The present invention relates generally to an adjustable organizational system for single and multi-tiered cabinets, drawers, and other organizing shelving fixtures. More so, the organizational system segregates a plurality of items inside a cabinet on shelves, and then groups the segregated items on each shelf into size-dependent tiers of groups through use of length adjustable, resilient straps that can be length adjusted with a plurality of strap adjustment members; whereby, multiple groups and tiers of items can be segregated on the same shelf through positional and height adjustment of the straps.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, a shelf is a flat horizontal surface used for display and storage. Often, shelves include a flat horizontal plane which is used in a home, business, store, or elsewhere to hold items that are being displayed, stored, or offered for sale. The shelf is often raised off the ground and usually anchored/supported on its shorter length sides by brackets, columns, or pillars.
In many instances, shelves are used to retain multiple items on a flat surface. However, the items positioned on the shelf may be scattered along the flat surface; and thereby difficult to find. Further, in cases of storing items in moving vehicles, such as recreational vehicles and boats, the items can fall off the shelf when the vehicle leans in a direction, accelerates, or decelerates suddenly.
Often, shelving systems lack adjustability, aesthetics, flexibility of use, and functionality; thus limiting the consumer and forcing the user to make permanent storage choices. Further, many shelving systems require significant assembly, which users may not be competent in assembling. Often the shelf assembly is not intuitive and requires detailed instructions and tools, along with mechanical ability to read and follow instructions.
Other proposals have involved shelving systems. The problem with these shelving systems is that they do not organize the items to create easy to find groups or tiers of items. Also, the items are not securely retained on the shelf. Even though the above cited shelving systems meet some of the needs of the market, an adjustable organizational system for single and multi-tiered cabinets that segregates items inside a cabinet, and on different tiers of shelves, and further segregates the items into size-dependent groups through use of length adjustable, resilient straps is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to an adjustable organizational system for single and multi-tiered cabinets. The organizational system is operable with single-tiered, double-tiered, triple-tiered, and multi-tiered cabinets, shelves, drawers, or other organizing fixtures. The organizational system is configured to segregate a plurality of items inside a cabinet, and on different tiers of shelves. The organizational system may then be used to group the segregated items into size-dependent groups through use of a plurality of resilient, length adjustable straps. The straps help retain at least one item along the back wall, the sidewalls, and the bottom wall of the cabinet. The straps can be fastened to the cabinet to achieve different lengths. In this manner, multiple groups of items can be segregated into desired groups and tiers on the same shelf through positional and height adjustment of the straps.
System further provides a cabinet that is defined by a back wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a bottom wall. Cabinet is configured to store and support a plurality of items in an organized, segregated arrangement, described below. The system further comprises at least one shelf extending between the pair of sidewalls of the cabinet. The shelf may be flat and horizontal.
System further comprises a plurality of straps defined by at least one slot and a pair of free ends. The slots enhance the resiliency of the straps. The slots are disposed in a linear, spaced-apart relationship. The straps extend across the back wall, the pair of sidewalls, and the bottom wall. The straps are further being defined by a resilient configuration enabling extension and retraction of the straps relative to the back wall, the sidewalls, and the bottom wall of the cabinet. In this manner, the straps help retain at least one item along the back wall, the sidewalls, and the bottom wall of the cabinet.
System further provides a plurality of strap adjustment members for adjusting the length and position of straps. The strap adjustment members comprise a side mounting block, a stud, and a retaining nut, the strap adjustment members detachably fastening the free ends of the straps together, the strap adjustment members further detachably fastening the free ends of the straps to the back wall, the sidewalls, and the bottom wall of the cabinet.
The nut may be rotatably displaced along the length of the stud to adjust the length of the straps. In this manner, rotating the nut relative to the side mounting block creates a gap between the straps and the back wall, the sidewalls, and the bottom wall of the cabinet that allows for placement of the items.
In another aspect, the cabinet may include, without limitation, a recreational vehicle cabinet, a medicine cabinet, and a kitchen cabinet.
In another aspect, the pluralities of shelves are configured to support a plurality of items, which may include, without limitation, a hygiene container, a medicine container, a shaving device, an electrical device, a tool, wiring, and a food item.
In another aspect, the slots in the straps are disposed in a linear, spaced-apart relationship so as to enhance.
In another aspect, the straps are generally resilient and flat.
In another aspect, the strap adjusting members comprise a fixed threaded bolt and adjustable nuts.
