U.S. patent application number 11/773859 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-08 for telescoping ornament storage systems and devices.
Invention is credited to Erik Bornemeier, Jared Hendricks.
Application Number | 20090008283 11/773859 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40220611 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090008283 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hendricks; Jared ; et
al. |
January 8, 2009 |
Telescoping Ornament Storage Systems and Devices
Abstract
An ornament storage system and device is described that provides
for secure, compartmentalized, and compact storage of ornaments and
other similar objects ("ornaments"). The ornament storage system
and device provides easy access to the ornaments through removal of
the top and one or more sides of the system and device. Access is
further improved by separating the stored ornaments onto individual
storage trays or shelves. The individual storage trays or shelves
are easily accessible by substantially vertically telescoping the
storage trays or shelves in such a way as to provide increased
vertical separation between each successive shelf. Additionally,
each individual storage tray or shelf may be removable from the
ornament storage system and device. In such a way, each ornament in
the ornament storage system and device may be simultaneously viewed
while in storage and may be easily stored in or accessed from the
ornament storage system.
Inventors: |
Hendricks; Jared; (Draper,
UT) ; Bornemeier; Erik; (Bountiful, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIRTON AND MCCONKIE
60 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE,, SUITE 1800
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
40220611 |
Appl. No.: |
11/773859 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/419 ;
206/561; 312/258 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/026 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/419 ;
206/561; 312/258 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/48 20060101
B65D005/48 |
Claims
1. An ornament storage apparatus comprising: a telescoping handle
comprising: a grip; and a plurality of telescoping segments at
least partially slidingly nested within each other; and a plurality
of storage trays, wherein each storage tray is attached to a
different telescoping segment so that when the telescoping handle
is extended, the plurality of storage trays move with the
telescoping segments and vertically separate from each other.
2. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
telescoping handle and the plurality of storage trays telescope in
a substantially linear and substantially vertical fashion.
3. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of storage trays is removable from the telescoping
handle.
4. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the
plurality of storage trays comprises: a tray mounting bracket
attached to at least one of the telescoping segments; and a tray
support attached to the tray mounting bracket.
5. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the
plurality of storage trays further comprises: a wire tray; and a
compartmentalized cloth attached to the wire tray; wherein the
storage tray is removable in that the wire tray and the
compartmentalized cloth rest on the tray support and may be
selectively lifted off of the tray support.
6. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the
plurality of storage trays further comprises a compartmentalized
tray wherein the storage tray is removable in that the
compartmentalized tray rests on the tray support and may be
selectively lifted off of the tray support.
7. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an
exterior case that surrounds the plurality of storage trays when
the storage trays and the telescoping handle are in a collapsed
position, the exterior case comprising a top, a bottom, and one or
more sides, and wherein the top and at least one of the sides is
removable to permit access to the storage trays and to permit
telescopic expansion of the telescoping handle and the storage
trays.
8. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 7, wherein the exterior
case is soft-sided.
9. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
telescoping segments are configured so that they do not fully nest
within each other but at most only partially nest within each other
to provide a minimum separation between each of the plurality of
storage trays when the telescoping handle is in a collapsed
position.
10. An ornament storage device comprising: a telescoping handle
comprising: a grip; and a plurality of telescoping segments at
least partially slidingly nested within each other to provide a
telescoping action to the telescoping handle, wherein when the
telescoping handle is in a fully collapsed position, the
telescoping segments have a minimal vertical separation between
successive upper ends of immediately adjacent nesting telescoping
segments; and a plurality of storage trays, wherein each storage
tray is removably attached to a different telescoping segment so
that when the telescoping handle is extended, the plurality of
storage trays move with the telescoping segments and vertically
separate from each other, wherein the vertical height of the
storage trays corresponds to the minimum vertical separation
between the successive upper ends of the immediately adjacent
nesting telescoping segments in the fully collapsed position.
11. The ornament storage device of claim 10, further comprising an
exterior case, wherein at least a portion of the exterior case is
removable to provide access to the storage trays and to permit
telescopic expansion of the telescoping handle and the storage
trays.
12. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 10, wherein the
telescoping handle and the plurality of storage trays telescope in
a substantially linear and substantially vertical fashion.
13. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the
plurality of storage trays comprises: a tray mounting bracket
attached to at least one of the telescoping segments; and a tray
support attached to the tray mounting bracket.
14. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the
plurality of storage trays further comprises: a wire tray; and a
compartmentalized cloth attached to the wire tray; wherein the
storage tray may be removed in that the wire tray and the
compartmentalized cloth rest on the tray support and may be
selectively lifted off of the tray support.
15. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the
plurality of storage trays further comprises a compartmentalized
tray wherein the storage tray is removable in that the
compartmentalized tray rests on the tray support and may be
selectively lifted off of the tray support.
16. The ornament storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tray
mounting bracket and the tray support are one integral piece.
17. An ornament storage system comprising: a base; a telescoping
handle attached to the base comprising: a grip; and a plurality of
telescoping segments at least partially slidingly nested within
each other to provide a substantially-linear telescoping action to
the telescoping handle; and a plurality of storage trays removably
connected to the telescoping handle, each storage tray comprising:
a tray mounting bracket attached to at least one of the telescoping
segments so that when the telescoping handle is extended, each
storage tray moves with a different telescoping segment, causing
increased vertical separation between the storage trays; a tray
support attached to the tray mounting bracket; and a
compartmentalized tray resting on the tray support; and an exterior
case surrounding the telescoping handle and the plurality of
storage trays when the telescoping handle and the storage trays are
in a collapsed position, wherein at least a portion of the exterior
case is removable to provide access to the storage trays and to
permit telescopic expansion of the telescoping handle and the
storage trays.
18. The ornament storage system of claim 17, wherein the
compartmentalized tray comprises: a wire tray; and a
compartmentalized cloth attached to the wire tray.
19. The ornament storage system of claim 17, wherein the storage
trays are removable in that they may be lifted off of the tray
support.
20. The ornament storage system of claim 17, wherein the plurality
of telescoping segments comprise partially-nested tubular members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to storage devices, and more
particularly to a telescoping, easy-access storage device for
storage of Christmas tree ornaments and other similar objects.
[0003] 2. Background and Related Art
[0004] The storage of Christmas tree ornaments and other similar
objects (referred to herein as simply, "ornaments") provides a
particular challenge. Many ornaments are fragile and require
careful storage. Additionally, many ornaments include strings,
hooks, or other hanging mechanisms as well as decorative
embellishments that may tangle with the hanging mechanisms or
decorative embellishments of other ornaments. For these and other
reasons, it is generally considered desirable to provide for
individual storage of ornaments.
[0005] To provide for individual storage of ornaments, several
types of boxes or shelves have been developed. However, such boxes
or shelves have several significant limitations for the storage of
ornaments. Particularly, to maximize storage space in a compact
package, typical storage boxes and shelves stack one box or shelf
of ornaments immediately above the next box or shelf of ornaments.
Thus, a user is typically unable to readily see all available
ornaments when decorating a Christmas tree or accessing the
ornaments for whatever reason. As may be appreciated, this may lead
to difficulty when decorating a tree in properly distributing
different types and/or colors of ornaments in a desirable,
coordinated fashion. A user may therefore have to remove and
redistribute ornaments as a tree is decorated several times in
order to properly distribute the ornaments on the tree.
[0006] Meanwhile, some users decide to remove and/or open each box
or shelf of ornaments before decorating so that all ornaments are
visible. This is problematic for additional reasons, since the
ornaments and boxes may need to be distributed across a significant
area before all ornaments are visible, creating clutter and leading
to an increased possibility that the user may accidentally step on,
trip over, or otherwise break one of the boxes, shelves, or
ornaments during a decorating process.
[0007] Similar problems may be encountered during removal and
re-storage of the ornaments, such as at the end of a holiday
season. A user storing a certain type of ornament may be unable to
locate each of that type of ornament on the tree during a first
search, and may have to leave a box or shelf for that type of
ornament aside while other types of ornaments are removed, or may
have to mix ornament types in a single shelf or box. Either
approach is problematic: either clutter during removal and storage
is increased, or finding of a desired ornament at a later time
becomes more difficult. Additionally, where individual boxes or
shelves are used to store ornaments, it is possible to misplace or
separate ornaments into different locations. When this occurs, it
becomes difficult to locate ornaments for the next holiday
decoration cycle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An ornament storage system and device is described that
provides for secure, compartmentalized, and compact storage of
ornaments and other similar objects ("ornaments"). The ornament
storage system and device permits easy access to the ornaments by
providing for removal of the top and one or more sides of the
ornament storage system and device and further improves access to
the ornaments by separating the stored ornaments onto individual
storage trays or shelves. The individual storage trays or shelves
are easily accessed by telescoping the storage trays or shelves in
a substantially vertical and linear fashion in such a way as to
provide increased vertical separation between each successive shelf
and may be further improved by making each individual storage tray
or shelf removable from the ornament storage system and device. In
such a way, each ornament in the ornament storage system and device
may be simultaneously viewed and may be easily stored in or
accessed from the ornament storage system.
