U.S. patent application number 13/801166 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for circular compartmentalized bead organizer.
The applicant listed for this patent is Christine Comstock. Invention is credited to Christine Comstock.
Application Number | 20140262846 13/801166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51522636 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140262846 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Comstock; Christine |
September 18, 2014 |
CIRCULAR COMPARTMENTALIZED BEAD ORGANIZER
Abstract
A bead organizer including stacked rotary plates supporting
concentric annular rings of upwardly open bead compartments.
Inventors: |
Comstock; Christine; (Long
Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Comstock; Christine |
Long Beach |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51522636 |
Appl. No.: |
13/801166 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/6.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/16 20130101;
D04D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/6.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00; B65D 25/04 20060101 B65D025/04 |
Claims
1. A bead organizer comprising: a stack of circular rotary plates
having progressively smaller plate diameters moving upwardly in the
stack and including concentric peripheral portions; and concentric
rings of compartment sections on the respective peripheral portions
including upwardly opening compartments for receipt of beads.
2. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 that includes:
bearings interposed between the plates.
3. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the stack of
plates include a base plate having a center formed with an upwardly
projecting bearing post of a predetermined shape; and the stack of
plates includes a second plate overlying the bottom plate and
formed with a downwardly opening bearing pocket nested on the
bearing post.
4. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the stack of
plates includes at least four plates.
5. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the stack of
plates is formed with a major diameter of at least 18 inches.
6. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the stack
includes 4 plates; and the rings on the respective plates, from the
radial outer extremity inward, are formed with forty, thirty,
twenty-four and twenty compartments, respectively.
7. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 that includes:
indicia on the compartments to correspond with the color of beads
to be received therein.
8. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the stack
includes a base plate formed centrally with and upwardly projecting
conical bearing post; and the stack includes plates stacked on the
base plate and each including a raised central portion formed on
the respective bottom sides with respective downwardly opening
conical bearing cavities and on their respective top sides with
upwardly projecting bearing posts received in the respective
overlying bearing cavities.
9. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the
compartments include peripheral walls terminating in respective
upper ends disposed in a common plane.
10. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the
compartments include vertical walls of substantially 11/2 to 2
inches high.
11. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the
compartments include bottom walls angling radially outwardly and
downwardly.
12. The bead organizer as set forth in claim 1 that includes: an
upwardly opening channel in at least some of the compartments.
13. A bead organizer apparatus comprising: a circular base plate
formed centrally with an upstanding bearing post and at the
periphery with an annular peripheral portion; a first ring of
upwardly opening bead compartments mounted on the peripheral
portion; a second circular plate dispose on the base plate, formed
on its bottom side with a downwardly opening bearing cavity
receiving the post and further formed with a second annular
peripheral portion; a second ring of upwardly opening bead
compartments on the second annular peripheral portion and
concentric with the first ring.
14. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
the second rotary plate is formed centrally with a third upstanding
bearing post and that includes; a third circular rotary plate on
the second rotary plate, formed centrally with a downwardly opening
bearing cavity receiving the third bearing post and formed at with
a third peripheral annular portion; and a third annular ring of
upwardly opening bead compartments and mounted on the third
peripheral annular portion.
15. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
the first and second rings include respective sidewalls defining
the respective compartments, the sidewalls terminating in
respective upper edges disposed in a common plane.
16. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
the second circular plate is constructed to nest removably on the
base plate;
17. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
the bearing post is conical and the bearing cavity is conically
shaped to compliment the shape of the bearing post.
18. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
the first ring is configured with approximately 40 upwardly opening
compartments.
19. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein:
the second ring is formed with approximately 30 bead
compartments.
20. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 12
comprising: progressing upwardly in the stack first, second, third
and fourth circular plates, the respective plates formed with
progressively smaller diameters, the plates configured with
respective first, second, third and fourth annular peripheral
portions; the respective first, second, third and fourth rotary
plates formed with upstanding conical bearing posts; and the
second, third and fourth plates formed on their bottom sides with
respective downwardly opening first, second and third downwardly
opening conical bearing cavities nested on the respective first,
second and third bearing post.
21. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein:
the respective rings are formed with vertical side walls
terminating in respective top edges, the top edges disposed in a
common plane.
22. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein:
the first, second, third and fourth compartment rings on the
respective annular peripheral portions and configured with a
plurality of upwardly opening bead compartments.
23. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein:
the first, second, third and fourth compartment rings are formed
with respective 40, 30, 24 and 20 bead compartments.
