 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to new and novel improvements in
storage organizers. More particularly, the present invention relates to
storage organizers which include a plurality of separate compartments for
placing, storing and retrieving relatively small household and industrial
items and the like therein.
Storage organizers having hinged lid members have been in common use for
the storage of small items, such as fasteners, sewing supplies, electronic
components and the like, and are widely used in a variety of household,
construction, repair and maintenance applications. Such storage organizers
typically include a bottom enclosure which often includes a plurality of
dividers which divide the bottom enclosure into a plurality of separate
compartments where such items can be placed, stored and retrieved. Storage
organizers have traditionally been used to store items such as screws,
nails, bolts, nuts, plumbing fittings, electrical connectors therein.
In many prior art storage organizers, the dividers which divide the bottom
enclosure into separate sections are supported only on their sides and a
gap remains between the installed dividers and the bottom enclosure and/or
the cover. Such gaps permit relatively small items stored therein to move
or "migrate" from the compartment in which they were placed to adjacent
compartments by passing either below and/or above the dividers. This
problem of movement or "migration" of relatively small items to adjacent
compartments is particularly great when the storage organizer experiences
vibration or is moved to different orientations, such as when the storage
organizer is picked up and carried or transported in a motor vehicle.
In addition, most prior art storage organizers known to applicant are
substantially rectangular in configuration and have a substantially flat
top and bottom surface. Such substantially flat top and bottom surfaces
are not only visually unappealing, but tend to warp and lack adequate
rigidity and strength. Furthermore, most prior art storage organizers rely
on a resilient latching of an outwardly extending protrusion on the bottom
enclosure and/or the cover over a corresponding lip on the other of the
bottom enclosure and/or the cover. Such prior art latching arrangements
are not only difficult to use, but also tend to "pop" open if such storage
organizers are dropped onto a hard surface, such as a floor or countertop,
thus allowing the contents of the storage organizer to spill and escape.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of storage
organizers having a plurality of dividers which create separate
compartments for storing relatively small items and/or supplies which
preclude movement or "migration" of the relatively small items and/or
supplies to adjacent compartments.
Another object of the present invention is to provide storage organizers
which include a series of curved portions on their top and bottom surfaces
to make the storage organizers visually appealing, add rigidity and
strength and prevent warpage of the top and bottom surfaces of the storage
organizers and assist a user in removing relatively small parts stored in
the separate compartments therein.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide storage
organizers having a latching arrangement which is easy to use and securely
holds such storage organizers in a closed position.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by the
provision of storage organizers assembly having a plurality of dividers
which divide a bottom enclosure into separate storage compartments. At
least some of the dividers are independently insertable and removable to
create storage compartments of various sizes and configurations. The top
and bottom surfaces of the storage organizers include a plurality of
curved portions to make the storage organizers more visually appealing,
add rigidity and strength and reduce warpage of these surfaces and assist
a user in removing the small items stored in the separate compartments
from the storage organizers. Storage organizers in accordance with the
present invention also includes a latching arrangement which is easy to
use and securely holds the storage organizers in a closed position.
Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become
apparent in the following detailed description of the invention when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a storage organizer in accordance with a
first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the storage organizer in accordance with the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric view of the storage organizer in accordance
with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the storage organizer in accordance with the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the storage organizer in accordance
with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the storage organizer in accordance
with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
1, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof.
FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the storage organizer in accordance
with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 8 is a top isometric view of the storage organizer in accordance with
the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1
with a first lid in an open position.
FIG. 9 is a top isometric view of the storage organizer in accordance with
the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1
with a second lid in an open position.
FIG. 10 is a top isometric view of a storage organizer in accordance with a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a front view of the storage organizer in accordance with the
second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a right side view of the storage organizer in accordance with
the second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10,
the left side view being a mirror image thereof.
FIG. 13 is a rear view of the storage organizer in accordance with the
second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 14 is a top view of the storage organizer in accordance with the
second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the storage organizer in accordance with the
second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 16 is a bottom isometric view of the storage organizer in accordance
with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIG. 10.
FIG. 17 is a top isometric view of the storage organizer in accordance with
the second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10
with a lid in an open position.
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the storage organizer in accordance
with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIG. 10 taken across line 18--18 in FIG. 14.
FIG. 19 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the latching arrangement for
the storage organizer in accordance with the second preferred embodiment
of the present invention shown in FIG. 10 taken from circle 19--19 in FIG.
