Modular storage assembly

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus comprising a modular storage assembly. Various embodiments comprise a storage rack that includes a plurality of post members, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of retaining rings. The plurality of post members include a plurality of grooves that extend around the perimeter of the posts. Further, the plurality of post members include male and female ends that enable the post members to form a post assembly. The plurality of shelves include a wall mount and a plurality of apertures, which define a toothed profile and which are disposed at the corners of the plurality of shelves. The retaining rings feature a generally tapered shape, a gap, an outer perimeter featuring a toothed profile, and an inner perimeter featuring annular ridges. The retaining rings are thus configured to couple the shelves to the post members such that the position of the shelves with respect to the post members is adjustable in the vertical direction. Various embodiments also comprise a door assembly that includes a plurality of identical door panels, a latching post and a hasp member. The door assembly may thus form a storage bin and/or a storage cabinet.

1 . A storage assembly apparatus comprising:
 at least one upstanding post assembly;   at least one shelf comprising at least one aperture extending through the shelf, wherein each of the at least one aperture comprises a first toothed profile defining a first plurality of teeth oriented to face radially inward into each of the at least one aperture; and   at least one annular ring for removably fixing a vertical position of the at least one shelf on the at least one upstanding post assembly, wherein the at least one annular ring comprises:
 a second toothed profile positioned on an outer perimeter of the at least one annular ring, wherein the second toothed profile defines a second plurality of teeth that extend and face outward from the outer perimeter of the annular ring, and wherein the second plurality of teeth are configured to engage the first plurality of teeth defined by the at least one aperture; and 
 an inner perimeter defining a structural profile extending inward from the inner perimeter, wherein the inner perimeter is configured to engage the at least one upstanding post assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one annular ring comprises a generally tapered shape such that the outer perimeter of the at least one annular ring decreases along a vertical direction thereby configuring the at least one annular ring with a narrow end opposite a wide end. 
     
     
         3 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one annular ring comprises a gap that enables the annular ring to elastically deform in a radial direction to facilitate a repositioning of the annular ring along the at least one upstanding post assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one annular ring comprises an inner diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the at least one upstanding post assembly such that installing the at least one annular ring on the at least one upstanding post assembly results in an interference fit. 
     
     
         5 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one post assembly comprises a plurality of annular grooves; and
 wherein the inner perimeter of the at least one annular ring comprises one or more annular ridges extending inward from the inner perimeter, and wherein the at least one or more annular ridges are configured to engage a subset of the plurality of annular grooves such that a vertical position of the at least one annular ring with respect to the at least one upstanding post assembly becomes fixed.   
     
     
         6 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first toothed profile comprises an inner profile perimeter, the inner profile perimeter being defined by a first shape connecting a first plurality of apexes of the first plurality of teeth;
 wherein the second toothed profile comprises an outer profile perimeter, the outer profile perimeter being defined by a second shape connecting a second plurality of apexes of the second plurality of teeth; and   wherein the first toothed profile and the second toothed profile are configured to prevent the at least one aperture from seating on the at least one annular ring when the at least one shelf is initially lowered onto the at least one annular ring.   
     
     
         7 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shelf comprises a shelf perimeter, and wherein a wall mount is disposed on the shelf perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shelf comprises a shelf perimeter, and wherein the shelf perimeter comprises a plurality of trusses extending around the shelf perimeter and extending between a top surface of the at least one shelf and a bottom surface of the at least one shelf. 
     
     
         9 . A storage assembly apparatus comprising:
 at least four upstanding post assemblies;   at least one shelf positioned transversally with respect to the at least four upstanding post assemblies;   a plurality of identical panels, wherein each panel comprising the plurality of identical panels further comprises:
 a pair of hinges positioned on a first panel side; 
 a central hinge positioned on a second panel side that is opposite to the pair of hinges, wherein the pair of hinges and the central hinge are configured to pivotally couple each panel to at least one of the at least four upstanding post assemblies; 
   a door assembly comprising two panels of the plurality of identical panels, wherein each of the two panels of the plurality of identical panels is coupled to one of the at least four upstanding post assemblies via one of (i) the pair of hinges and (ii) the central hinge.   
     
     
         10 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of identical panels are reversible such that each panel comprising the plurality of identical panels may substitute any other panel comprising the plurality of identical panels in the storage assembly apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one panel of the plurality of identical panels is simultaneously coupled to two of the at least four upstanding post assemblies, such that the at least one panel of the plurality of panels forms one of (i) a side wall panel and (ii) a back wall panel. 
     
     
         12 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the door assembly further comprises:
 a hasp member configured to detachably engage to the central hinge;   a latching post configured to detachable engage to the pair of hinges.   
     
     
         13 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein detachably engaging the hasp member to the central hinge results in an interference fit, and wherein detachably engaging the latching post to the pair of hinges results in an interference fit. 
     
     
         14 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the latching post comprises a generally cylindrical shape, one or more annular grooves that extend outward from the latching post, and a staple configured to receive a lock. 
     
     
         15 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more annular grooves are configured to fix a vertical position of the latching post with respect to the pair of hinges when the latching post is detachably engaged to the pair of hinges. 
     
     
         16 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the hasp member comprises a post portion, two flanges, and a hasp portion comprising a slot, wherein the hasp portion extends outward from the post portion and is configured to engage the latching post. 
     
     
         17 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the hasp member comprises a post portion, two flanges, and a hasp portion comprising a slot that extends through the hasp portion;   wherein the hasp portion extends outward from the post portion and is configured to engage the latching post; and   wherein the slot is configured to align with the staple.   
     
     
         18 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the two flanges comprise a first flange and a second flange; and
 wherein the first flange is disposed on one side of the post portion and the second flange is disposed on a side opposite to the first flange, such that the two flanges fix a vertical position of the hasp member with respect to the central hinge.   
     
     
         19 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the door assembly is repositionable between a closed position and an open position, the closed position being a first configuration in which the staple is positioned within the slot, and the open position being a second configuration in which the staple is spaced apart from the slot. 
     
     
         20 . The storage assembly apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the door assembly further comprises a lock at least partially disposed through the staple, wherein the lock prevents the two panels of the plurality of identical panels comprising the door assembly from pivotally rotating about the at least four upstanding post assemblies.