U.S. patent application number 10/669406 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for x-y-z drawer organizer.
Invention is credited to Pine, Eli, Rosenberg, Gayle.
Application Number | 20040245254 10/669406 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33493393 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040245254 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosenberg, Gayle ; et
al. |
December 9, 2004 |
X-Y-Z drawer organizer
Abstract
An organizer for a drawer or other rectangular or non
rectangular space. The organizer has a plurality of individual
elements that are mutually nested together and can be moved both in
the width direction and in the length direction to expand or
contract the organizer so as to conform to the dimensions of the
drawer or other rectangular or non rectangular space. Each element
has a bottom surface that combines to provide a contiguous bottom
surface of the organizer in the expanded and contracted positions.
There is also a peripheral continuous raised edge that surrounds
the perimeter of the organizer when in the contracted or expanded
positions.
Inventors: |
Rosenberg, Gayle; (Secaucus,
NJ) ; Pine, Eli; (Secaucus, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gayle Rosenberg
c/o GSL Enterprises
Suite 2
Harmon Cove Towers
Secaucus
NJ
07094
US
|
Family ID: |
33493393 |
Appl. No.: |
10/669406 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60474889 |
Jun 3, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/507 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/90 20170101;
A47B 88/994 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/507 |
International
Class: |
B65D 001/24 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An organizer for use within a rectangular space having a width
and a length dimension to create compartmentalized areas for
objects placed in the rectangular space, said organizer comprising
a plurality of individual elements, each of said individual
elements having a general planar bottom surface, said elements
adapted to be slidingly nested together to form a contiguous bottom
surface, at least one of the elements being movable in the width
direction, at least one of said elements being movable in the
length direction and at least one of said elements being movable in
both the length and width directions of the rectangular space to
expand or contract the organizer to conform to the rectangular
space while maintaining a contiguous bottom surface.
2. The organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein there are at least
four elements.
3. The organizer as defined in claim 2 wherein there are four
individual elements and each of said elements has a raised exterior
edge and wherein said raised exterior edges of said elements form a
continuous raised exterior outer edge of the organizer when the
organizer is expanded or contracted to conform to the rectangular
space.
4. The organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said elements
has a bottom surface having raised dividers formed therein to
provide a plurality of compartments for objects placed on the
organizer.
5. The organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein the rectangle space
is a drawer.
6. The organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said organizer has
receptacles to enable another organizer to be affixed atop of said
organizer.
7. The organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein at least two
adjacent elements have raised edges that are releasable engaged
with each other.
8. The organizer as defined in claim 7 wherein one of said adjacent
raised edges comprises a guide slot and the other of said adjacent
raised edges comprises a guide rib.
9. The organizer as defined in claim 7 wherein one of said two
adjacent elements has a raised serrated edge that releasably
engages the other of said adjacent elements.
10. An organizer for use within a rectangular space having a width
and a length direction to create compartmentalized areas for
objects placed in the rectangular space, said organizer comprising
a plurality of individual elements including a first element having
a bottom surface and having compartment dividers formed therein, at
least one second element nested with said first element and having
a bottom surface contiguous with said bottom surface of said first
element, said at least one second element being movable in the
length direction of the rectangular space, a third element nested
with said first element and said at least one second element and
having a bottom surface contiguous with said bottom surfaces of
said first element and said at least one second elements, said
third element being movable in the width direction of the
rectangular space, and a fourth element nested with at least said
second and third elements, said fourth element being movable in
both the length and width directions and having a bottom surface
contiguous with at least said second and third elements, wherein
said organizer is dimensionally adjustable in both the width and
length directions while maintaining a contiguous bottom surface
comprised of the bottom surfaces of said first, second and third
elements.
11. The organizer as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one
second element comprises two second elements and said third element
is nested with only one of said two second elements.
12. The organizer as defined in claim 10 wherein said first
element, at least one second element, said third element and said
fourth element each have at least one raised peripheral edge
peripheral edge, forming a continuous peripheral raised edge of the
organizer.
13. The organizer as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one
second element is nested by interfitting the bottom surface of said
at least one second element underneath the bottom surface of said
first element.
14. The organizer as defined in claim 10 wherein said fourth
element has a bottom surface contiguous with the bottom surfaces of
said first, said at least one second and said third elements.
15. The organizer as defined in claim 14 wherein said fourth
element is nested with said first, said at least one second and
said third elements.
