Storage rack for canned goods accommodating varying diameters and axial lengths
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of storage racks for cylindrical articles, and in particular to a storage rack for confining a plurality of preferably-vertical stacks of the cylindrical articles, wherein the articles are disposed with parallel preferably-horizontal axes, the articles being accessible for loading at the top of the rack and unloading at the bottom of the rack. The articles are confined axially between movably-mounted vertical partitions and radially between a back plane of the rack and movably-mounted barrier panels. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Various devices are known wherein cylindrical articles are stored in a vertical chute while resting with their cylindrical axes aligned horizontally. The articles are disposed between structural members confining the cylindrical articles axially, and other structural members confining them radially such that the cylindrical articles rest against one another in a stack with parallel axes. Removing a lowest of the articles allows the others to roll downward to fill the space. Such an arrangement may involve a directly vertical chute for the cylindrical articles, or alternatively, the path of the articles may follow a sloping, zigzag or S-shaped tortuous track down which the cylinders roll. Typically, the structural members which axially confine the cylindrical articles are rigidly positioned such that only one size of cylindrical article is precisely accommodated. While it may be possible to accommodate axially-shorter cylindrical articles within a chute arranged for axially longer articles, the result is unsatisfactory. The structure as well as the appearance of the stack are not orderly. Identifying indicia such as labels on the articles do not align. Where the articles are spools or the like with material wound on a cylinder between radially protruding end flanges, the flanges of adjacent spools interfere with one another when the articles are permitted to become misaligned by lack of axial confinement sufficient to keep the flanges of one article in radial contact with the flanges of adjacent articles. 
     Cylindrical articles such as canned goods could be stacked with parallel horizontal axes in the foregoing manner such that the articles rest end-to-end between widely spaced partitions, a plurality of vertical stacks without intervening partitions thereby being maintained between the widely spaced partitions. Again, this is unsatisfactory due not only to the haphazard appearance of the stack, but also because when any portion of an article of a given vertical stack encroaches horizontally into the area of a neighboring stack, the vertical movement of the articles in both stacks is obstructed. Individual articles block neighboring articles and/or become inclined, producing jamming. 
     Chutes for feeding articles such as cylindrical cans are known, for example in vending machines. These chutes can be arranged with a slot defined between flanges extending from successive vertical partitions, allowing viewing of the contents of the chute between the flanges. Such chutes reliably feed the cylindrical articles (e.g., soft drink cans or bottles) only when the articles are axially confined between the successive partitions. The articles can be aligned such that either their sides or ends show through the slot. 
     There is a need to store common household canned goods in separate vertical stacks of the present type while keeping them sorted and accessible. When the stacks are aligned vertically, the canned good contents of a pantry are readily visible for inventory control, and the stacked display enables locating and extracting particular canned goods for use. The problem for canned goods, however, becomes quite complicated due to the very substantial variation in dimensions of the canned goods. While the cans are mostly cylindrical, their sizes vary both axially and diametrically by a great deal. If a canned good storage rack is configured for a certain size of can or even a range of can sizes, the rack is not useful for other can sizes or ranges, except with great waste of space, or with severe detraction of the free motion of the cans in the stack. 
     If too much axial space is allowed between partitions for the individual cans, then they do not remain aligned to roll against one another sufficiently to keep their axes horizontal. If too much radial space is permitted, the articles bind with one another in the chute to prevent extraction of a selected one. Where a great deal of space remains in the chute, the motion which results from extracting a lowermost article may damage upper articles as they fall back and forth into a new stable position. For all these reasons, it is not readily possible to arrange a can storage rack that will at the same time allow a variety of different dimensions to be closely accommodated, and also permit the user to vary the distribution of articles with different axial and radial dimensions for the user&#39;s personal requirements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a canned goods storage system for household use, with maximum versatility of can size accommodation, while conforming closely to the dimensions of individual cans. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a durable canned goods storage rack, with movable elements defining the structurally connectable parts. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a compact canned good storage rack for storing a plurality of cans and can types in a minimum space. 
     These and other objects are accomplished by a storage rack with a frame having sidewalls disposed perpendicular to a back plane and an open front, at least one partition perpendicular to the back plane mountable at least at two alternate spacings from the frame sidewalls and from others of the partitions, the partitions being disposed substantially vertically and the alternate spacings corresponding to one cf the axial heights and radial widths of the articles, thereby confining the articles when stored between the partitions, and at least one barrier panel mountable on each partition adjacent an edge opposite the back plane, a bottom edge of the barrier panel being spaced from a bottom of the frame by substantially a dimension of the articles such that the articles are movably captive in at least one stack and are confined respectively between the partition and the sidewalls on the one hand, and between the barrier member and the back plane on the other hand. 