24. The bead organizer apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein:
the compartments include bottom walls angling radially outwardly
and downwardly.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to bead organizers for
organizing beads for convenient access of a maximum of inventory by
a jeweler or the like to work with beads of various different
colors, shapes or sizes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] In the past bead organizers have typically been constructed
of rectangular shape configured with fixed upwardly opening bead
compartments for receipt of the various beads of different colors
shapes and sizes. These devices suffer the shortcoming that the
number of compartments which may conveniently be incorporated in a
reasonably sized organizer are somewhat limited and the beads in
the compartments are often not displayed for convenient access and
comparison in complimentary shades, sizes or shapes for access by
the jeweler.
[0003] It has been proposed to provide a bead work kit including a
stringing and weaving tray wherein the trays are interchangeable in
a kit and desk and are also capable of being used individually. The
kit includes a cover having plurality of compartments for receiving
beads. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Patent Publication
No. 2005/0178693 to Gupta.
[0004] Other organizing boxes include a tackle and utility box
formed with a pair of substantially identically shaped molded
members having a converging top and bottom walls with integral side
walls and matching open sides, hinged to each other along one edge.
One compartmented tray is included to be hinged at its bottom edge
across the open inner side one of the molded members. In the closed
position the sides of the hinged compartment tray serves as a cover
for the fixed compartments and both molded members. In an open
position the trays can be translated in rectilinear fashion to
provide access to the compartments. A device of this type is shown
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,102 to Belokin.
[0005] Other efforts to provide accessible compartments includes a
pill box with compartments having lids to snap shut. A device of
this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,670 to Harlan.
[0006] Other efforts to provide a means for coordinating the
display of complimentary colorations or the like, include a
proposal that annular discs be carried from a vertical post
defining a central bearing and carrying compartments for receiving
containers containing respective dental components to be arranged
in groups having allocated shades or the like so that the
containers are displayed in a vertically elongated, conical
display. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Patent Publication
No. 2008/0164254 to Hegenbarth. Devices of this type, while
beneficial for training dental personnel and the like and for
displaying the containers in pyramidal fashion, are relatively
expensive to manufacture, cumbersome to package and store and do
not lend themselves to displaying beads in a relatively low profile
plane for easy viewing and access.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention includes a stack of rotary plates,
being progressively smaller in diameter and stacked on one another
to leave exposed annular peripheral portions which mount respective
rings of bead compartments concentric with one another for display
of beads to be utilized and manipulated by a jeweler or other user.
It contains a continuous channel integrated into the outer edge of
each compartment that allows comparison of non-adjacent materials
and the ability to visualize prospective designs. The channel
provides a temporary workspace for ongoing projects while contained
within the unit, thus eliminating multiple set-ups.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bead organizer apparatus
embodying the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partial vertical section in enlarged scale taken
along the lines 2-2 if FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial top view taken along the line 3-3 of
FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4
of FIG. 2; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the bead organizer
apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a diametrical sectional view of a second
embodiment of the bead organizer apparatus of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view taken along the line 7-7
of FIG. 6; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8
of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The bead organizer apparatus of the present invention
includes, generally, a base plate 21 of a relatively large diameter
which may have one or more progressively smaller diameter plates
23, 25 and/or 27 stacked thereon. The respective plates mount at
their outer annular peripheries respective concentric rings 30, 31,
33, 35 and 39, also of progressively smaller diameters to be
disposed concentric with one another and configured for rotation
relative to one another for disposing selected groups of
compartments 41, 43, 45 or 47 of adjacent rings proximate one
another for display of beads of complementary shades, sizes or
shapes organized in the respective compartments.
[0017] Artistry in threading beads onto necklaces, bracelets or
other forms of jewelry involves a certain talent for adjoining the
beads of complementary colors, shapes and sizes proximate one
another so as to be appealing to the jewelry owner. For a string
involving a great number of individual beads, this can be a tedious
task, particularly when the stringer is forced to search and sort
for the shade, size or shape of the bead desired for the
complementary combination.
[0018] Individual beads come in numerous different colors, shades
and shapes and, just for the colors green or blue may have 10, 15
or 20 different hues, chroma, tone, tints or combinations thereof,
such as, for instance, asparagus, dark green, fern, green, forest
green, hooker's green, jungle green, laurel green, mantis green,
moss green, myrtle green, pale green, pine green, sap green,
shamrock green, tea green, teal and/or olive or many others.
Likewise, for blue, different hues, chromas, saturation and
intensity may provide a dozen or more shades and variations,
including periwinkle, powder blue, light blue and/or baby blue,
medium blue, Egyptian blue, ultramarine, resolution blue, dark
blue, navy blue, and/or Catalina blue.
[0019] Thus, it can be seen that for efficient selection of colors
for rapid stringing of the beads, ready access should be had to the
particular size, shade, color or hue desired. In jewelry
manufacture, a stringer is often paid on a piece by piece basis and
proficiency and rapid access to the desired beads for the end
product can be important. It is this objective to which the present
invention is directed.
