Modular storage structure for logistical management of operational units

Abstract

A modular storage system utilizes a plurality of carts. Each cart has a base with a platform, ends, sides, and end panels attached to and extending upwardly from the ends. The end panels and platform define a storage space that is accessible through one of the sides. The carts also have a truss between the end panels for hanging articles. The carts have wheel assemblies attached to and extending below the base to provide a rolling surface adapted to roll on the floor and a track follower mechanism for engaging a track in the storage facility housing the modular storage system. In one embodiment, the truss height is large enough such that when a hanger is hung from the truss, the truss height prevents the hanger from swinging through an arc greater than about twenty degrees when the modular storage unit is moved in a direction parallel to the track. In another embodiment of the present invention, the truss has dual truss members, one truss member being the truss top and another truss member being the truss bottom.

1 . A modular storage system for articles of uniforms and wearable equipment comprising: 
 a plurality of carts, each cart including: 
 a base comprising a generally rectangular platform having opposed ends and opposed sides with end panels operably attached to and extending upward from the opposed ends, the end panels and the platform generally defining a storage space for contents that is accessible through one of the sides;  
 a truss disposed between the end panels, the truss selectively positioned on the end panels to allow for hanging of the articles generally within the storage space;  
 wheel assemblies operably attached to and extending below the base to provide a rolling surface adapted to roll on the floor; and  
 at least one track follower mechanism operably attached to one end of the base; and  
 a track operably positioned on the floor into which at least one track follower is selectively engageable,  
 such that the plurality of carts are stored in a generally abutting side-by-side position and the storage space of a selected cart is selectively accessed by moving at least one of the plurality of carts so as to create a space in a direction parallel to the track between the selected cart and at least one adjacent cart such that the storage space of the selected cart is accessible from one of the sides.  
   
   
   
       2 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the truss has a truss length generally defined by a distance between the end panels and a truss height defined between a truss top and a truss bottom, the truss height being large enough such that when a hanger having a center of gravity below the truss is hung from the truss top, the truss height prevents the hanger from swinging through an arc greater than about twenty degrees when the modular storage unit is moved in a direction parallel to the track.  
   
   
       3 . The modular storage system of  claim 2 , wherein the truss comprises dual truss members, one truss member comprising the truss top and another truss member comprising the truss bottom.  
   
   
       4 . The modular storage system of  claim 3 , wherein the truss members are different lengths.  
   
   
       5 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage space is sized vertically to accommodate a plurality of different sized hangers, wherein the different sized hangers have varied lengths to permit vertical staggering of articles hung from adjacent hangers for a maximum packing efficiency within the storage space.  
   
   
       6 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the end panels comprise a panel formed from a plurality of generally horizontal wire members.  
   
   
       7 . The modular storage system of  claim 6 , wherein the truss comprises a truss length and two generally opposed truss ends, each truss end comprising a body and a plurality of engagement members disposed on the body, such that the truss can be selectively positioned on the wire members when the engagement members are engaged with the wire members.  
   
   
       8 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises generally opposed sides, wherein a stacking assembly is placed on the sides of the base and selectively positioned between the ends of the base.  
   
   
       9 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shelf disposed between the end panels, the shelf selectively positioned between the end panels to permit selective placement of articles generally within the storage space.  
   
   
       10 . The modular storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the end panels comprise a panel formed of a plurality of generally horizontal wire members, the shelf further comprising two generally opposed shelf ends each having a plurality of engagement members, such that the shelf can be selectively positioned on the wire members when the engagement members are engaged with the wire members of the corresponding end panel.  
   
   
       11 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the ends and the sides of the base have a depth and a floor of the base is positioned at a bottom of the depth so as to define a basement storage area below a level of a top of the ends and the sides of the base.  
   
   
       12 . The modular storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the depth of at least the sides varies along portions of the sides proximate the ends and the floor is sloped corresponding to the portions of the sides.  
   
   
       13 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising doors disposed on at least one side of the base, wherein the doors are selected from the group consisting of: sliding doors, hinged doors, retracting doors, removable panels, or any combination thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The modular storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the doors are selected from the group consisting of: slotted, wire, solid, or any combination thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drawing board disposed on at least one end panel.  
   
   
       16 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitor operably carried by the cart.  
   
   
       17 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a video recording device operably carried by the cart.  
   
   
       18 . The modular storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a top panel disposed between and generally on top of the end panels that defines a top surface of the storage space.  
   
   
       19 . The modular storage unit of  claim 18 , wherein the top panel is selected from the group consisting of: slotted, wire, solid, or and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The modular storage unit of  claim 19 , further comprising a secondary storage structure carried by and above the top panel.  
   
   
       21 . A modular storage system for articles of uniforms and wearable equipment comprising: 
 a track operably positioned on the floor; and    a plurality of movable modular storage units, each movable modular storage unit including: 
 a base comprising a generally rectangular platform having opposed ends and opposed sides with end panels operably attached to and extending upward from the opposed ends, the end panels and the platform generally defining a means for storing contents that is accessible through one of the sides;  
 means for hanging disposed between the end panels, the means for hanging selectively positioned on the end panels to allow for hanging of the articles generally within the storage space;  
 means for rolling operably attached to and extending below the base to provide a rolling surface adapted to roll on the floor; and  
 means for engaging the plurality of modular storage units with the track whereby the plurality of movable modular storage units are stored in a generally abutting side-by-side position and the storage space of a selected movable modular storage unit is selectively accessed by moving at least one of the plurality of movable modular storage units so as to create a space in a direction parallel to the means for guiding between the selected movable modular storage unit and at least one adjacent movable modular storage unit such that the means for storing of the selected movable modular storage unit is accessible from one of the sides.  
   
   
   
       22 . The modular storage system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for hanging comprises a truss.  
   
   
       23 . The modular storage system of  claim 21 , wherein the movable modular storage units comprises a cart.  
   
   
       24 . The modular storage system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for selectively engaging comprises a track follower mechanism.  
   
   
       25 . The modular storage system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for rolling comprises wheels selected from the set consisting of: casters, axled pairs of wheels, or ball wheels.  
   
   
       26 . A method of assembling a modular storage unit comprising: 
 providing a base generally having a length that separates opposed ends of the base, with wheel assemblies extending from the bottom of the base to roll over a floor guided by a track follower mechanism attached to the base;    operably attaching end panels disposed on the opposed ends of the base and operably attaching a top panel disposed between and generally on top of the end panels to define a storage space;    positioning a wire-grille panel on each end panel;    capturing at least a portion of the wire-grille panel with a bracket; and    utilizing a fastener to secure the bracket on the end panel and to secure the wire-grille panel in a position on the end panel.    
   
   
       27 . The method of assembling a modular storage system of  claim 26 , wherein the brackets are formed of two pivotably connected bracket portions and the step of operably attaching comprises positioning a wire-grille panel onto the end panel, pivoting the two bracket portions to capture at least a portion of the end frame and at least a portion of the wire-grille panel with a bracket, and utilizing a fastener to secure the bracket on the end panel and to secure the wire-grille panel in a position on the end panel.  
   
   
       28 . The method of assembling a modular storage system of  claim 27 , wherein the step of attaching further comprises attaching a secondary storage structure carried by and above the top panel.