U.S. patent application number 10/703041 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-05 for hanging storage unit.
Invention is credited to Abraham, Ezekiel.
Application Number | 20050092700 10/703041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34551811 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050092700 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abraham, Ezekiel |
May 5, 2005 |
Hanging storage unit
Abstract
A storage unit for holding a plurality of items such as compact
disks is provided. The storage unit includes a body portion having
a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively
storing at least one of the items. The storage unit also includes a
hanger portion disposed along the top of the body portion. The
hanger portion is formed with an underlying extending slot which
leads into a cavity that is sized and shaped for selectively
receiving a conventional clothes-type hanger.
Inventors: |
Abraham, Ezekiel; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GOTTLIEB RACKMAN & REISMAN PC
270 MADISON AVENUE
8TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
100160601
|
Family ID: |
34551811 |
Appl. No.: |
10/703041 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/40 ; 211/113;
211/118; G9B/33.019 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/146 20130101;
G11B 33/0472 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/040 ;
211/113; 211/118 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
1. A hanging storage unit for holding a plurality of items
comprising: a body portion having a top and defined by a plurality
of holding compartments designed for selectively retaining at least
a single one of said items; a hanger portion disposed along the top
of said body portion and formed with a cavity that is sized and
shaped for selectively receiving a hanger.
2. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of holding
compartments are defined by a main panel member and a plurality of
front panel covers disposed therealong.
3. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of
holding compartments is sized for selectively receiving a compact
disk.
4. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of
holding compartments is sized for receiving an item of
footwear.
5. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein each of said holding
compartments is separated from adjacent holding compartments by
means of a reinforcing panel strip.
6. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of holding
compartments comprises multiple rows and columns of storage
compartments.
7. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said cavity of said hanger
portion is defined by a portion of said main panel and a back
panel.
8. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said cavity is of a
substantially triangular configuration.
9. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said hanger portion further
includes a top opening through which a hook of said hanger is
extendable therethrough when said hanger is received in said hanger
portion cavity.
10. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said hanger portion
includes a slot that leads to said cavity through which said hanger
can removably pass.
11. A hanging storage system comprising: a hanger having a body and
a hook element; a storage unit for holding a plurality of items and
including a body portion having a top and defined by a plurality of
holding compartments designed for selectively retaining at least a
single one of said items, and a hanger portion disposed along the
top of said body portion and formed with a cavity that is sized and
shaped for selectively receiving said hanger.
12. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of
holding compartments are defined by a main panel member and a
plurality of front panel covers disposed therealong.
13. The storage system of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality
of holding compartments is sized for selectively receiving a
compact disk.
14. The storage system of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality
of holding compartments is sized for receiving an item of
footwear.
15. The storage system of claim 11, wherein each of said holding
compartments is separated from adjacent holding compartments by
means of a reinforcing panel strip.
16. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of
holding compartments comprises multiple rows and columns of storage
compartments.
17. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said cavity of said
hanger portion is defined by a portion of said main panel and a
back panel.
18. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said hanger portion
further includes a top opening through which said hook element of
said hanger is extendable therethrough when said hanger is received
in said hanger portion cavity.
19. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said hanger portion
includes a slot leading into said cavity through which said hanger
can removably pass.
20. The storage system of claim 19, wherein said hanger portion
further includes a top opening through which said hook element of
said hanger is extendable therethrough when said hanger is received
in said hanger portion cavity.
21. A storage system assembly comprising: a supporting member; a
plurality of hangers each having a body and a hook element designed
to be supported along said supporting member; and a plurality of
storage units each for holding a plurality of items, each said
storage unit comprising a body portion having a top and defined by
a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively
retaining at least a single one of said items, and each also
including a hanger portion disposed along the top of said body
portion and formed with a cavity sized and shaped for selectively
receiving the body portion of at least one of said hangers.
22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said plurality of holding
compartments are defined by a main panel member and a plurality of
front panel covers disposed therealong.
23. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of
holding compartments is sized for selectively receiving a compact
disk.
24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of
holding compartments is sized for receiving an item of
footwear.
25. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said holding
compartments is separated from adjacent holding compartments by
means of a reinforcing panel strip.
26. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said plurality of holding
compartments comprises multiple rows and columns of storage
compartments.
27. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said cavity of said hanger
portion is defined by a portion of said main panel and a back
panel.
28. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said cavity is of a
substantially triangular configuration.
29. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said hanger portion further
includes a top opening through which the hook element of any of
said hangers is extendable therethrough when any of said hangers is
received in said hanger portion cavity.
30. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said supporting member
comprises a supporting rod.
31. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said hanger portion includes
a slot that leads to said cavity through which said hanger can
removably pass.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The invention relates to a hanging storage unit, and more
particularly to a hangable storage unit for holding a plurality of
items.
[0002] Many types of products have been designed to store a large
number of the same item, for example, photo albums hold large
numbers of photographs.
[0003] Various devices have been developed which are adapted to
store compact disks. These devices are typically characterized by
their inability to allow compact disks that are stored to be
readily viewable, their unattractive appearance, their relatively
high cost and the inefficient use of space. Furthermore, existing
compact disk holders typically cannot be conveniently stored. This
is due to their general bulky shape.
[0004] A fairly recent design which overcomes some of these
disadvantages is a hanging plastic storage unit that is being sold
and or distributed by the company Computer Expressions of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under the brand name DOORJAMS. As shown
in FIG. 1, the DOORJAMS product is used in conjunction with a
closet door or room door. In FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional
closet 11 having an interior 13 with a shelf 15 and a hanging rod
17. Acess to interior 13 of closet 11 is achieved by means of
opening and closing door 19 by utilizing doorknob 23 in a
conventional fashion.
[0005] The DOORJAMS product, generally indicated at 27, includes a
plurality of circular holding compartments 29 sized for receiving
conventional compact disks. The DOORJAMS product is made of a
see-through plastic material so that compact disks 31 stored in
compartments 29 may be easily viewed without having to remove
them.
[0006] As shown in FIG. 1, the DOORJAMS product also includes a
pair of top panels 33 and bottom panels 34, each having a small
opening defined by grommets 35. Each grommeted opening has one end
of a fabric rope 37 tied thereto. The other end of each fabric rope
37 is tied ti a rectangularly figured metal hook 39, as shown in
FIG. 1. In use, the DOORJAMS product is laid over inside wall or
panel 21 of door 19 and hooks 39 coupled to top panels 33 grab top
25 of door 19 while hooks 39 coupled to bottom panels 34 grab along
bottom 27 of door 19.
[0007] Unlike prior designs, the DOORJAMS product efficiently uses
space since it lays over a closet or room door and enables the
disks which are stored to be readily viewed. It also is relatively
inexpensive to manufacture since it is made of see through plastic
material.
[0008] Nonetheless, the DOORJAMS product is less than desirable. In
the first place, in order for the DOORJAMS product to be hung, as
shown in FIG. 1, specially designed hooks and ropes must be used.
Perhaps of greater concern is the use of the DOORJAMS product for
different size doors. In order to do so, it is necessary to adjust
the length of ropes 37, which will undoubtably require untying of
the ropes from grommet holes 35; this can be rather complicated and
time consuming.
[0009] Accordingly, it will be desirable to provide a compact disk
or other item storage holder which can be conveniently stored,
efficiently uses space and requires no special attaching
mechanisms.
SUMMARY Of THE INVENTION
[0010] Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a
hanging storage unit for holding a plurality of items such as
compact disks is provided. The storage unit includes a body portion
having a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively
storing at least one of the items. The storage unit also includes a
hanger portion disposed along the top of the body portion. The
hanger portion is formed with an underlying extending slot which
leads into a cavity that is sized and shaped for selectively
receiving a conventional clothes-type hanger.
[0011] In use, a clothes hanger is passed through the extending
slot of the hanger portion so that it is received within the cavity
thereof. The cavity is defined by a pair of overlying panels of a
substantially triangular configuration. These panels define a small
opening at the top of a hanger portion through which the hook of
the hanger may pass. Thus, the storage unit can be hung in a closet
or other location which has a horizontally running rod on which the
hook of the hanger is seated.
[0012] Although the preferred design of the inventive storage unit
is for use in connection with storing a plurality of compact disks,
other items such as, for example, footwear may be stored within the
holding compartments of the storage unit's body portion.