[0020] In one preferred embodiment, I have constructed my bead
organizer with an approximately 18 inch diameter for the base plate
21 and have selected a total of three plates 23, and 27 to be
stacked thereon, each configured with a compartment ring 31, 33, 35
and 39 having a radial dimension of approximately 11/2 inches such
that the radii of the rings defining the respective compartment
rings 31, 33, 35 and 39 grow progressively smaller as one
progresses upwardly in the stack of plates. I have selected a
circumferential dimension for my compartments of % inch to provide
a robust plan view for each compartment. The vertical walls have a
height of between 11/2 and 2 inches.
[0021] My organizer may be made of any desirable material such as
plastic plates, molded plastic, stiff cardboard or the like.
[0022] The baseplate 21 is formed centrally with an upwardly
projecting, conical bearing post 51 (FIG. 4) disposed at the center
of the radius for the plate.
[0023] The plate 23 stacked thereon is formed at its center with an
upwardly raised, conical post 53 which conveniently forms on the
underside thereof a conical indentation defining a bearing cavity
nested on the post 21 for centering of the plate 23 and to
facilitate low friction rotation thereof on the baseplate 21.
Likewise, plates 25 and 27 are also formed with bearing posts 55
and 57 which likewise, are formed on the underside with cavities to
nest on the respective underlying posts and form at their top sides
conical bearing post.
[0024] Conveniently, the respective compartments 41, 43, 45 and 47
are formed with respective raised bottom walls 61, 63, 65 and 67
which slope radially outwardly and downwardly to cooperate to form
there over the upwardly opening compartments having limited
vertical depth to thereby maintain the beads at a convenient
eyelevel position and layered along the respective bottom walls 61,
63, 65 and 67 for convenient access thereto by the stringer.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the smaller diameter compartment ring
39 is formed with a circular inner wall 71 which forms a
cylindrical open central compartment 73 for receipt of the
stringer's tools for convenient access thereto.
[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the respective rings 31, 33, 35
and 39 are formed respectively, with 40, 30, 24 and 20 compartments
to thus provide a total of 114 compartments for receipt of numerous
different selections of beads.
[0027] The embodiment of my bead organizer shown in FIGS. 6-8 is
similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-5 except that here, the
compartments are formed with the respective bottom walls 71, 73, 75
and 77 curved to form an upward concave configuration sloped
radially outwardly to nest the beads radially outwardly in the
respective compartments. The radially outer or inner walls may be
formed with a continuous upwardly opening arcuate channel with
respect to the upwardly opening arcuate channels 81, 83, 85 and 87
for convenient receipt of the workers paraphernalia and storage of
beads or for ready availability. In some embodiments, the channels
are broken up by radial walls and may, in some instances, may be of
different sizes for receipt of paraphernalia of different sizes and
shapes.
[0028] In use, it will be appreciated that the user can load the
compartments with the selection of beads of various different
colors, such as green, purple, yellow, pink, red, brown and other
selections of shades and hues desired with the complimentary colors
hues and the like in juxtaposed compartments in each ring. Then,
when it is desired to string beads of a particular colorations or
combination thereof, the respective rings 31, 33, 35 and 39 may be
rotated to display the beads in the various compartments of the
desired combination and compliment to be disposed in a pie shaped
pattern for easy access to the selected compartments of each ring.
The stringer may then proceed to view the beads arrayed in an arc
of, say 30.degree.-45.degree. to rapidly select the desired beads
from the respective compartments for access in the sequence and
combination desired to facilitate an efficient and rapid attractive
stringing process. Then, when a string is to be made up of beads of
another combination or other selection, the beads of the
compartments housing those beads may then be rotated into a
position disposed in an arc adjacent the stringer for ready access
to those beads of the desired colors, shades and hues.
[0029] It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the tops of
the bottom walls 61, 63, 65 and 67 of the various compartments may
bear color indicia, such as the particular shade and hue of the
beads to be received in the respective compartments for easy
organization, indexing and access.
[0030] When the stringing task is completed, the user may easily
cover the organizer with a planer cover plate or the like to hold
the beads in place in their respective compartments for easy
transport and storage thereof and to preserve the current work in
progress for future use without multiple set-ups.
[0031] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the bead
organizer of the present invention provides an economical means for
organizing beads of various colors, hues, shades, shapes and sizes
for ready access for achieving the stringing task and provides a
maximum number of compartments to accommodate the multiples of bead
choices and maintains continuing projects in an efficient
manner.
[0032] Although the present invention has been described in detail
with regard to the preferred embodiments and drawings thereof, it
should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that
various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may
be accomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of
the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the
detailed description and the accompanying drawings as set forth
hereinabove are not intended to limit the breadth of the present
invention.
* * * * *