Storage unit with coupling mechanism

Abstract

A storage unit having a first sheet having a female connection member defining an opening, and a second sheet having a male connection member. The male connection member can have a neck portion dimensioned to be received in the opening, and can have a retaining portion that is wider than the opening and configured to couple the male and female connection members together. The retaining portion can have a concave edge opposite from the neck portion.

1 . A storage unit, comprising:
 a first sheet having a female connection member defining an opening; and   a second sheet having a male connection member, the male connection member having a neck portion dimensioned to be received in the opening, and a retaining portion that is wider than the opening and configured to couple the male and female connection members together, the retaining portion defining a concave edge opposite from the neck portion configured for increasing the flexibility of the retaining portion to facilitate reception thereof into the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the concave edge is configured for increasing the flexibility of the retaining portion to provide a snap lock connection in the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The storage unit of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining portion of the male connection member is configured to removably snap into the opening of the female connection member. 
     
     
         4 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion defines an indentation between a body of the second sheet and the male connection member such that the neck portion has a narrower width than the retaining portion. 
     
     
         5 . The storage unit of  claim 4 , wherein the retaining portion comprises two lateral protrusions on opposite lateral sides of the concave edge and extending beyond the width of the opening, wherein the concave edge is configured and dimensioned for increasing flexibility of the lateral protrusions with respect to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion of the second sheet has approximately a similar width as the opening of the first sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the opening has an axis that extends through the first sheet, and the male connection member is disposed at a periphery of the second sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a tab portion protruding from an edge of the second sheet for a label to be provided. 
     
     
         9 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet comprises two or more panels that are folded with respect to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein first and the second sheets comprise an extruded polypropylene foam. 
     
     
         11 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second sheet comprises an extruded foam having outer layers and a middle layer therebetween, wherein the outer layers have a higher density than the middle layer. 
     
     
         12 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the first sheet comprises the extruded foam, and the first and second sheets have substantially uniform thicknesses. 
     
     
         13 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the outer layers comprise a first and second layer, and the first and second layers comprise different colors. 
     
     
         14 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sheets have substantially uniform thicknesses. 
     
     
         15 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit when assembled comprises a document tray, magazine file, pen holder or name card holder. 
     
     
         16 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially flat sheet blank comprising at least the first or second sheet in an unassembled form, wherein the sheet blank is pre-cut to allow easy removal of the first or second sheet therefrom. 
     
     
         17 . The storage unit of  claim 16 , wherein the sheet blank has a substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
         18 . An office storage unit, comprising:
 a first extruded foam sheet having a substantially uniform thickness and a female connection member defining an opening; and   a second extruded foam sheet having a substantially uniform thickness and a male connection member defining a protrusion,   wherein the at least one female connection member is configured to receive the protrusion of the at least one male connection member to connect the first and second extruded foam sheets to form a foam storage unit.   
     
     
         19 . The storage unit of  claim 18 , wherein one or both of the first and second extruded foam sheets comprise score lines configured for allowing the first or second foam sheets to bend thereat. 
     
     
         20 . The storage unit of  claim 18 , wherein the first sheet comprises a plurality panels separated by at least one of the score lines and foldable thereabout, at least two of the panels having a female connection member each comprising an opening near a periphery of the first sheet, wherein each opening is configured to receive a protrusion of a male connection member of the second sheet to retain the first sheet folded about the at least one score line. 
     
     
         21 . The storage unit of  claim 20 , wherein the second sheet comprises a plurality of panels is foldable at least one of the score lines and foldable thereabout, allowing the panels of the second extruded foam sheet to be coupled with the first extruded foam sheet to form a storage unit. 
     
     
         22 . The storage unit of  claim 20 , wherein the first sheet comprises a left panel, a right panel and a middle panel joining the left and right panels, each panel having at least one or more female connection member.