Modular storage system

Abstract

A modular system including a plurality of modular units, each modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and office supplies therein. Each modular unit has a plurality of generally flat outer surfaces. Each modular unit is configured to be coupled to another modular unit along facing, parallel outer surfaces thereof when a facing outer surface of one of the modular units is moved towards the facing outer surface of the other modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to the facing outer surfaces until the modular units contact each other.

1 . A modular system comprising a plurality of modular units, each modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and office supplies therein, each modular unit having a plurality of generally flat outer surfaces, wherein each modular unit is configured to be coupled to another modular unit along facing, parallel outer surfaces thereof when a facing outer surface of one of said modular units is moved towards the facing outer surface of the other modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to said facing outer surfaces until the modular units contact each other.  
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said facing outer surfaces of said modular units to be coupled are facing each other such that a line that extends generally perpendicular to the facing outer surfaces intersects both of the facing outer surfaces when said modular units are spaced apart but moved towards each other during said coupling.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said modular system includes at least two types of modular units, said at least two types of modular units differing in size or shape.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said at least two types of modular units differ in both size and shape.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each modular unit has a generally rectangular prism shape.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each modular unit defines a volume of less than about 1728 cubic inches.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each modular unit has a weight less than about two pounds.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of modular units includes at least one of a storage slot module unit, a drawer module unit, a storage shelf module unit or a hanging file holder module unit.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said system has a generally rectangular prism shape when said plurality of modular units are coupled together.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each modular unit includes a cavity for storing school and office supplied therein.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said modular system includes at least two types of modular units, said at least two types of modular units differing in size or shape, and wherein each of said at least two types of modular units has a height dimension, a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein at least one of said dimensions of one of said types of modular units is a positive integer multiple of another dimension of the other type of modular units.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said positive integer is a positive integer in the range of 1 to 4, inclusive.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said positive integer number is a positive integer other than 1.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of said modular units is coupled to another modular unit along at least one of said outer surfaces.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each modular unit includes an attachment structure for coupling said modular unit to another modular unit.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each module is configured to be directly coupled to another module.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each module includes an outer covering material covering substantially all of the outer surfaces thereof, wherein said outer covering material is non-metallic.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each modular unit is configured to be coupled to another modular unit along facing, parallel outer surfaces thereof when a facing outer surface of one of said modular units is moved towards the facing outer surface of the other modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to said facing outer surfaces until said modular units contact each other such that each module is coupled together by more than frictional or gravitational forces.  
   
   
       19 . A modular system comprising a plurality of modular units, each modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and office supplies therein, each modular unit having a plurality of generally flat outer surfaces and being configured to be coupled to another modular unit when one of said outer surfaces is moved toward a generally parallel outer surface of said another modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to one of said generally parallel outer surfaces such that each module is coupled together by more than frictional forces, and wherein said generally parallel outer surfaces face each other during said movement of said one of said outer surfaces such that said generally parallel facing surfaces at least partially overlap during said movement of said one of said outer surfaces.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein each modular unit is configured to be coupled to said another modular unit when one of said generally parallel facing surfaces is moved towards and engages a generally parallel facing surface of said another modular unit.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein each modular unit is directly coupled to another adjacent modular unit along parallel, facing and adjacent outer surfaces thereof.  
   
   
       22 . An assembled modular system comprising a plurality of modular units, each modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and office supplies therein, each modular unit having a plurality of generally flat outer surfaces, wherein each modular unit is coupled to another modular unit along facing, parallel outer surfaces thereof, and is coupled thereto by moving a facing outer surface of one of said modular units towards the facing outer surface of the other modular unit in a direction generally perpendicular to said facing outer surfaces until said modular units contact each other.  
   
   
       23 . A modular unit that is sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and office supplies therein, said modular unit having a generally rectangular prism shape with a plurality of generally flat outer surfaces, wherein said modular unit has an outer coupling surface that is configured to be coupled to an outer coupling surface of another modular unit when said coupling surface of said modular unit faces and is generally parallel to said coupling surface of said another modular unit, and when at least one of said coupling surfaces is moved towards the other coupling surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said coupling surfaces until said modular unit and said another modular unit contact each other.  
   
   
       24 . A method for assembling a modular system comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first and a second modular unit, each modular unit being sized to be hand carried and configured to store school and office supplies therein, each modular unit having a plurality of generally flat outer surfaces;    arranging said first and second modular units such that an outer surface of said first modular unit faces a generally parallel outer surface of said second modular unit; and    moving at least one of said modular units in a direction generally perpendicular to said facing surfaces until said facing surfaces engage each other to couple said first and second modular unit together.