One objective of the present invention, is to organize hygienic and medicinal items in, but not limited to, a medicine cabinet/shelving/drawer along individual or stacked shelves or drawers, and to separate groups on each shelf or drawer.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a flexible strap that extends across the items to help restrain the items against the back wall of the cabinet in an organized manner.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide multiple strap adjusting members that can be positioned to accommodate different size-dependent items across the back wall and/or sidewalls of the cabinet.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide multiple mounting blocks that are easy to position anywhere along the back walls of a medicine cabinet/shelf/drawer.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide versatile length adjustable straps that exhibit sufficient the elasticity for flexibility; and slots through the straps for accommodating size-dependent items.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions, or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as may be further described or explained by the entire written specification of which this detailed description is an integral part. The drawings are intended to be read together with the specification and are to be construed as a portion of the entire “written description” of this invention as required by 35 U.S.C. § 112.
System 100 is unique in that multiple groups and tiers of items can be segregated on the same shelf 110, or bottom wall 107 of the cabinet 102 through positional and height adjustment of the straps 112a-f. In one non-limiting embodiment, straps 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d, 112e, 112f are defined by a pair of free ends 114a, 114b that are secured to the cabinet walls 104, 106a, 106b, 107, so as to enable grouping of items 200a-p into desired groups and tiers, based on the size, shape, and function of the items 200a-p.
Strap adjustment members 136a-f are operable to detachably fasten free ends 114a, 114b of straps 112a-f into cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107. Strap adjustment members 136a-f comprise a side mounting block 115a-c, a stud 116a-f, and a retaining nut 118a-f. Nut 118a-f extends and retracts relative to stud 116a-f and cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107 to adjust the length and position of straps 112a-f relative to cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107, so as to enable size dependent grouping of items 200a-p on the same shelf 110 or cabinet wall 104, 106a-b, 107.
As
System 100 further comprises at least one shelf 110 extending between the pair of sidewalls 106a-b of the cabinet 102. Shelf 110 may be flat and horizontal. In one non-limiting embodiment, a plurality of holes are formed in the back wall 104 and sidewalls 106a-b of cabinet 102. Holes may be disposed in a linear, spaced-apart arrangement to receive fastening mechanisms, and thereby support cabinet.
In one non-limiting embodiment, cabinet 102 may include, without limitation, a medicine cabinet, a tool cabinet, a storage section of a recreational vehicle, boats, campers, any type of moving vehicle with shelving or flat surface 108, a medical instrumentation cabinet, a storage shed, and a refrigeration unit. Though in other embodiments, cabinet 102 may include any type of cabinet containing any type of items 200a-p that are supported on shelves. Items 200a-p contained in the cabinet 102 may include, without limitation, hygiene products 200a, medicine containers 200b, shaving products 200c, automobile tools 200d, first aid equipment 200e, a tool 200f, wiring 200g, and a food item 200h.
In one non-limiting embodiment, at least one shelf 110, or multiple configurations of the bottom wall 107, are disposed in a stacked arrangement and extending between the pair of sidewalls 106a-b. Shelf 110 supports the items 200a-p and enable items to be grouped in a desired arrangement in cabinet 102. The groupings of items can be rearranged to achieve a desired organizational configuration on each shelf 110. System 100 allows further segregation of items within each bottom wall 107, or shelf 110, as described below. Shelves 110 are configured to support the items 200a-p.
In one non-limiting embodiment, system 100 further comprises a plurality of straps 112a-f that are defined by at least one slot 113a-d and a pair of free ends 114a, 114b. Straps 112a-f are sized and dimensioned to extend across the back wall 104, sidewalls 106a-b, and bottom wall 107 of cabinet 102. Straps 112a-f are defined by a generally flat, resilient configuration that allows for extension and retraction of straps 112a-f relative to back wall 104, sidewalls 106a-b, and bottom wall 107 of cabinet 102.
In this manner, the straps 112a-f help retain items 200a-p along the back wall 104, the sidewalls 106a-b, and the bottom wall 107 of cabinet 102. The slots 113a-d that form through straps 112a-f are disposed in a linear, spaced-apart relationship, which helps enhance the resiliency of the straps 112a-f. By stretching in this manner, the straps 112a-f apply tension to the items 200a-p, which secures the items against the cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107.
In one non-limiting embodiment, straps 112a-f may include a slotted, two-sided foam tape. Though any stretchable, elongated restraining member may be used. Straps 112a-f may have different lengths and widths, depending on the parameters of cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107 and shelf 110. As straps 112a-f extends across cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107, a gap 138 forms between strap 112a, and back wall 104, sidewalls 106a-b, or bottom wall 107 of cabinet 102. Gap 138 provides the necessary space to enable placement of items 200a-p between the walls 104, 106a-b, 107 and strap 112a-f. Gap 138 may be increased or decreased through manipulation of a plurality of strap adjustment members 136a-f that fasten and adjust length of strap against cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107, as described below.