[0009] Therefore, in some embodiments, the ornament storage system
and device includes a plurality of storage trays attached to a
telescoping handle such that when the telescoping handle is
telescoped up, the storage trays simultaneously and substantially
linearly telescope up and separate from each other. The plurality
of storage trays may be removable from the telescoping handle to
facilitate ornament access, ornament storage, and ornament removal,
and may be rearranged in some instances as needed or desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The objects and features of the present invention will
become more fully apparent from the following description and
appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical
embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be
considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described
and explained with additional specificity and detail through the
use of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an
ornament storage device in a closed position;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
in an opened and fully-telescoped up position;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of
telescoping handle in a partially-telescoped position;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows an alternate perspective view of the
telescoping handle from FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a tray
support;
[0016] FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternate perspective views of the
telescoping handle of FIGS. 3-4 with tray supports attached to the
telescoping handle and with wire trays resting on the tray
supports; and
[0017] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the
ornament storage device from FIGS. 1 and 2 with one of the trays
partially removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] A description of the embodiments of the present invention
will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected
that the present invention may take many other forms and shapes,
hence the following disclosure is intended to be illustrative and
not limiting, and the scope of the invention should be determined
by reference to the appended claims.
[0019] An ornament storage system and device is described that
provides for secure compact storage of ornaments, trinkets,
decorations, and other similar objects (referred to herein as
simply "ornaments"). The ornament storage system and device
provides for easy access to the ornaments through removal of the
top and one or more sides of the storage system and device and
further improves access to the ornaments by separating the stored
ornaments onto individual storage trays or shelves. The individual
storage trays or shelves may be accessed by telescoping the storage
trays or shelves in such a way as to provide increased vertical
separation between each successive shelf and may be further
improved by making each individual storage tray or shelf removable
from the ornament storage system and device. In such a way, each
ornament in the ornament storage system and device may be
simultaneously viewed and may be easily stored in or accessed from
the ornament storage system.
[0020] In at least one embodiment, the ornament storage system and
device includes a plurality of storage trays attached to a
telescoping handle such that when the telescoping handle is
telescoped up, the storage trays simultaneously telescope up and
separate from each other in a substantially vertical, substantially
linear fashion. The plurality of storage trays may be removable
from the ornament storage system and device to facilitate ornament
access, ornament storage, and ornament removal. When the storage
trays are removable, they may be removed either with or without
telescoping the trays apart. The ornament storage system and
device, as well as each of the individual removable trays may
include handles to facilitate carrying of the system and device,
the trays, and any contained ornaments.
[0021] In the description and in the claims, the term "ornament"
shall refer to all types of Christmas tree ornaments and other
similar objects where storage of such objects is desirable in an
individualized manner in such a way that multiple such objects in
storage may be simultaneously visible.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ornament storage device 10.
The illustrated ornament storage device 10 is a soft-sided
rectilinear storage bag or exterior case for containing a plurality
of ornaments. The illustrated ornament storage device 10 is
approximately cubical in shape, although alternate ornament storage
devices 10 may take any number of shapes, from approximately
cylindrical to cubical. Embodiments of the ornament storage device
10 may also be hard-sided or semi-rigid instead of soft-sided. The
sides, bottom and top of the ornament storage device 10 provide
protection for the stored ornaments against breakage or undesired
spilling of the ornaments. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the
ornament storage device 10 includes side panels 12 having handles
14 to facilitate transportation of the ornament storage device. The
location of handles 14 may be modified in some embodiments,
including to the top of the ornament storage device 10. The
ornament storage device 10 also includes a removable front panel 16
and a removable top panel 18. The removable front panel 16 and the
removable top panel 18 permit access to the interior of the
ornament storage device 10. Although not specifically depicted in
FIG. 1, it may be understood that the ornament storage device 10
includes a back panel and a bottom panel as well.
[0023] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the removable front
panel 16 and the removable top panel 18 may be contiguous and may
further be contiguous with the back panel. In this fashion, the
removable front panel 16 and the removable top panel 18 may be
removable in the sense that they may be removed from their
respective substantially-planar positions at the front and top of
the ornament storage device 10 to allow access to the interior of
the ornament storage device. In such an embodiment, the removable
front panel 16 and the removable top panel 18 may remain attached
to the ornament storage device 10, as may be appreciated by
reference to FIG. 2, which shows the removable front panel 16 and
the removable top panel 18 rolled into a roll 20 located at the top
of the back panel where the roll 20 is out of the way of access to
any stored ornaments.