16. The organizer as defined in claim 10 wherein said bottom
surface of said fourth element is nested with said at least one
second element by said bottom surface of said fourth element being
slidingly located underneath the bottom surface of said at least
one second element.
17. The organizer as defined in claim 10 wherein the first element
has a peripheral raised edge surrounding said first element
18. The organizer as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one
second element has three raised edges and one flat edge that is in
a sliding relationship underlying said first element.
19. An organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein a first fixed
rectangular structure having a floor and 4 walls. The first
structure rests on the floor of a second structure having 3 walls.
The first and second structure rests on the floor of a third and
fourth structure having at least 2 walls each, one walls of each
connected by a slide. Structures may be connected by slides, slots,
or other means such that the combined structure does not separate
when any part of the structure is picked up. The sliding movement
of structure 2 away from structure 1 produces a perpendicular
elongated movement of structure 3 and 4. The resulting sliding
movements of structures 2, 3, and 4 with respect to structure 1 act
to change the contiguous floor area of all 4 structures such that
the outer walls of the floor area of all said structures fit up
against the walls of an object such as a drawer.
20. The organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer walls,
are of a non linear shape, are curved to fit curved outer
boundaries.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable organizer for
filling a rectangular or non rectangular space and, more
particular, to an adjustable drawer organizer that can be adjusted
in two planar directions, that is, the X and Y directions and also
expanded along the vertical direction, the Z direction.
[0002] There are many different types of organizers that are used
in rectangular areas or enclosures, particularly drawers, and which
serve to provide some semblance of order to the various contents
placed within that area or enclosure.
[0003] Basically organizers are used in rectangular, confined
spaces and such organizers are therefore adapted to fit into a
space having opposite parallel sides. For purposes of the present
invention, the rectangular spaces will be define as having a width
direction and a length direction, and those directions are measured
between the opposite, parallel sides since the intended site is, as
described a rectangular space.
[0004] The actual direction or orientation of the length and width
directions is not critical since the rectangular can, of course, be
a square, and therefore the length and width directions can be
applicable to any rectangular space, it only being of importance
that the two directions be orthogonal to each other with respect to
the rectangular space. These directions can also be defined as the
X and Y directions and are measured along a normally planar
surface.
[0005] With that background, it is known to have organizers having
adjustable dimensions so as to fit within a particular space, such
as a drawer. Since it would not be practical to make commercially
available an organizer that would be specifically dimensioned to
fit within all of the various sized drawers or other rectangular
spaces, the ability to alter the dimensions of the organizer is a
desirable feature and allows the commercially sold organizer to be
adjusted by the purchaser to fit into the various sizes of drawers
or other rectangular spaces.
[0006] At the present, that expandable/contractible feature allows
organizers to be expanded or contracted by the user along a
dimension, be it the width or the length of the organizer, in order
to fit the organizer snugly into the particular dimensioned drawer
and not, therefore, slide within the drawer.
[0007] Accordingly, with currently available organizers, however,
the difficulty is that they can expand or contract along only one
dimension, that is, along either the width dimension or the length
dimension but not both. While versatile to a degree, it would be
advantageous to have an organizer that could be change
dimensionally in both directions or along the length and width
directions while still maintaining a bottom surface that is
contiguous such that the bottom surface still covers the entire
rectangular surface on which the organizer is utilized.
[0008] As a further advantageous feature, it would desirable to
have an organizer that is not only adjustable along two directions,
but also to have a continuous peripheral upraised exterior edge
such that objects contained within the organizer are retained
therein whether the organizer is located in a drawer or other
rectangular surface.
[0009] As a still further feature, it would be desirable to have an
organizer that can be expanded and contracted along two directions
and be further expandable along the vertical direction, the Z
direction, so that the organizers can be stacked together to
further enhance and expand the object organizing and
compartmentalizing with a limited rectangular space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention relates to an organizer
that can be used within a rectangular or non rectangular space,
preferably a drawer, and where the organizer can be dimensionally
adjusted in both the width direction and the height direction in
order to comfortably and securely fit within and conform to that
space. As such, one organizer can be commercially available and
which can readily be adjusted to fit within, for example, a drawer
so as to conform to both the length and width of that drawer while
still maintaining a contiguous bottom of the organizer that lays
flat atop of the planar surface of the drawer.
[0011] As will be seen, the present invention is generally
described and referred to in its preferred mode, that of a drawer
organizer, however, it is equally useful for other rectangular
spaces where some organization or compartmentalizing of the objects
within that rectangular spade is desired.
