a separate one of the bars fitted in each of the passages.