[0024] To facilitate securing to and removal of the removable front
panel 16 and the removable top panel 18 to the body of the ornament
storage device 10, the lines where the removable front panel 16 and
the removable top panel 18 meet the side panels 12 and/or the
bottom panel may be provided with a means for reversibly attaching
the removable front panel 16 and the removable top panel 18 to the
side panels 12 and/or to the bottom panel. Such means for attaching
may include a zipper, snaps, a hook-and-loop fastener system,
clips, buttons, or any other reversible fastener known in the art.
By way of example, the ornament storage device may include a
continuous zipper that may extend along the joint between the
removable top panel 18 and one side panel 12, continues along the
joint between the removable front panel 16 and the first side panel
12, continues along the joint between the removable front panel 16
and the bottom panel, continues along the joint between the
removable front panel 16 and the other side panel 12, and finally
extends along the joint between the removable top panel 18 and the
second side panel 12. One of skill in the art will understand that
in embodiments where the ornament storage device 10 is hard-sided,
the removable front panel 16 and the removable top panel 18 may be
hingedly-connected panels and may be completely removable. One of
skill in the art will also understand that in some embodiments, the
side panels 12 may also be made removable.
[0025] FIG. 2 depicts the embodiment of the ornament storage device
10 shown in FIG. 1, with the removable front panel 16 and the
removable top panel 18 removed to show the interior of the ornament
storage device 10. The interior of the ornament storage device 10
is shown in FIG. 2 in an expanded configuration, as will be
appreciated from the description below. The interior of the
ornament storage device 10 includes a plurality of storage trays 24
for storing ornaments in an individual, secure manner. The interior
also includes a telescoping handle 26 that extends from a point at
or near the bottom of the ornament storage device 10. The
telescoping handle 26 includes a grip 28 and multiple telescoping
segments 30. The storage trays 24 are attached to the telescoping
segments 30 so as to telescope up with the telescoping handle 26 to
quickly and simultaneously provide access to all storage trays and
any ornaments contained therein, as may be appreciated by reference
to FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the telescoping action may occur in
a substantially-linear, substantially-vertical fashion. In other
embodiments, the telescoping action may include a slightly curved
or non-linear path. As may be appreciated by reference to the
Figures, the telescoping action does not require any removal or
re-attachment of the storage trays 24 during either expansion or
collapsing, and both expansion and collapsing may occur with the
storage trays 24 either contained on or removed from the ornament
storage device 10.
[0026] One embodiment of the telescoping handle 26 is illustrated
in more detail without the attached storage trays 24 and without
the surrounding structure of the ornament storage device 10 in FIG.
3. FIG. 3 shows multiple telescoping segments 30, only one of which
is shown in a fully- or partially-extended position. Each of the
telescoping segments 30 in which another telescoping segment 30 is
nested may be a substantially-tubular member of any desired
cross-sectional shape, such as round, square, and rectangular. The
telescoping segment 30 with the smallest diameter may be a
substantially-tubular member, or it may be a substantially-solid
member. The telescoping segments 30 may be manufactured of varying
materials, including plastics and metals such as aluminum, steel,
or alloys thereof, and may include extruded or formed structures.
If the telescoping segments 30 are substantially-tubular members,
the substantially-tubular members need not be completely closed
members, as will be recognized by those of skills in the art.
[0027] As may also be appreciated by one of skill in the art, each
successive ascending telescoping segment 30 may be constructed so
as to be narrower or to have a smaller diameter than the
telescoping segment 30 below, so as to allow successive nesting of
all the telescoping segments 30. Alternatively, a portion of each
telescoping segment 30 may be narrower than a remaining portion of
the telescoping segment 30 to allow such nesting. Additionally, as
may be readily appreciated, the telescoping segments 30 may be
provided with a means for securing the extended telescoping
segments 30 against unwanted collapse. Any such means for securing
the extended telescoping segments 30 against unwanted collapse that
is known in the art may be used, including a frictional engagement
between successive telescoping segments 30, a spring-loaded bearing
lock or other spring-loaded engagement mechanism, a
manually-actuated lock, or any other such mechanism. Such
mechanisms are well known in the art of telescoping handles such as
those used for rolling luggage.