[0012] With the present invention, therefore, there are a plurality
of individual elements that are sized and shaped so as to
cooperatively work together to allow the organizer to be adjustable
along both the width dimension as well as the length dimension so
as to fit fully along all of the four side edges against the inside
wall of a drawer of other rectangular space.
[0013] In the preferred embodiment, there is a first element that
has a bottom surface having dividers that extend upwardly from the
bottom surface so as to form the compartments or sections in which
the objects are placed in order to keep order and separation of
those objects. The first element preferably has an upraised
peripheral exterior edge to retain the objects within the first
element.
[0014] There are also one or more second elements, that is, there
may be a single second element or a pair of second elements. In
either embodiment the second element(s) have a bottom surface that
underlies the bottom surface of the first element and is sliding
engaged therewith so as to move in the length direction of the
drawer or other rectangular space. In the preferred embodiment, the
second element or elements have three sides having raised,
peripheral exterior edges, the sides that do not underlie the
bottom surface of the first element and a flat edge that does
underlie that bottom surface.
[0015] There is also a third element that is slidingly nested with
the first element and the second element and, in turn can be moved
in the width direction of the drawer or rectangular space. The
third element preferably has two edges that are formed as raised
exterior edges and two flat edges.
[0016] Finally, there is a fourth element and again, is movable in
the width direction and has a bottom surface that underlies the
bottom surface of the first element and preferable has two raised
outer edges and two flat edges. The third and fourth elements are
both also movable with respect to each other in the length
direction.
[0017] Accordingly, with the present invention, all of the bottom
surfaces of the first through fourth elements form a contiguous
bottom surface of the organizer laying atop of the drawer surface
or other rectangular space and the overall organizer can be
dimensionally adjusted in the length and the width directions while
still retaining the contiguous bottom surface made up of the
various combined bottom surfaces of the individual elements. In the
preferred embodiment, the various raised exterior edges of the
elements combine to form a continuous raised exterior edge of the
organizer despite the desired changes to the length and/or width
dimensions of the organizer.
[0018] As other features of the present organizer, there is a
system of guide slots and guide ribs that interengage so that the
respective raised exterior edges that are joined together can be
joined by a releasable mechanism such that the user can adjust the
dimensional relationship between the elements and yet the elements
are then held in a fixed, but releasable engagement and the user
can release that engagement easily to re-dimension the organizer,
however, the organizer will not, on its own, inadvertently, change
its dimensions. There may be serrated raised exterior edges used on
some of the elements to bring about that releasable engagement.
[0019] As a still further feature, there can be an expansion in the
vertical or Z direction by means of a post located at the corner of
each of the organizers and which can receive a further organizer to
be mounted atop of an organizer so that organizers can be stacked
vertically to further compartmentalize the rectangular space.
[0020] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent during the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings
herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0021] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an organizer constructed
in accordance with the present invention showing the individual
elements separated from each other;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the present organizer
with one of the elements extended in the length direction;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the present organizer
with two additional elements extended in the width direction;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the present organizer
with one of the elements extended in the length direction and with
the other two elements removed;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top schematic view of the present organizer of
the present invention with one of the elements moved in the length
direction with the other two elements moved in both the length and
width directions;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a top schematic view of a alternative embodiment
of the present organizer with two elements moved in the length
direction and two elements moved in both the length and width
directions; and
[0027] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the present organizer
with the elements removed but with two of the elements nested
together to illustrate the nesting arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of the present invention and showing a rectangular surface 8 which
is preferable the lower surface of a drawer but, as stated, may be
one of a variety of other rectangular spaces where some semblance
of organization or compartmentalization is desired for the objects
to be placed in that drawer or other rectangular space.
[0029] As can be seen, the rectangular surface 8 has an upper,
generally planar surface 10 and has a length dimension L and a
width dimension W. As such, movement along that width dimension
will be referred to as movement in the width direction and movement
along the length dimension will be referred to as movement in the
length direction.
[0030] Thus, in FIG. 1, there can be seen a organizer 12 that
comprises a first element 14 having a bottom surface 16 and having
a plurality of upwardly raised dividers 18 that are used to
separate the objects placed on the bottom surface 16 of the first
element in organizing the contents of, for example, a drawer.
Obviously, the number and location of any of the raised dividers 18
is a matter of design choice depending upon the characteristics of
the objects to be placed thereon and may, therefore, form any
variety of subdivided spaces or areas on the bottom surface 16.
