Storage Closet Having Frame and Soft Sided Storage Unit

Abstract

A storage closet is disclosed that has a frame that supports a soft-sided storage unit. The frame is configured for ease of assembly. Some of the components may be packaged already assembled or at least partially assembled in subassemblies in order to reduce the difficulty of sorting. Moreover, the frame may be disposed externally relative to the soft-sided storage unit in order to reduce the potential for the frame to cause tears in the soft-sided storage unit.

1 . A storage closet comprising:
 a frame having a pair of legs connected at upper ends by an upper cross member, the upper cross member having a center beam extending between the pair of legs and at each end a pair of wings selectively foldable between a position generally parallel to the center beam and a position extending outward relative to the center beam; and   a soft-sided storage unit configured to be supported by the frame.   
   
   
       2 . The storage closet of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of legs are connected at bottom ends by a lower cross member. 
   
   
       3 . The storage closet of  claim 2 , wherein lower cross member includes a first element pivotably connected to one of the legs and a second element pivotably connected to another of the legs, the first and second elements being joinable to form the lower cross member. 
   
   
       4 . The storage closet of  claim 1 , wherein a wing connection assembly joins one of the legs, the center beam and a pair of wings, the wing connection assembly including an unfolded stop associated with each of the wings to generally maintain each of the wings in the position extending outward relative to the center beam and a folded stop associated with each of the wings to generally maintain each of the wings in the positioned generally parallel to the center beam. 
   
   
       5 . The storage closet of  claim 4 , wherein a spring is associated with each of the wings and biases the wings into engagement with either the unfolded stop or the folded stop. 
   
   
       6 . The storage closet of  claim 5 , wherein the unfolded stop and the folded stop each include a groove formed in the wing connection assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The storage closet of  claim 4 , wherein the wings in the folded position are generally perpendicular to the center beam. 
   
   
       8 . The storage closet of  claim 4 , wherein the wings at one end of the center beam are at different angles, one of the wings being at an obtuse angle and the other of the wings being at an acute angle relative to the center beam. 
   
   
       9 . The storage closet of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit has an upper panel hanging from the wings. 
   
   
       10 . The storage closet of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit has an upper panel supported on its underside by the wings. 
   
   
       11 . The storage closet of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of wings are positioned along the center beam between the pairs of wings at the ends of the center beam and the center beam has two components that are joined via a center connection assembly, the center connection assembly being configured to support the pair of wings that are positioned along the center beam between the pairs of wings at the ends of the center beam. 
   
   
       12 . A subassembly of a frame having legs and a cross beam for supporting a storage unit, the subassembly comprising:
 a wing connection member adapted to join one of the legs and the cross beam; and   a plurality of wings pivotably attached to the wing connection member and moveable between positions generally parallel to each other and positions extending outwardly relative to each other, the plurality of wings be adapted to support the storage unit.   
   
   
       13 . The subassembly of  claim 12 , wherein the wing connection element has a first stop associated with each of the wings to generally maintain each of the wings in the extended position and a second stop associated with each of the wings to generally maintain each of the wings in the positioned generally parallel to each other. 
   
   
       14 . The subassembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a spring is associated with each of the wings and biases the wings into engagement with either the unfolded stop or the folded stop; and   the unfolded stop and the folded stop each include a groove formed in the wing connection assembly.   
   
   
       15 . A storage closet comprising:
 a frame having a pair of legs connected at top portions by an upper cross member and connected at bottom portions by a lower cross member, a plurality of wings extending outwardly relative to the upper cross member; and   a soft-sided storage unit, the soft sided storage unit having an upper panel disposed between the upper and lower cross members and hanging from at least some of the plurality of wings.   
   
   
       16 . The storage closet of  claim 15 , wherein the soft-sided storage unit includes a pair of side panels each disposed between the pair of legs. 
   
   
       17 . The storage closet of  claim 16 , wherein legs each include outward extensions adjacent their bottom portions and the soft-sided storage unit includes a bottom panel that is connected to the outward extensions of the legs. 
   
   
       18 . The storage closet of  claim 15 , wherein the wings are pivotably attached relative to the upper cross member. 
   
   
       19 . The storage closet of  claim 15 , wherein a portion at least one of the wings is received in a slot in one or more of the top portions of the legs and the upper cross member. 
   
   
       20 . The storage closet of  claim 19 , wherein the slot is in a tubular portion of the legs or upper cross member and a plug is inserterable at least partially into the tubular portion, the plug having a slot for being positioned adjacent the portion of the wings. 
   
   
       21 . The storage closet of  claim 19 , wherein the wing has an arcuate segment for abutting against an arcuate exterior surface of the one or more of the top portions of the legs and the upper cross member.