[0028] As is known to those of skill in the art, typical
telescoping handles, such as for luggage, normally provide a
maximal extended handle length for a minimal nested or retracted
handle length. Therefore, the telescoping segments of a typical
telescoping handle may be sized so as to completely or almost
completely nest within each other in their retracted position. Such
is not the case with the telescoping handle 26 illustrated in FIGS.
2 and 3.
[0029] Use of fully-nested telescoping segments, as has been
previously used with prior telescoping handles, could result in
undesirable crushing or breakage of any ornaments stored in the
ornament storage device 10, as full nesting could permit an upper
storage tray 24 to press down upon a lower storage tray 24.
Therefore, in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, relative
travel of the adjacent telescoping segments 30 is interrupted
before full nesting occurs. Specifically, travel is interrupted at
a location providing sufficient depth for each adjacent storage
tray 24. As may be appreciated by those skilled in the art,
ornaments come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Therefore, the
spacing provided to the storage trays 24 (and therefore the
location where relative travel between adjacent telescoping
segments 30 is interrupted) may be varied between embodiments and
even within embodiments to provide adequate storage for the variety
of ornaments. For example, vertical-stored (minimum) spacing
between the tops of vertically-adjacent storage trays 24 may be
varied to fit 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch, or larger
sizes of stored ornaments, as well as any desired size in between.
One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the
embodiments of the invention may be scaled as appropriate to permit
storage of any desired size of ornament.
[0030] To permit attachment of the storage trays 24 to the
telescoping handle 26 in such a way that the storage trays 24
telescope up and down with the telescoping handle 26 for easy
access, the telescoping segments 30 may be provided with tray
mounting brackets 32. The tray mounting brackets 32 may be attached
at the tops of each telescoping segment 30 by any attachment means
known in the art, including screws, set screws, cement, rivets,
glue, a frictional fit, or any other means of attachment that does
not prevent telescoping of the other telescoping segments 30. As
the tray mounting brackets 32 are attached to the top of each
telescoping segment 30 (or pair of telescoping segments 30, as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3), the tray mounting brackets 32 will
telescope up and down as the telescoping handle 26 telescopes up
and down. The telescoping action of the tray mounting brackets 32
is advantageous, however, in that the motion of each tray mounting
bracket 32 is not tied to the total movement of the grip 28, but is
rather tied to the movement of the respective telescoping segments
30, so that as the telescoping handle 26 is fully extended, a
desired separation is provided for each tray mounting bracket 32
and therefore each storage tray 24.
[0031] Therefore, as may be appreciated by one of skill in the art,
the telescoping handle 26 and trays 24 of the present invention
provide a unique method for storing ornaments and quickly providing
simultaneous viewing and access to all the stored ornaments. To
further provide such access in a stable manner, the telescoping
handle 26 may be attached to an inner base support 34, as is shown
in FIG. 3. The inner base support 34 may extend the full depth of
the storage trays 24 to prevent the weight of the storage trays 24
and any contained ornaments from causing the ornament storage
device 10 to tip over. As may be appreciated by one of skill in the
art by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottommost storage tray 24
need not telescope up or down to provide access to any lower
storage trays 24. Therefore, the bottommost telescoping segment 30
need not move relative to the inner base support 34, but may only
serve as a nesting member for the other telescoping segments
30.
[0032] Additionally, as may be recognized by one of skill in the
art, it may be desirable for the ornament storage device 10 to be
easily moved from one point to another while the ornaments are
fully visible. Therefore, in some embodiments, the point 36 where
the inner base support 34 joins the telescoping handle 26 may be
provided with wheels (not shown). In this fashion, the ornament
storage device 10 may be tipped back to some degree, as shown in
FIG. 4, and rolled to a desired location, similarly to the manner
in which wheeled luggage is often transported.
[0033] FIG. 4 also illustrates further details of one embodiment of
the tray mounting brackets 32. As may be seen, the tray mounting
brackets 32 may be configured to attach to or to receive a tray
support 38; one embodiment of the tray support 38 is shown in FIG.
5. Each tray support 38 may be attached to a different tray
mounting bracket 32 to support an individual storage tray 24. The
tray supports 38 may be attached to the tray mounting brackets 32
by any appropriate attachment means known in the art, such as
screwing, bolting, riveting, a snap interference fit, gluing,
cementing, etc. By way of example, as may be appreciated by
reference to FIGS. 3-5, the tray supports 38 may slidingly engage
the tray mounting brackets 32 in a sideways fashion, and, once in
place, may be further secured by small screws, rivets, or bolts at
one or more attachment points 40.