18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the
present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which,
in conjunction with this detailed description, illustrate and describe a
first and a second preferred embodiment of a storage organizer in
accordance with the present invention. As seen in FIGS. 1 through 9, the
first preferred embodiment of a storage organizer in accordance with the
present invention, generally identified by reference numeral 10, includes
bottom enclosure 12, first lid member 14 and second lid member 16. Bottom
enclosure 12 includes base portion 18, from which front wall 20, side
walls 22 and 24 and rear wall 26 upwardly extend. Base portion 18 of
bottom enclosure 12 includes a plurality of curved portions 28, four (4)
of which are present in the first preferred embodiment of storage
organizer 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 9. Curved portions 28 enhance the
visual appeal of storage organizer 10, adds rigidity and strength and
precludes warpage of base portion 18 and assists users in removing
relatively small items stored within storage organizer 10 as will be
described subsequently in this specification.
As seen in FIG. 9, bottom enclosure 12 includes a plurality of horizontally
extending dividers 30, four (4) of which are present in the first
preferred embodiment of storage organizer 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 9,
which extend from side wall 22 to side wall 24. Horizontally extending
dividers 30 are preferably permanently affixed to bottom enclosure 12,
however, horizontally extending dividers 30 could also be made to be
removable if desired. Horizontally extending dividers 30 preferably
include a plurality of upwardly extending channels 32 periodically spaced
along the length of horizontally extending dividers 30. Upwardly extending
channels 32 preferably have a keyhole slot configuration which corresponds
to protrusions 34 outwardly extending from vertically extending dividers
36. Vertically extending dividers 36 are preferably removable and, if
desired, can be separated at protrusions 36 to form storage compartments
38 having various sizes and configuration as desired. Bottom enclosure 12
also includes two (2) additional storage compartments 40 and 42 positioned
on either side of handle portion 44. As alluded to above, curved portions
28 present on base portion 18 of bottom enclosure 12 are positioned
between adjacent horizontally extending dividers 30 to assist a user in
removing relatively small parts stored in storage compartments by
providing a smooth radius surface over which the parts can be dragged
rather than the sharp corner present between the base portion and the
horizontally extending dividers in many prior art storage organizers. In
addition, base portion 18 of bottom enclosure includes relatively shallow
channels which surround the bottom portion of vertically extending
dividers 36 to preclude movement or "migration" of small parts between
vertically adjacent storage compartments 38.
Referring now to FIG. 8, first lid member 14 is pivotally attached to rear
wall 26 by hinge 27, such as a piano type hinge. Upper surface 46 of first
lid member 14 includes bottom surface 48 having a plurality of
horizontally extending dividers 48, five (5) of which are present in the
first preferred embodiment of storage organizer 10 shown in FIGS. 1
through 9, which extend from side wall 50 to side wall 52. Horizontally
extending dividers 48 are preferably permanently affixed to upper surface
46, however, horizontally extending dividers 48 could be removable if
desired. Horizontally extending dividers 48 preferably include a plurality
of upwardly extending channels 54 periodically spaced along the length of
horizontally extending dividers 48. Upwardly extending channels 54
preferably have a keyhole slot configuration which corresponds to
protrusions 56 outwardly extending from vertically extending dividers 58.
Vertically extending dividers 58 are preferably removable and, if desired,
can be separated at protrusions 56 to form storage sections 60 having
sizes and configuration as desired. Vertically extending dividers 58 are
preferably positioned in corresponding channels in base portion 18 which,
in a particularly preferred embodiment, are flush with base portion 18 and
extend into base portion 18. First lid member 14 also includes two (2)
additional storage compartments 62 and 64 positioned on either side of
handle portion 66.
Second lid member 16 is also pivotally attached to rear wall 26 of bottom
enclosure 12 by hinge 29. Second lid member 16 includes bottom surface 66
having a series of channels 68 which correspond to and are positioned
around horizontally extending dividers 48 and vertically extending
dividers 58 when second lid member 16 is closed on first lid member 14.
Channels 68 preclude movement or "migration" of small items or parts
stored in storage compartments 60 into horizontally and vertically
adjacent storage compartments 60. The lower surface of first lid member 14
could also include channels corresponding to horizontally extending
dividers 30 and vertically extending dividers 36 to preclude movement or
"migration" of the relatively small parts stored therein between
vertically and horizontally adjacent storage compartments 38 if desired.
Top surface 70 of second lid member 16 includes a plurality of curved
portions 72, of which five (5) are present in the first preferred
embodiment of storage organizer 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 9, to enhance
the visual appeal of storage organizer 10 and add rigidity and strength
and preclude warpage of this surface.