[0031] As also can be seen, the first element 14 preferably has
outer peripheral raised edges of which, there are two raised
exterior edges 20 and 22 and two raised interior edges 24, 26. As
such the combination of raised, exterior edges 20, 22 and raised
interior edges 24, 26 complete the continuous peripheral edge
surrounding the perimeter of the first element 14. The height of
the raised edges may vary depending upon the objects to be placed
in the first element 14 but can be about the same height or
slightly higher than the raised dividers 18.
[0032] There is also a second element 28 shown in FIG. 1 and which
also has a bottom surface 30 and three raised edges, that is,
raised edges seen as exterior edge 32, exterior edge 34 and
interior edge 36. The fourth edge is a flat edge 38 that is in the
plane of the bottom surface 30 and, as can be seen, is adapted to
be slidingly nested with the first element 14 by positioning the
flat edge 38 underneath the interior edge 24 of the first element
14. Thus, the second element 28 can be moved toward and away from
the first element 14 in the length direction to vary the overall
length of the organizer 12 in order to fit within the particular
length of a drawer or other rectangular space where the organizer
12 is being used.
[0033] As is also clear, the bottom surface 16 of the first element
12 and the bottom surface 30 of the second element 28 are
contiguous, that is, the combined bottom surfaces 30, 28 form a
common bottom surface of the organizer 12 to fully cover the
rectangular surface 10. Thus, even though the second element 28 can
be moved in the length direction with respect to the first element
14 to alter the length dimension of the organizer 12, the bottom of
the organizer 12 remains intact by the combined bottom surfaces 30,
28.
[0034] A third element 42 is also provided having a bottom surface
42 and having two raised edges, that is, exterior edges 44 and 46
and two flat edges, shown as flat edges 48, 50. The flat edge 48,
as can be seen, is adapted to underlie the first element 14 and the
second element 28 so as to be movable in the width direction to
alter the width dimension of the organizer 12. Again, the bottom
surface 42 of the third element 40 thereby cooperates and nests
with the bottom surfaces 16 and 30, respectively, of the first and
second elements 14, 28 to maintain a complete and contiguous bottom
surface of the organizer 14.
[0035] Finally, with this embodiment, there is a fourth element 52
having a bottom surface 54 and having raised exterior edges 56, 58
and flat edges 60, 62. As such the flat edge 60 is adapted to
underlie and nest with the first element 14 so as to form a
combined and contiguous bottom surface by the combined bottom
surface 16 of the first element and the bottom surface 54 of the
fourth element 52.
[0036] The flat edge 62 of the fourth element 52 also nests with
the flat surface 50 of the third element 40 and may overlie or
underlie in that nesting relationship. In any event, the fourth
element 52 is movable in the width direction to vary the width
dimension of the organizer 12 and that width movement is undertaken
in cooperation with the third element 40 to coordinate those
movement such that both the third element 40 and the fourth element
52 act together when moving in the width direction to make sure the
raised exterior edges 46 and 56 are together and form a straight,
raised exterior edge of the organizer 12.
[0037] Additionally, the third element 40 and the fourth element 52
can move in the length direction with respect to each other so as
to remain aligned with the first and second elements 14, 28 when
those elements are moved to vary the length dimension.
[0038] As can now be seen, by moving the various elements in the
width direction and the length direction, the overall dimensions of
the organizer 12 can be changed to suit and conform to the
dimensions of the particular drawer or rectangular space. As such,
the first, second, third and fourth elements 14, 28, 40 and 52 can
be individually manipulated and yet the respective bottom surfaces
16, 30, 42 and 54 remain in a contiguous relationship to fully
cover the upper surface 10 of the drawer or rectangular space. As
well, and as will later be further seen, the dimensional changes of
the organizer 12 brought about by the movement of the
aforementioned elements still results in a continuous outer raised
edge of the organizer 12 by means of the combined raised outer
edges 20,22,34,44,46,56 and 58.
[0039] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a top perspective view
of the organizer 12 and showing the second element 28 that has been
moved to its extended position where the organizer 12 reaches the
maximum length dimension since the second element 12 has been move
along the length direction to the position in FIG. 2. As can be
seen, the bottom surface 30 of the second element is still
contiguous with the bottom surface 16 of the first element 14 and
the peripheral, raised exterior edge of the organizer 12 is
continuous and is made up of the various raised exterior edges 20,
22, of the first element 14, raised exterior edges 32 and 34 of the
second element and raised exterior edges 44 and 46 of the third
element and, finally, raised exterior edges 56 and 58 of the fourth
element. It should be noted that the raised exterior edges 44, 46
of the third element 40 and the raised external edges 56 and 58 of
the fourth element 52 are basically abutting against certain of the
raised exterior edges of the third and fourth elements 40, 52 since
the third and fourth elements 40, 52 are in the fully retracted
positions and are not extended in the width direction.