[0034] In some embodiments, the tray support 38 may be integrally
formed with the tray mounting brackets 32, rather than separately
attached as described above. Additionally, in some embodiments, the
tray supports 38 (and the tray mounting brackets 32, when
integrally formed with the tray supports 38) may be integrally
formed with all or a portion of the storage trays 24. For example,
it is possible to form or mold the storage trays 24 out of a
material such as plastic such that the storage trays 24 include the
tray supports 38 and optionally the tray mounting brackets 32.
Alternatively, it may be desirable to form the remaining portions
of the storage trays 24 separately from the tray mounting brackets
32. In such embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 5, the tray
mounting brackets 32 may be provided with one or more notches 42 to
seat other portions of the storage trays 24, as may be appreciated
with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0035] FIGS. 6 and 7 show rear and front perspective views,
respectively, of an embodiment of the ornament storage device 10,
with wire trays 44 resting in the notches 40 of the tray supports
38. In the embodiment shown, the wire trays 44 are not attached to
the tray supports 38, but instead rest on the tray supports 38,
with the wires of the wire tray 44 potentially nested in the
notches 42 of the tray supports 38. This means that the wire trays
44 may be easily removed from the tray supports 38 by lifting the
wire trays 44 up from the tray supports 38. This removability of
the wire trays 44 allows a user of the ornament storage device to
remove a full storage tray 24 with ornaments, if desired, to a
location remote from the ornament storage device 10 during
decoration, removal of stored ornaments, and/or storage of
ornaments, as will be set forth in additional detail below.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wire trays 44
are approximately rectangular and have a grid pattern. As may be
appreciated by one of skill in the art, in other embodiments where
the ornament storage device has a different shape, the wire trays
44 may be modified to conform to that shape. Therefore, in some
embodiments, the wire trays 44 may be approximately square,
approximately circular, or may take any of a number of functional
and/or aesthetic shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, the grid of
each of the wire trays 44 defines a plurality of small storage
openings 46 along the sides and front of the wire tray 44 and
surrounding a centrally-located large storage opening 48 that is
approximately the same size as the tray support 38. In this way,
the wire tray 44 provides structural support members to support
storage space for the ornaments. In some embodiments, the large
storage opening 48 may be replaced by additional small storage
openings 46. However, as will be appreciated from the discussion
below, the space defined by the large storage opening 48 may be
further subdivided into smaller storage spaces without requiring
actual grid/wire support from the wire tray 44 within the large
storage opening 48.
[0037] Although the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 show
embodiments of the ornament storage device 10 wherein each of the
tray supports 38 and the wire trays 44 are substantially identical
(i.e. each of the tray supports 38 is the same size and shape, and
each of the wire trays 44 has the same pattern of the small storage
openings 46 and the large storage opening 48), it will be readily
recognized that the size, the layout, and the configuration of the
tray supports 38 and the wire trays 44 may be varied from
embodiment to embodiment of the ornament storage device 10, as well
as between storage trays 24 of individual embodiments to suit the
storage needs of particular users and situations. This may be
appreciated in more detail with reference to FIG. 8.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the
ornament storage device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with one
of the storage trays 24 partially removed from its tray support 38.
As may be appreciated from FIG. 8, each of the wire trays 44 have
been covered with a compartmentalized cloth that defines various
storage areas or storage compartments in association with the grid
of the wire tray 44. In this fashion, the ornament storage device
10 provides for individual, protected, compartmentalized storage of
ornaments. The compartmentalized cloth of each individual storage
tray 24 is supported by the wire tray 44 and may be made of any
suitable material, including natural and manmade fibers and cloths,
lightweight and heavyweight fabrics, plastics, or any other known
material suitable for providing the storage compartments. In some
embodiments, for example, the wire tray 44 and the
compartmentalized cloth may be replaced by an integral rigid or
semi-rigid plastic tray having molded or formed ornament
compartments. One of skill in the art will, therefore, readily
appreciate the many forms that the various components of the
storage trays 24 may take.
[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates how the function of each individual
storage tray 24 may be varied. For example, the uppermost storage
tray 50 is different from the remaining storage trays 24 in that it
includes a large central storage compartment 52. The large central
storage compartment 52 may provide storage for a larger ornament,
such as a Christmas tree topper. The uppermost storage tray 50 also
includes three small storage compartments 54 along each side of the
large central storage compartment 52. As may be appreciated by one
skilled in the art by reference to the uppermost storage tray 50,
if storage of a ornament that is large in all three dimensions is
desired, a central or other portion of an upper storage tray 24 may
be provided without a bottom, so that the large ornament may be
stored in a lower storage tray 24 and the ornament storage device
10 may be telescoped closed with the bottomless portion of the
upper storage tray 24 passing over the large ornament without
causing any damage.