Bottom enclosure 12, first lid member 14 and second lid member 16 are
secured together by latching arrangement 72, including pivotally attached
latch members 74 which includes first outwardly extending protrusions 76
which engage with and secure second outwardly extending protrusions 78 in
second lid member 16. Thus, pivotally attached latch member 74 engages
with second lid member 16 and securely holds both first lid member 14 and
second lid member 16 to bottom enclosure 12. However, when pivotally
attached latch members 74 are disengaged from second lid member 16, first
lid member 14 and second lid member 16 remain secured together by
secondary latch mechanism 75, which preferably includes two (2) inwardly
extending latches 77 on second lid member 16 which engage with
corresponding recesses 79 in first lid member 14. Also, when so secured,
handle portion 44 and handle portion 66 together form carrying handle 80
which can be used to grasp and transport storage organizer 10 with small
items or parts secured therein.
Referring now to FIGS. 10 through 19, a second preferred embodiment of a
storage organizer in accordance with the present invention is shown,
generally identified by reference numeral 90, which generally includes
bottom enclosure 92 and lid member 94. Bottom enclosure 92 includes base
portion 96, from which front wall 98, side walls 100 and 102 and rear wall
104 upwardly extend. Base portion 96 of bottom enclosure 92 includes a
plurality of curved portions 106, four (4) of which are present in the
second preferred embodiment of storage organizer 90 shown in FIGS. 10
through 19. Curved portions 106 enhance the visual appeal of storage
organizer 90, add rigidity and strength and preclude warpage of base
portion 96 and assist a user in removing relatively small parts stored
within storage organizer 90.
As seen in FIG. 17, bottom enclosure 92 includes a plurality of
horizontally extending dividers 108, three (3) of which are present in the
second preferred embodiment of storage organizer 90 shown in FIGS. 10
through 18, which extend from side wall 100 to side wall 102 Horizontally
extending dividers 108 are preferably permanently affixed to bottom
enclosure 92, however, horizontally extending dividers 108 could be
removable if desired. Horizontally extending dividers 108 preferably
include a plurality of upwardly extending channels 110 periodically spaced
along the length of horizontally extending dividers 108. Upwardly
extending channels 110 preferably have a keyhole slot configuration which
corresponds to protrusions 112 outwardly extending from vertically
extending dividers 114. Vertically extending dividers 114 are preferably
removable and, if desired, can be separated at protrusions 112 to form
storage compartments 116 having sizes and configuration as desired.
Vertically extending dividers 114 are preferably positioned in
corresponding channels in base portion 96 which, in a particularly
preferred embodiment, are flush with base portion 96 and extend into base
portion 96. Bottom enclosure 92 also includes two (2) additional storage
compartments 118 and 120 positioned on either side of latch arrangement
122.
Lid member 94 includes bottom surface 124 having a series of channels 126
which correspond to and are positioned around horizontally extending
dividers 108 and vertically extending dividers 114 when lid member 94 is
closed on bottom enclosure 92. Channels 126 preclude movement or
"migration" of small items or parts stored in storage compartments 116
into adjacent storage compartments. Top surface 128 of lid member 94
includes a plurality of curved portions 130, of which four (4) are present
in the second preferred embodiment of storage organizer 90 shown in FIGS.
10 through 19.
Bottom enclosure 92 and lid member 94 are secured together by latching
arrangement 122, including pivotally attached latch member 124, which is
preferably pivotably connected to lid member 94 by a living or film type
hinge, and includes outwardly extending protrusions 132 which engage
around a corresponding protrusion 134 outwardly extending from bottom
enclosure 92 to secure bottom enclosure to lid member 94 together. When so
secured, storage organizer 90 can be carried and transported with small
items or parts secured therein.
The various parts of both storage organizers 10 and 90 are preferably
fabricated from a rigid durable plastic material, such as polypropylene,
although it will be apparent to others having ordinary skill in the
relevant art that other materials could be readily used utilizing the
teachings of the present invention. In addition, while curved portions on
the top and bottom surfaces add to the visual appeal of storage organizers
10 and 90, add rigidity and strength and preclude warpage of these
surfaces and assist users in removing relatively small parts from storage
organizers 10 and 90, they are preferably sufficiently flat to allow
storage organizers 10 and 90 to be stacked on top of one another, and
other items can be stacked on top of storage organizers 10 and 90 as well.
In addition, the hinges used in storage organizers 10 and 90 are
mechanical type hinges, although living or film type hinges could
alternatively be used instead.
Although the present invention has been described above in detail, the same
is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken as a
limitation on the present invention. Accordingly, the scope and content of
the present invention are to be defined only by the terms of the appended
claims.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