In yet another example of grouping items,
Turning now to
Strap adjustment members 136a-f comprise a side mounting block 115a-c, a stud 116a-f, and a retaining nut 118a-f. In one non-limiting embodiment, strap adjusting members 136a-f comprises a fixed threaded bolt and adjustable nuts. In one non-limiting embodiment, stud 116a-f is a threaded bolt, or a ¼″-20 thread ½″ long threaded screw, and nut 118a-f is a circular ½″ O.D. w/ ¼-20 internal threads approximately ⅛″ thick retaining nut. In yet other non-limiting embodiments, mounting block 115a-c may have a generally square shape when single tiered, and rectangular shaped for double and triple tiered.
As discussed above, strap adjustment members 136a-f are configured to pass through the free ends 114a-b of straps 112a-f for detachable coupling to cabinet walls, so as to fasten the free end 114a-b of the straps 112a-f to the back wall 104 or the pair of sidewalls 106a-b, or bottom wall 107 of cabinet 102. Strap adjustment members 136a-f are configured to extend and retract in height relative to cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107. This height adjustability enables repositioning and length adjustment of straps 112a-f relative to cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107. Mounting block 115a-c of strap adjustment members are secured anywhere desired to the cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107 through use of a two-sided adhesive 124, as shown in
In one embodiment, detachably mating the strap adjustment members 136a-f with mounting blocks 115a-c causes the strap 112a-f to reposition to different locations along the back wall 104, sidewalls 106a-b, or bottom wall 107 of cabinet 102. Further, extending and retracting strap adjustment member 136a-f changes the size of the gap 138 between the straps 112a-f and cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107. This is because free ends 114a-b of strap 112a-f are moved further away from cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107 when the strap adjustment member 136a-f is extended, and moved closer to cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107 when strap adjustment member 136a-f is retracted.
In operation of strap adjustment members, nut 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, 118f is rotatably displaced along the length of stud 116a-f to adjust the length of the straps 112a-f. Both nut 118a-f and stud 116a-f may be threaded to assist in this function. Thus, rotating the nut 118a-f relative to the side mounting block adjusts the length and position of strap, so that a gap 138 forms between strap 112a-f and back wall 104, sidewalls 106a-b, and bottom wall 107 of cabinet 102. Gap 138 allows for placement of items between walls and straps 112a-f. For example, rotating nut 118a in a first direction relative to stud 116a increases the size of gap 138, while rotating nut 118a in a second direction relative to stud 116a decreases the size of the gap 138.
System 100 provides various configurations, due to the detachable fastening capacity of the straps 112a relative to adjacent straps 112b and cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107. This can be especially useful for retaining items having different sizes and shapes. For example, strap adjustment members 136a, 136b on each side of a first strap 112a can be moved along the linear arrangement of holes to accommodate various sizes and shapes of items 200a-d. First strap is set at a first tier based on the height of the strap adjustment members. Here, height restraining members are fully retracted to enable the strap to restrain a couple of adjacently disposed small items, e.g., a pill bottle.
Where two coplanar straps 112a, 112b are used to restrain items 200a-f. First strap 112a is height adjusted at a first tier based on the height of the strap adjustment members 136a, 136b. First strap 112a restrains a couple of adjacently disposed small items 200a, 200b. Second strap 112b, shown restraining larger items 200c, 200d, has strap adjustment members 136c, 136d that are extended further than the first strap adjustment members 136a, so as to provide a larger gap for the larger 200a-f, e.g., medicine bottles.
As illustrated in
For example, a large shaving cream can 200f, a toothpaste tube 200b, and a pill bottle 200c are organized on the same bottom wall 107, or shelf 110, adjacent to each other. The large items are restrained by a second strap 112b having a pair of fully extended third strap adjustment members that form a third tier. This full extension of strap adjustment members relative to the back wall creates a large gap for restraining the relatively large items, e.g., shaving cream can, hair spray can.
Secondly, the toothpaste tube is restrained by a fifth strap 112d having a pair of partially extended second strap adjustment members that form a third tier. This partial extension creates a smaller gap for restraining the toothpaste tube. Still looking at
System 1—Single Tier
In one embodiment as illustrated in
System 2—Double Tier
In one embodiment as illustrated in
In one embodiment of the present invention presented in
System 3—Triple Tier
In one embodiment as illustrated in
In one embodiment of the present invention presented in
As shown in
In some embodiments, a plurality of straps 112a-f longitudinally traverse the shelves 110 and walls 104, 106a-b, 107 running coplanar to the back wall 104 or side wall 106a-b. Straps 112a-f are defined by a pair of free strap ends 114a, 114b with all straps 112a-f being slotted with at least one slot 113a, 113b, 113c, 113d that enhances the flexibility of the straps 112a-f through multiple configurations and arrangements.