[0040] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the second storage tray 56 is
illustrated as being partially removed from its resting position
within the ornament storage device 10. In contrast to the uppermost
storage tray 50, the second storage tray 56 has been devoted
entirely to small storage compartments 54, and has a total of
twenty small storage compartments 54. Although the wire tray 44 of
the second storage tray 56 may include a grid that completely
demarcates all twenty small storage compartments 54, it has been
found that the wire along the outer boundaries of the large storage
opening 48 typically provides sufficient support for the inner back
nine small storage compartments 54 without requiring the additional
wire support. Therefore, a single style of wire tray 44 may be used
for multiple final styles of storage trays 44 in some
embodiments.
[0041] To facilitate removal, carrying, and replacement of the
storage trays 24, the storage trays 24 may be provided with storage
tray handles 58, as is illustrated in FIG. 8. The storage tray
handles 58 may take any form that facilitates use of the storage
trays 24, and the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 shows the
storage tray handles 58 as being a pair of straps mounted on either
end of the uppermost storage tray 50 and the second storage tray
56. The other storage trays shown in FIG. 8 also have storage tray
handles 58 that are not visible in the perspective view of the
Figure.
[0042] FIGS. 9-14 show perspective views of details of an alternate
embodiment of the ornament storage device 10. The embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 9-14 includes a larger number of components
made from plastic to reduce the overall cost of the ornament
storage device 10, and includes some additional features not
previously discussed. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the
ornament storage device 10, with any outer storage case and base
omitted. The telescoping handle 26 and storage trays 24 are
visible. As in FIGS. 6 and 7, the compartmentalized cloth is not
shown in order to more clearly show the structure of the ornament
storage device 10.
[0043] FIG. 10 shows a detailed view of the telescoping handle 26
of the ornament storage device 10. The telescoping handle 26
includes the grip 28 and the telescoping segments 30. The tray
mounting brackets 32 are attached to the telescoping segments 30,
as in the previously-described embodiments. In this embodiment, the
tray mounting brackets 32 include tray locks 60 that may be used to
lock the storage trays 24 to the tray mounting brackets 32 to
prevent unwanted separation of the storage trays 24 from the
telescoping handle 26 and from the ornament storage device 10. The
tray locks 60 may be any kind of locking mechanism to secure the
storage trays 24 to the telescoping segments 30 of the telescoping
handle 26 and/or the tray mounting brackets 32, including slide
locks, snaps, or buckles. The tray locks 60 are illustrated in
FIGS. 10-13 as being slide locks.
[0044] Specifically, FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate detailed
perspective views of the tray locks 60, and show the tray lock 60
may slide from a locked position in FIG. 11 to an unlocked position
in FIG. 12. In the locked position, the attached storage tray 24
may not be removed from the telescoping handle 26. In the unlocked
position, the storage tray 24 may be removed from and or connected
to the telescoping handle 26.
[0045] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective back view of the ornament
storage device 10, showing the attachment of the storage trays 24
to the tray mounting brackets 32. One of skill in the art will
appreciate that the illustrated shapes and forms are merely
illustrative of a representative embodiment of the invention. FIG.
14 illustrates a perspective view of a plastic tray 62 for use with
the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 9-13. The illustration shows
how one plastic tray 62 may be inverted and stacked with a second
plastic tray 62 for compact storage when the ornament storage
device 10 is not in use. Additionally, one of skill in the art will
appreciate from FIG. 14 that the plastic tray 62 includes vertical
sections that extend downward to provide supporting surfaces so
that the plastic trays 62 may be stacked one upon another, and also
may be set or rested on smooth surfaces during ornament removal
and/or storage. The plastic trays 62 also include storage tray
handles 58 for ease of transportation of individual storage
trays.
[0046] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. For example, although the embodiments of the
ornament storage device 10 illustrated herein all have four storage
trays 24, it is envisioned that embodiments may be provided with
more or fewer storage trays 24. By way of example, alternate
embodiments of the ornament storage device 10 may have two, three,
five, six, seven, eight, or more storage trays 24. In some such
embodiments having a large number of telescoping storage trays 24,
a mechanism may be provided to selectively telescope and access
only a portion of the storage trays 24, such as providing
additional grips 28 actuating selected numbers of the storage trays
24.