     The partitions can be mountable on inwardly facing means such as grooves along a top and bottom of the frame, and the grooves can be incrementally spaced to define alternate spacings for different sizes of articles. Preferably, the articles are arranged with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the planes of the partitions (exposing sides of the articles toward the front), however, the articles may also be arranged with their axes parallel to the panels (exposing an end of each article). The grooves can be adapted to slidably capture the partitions, for better structural interconnection. For example dovetail mortises can be engageable with dovetail tenons in the partitions. T-slots, ball-shaped slots, paired inward facing flanges, and the like, can also be used for slidably captive interconnections. The barrier means are preferably also mountable in incrementally-spaced capture slots, at alternate spacings on the partitions. The barrier panels are at alternate spacings from the back plane to accommodate different dimensions (preferably radial dimensions) of cylindrical articles placed with horizontal axes in the storage rack. A plurality of parallel grooves may be provided along the partition for mounting the barrier members at various spacings from the back plane, parallel to the back plane. The grooves along the partitions and the barrier members extend only part way between a top and bottom of the frame, to allow the addition of articles at the top of a chute defined between the partitions and between the barriers and back plane, and also to allow the articles to be extracted adjacent the bottom of the frame. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     There are shown in the drawings the embodiments that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage rack according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a section view taken along lines 2--2 in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of different sized articles, all storable in the rack of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial section view taken along lines 4--4 in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view showing a partition and barrier panel according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view showing a composite system including a plurality of said racks. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view, partly broken away, showing the upper rear corner. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial front elevation showing the rack arranged for cylindrical articles with front-facing ends. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial front elevation showing the rack arranged for articles stacked end to end. 
     FIG. 10 is a partial section view showing several alternatives for slidably-captive mounting of the partitions and/or barrier panels. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Rack 20, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided for storing a plurality of articles 50, for example typical household canned goods. The articles are to be stored in a stack. The canned goods are preferably cylindrical containers (but may also be other shapes), and are stored, for example, with their axes disposed horizontally, and parallel to the other members of the stack. Accordingly, when a lowermost article is removed, the remaining articles will roll and/or slide against one another and against the surrounding confining members, to fill the space opened by removing the lowermost one. Additions to the inventory of canned goods or the like are made at the top and extractions from the bottom, the current contents of the inventory being plainly visible from the front of the rack. 
     The stored articles will be described herein as cylindrical, which is the typical shape. It will be appreciated that the same type of article storage means can likewise be advantageously used in connection with rectilinear or other containers, for example as used with canned meats. The cylindrical articles are also described as arranged with their axes horizontal and parallel to the backplane, and their radii parallel to the partitions. The articles can also be arranged in other orientations provided they are confined between the backplane, partitions and barrier members. 
     The rack has a frame made of top 22, bottom 26, ends 24 and a back plane 28. The back plane can be omitted if the other frame members 22, 24, 26 are securely mounted against a wall or the like, in that case the wall defining a back plane which confines articles 50. It is also possible to define a back plane using barrier panels 42 similar to the barrier members used to confine the articles at the front of the rack, the articles 50 being confined between opposed barrier panels instead of between a front barrier member and a rear back plane. 
     The end walls 24, which join the top 22 and bottom 26, are similar or identical to the partitions 32, which are spaced at required selectable distances from one another in the area defined between the end walls 24. The user is free to select the spacing between partitions 32 when first assembling the rack, or preferably, the partitions 32 and barrier panels 42 can be removed at any time and re-positioned such that all or part of the rack can be conveniently reconfigured to accommodate a distribution of canned good dimensions required at a given time. For this purpose, the partitions are mountable on means which are incrementally spaced, for example at incremental short distances. The distances may be equal, defining a minimum variation in chute width, for each stack of articles between top 22 and bottom 26 and between end walls 24. Facing grooves on the lower wall of top 22 and upper of bottom 26 can be provided for receiving the partitions 32. Preferably, the grooves slidably capture the partitions, by interengaging shapes such as dovetailed mortises, ball-shaped structures, T-shaped structures, etc., by which a slot in the frame slidably captures an edge of the partition having a complementary shape. Such complementary slidably-capturable engageable mortise/tenon structures improve the structural integrity of the overall rack 20. Some exemplary slide-capturable structures are shown in FIG. 10. 