[0013] Because the inventive storage unit is normally used by
hanging it along the rod of a closet or other storage area,
multiple storage units may be stored side-by-side in a manner
similar to storage of multiple clothing items.
[0014] Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a
hanging storage unit for holding a plurality of items.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide a hanging
storage unit which enables viewing of the stored items.
[0016] Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a
hanging storage unit which efficiently uses a space.
[0017] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
hanging storage unit which requires no special mechanical
components.
[0018] Still other objects and advantages of the invention will, in
part, be obvious and will, in part, be apparent from the following
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is
made to the following description, taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hanging storage
unit in accordance with the prior art;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of the
inventive hanging storage units being hung along the rod of a
closet;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a single inventive
hanging storage unit;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a partial rear elevational view of the inventive
hanging storage unit and showing the placement of a conventional
clothes hanger inside the chamber of the hanger portion
thereof;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an alternative
embodiment of the inventive hanging storage unit in which a
plurality of footwear items may be stored; and
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of
FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 2-6, a hanging storage unit made in
accordance with the invention and generally indicated at 127 is
described. Hanging storage unit 127 includes an extending body
portion 128 and a preferably triangularly configured hanger portion
130 disposed along the top of body portion 128. Body portion 128
includes a rectangular main plastic panel 133 having a front
surface 132 and a back surface 134. Front surface 132 includes a
plurality of holding compartments 125 each defined by a see-through
plastic cover 129 running, for the most part, substantially
straight across compartment 125 and substantially 3/4 of the way
up. Each compartment 125 is capable of selectively receiving a
compact disk of standard shape and size which will be visible
through plastic covers 129, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0029] Each of compartments 125 are separated from horizontally
adjacent compartments by reinforcing vertical plastic panel strips
138 and are separated from adjacent vertical compartments by means
reinforcing horizontal plastic panel strips 136 (see FIG. 3).
[0030] Hanger portion 130 of hanging storage unit 127 is defined by
the upper portion of back panel 133 and a back hanger panel 135, as
best shown in FIG. 4. Panels 133 and 135 together define an
underlying slot 137 which leads into a triangularly configured
cavity 140 (see FIG. 6). As a result, a conventional hanger 139 may
be slid along back surface 134 of panel 133, passed through
elongated slot 137 and received within cavity 140 (see FIG. 4).
Hanger 139 includes a hanger body 141 of a triangular configuration
which corresponds to the triangular configuration of hanger portion
130 and a hook 143 which can extend through an opening 145 located
at the apex of hanger portion 130.
[0031] In use, as best shown in FIG. 2, one or more hanging storage
units 127 may be hung along a supporting rod 117 located in a
closet 111 or other storage area. Alternatively, one or more
storage units 127 may be hung on a door or any other surface along
which a hanger can be supported. Consequently, a plurality of CDs
may be stored in a convenient and compact fashion and so that each
is easily viewable when stored, and such that each can be easily
removed as needed.
[0032] In an alternative embodiment and referring to FIGS. 7-8, a
hanging storage unit made in accordance with the invention is
generally indicated at 227. Storage unite 227, as with storage unit
127 described hereinabove, includes a body portion 228 and a hanger
portion 230. Body portion 228 is defined by a main panel 233 having
a plurality of holding compartments 225 for storing an item of
footwear. Each of compartments 225 includes a front see through
plastic panel 229 through which a stored footwear item may be
viewed.
[0033] As with the embodiment of FIGS. 2-6, hanger portion 230 of
hanging storage unit 227 is preferably of a triangular
configuration and defines a triangularly configured cavity 237 in
which a conventional hanger may be selectively received. Like
hanging storage unit 127 described in FIGS. 2-6, hanging storage
unit 227 may be hung along a conventional closet or other storage
rod.
[0034] Although the inventive hanging storage unit is shown as
being used for storing a plurality of compact disks, or plurality
of footwear, the inventive hanging storage unit may be used to
store any other series of items without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
[0035] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and
those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained, and since certain changes may be made in the products set
forth above without departing from the spirit and scope from the
invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0036] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the
invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the
invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
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