[0047] As an additional example, the embodiments illustrated herein
all have matched pairs of telescoping segments 30. Other
embodiments may rely on a single column of telescoping segments 30
to provide the functions described herein. Still other embodiments
may utilize three or more matched columns of telescoping segments,
or may utilize different non-continuous sets of telescoping
segments to provide additional telescoping range, such as for
embodiments having a larger number of storage trays 24, as
discussed above. Still other embodiments may provide access to the
telescoping handle 26 when the removable front panel 16 and the
removable top panel 18 are closed or attached, so that the
telescoping handle 26 may be used to help move the closed ornament
storage device 10. In such embodiments, the ornament storage device
10 may be provided with wheels as discussed above. Additionally, in
some such embodiments, the telescoping handle 26 may be provided
with a number of telescoping segments 30 at the top of the
telescoping handle 26 that are not attached to storage trays 24, so
that a portion of the telescoping handle 26 may be extended to
facilitate rolling transport of the ornament storage device 10
without any of the storage trays 24 being extended or elevated.
[0048] As may be appreciated by one of skill in the art by
reference to the drawings and the above description, the
embodiments of the ornament storage device 10 described above
utilize various modular components. The various components and the
modularity of the ornament storage device permit straightforward
changing of components, such as for storing of different types of
ornaments and for switching the stacking order of the storage trays
24. The components and modularity also permit shipping of the
ornament storage device 10 in a compact, unassembled package that
is straightforward to assemble for use. Similarly, the ornament
storage device 10 may also be disassembled and stored in a compact
space when not in use.
[0049] The individual storage trays 24 may be provided with a lid,
a cover, or any other desired means for securing the ornaments
within the storage compartments of the storage trays 24. The means
for securing the ornaments may include elastic and non-elastic
straps, elastic and non-elastic webbing, elastic and non-elastic
cloth, and rigid lids and covers. The means for securing the
ornaments may prevent inadvertent spillage of ornaments from the
storage trays 24. In embodiments wherein each of the storage trays
24 is individually covered, the outer case of the ornament storage
device 10 may optionally be omitted.
[0050] That the features and advantages of the embodiments of the
ornament storage device 10 and systems described above may be more
fully appreciated and understood, a description of the ornament
storage device 10 in use will now be given. The ornament storage
device 10 may first be assembled or may be purchased/acquired in an
assembled state to provide a setup as shown in FIG. 1, whereupon a
user might decide to store ornaments in the ornament storage device
10. The user could then transport the ornament storage device to a
desired location using the handles 14. To store ornaments in the
ornament storage device 10, the user opens the ornament storage
device 10 by detaching/removing any mechanisms securing the
removable front panel 16 and the removable top panel 18, and moves
out of the way or removes those panels 16 and 18, revealing the
storage trays 24 and the telescoping handle 26.
[0051] To improve access to the various storage trays, the user
could perform one of two actions. First, the user could simply
remove the uppermost storage tray 50, providing access to the
second storage tray 56 below, and could repeat this process for
each subsequent storage tray. Alternatively, the user could grasp
the grip 28 and pull upwards to actuate the telescoping segments 30
of the telescoping handle 26. In doing so, the various trays would
simultaneously substantially vertically telescope and separate to
provide the configuration shown in FIG. 2. Once the ornament
storage device 10 is in the configuration of FIG. 2, the user has
at least two options for storing ornaments in the various storage
compartments. First, the user can access the storage compartments
and place ornaments in the storage compartments without removing
the storage trays 24, as the telescoping action provides sufficient
room to access the storage trays 24. Second, the user may
selectively remove one or more storage trays 24, as depicted in
FIG. 8, to improve access and/or to move the storage tray(s) 24 to
a more desirable location for ornament storage and retrieval.
[0052] The user can then store any desired ornaments in the
ornament storage device, may return any removed storage trays 24 to
their positions in the ornament storage device 10 (or alternatively
may choose to rearrange the order of the storage trays 24), and may
collapse the telescoping handle 26 and the associated trays if they
were in the extended position. The removable top panel 18 and the
removable front panel 16 may then be reattached and/or secured in
place, and the ornament storage device 10 may be transported to a
desired storage location. When the ornaments are to be accessed
and/or used again, the above steps may be repeated. Therefore, it
may be appreciated that the described ornament storage device 10
provides for compact, convenient storage of ornaments while
providing improved access to stored ornaments and to ornament
storage space.
[0053] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims,
rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
* * * * *