     The rack as so described will accommodate articles 50 of any dimension, e.g., axial length or radial width, which corresponds to a distance between successive partitions 32 as the articles are oriented. Different types or sizes of articles 50 are accommodated within the spaces between successive partitions, and also between the back plane 28 and barrier panels 42, of which at least one in provided for each chute, and preferably two. For this purpose, a plurality of slots 44 can be provided in the facing sides of partitions 32 and end members 24. The barrier panels 42 can be simply pressed into closely fitting slots 44 to hold panels 42 in place, as shown for flat barrier panels 54 in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the barrier panels can be mounted by means of capturable mortise and tenon structures at the edges of the barrier panels and at slots in the partitions 32 and/or end walls 24. These can be dovetails, balls, T-shapes, etc., similar to the engagement of the partitions and frame elements. Examples of appropriate capturable slides are shown in FIG. 10. In the case of a capturable slide structure, it is necessary to install the barrier panels prior to placing the partitions 32 between top and bottom 22, 26 (i.e., before the ends of slots 44 at the top and bottom of partitions 32 or end walls 24 are closed by top 22 or bottom 26 of rack 20). Alternatively the barrier panels are made conveniently removable for repositioning at any of the slots 44 in partition 32. A preferred engagement wherein dovetailed barrier panels 52 engage corresponding slots in partition 32 or end walls 24, is described herein with reference to FIG. 5. 
     When the lowermost article is removed from a chute, the remaining articles slide or roll downwardly in the chute; and articles can be added at the top. Space for additions and removals is provided between barrier panels 42 and the top 22 and bottom 26, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, if barrier panel 54 is spaced from back plane 28 by an amount substantially greater than the diameter of cylindrical articles 50(or the width of the articles, however oriented), there is a tendency for the articles to alternate in their positions. This produces a tendency for a lowermost article resting toward the front to be squeezed out the front of the storage rack by the vector pressure exerted by the next article. This tendency is minimized or eliminated by using a slot 44 for barrier panel 54, 42 that is spaced from backplane 28 by precisely the width of articles 50. In FIG. 2, the articles 50 are shown such that the second highest member of the stack in a chute is urged forward and the lowest member of the stack is urged rearward It is possible to provide a front stop 46 and/or a rear inclined portion 48, which tend to avoid alternate positioning of articles 50 and which counteract the vector pressure urging the articles forwardly, or rearwardly as they are shown in FIG. 2. 
     In FIG. 2, the barrier panel 54 should be moved to the central slot 44 in the partition or end panel shown. In that case, the articles 50 are more nearly located directly above one another. Furthermore, rear ramp 48 urges the lower most article 50 forwardly, such that it would be readily accessible under the bottom edge of barrier panel 54. Front stop 46 prevents article 50 from rolling completely out of the rack. Front stop 46 can be a ramp as shown in FIG. 1. It is preferred that the front stop be a simple rectilinear bar or comparable abutment member extending across the front of all the chutes for articles 50 defined between the respective partitions 32 and end walls 24, as shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 3 shows a typical distribution of types of articles 50 to be stored in rack 20. The articles include variations in height, width and shape, for example between soft drink containers (cans or bottles), soup and vegetable cans, tuna cans, tomato paste cans and rectilinear cans, e.g., as used for canned meats and the like. Other variations are common but are not shown, e.g., containers for nuts, canned hams, sardines, etc. These can be cylindrical, square, oval, etc., and in various sizes. Rack 20 can be configured for a range of sizes, and can accommodate the containers in any orientation. 
     FIG. 4 shows in detail an embodiment of the invention wherein the alternate positions 36 of the individual partitions 32 are defined by inward facing slots 38, in this case the capture slots are dovetailed slots 38, on the lower face of top wall 22. Similarly, end walls 24 can be attached to top wall 22 by the same mechanism, i.e., by dovetailed interfitting tenons and mortise slots, providing a very tight and non-displaceable fit between these elements even in the absence of fasteners. FIG. 4 is a section view taken directly along the slot 44 in which barrier panels 42 are disposed. Barrier panels 42 extend only partly inwardly along the axial length of articles 50, thereby allowing the user to easily view a wall of container 50, for determining its contents. The exposed wall can be a side of horizontally disposed articles (FIGS. 1 and 2), vertically-disposed articles (FIG. 9), or endwise horizontal articles (FIG. 8). 
     A screw connector 76, attached to the backplane, can be provided at each cover of the backplane, for mounting the rack. Connector 76 can be, for example, a bracket attached to the frame members, a thickened area of the backplane, etc. 