[0040] Taking FIG. 3, there is a top perspective view of the
present organizer 12 in its fully extended position, that is, the
second element 28 has been moved along the length direction to its
extended position providing the maximum length dimension and the
third and fourth elements 40, 52 have been moved in the width
direction to their maximum extension and therefore the maximum
width direction. The third and fourth elements 40, 52 have also
been moved in the length direction with respect to each other to
match the length of the combined first and second elements 14, 28
so that the overall outer perimeter of the organizer 12 is a
rectangle still bounded by a continuous raised exterior edge and
forming a contiguous bottom surface.
[0041] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a top, perspective
view of the organizer 12 of the present invention and illustrating
the third and fourth elements 40, 52 separated from the first and
second elements 14, 28 for purposes of viewing the construction of
the organizer 12. As such, in this Fig., the second element 28 is
at its extend position providing the full length dimension of the
organizer 12 and, as can be seen, the third and fourth elements 40,
52 are separated for illustrative purposes but would normally be
nested with each other in an overlapping relationship so as to be
movable in both the width direction together and moved relative to
each other in the length direction.
[0042] In FIG. 5 the organizer is shown taking up the minimum area,
since, the second, third and fourth elements 28, 40 and 52 are all
in their fully retracted positions and thus the overall area of the
organizer 12 is basically the area of the first element 14. Again
the raised exterior edge is present surrounding the organizer
12.
[0043] Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown a top schematic view
of the organizer 12 of the present invention and used to illustrate
the directions of movement of the various elements of the organizer
12. As can be seen, therefore, the first and second elements 14, 28
can be moved in the length direction, shown by the arrows A to
increase and decrease the length dimension of the organizer 12.
Both of the third and fourth elements 40 and 52 can be moved in the
width direction with respect to the first and second elements 14,
28 as shown by the arrows B to increase and decrease the width
dimension of the organizer 12 and, lastly, the third and fourth
elements 40, 52 can also be moved in the length direction, shown by
the arrows C so as to increase or decrease the length dimension of
the combined third and fourth elements 40, 52 to match the length
dimension of the first and second elements 14, 28 to make the
overall organizer 12 a rectangular configuration.
[0044] Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown a top schematic view
of an alternative embodiment of the present invention and where
five elements are present instead of the four element organizer 12
of the prior embodiment. In this embodiment, there is a first
second element 64 and a second second element 66 and both of those
elements are nested with the first element 14 and both of the first
and second second elements 64, 66 move in the length direction in a
similar manner to the second element 28 of FIGS. 1-6.
[0045] As such, in this embodiment, instead of only one second
element, as with the prior embodiment, there are two second
elements 64, 66 that move in the length direction and therefore an
additional element is utilized in carrying out the purposes of the
present invention. The third and fourth elements 40, 52 operate in
the same manner as with the prior embodiment and, again the area of
the organizer 12 can be expanded or contracted in both the length
direction and the width direction while maintaining a contiguous
bottom surface and a peripheral raised exterior edge.
[0046] Turning now to FIG. 8, there is shown a top perspective view
of an organizer 12 of the present invention and showing the first
and second elements 14, 28 separated and also showing the third and
fourth elements 40, 52 nested in their sliding relationship to each
other.
[0047] In the preferred embodiment, the raised exterior edges of
the overlapping exterior edges, where applicable, can have a
releasable engagement system and can be comprised of guide slots
that engage and capture guide ribs formed on the adjacent raised
external edge so that the two raised exterior edges slide together
in an interlocking fashion with respect to each other. As a part of
the interlocking or releasable engagement system, one of he raised
exterior edges may have serrated teeth so that overall, the
organizer will be incremental rigid with respect to the
interlocking elements.
[0048] As a further feature, there may be posts mounted on each
corner of the organizer 12 so as to receive and hold another
organizer in a vertical relationship therewith, such that the
organizers can be stacked vertically, along the Z direction, to
further increase the capacity of the compartmental organizers of a
drawer or other rectangular space.
[0049] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous
adaptations and modifications which can be made to the
multidirectional organizer of the present invention which will
result in an improved process and device, yet all of which will
fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention as
defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to
be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *