Spacesaver Corporation

Steven L Janson

Brian R Nemec

Steven S Dingle

John R Edwards

Matthew A Tourdot

Steven Mark Lehmann

Fraser D Houghton

A narrow slot roller and guide system for high density mobile storage systems having a plurality of storage units. The roller and guide system includes a longitudinally extending axial guide defining a first slot in a floor and a drive rail parallel thereto defining a second slot in the floor. The axial guide includes a roller arrangement adapted to engage a downwardly extending guide member coupled to the carriage of the storage units. The engagement of the roller arrangement and guide member serves as a guide for the storage units as the storage units are moved axially along the axial guide and drive rail. Further, the present invention limits the width of the first and second slots to a very narrow width, e.g. less than one half inch, thereby easily permitting disabled individuals to freely travel across a floor in which the roller and guide system is mounted. The roller and guide system may include an anti-tip assembly to prevent the tipping of the storage units as the storage units are moved along the axial guide and drive rail.

Narrow slot roller and guide system for high density mobile storage systems

A suspension-type storage unit that is particularly well suited for storing works of art or other hanging items in a space-efficient manner The storage unit includes a number of features that enable the storage unit to be moved between retracted and extended positions with a smooth, easy motion, without vibration, so as to protect and prevent damage to articles or items carried by the storage unit. The storage unit includes an overhead rail that defines a downwardly open guide slot and a pair of support surfaces located one on each side of the guide slot, in combination with a frame and at least a pair of trolley assemblies interposed between the rail and the frame for enabling movement of the frame relative to the rail along the guide slot. Each trolley assembly is formed with a head section that extends through the guide slot, and a wheel arrangement that is mounted to the head section. The wheel arrangement includes a pair of wheels between which the head section is located. Each wheel is engaged with one of the support surfaces of the overhead rail, for providing movement of the trolley along the rail. Each trolley assembly further includes a pair of arms that extend in opposite directions from the head section, and the frame is engaged with the pair of arms in a suspension-type manner.

Suspension-type storage unit

A carriage of a mobile storage system is adapted to support at least one storage unit for movement on a rail. The carriage generally includes a wheel mount structure, and a wheel mounting subassembly that includes a shaft having opposing ends, a wheel mounted to the shaft, and a first and a second mounting members that rotatably support the shaft. The wheel is located between the first and second mounting members such that the ends of the shaft extend outwardly from the first and second mounting members. The carriage further includes a cooperating mounting arrangement configured to non-rotatably mount the first and second mounting members to the wheel mount structure. The wheel extends downward from the wheel mount structure to engage the rail, and the ends of the shaft extend outward to engage a drive shaft that imparts rotation to the shaft and wheel so as to move the carriage on the rail.

Modular wheel assembly for a carriage in a mobile storage system

A stabilizing and enclosure system for a series of side-by-side mobile storage units. Each mobile storage unit includes a storage member, such as a cabinet assembly, mounted for extendible and retractable movement relative to a base which is rigidly fixed to a supporting structure such as a floor. A stationary stabilizing member is provided for each storage unit. An extendible and retractable engagement mechanism is interposed between each stabilizing member and the storage member of each storage unit, and is movable along with the storage member upon movement between its extended and retracted positions for maintaining engagement of the storage unit with the stabilizing member, to prevent the storage unit from tipping. In one embodiment, each stabilizing member is in the form of a top panel which overlies one of the storage units. Adjacent top panels are connected together, and each top panel is preferably engaged with the storage unit base by a vertical post.

Stabilizing and enclosure system for mobile storage units

A mobile storage system includes carriages mounted to rails supported on a floor, for mobilizing storage units such as drawer-type file cabinets. Each carriage incorporates mobile housing assemblies interconnected by a cross-brace arrangement. One end of the carriage includes an end panel arrangement that overlies a sidewall of an endmost storage unit, and which includes a frame and one or more cover members demountably secured to the frame so as to conceal the sidewall of the endmost storage unit. Each carriage includes retainers that interact with one of the rails so as to prevent upward movement of the carriage relative to the rails, and also function to mount one of the storage units to the carriage. The carriages and the rail and floor system are modular, enabling the components of the system to be shipped knocked-down and assembled on site, and to be expanded or contracted after installation.

Modular mobile storage system

A storage assembly includes a storage cabinet removably mounted to a wheeled base which is supported by a supporting surface such as a floor. A guide assembly is interconnected with the floor and the base for guiding movement of the base in a longitudinal direction, so as to provide movement of the storage cabinet between an extended position and a retracted position in response to application of an axial pull-out or push-in force to the cabinet. The guide assembly includes an inner mounting member secured to the floor, and an extendible and retractable guide mechanism extends from the inner mounting member. The guide mechanism may be in the form of a telescoping drawer slide assembly including a fixed-position member secured to the inner mounting member and an extension member secured to and interconnected with the base and slidably mounted to the fixed-position guide member. A floating engagement arrangement is provided between the extension member and base so as to provide relative vertical movement between the base and the extension member as the base is moved on the floor, to accommodate unevenness in the floor. A releasable retainer mechanism is interposed between the base and the guide assembly for releasably retaining the storage cabinet in either its extended position or its retracted position. The storage cabinet is removably mounted to the base by a removable mounting arrangement which requires a minimum number of tools to secure the storage cabinet to the base and which provides quick and easy mounting and demounting of the storage cabinet relative to the base. A shim system is engaged with the base for providing the dual function of locating the comers of the storage cabinet relative to the base and for selectively shimming one or both sides of the storage cabinet to adjust the position of the storage cabinet relative to the base.

Mobile storage system

An extension and retraction system for an article of furniture, such as a storage unit, includes a mounting structure for securement to the storage unit, a base arrangement for mounting to a floor or other supporting surface, and a cantilever-type extension and retraction arrangement interposed between the mounting structure and the base arrangement. The extension and retraction arrangement is in the form of a plurality of slide assemblies, each of which includes a stationary inner guide member mounted to the base arrangement mounted to each stationary guide member for telescoping inward and outward movement. Each extension member is connected to the mounting structure, and exertion of a pull-out or push-in force on the article of furniture is transferred through the mounting structure to cause extension and retraction of the extension members, to provide movement of the article of furniture between an extended position and a retracted position. The extension and retraction system is particularly well suited for applications such as high density shelving or storage, in which a number of similarly constructed units are assembled in a closely spaced relationship, such that movement of one of the units to an extended position provides access to the contents of the unit. The number of slide assemblies may be varied according to the load requirements for the article of furniture, to provide flexibility in manufacture and installation while maintaining the same basic design for the extension and retraction system.

Cantilevered pull-out shelf system

A mechanism that automatically locks a movable storage unit against closure of an aisle between the unit and a blocking object such as a facing movable or stationary storage unit or a wall, while permitting continued opening of the aisle, without any electrical controls or power. A binding device is shiftable between a binding state permitting movement of the movable storage unit only away from the facing storage unit or wall, and a non-binding state permitting movement of the unit in either direction. The mechanism includes a clutch wheel which rotates with the wheels of the movable storage unit, and a resilient binding wheel, insertable between the clutch wheel and a stationary binding block. When the binding wheel is inserted as described, it will bind and preclude the clutch wheel from continuing to rotate towards the binding block. A latch is capable of holding the binding wheel out of binding state. An aisle sensor and a manual lock button are provided to free the binding wheel from the latch, and again permit it to resume binding state. An unlock button is also provided for resetting the binding wheel to the non-binding state, again permitting movement of the mobile storage unit toward the facing storage unit or wall.

Growing community of inventors

Deerfield, WI, United States of America

Steven L Janson