     The alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, includes a slide-captured (e.g., dovetail) tenon 58, fitable in a complementary mortise slot 64, in partition 32. The barrier panel 52, in this embodiment is easily re-positioned by simply lifting tenon 58 upwardly, out of its particular slot 64. When tenon 58 is disposed within the enlarged slot 62 above slot 64, barrier panel 52 is free of partition 32 and can be moved to a different slot or removed completely. It will be noted that the rear most slot 64 in the succession of alternative slot 64 extends further downwardly toward the bottom 26 then does the frontmost of slots 64. The rearmost slot is thereby adapted for minimum diameter articles 50. Accordingly, slot 64 for that size of article must be closer to the bottom 26 to ensure that only one article 50 can be removed (or escape) under the bottom edge of partition 52 at a time. Similarly, the next successive slot 64 in partition 32 proceeding forwardly is slightly higher, being adapted for a slightly larger diameter article 50. The frontmost slot 64 is high enough to allow passage of an article of maximum diameter, e.g., a diameter of substantially the distance between back plane 28 and the front most slot 64. The same considerations apply when the articles 50 are oriented differently as in FIGS. 8 and 9, but in that case the space between back plane 28 and barrier panel 42 is not necessarily equal to the diameter of articles 50. 
     The rack of the invention can be combined with other similar racks, as well as with racks which partially include selectably dimensioned receptacles and otherwise are adapted for standardized ones. Certain types of household goods, for example soup cans, soda cans, tuna fish cans and the like, are frequently kept in a home inventory and are sold in standardized dimensions. Accordingly a rack 20 having some movable partitions and some fixed partitions (at these standardized dimensions) will normally be useful because the fixed partitions accommodate the most-familiar article sizes. 
     Preferably, rack 20 or combined racks 20 are wall mounted. For this purpose, FIG. 7 shows the use of keyhole-shaped openings 66 in either back plane 28 or end member 24, or both, whereby the rack 20 can be placed over a protruding nail head or the like and locked on said nail head by forcing the nail head into the constricted part of keyhole opening 66. FIG. 4 shows an alternative mounting defining means 76 for receiving a fastener through the backplane. As a result, the rack is easily and effectively mounted on the back of doors, on walls, or the like. The invention is particularly convenient and useful if mounted on the back of closet doors or cabinet doors, being dimensioned and configured for the appropriate size of articles 50. Rack 20 can also be mounted from its top 22, or simply rested on its bottom 26 on an appropriate horizontal surface. When hung from top 22, rack 20 can have a flange (not shown) attached to extend horizontally at a space above top 22 to reach over the edge of a shelf. Similarly, flanges attached to the underside of a shelf can be arranged to extend under top 22, preferably at the endmost chutes, for mounting rack 20 to the shelf. 
     Rack 20 is preferably made from a durable material, which can be slightly deformable, for example wood or plastic, to facilitate attachment of barrier panels 42 to partitions 32 and partitions 32 to top/bottom 22, 26. It is also possible to construct the rack out of metal, however, in that case it is appropriate to replace the dovetailed mortise/tenon arrangements with interfitting flanges, for example, T-shaped flanges on each end of partitions 32 and/or endwalls 24, mating with inward facing flanges on the inside surfaces of top 22 and bottom 26, for capturing the the T-shaped flanges and fixing partitions 32 to top 22 and/or bottom 26. 
     Where partitions 32 are adequately supported by their connections to backplane 28, it is possible to omit frame top 22. This increases access for loading articles 50 and permits barriers 42 to be placed clear at the top of partition 32. 
     Alternative means can be employed for movably positioning the partitions across the width of the frame and form movably positioning the barrier panels on the paritions. The frame or backplane, for example, can be provided with a pattern of perforations into which pins protruding from the partitions can be fit at a desired spacing. The patitions can also be perforated to receive pins of the barrier elements. Alternatively, the frames, backplane and/or partitions can be provided with pins similar to LEGO or TYCO blocks, at intervals, onto which plug holes of their mating elements fit. 
     The invention as disclosed herein is a storage rack for articles 50, especially cylindrical articles such as canned goods, comprising a frame 20 having sidewalls 24, 24, disposed perpendicular to a back plane 28, and an open front. At least one partition 32 is perpendicular to the back plane 28, and is mountable at least at two alternate spacings, e.g., at alternate positions 36, from the frame sidewalls 24 and others of said partitions 32, the partitions 32 being disposed at least partly vertically and the alternate spacings defining one of a height and a width of said articles 50, when placed in a stack, in a chute defined between the partitions 32. At least one barrier panel 42, 54, 52 is mountable on each partition 32 adjacent an edge thereof opposite said back plane 28, a bottom edge of the barrier panel being spaced from a bottom 26 of the frame 20 by substantially a corresponding dimension of the articles 50, the articles 50 being movably captive at least in one stack, being confined one the one hand between the partitions 32 or between a partition 32 and a side wall 24, and on the other hand between the barrier member 42, 54, 52 and the back plane 28. The partitions 32 are preferably mounted on inwardly-facing grooves 38, along a top 22 and a bottom 26 of the frame 20. The grooves 38 can be incrementally spaced at substantially equal distances from one another. The grooves preferably are shaped to slidably capture complementary shapes on the partitions (e.g., dovetails ball-shapes, T-shapes), and The ends 24 of the frame may also be fitable to the top 22 and bottom 26 by a slide-capture mortise/tenon arrangement. 
