Storage unit

Abstract

A storage unit is provided. The storage unit includes a floor assembly, a sidewall assembly, and a lid assembly. The sidewall assembly includes a number of modular corner members and a number of modular panel members. The sidewall assembly including a lower perimeter and an upper perimeter. The sidewall assembly lower perimeter is coupled to said floor assembly with the sidewall assembly extending upwardly from said floor assembly. The lid assembly is movably coupled to said sidewall assembly and is structured to move between a closed, first position and an open, second position. The floor assembly, the sidewall assembly and said lid assembly define an enclosed space. Use of the modular sidewall members and, in an exemplary embodiment a modular floor assembly, allows the manufacturer to produce storage units of different sizes at a minimal cost.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage unit comprising:
 a floor assembly;   a sidewall assembly, said sidewall assembly eluding a number of modular corner members and a number of modular panel members, said sidewall assembly including a lower perimeter and an upper perimeter;   said sidewall assembly lower perimeter coupled to said floor assembly, said sidewall assembly extending upwardly from said floor assembly;   a lid assembly, said lid assembly movably coupled to said sidewall assembly;   wherein said lid assembly is structured to move between a closed, first position and an open, second position; and   said floor assembly, said sidewall assembly and said lid assembly defining an enclosed space.   
     
     
         2 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein:
 each said modular corner member including a corner body with a first inwardly extending lateral flange and a second inwardly extending lateral flange; 
 each said modular panel member includes a generally planar body with a first inwardly extending lateral flange and a second inwardly extending lateral flange; 
 each said modular panel member first flange coupled to one of an adjacent modular panel member second flange or an adjacent modular corner member second flange; and 
 each said modular corner member first flange coupled to an adjacent modular panel member second flange. 
 
     
     
         3 . The storage unit of  claim 2  wherein each flange coupling is a brace. 
     
     
         4 . The storage unit of  claim 2  wherein each flange coupling is an abutting interface. 
     
     
         5 . The storage unit of  claim 2  wherein:
 each said flange coupling includes a number of fasteners, each flange coupling fastener including an elongated body; 
 said flange coupling fastener body extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the associated flange coupling; and 
 wherein each flange coupling fastener is disposed within said enclosed space. 
 
     
     
         6 . The storage unit of  claim 2  wherein:
 said sidewall assembly includes a number of U-splice elements, each U-slice member including an elongated body having a generally U-shaped cross-section including two spaced tines; 
 wherein each said U-splice element tine has a length generally corresponding to the length of a lateral flange, said U-splice element tines spaced to correspond to the width of two lateral flanges; and 
 each said U-splice element disposed over a flange coupling. 
 
     
     
         7 . The storage unit of  claim 6  wherein each interface between a flange and a U-splice element tine is an abutting interface. 
     
     
         8 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein:
 said sidewall assembly includes a substantially planar upper perimeter; 
 said lid assembly is substantially rigid and includes a substantially planar lower perimeter; 
 wherein, when said lid assembly is in said second position, said sidewall assembly upper perimeter and said lid assembly lower perimeter are an abutting interface. 
 
     
     
         9 . The storage unit of  claim 8  wherein:
 said sidewall assembly includes an upper channel assembly, said upper channel assembly corresponding to the shape of said sidewall assembly, said upper channel assembly including a number of elongated channel members; 
 each upper channel assembly channel member including a body with a U-shaped cross-section wherein the tines of the body are spaced to correspond to the width of a flange and wherein the outer surface of the bight is generally planar; 
 each said upper channel assembly channel member disposed in an inverted orientation at said sidewall assembly upper perimeter; and 
 each said upper channel assembly channel member coupled to a number of said modular panel members and a number of said modular corner members. 
 
     
     
         10 . The storage unit of  claim 9  wherein:
 each said modular corner member including an inwardly extending upper flange; 
 each said modular panel member includes an inwardly extending upper flange; 
 said upper channel assembly coupled to each said modular corner member upper flange in an abutting interface; and 
 said upper channel assembly coupled to each said modular panel member upper flange in an abutting interface. 
 
     
     
         11 . The storage unit of  claim 10  wherein:
 said lid assembly includes a generally planar member and a. number of modular brace members; 
 said planar member including a front channel side, a rear channel side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side; 
 said front channel side defining an inwardly facing U-shaped channel; 
 said rear channel side defining an inwardly facing U-shaped channel; 
 said front channel side and said rear channel side disposed in opposition to each other; 
 each said lid assembly brace member includes a first end and a second end; and 
 each said lid assembly brace member coupled to said lid assembly planar member with each said brace member first end disposed in said front channel and each said brace member second end disposed in said rear channel. 
 
     
     
         12 . The storage unit of  claim 11  wherein:
 said lid assembly includes a first lid cap and a second lid cap; 
 said first lid cap including an elongated body; 
 said second lid cap including an elongated body; 
 said first lid cap coupled to said lid planar member first lateral side; and 
 said second lid cap coupled to said lid planar member second lateral side. 
 
     
     
         13 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein:
 said floor assembly includes a number of modular floor elements and a number of fasteners; and 
 said modular floor elements disposed adjacent to each other with said floor assembly fasteners coupling said modular floor elements. 
 
     
     
         14 . The storage unit of  claim 13  wherein:
 each said modular floor element includes an elongated body with a U-shaped cross section and two wings; 
 each said modular floor element disposed adjacent to another modular floor element with the bodies wings overlapping in an abutting interface; and 
 said floor assembly fasteners extending through said overlapping wings. 
 
     
     
         15 . The storage unit of  claim 14  wherein:
 said floor assembly includes a lower channel assembly, said lower channel assembly corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said number of modular floor elements, said lower channel assembly including a number of elongated channel members; 
 each lower channel assembly channel member including a body with a tabbed U-shaped cross-section wherein the tines of the body are spaced to correspond to the thickness of said modular floor elements and wherein each said tab extends upwardly; and 
 said lower channel assembly coupled to each said modular floor elements in a partially abutting interface. 
 
     
     
         16 . The storage unit of  claim 15  wherein:
 said lower channel assembly number of elongated channel members includes a first lateral channel member, a second lateral channel member, a front channel member, and a rear channel member; 
 each said modular floor element includes a first lateral end and a second lateral end; 
 said number of modular floor elements includes a front modular floor element and a rear modular floor element; 
 said lower channel assembly first lateral channel member coupled to each said modular floor element first lateral end in an abutting interface; 
 said lower channel assembly second lateral channel member coupled to each said modular floor element second lateral end in an abutting interface; 
 said lower channel assembly front channel member coupled to said front modular floor element in a linear interface; and 
 said lower channel assembly rear channel member coupled to said rear modular floor element in a linear interface. 
 
     
     
         17 . The storage unit of  claim 15  wherein:
 each said lower channel assembly channel member body includes a planar upper, outer surface; and 
 said sidewall assembly coupled to each said lower channel assembly member in an abutting interface.