As referenced in
As illustrated in
For example, a vitamin bottle is empty and removed from a grouping of items. One can easily rotate the retaining nut 118a clockwise drawing the strap 112a tighter to reduce or eliminate a voided space and maintain the securing of the items 200a-c. And to reverse adjustments to allow for an item 200a-c when replenished, or replaced by a slightly bigger item 200d, the retaining nut 118a can be turned counter-clockwise to create more space to accommodate another or larger item 200d. If the gap between the strap 112a and walls 104, 106a-b, 107 be too large, the strap 112a may be adjusted and repositioned to another slot until the size of the gap is reduced. The expansion pocket provides a tool for securing the items 200a-p utilizing the entire space on the shelf.
As referenced in
Cabinet 102 may include, but is not limited to, a medicine cabinet, a to cabinet, a medical instrumentation cabinet, and any cabinet, a storage shed, recreational vehicles, boats, campers, and any type of moving vehicle with shelving or a flat surface and a refrigeration unit. Though in other embodiments, the cabinet 102 may include any type of cabinet containing any type of items that are supported on shelves. Items 200a-p contained in the cabinet 102 may include, without limitation, hygiene products, medicine containers, shaving products, automobile tools, and a first aid equipment.
In some embodiments, pluralities of shelves 110 are disposed in a stacked arrangement and extending between the pair of sidewalls 106. Shelves 110 support the items 200a-p and enable items 200a-p to be grouped in a desired arrangement in cabinet 102. The groupings of items 200a-p can be rearranged to achieve a desired organizational configuration on each shelf 110. The organization system allows further segregation of items 200a-p within each shelf 110, as described below.
Turning now to
In one embodiment
As shown in
In some embodiments, detaching the adjustable retaining nuts 118a-f from the holding posts/threaded studs 116b, 116c and mating the corresponding desired slots in straps 112a-f causes the straps 112a-f to reposition to different locations along the back walls 104 mounting block assemblies. Further, extending and retracting depth adjusting retaining nuts 118a-f changes the size of the gap 138 between straps 112a-f. This is because the strap ends 114a-b or any other slot 113a-d in straps 112a-f are moved further away from or closer to back wall 104 of cabinet 102.
Strap adjustment members 136a, 136b, 136c enable rotatable adjustment of nut 118a-f relative to the stud 116a-f, so as to create a gap 138 between the straps 112a-f and cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107. Gap 138 is depth adjustable to enable adjustable retention of items 200a-p against cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107. This allows to open or close the gap 138 between the strap 112a-f and back wall to accommodate size-dependent items 200.
For example, decreasing the gap between the back wall 104 and the strap 112a allows the placement of either larger or smaller items 200a-b. Extending the adjusting retainer nuts 118a away from the back wall 104 increases the size of the gap 138, while retracting the adjustable retaining nuts 118a it decreases the size of the gap 138 between strap 112a and cabinet walls 104, 106a-b, 107.
The third strap 112c at a third tier based on the length of holding post/threaded stud 116c restrained by retainer nuts 118c restrains a couple of adjacently disposed smaller sized items 200k-p. The second and third straps 112b, 112c are adjustable by extending or retracting adjustable retaining nuts 118b-c further from or closer to the back wall 104 to provide a larger gap for the larger items 200a, a medium sized gap for medium sized items 200b, or a smaller gap for smaller items 200b e.g., a shaver being the larger item 200a, deodorant being the medium sized item 200c, and a bottle of nail polish being the smaller item 200b.
For example, a large shaving cream can, a toothpaste tube, and a pill bottle are organized on the same shelf 110, adjacent to each other. The large items are restrained by a first strap 112a-f. The medium sized items 200a-p are restrained by a second strap 112a-f and smaller items 200a-p are restrained by a third strap 112a-f. This full extension of length of holding post/threaded studs 116b, 116c in relation to the back wall 104 creates a large gap for restraining the relatively large items 200e, 200f, e.g., shaving cream can, hair spray can.
Secondly, the toothpaste tube is restrained by a second strap 112b having a pair of partially extended second adjustable retaining nut 118b on holding post/threaded stud 116b that form a second tier. This partial extension creates a smaller gap for restraining the toothpaste tube. Finally, the pill bottle is restrained by a third strap 112c and secured to holding post/threaded stud 116c being restrained by adjustable nuts 118a-f having a pair of fully retracted length adjusted, that form the third tier. This full retraction minimizing clearance from the back wall 104, creates a small gap for restraining the relatively medium and small pill bottle.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional application No. 62/428,202, filed Nov. 30, 2016 and entitled SINGLE AND MULTI-TIERED CABINET ORGANIZATION SYSTEM, which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62428202 | Nov 2016 | US |