     The barrier panels 42, 54, 52 are preferably selectably mountable at least at two alternate spacings from the back plane 28 to accommodate the dimensions of articles 50 therin. This may be accomplished by means for mounting the barrier panels in the form of a plurality of parallels grooves 44, 64 along the partitions 32, the barrier panels having means extending into the grooves along the partitions. The grooves 44, 64 along the partitions can extend only partway between the top 22 and the bottom 26 of the frame. The barrier panels 42 and the partitions 32 or end walls 24 can be joined frictionally, by fasteners or by interengaging slide-captured mortises and tenons as are the partitions 32 or end walls 24 and the top 22 and bottom 26. 
     The partitions 32 and/or ends 24 can have a slide groove for the barrier panels extending over only a part of a vertical length of the grooves 44 along the partitions 32 or end walls 24, the barrier panels 42 being vertically displaceable when inserted in the grooves 64 along the partitions 32, to lock the slide-captured mortise 64 and tenon 58 together. 
     The invention is also characterized as a storage rack for articles 50, especially cylindrical articles having an axis and a radius, the rack comprising a frame 20 defining in part a vertical chute for the articles 50 when disposed in a stack against one another, the frame 20 having walls 24, 32, disposed at least partly vertically and perpendicular to a back plane 28, and at least one barrier member 42, disposed parallel to the back plane 28, the barrier member being mountable at least at two alternative spacings from the back plane 28, by interengaging means on the barrier member 42 and the walls 24, 32, a bottom edge of the barrier member being spaced from a bottom edge of the frame 20, by at least a dimension of the articles 50, whereby the cylindrical articles can be stacked while confined between said walls 24, 32 and between the back plane 28 and the barrier member 42. At least one of the end walls 24 and partitions 32 are provided to define the walls which confine the articles 50, the walls being mountable on inwardly-facing grooves along a top and bottom of the frame. Preferably the articles 50 are oriented with horizontal parallel axes such that the articles 50 roll over one another in the chute. Said parallel axes can be parallel to the backplane 28 and barrier members 42, i.e., perpendicular to the partitions 32 and/or end walls 24. 
     The grooves 38 are preferably incrementally spaced at substantially equal distances from one another. The grooves can have cross-sections shaped to complement end structures of the partitions 32. For example the partitions can be provided with dovetailed tenons 40, fitable in the dovetail grooves 38 on the frame. 
     The means mounting the barrier members at alternate spacings from the back plane 28 preferably comprise a plurality of parallel grooves 44, along the partitions 32, the barrier members having means extending into the grooves 44 along the partitions 32. The grooves 44 can extend only part way between a top 22 and bottom 26 of frame 20. The barrier members 52 and at least one of the partitions 32 and end walls 24 are joined by interengaging mortise and tenon structures. The partitions preferably have a dovetail or similar enlarged mortise 64 for the barrier members, and the barrier members preferably have tenons complementary thereto, the dovetail mortise for the barrier members extending only over a part of the vertical length of the grooves 64, along the partition, the barrier members being vertically displaceable when inserted in the grooves 64, thereby to slide-lock the mortise 64 and tenon 58 together. 
     At least one partition 32 is disposed vertically between the end walls 24 defined by the frame, at least one of the barrier members 42, 54, 52 being mounted for each chute on one of the partition 32 and end wall 24. The partition is preferably alternately mountable at a plurality of positions 38 incrementally spaced across the width of the frame, by means engaging a top and bottom of the partition 32, whereby articles of different dimensions are accommodated. The partition 32 is preferably connected to the top 22 and bottom 26 by dovetail mortise and tenon structures. The storage rack can be defined by a number of individual racks, stacked to one another or connected to a common support. The rack can be mounted by any of its structural elements 22, 24, 26, 28, to an appropriate support. 
     The invention having been disclosed, a number of additional variations will occur to persons skilled in the art. Reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing specification to access the true scope of the subject invention.