This invention relates generally to crates, and more particularly to crate organizer systems.
Storage containers that include removably dividers are known in the art. For example, O'Halloran, U.S. 2007/0126326, teaches a storage compartment for a refrigerator that includes dividers that may be inserted into tracks and locked into place for dividing up the storage compartment.
There is a need in the art for a storage crate that includes dividers that are fast and easy to insert, remove, and move, so that different configurations may be readily achieved for a wide variety of uses. The faster and easier the adjustments may be made, the better.
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a crate divider system comprising a generally rectangular crate having a bottom surface with a pair of side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall meeting at corners and each extending upwardly from the bottom surface to an upper perimeter. The crate has a plurality of vertical ridges formed on each of the side walls, the plurality of vertical ridges defining a plurality of slots each having a width. A horizontal ridge is formed on each of the side walls and spaced a distance from the bottom surface of the crate. The system further has at least one divider sheet having an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges, the at least one divider sheet further having a thickness that is less than the width of each of the slots such that the at least one divider sheet may be inserted into the slots. A locking mechanism of the at least one divider sheet is adapted to removably engage the horizontal ridges of the crate.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a crate divider system having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide a crate divider system having at least one divider sheet for removable insertion into a crate.
A further objective is to provide a crate divider system that provides several different options for creating compartments within a crate for organization.
A further objective is to provide a crate divider system that includes dividers that are fast and easy to insert, remove, and move, so that different configurations may be readily achieved for a wide variety of uses.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention.
The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a crate divider system for organization and storage.
In this embodiment, the crate 20 additionally comprises handle apertures 38 formed within the front and rear walls 26 and sized to receive a person's hands for carrying the crate 20, the handle apertures 38 further being adapted to receive a flange 62 of the top lid 60, the top lid 60 being discussed in further detail below. As shown in
As illustrated, the bottom sheet 40 is sized to fit on the bottom surface 22 of the crate 20 and comprises a top edge 42a, a bottom edge 42b, and side edges 44 meeting at corners 46, wherein the side edges 44 each have an indented portion 48. When the bottom sheet 40 is within the crate 20, the corners 46 of the bottom sheet 40 sit adjacent the corners 28 of the crate 20, and a distance D3 that is approximately equal to D1 denotes the beginning of the indented portion 48 on the side edges 44. The indented portion 48 is sized to allow the vertical ridges 32, which protrude from the side walls 24 of the crate 20, while the bottom sheet 40 is still flush with the corners 28 of the crate 20.
As shown in
As illustrated, the top lid 60 is sized and adapted to fit over the perimeter 30 of the crate 20 and may include the flange 62 adapted to fit into the handle apertures 38 of the crate 20. The top lid 60 may snap over the apertures 38 and/or perimeter 30, or it may be held by friction, or another means. In this embodiment, the flange 62 includes a tab 62 that may frictionally engage a notch 39 in each handle aperture, or this feature may not be included. The top lid 60 may further have a perimeter 64 that is raised above the rest of the top lid 60, which may be sized to receive the bottom of another crate 20 such that multiples of the crate 20 are stackable.
As shown in
Each component of the crate with divider system 10 may be fully separable. In use, a user may slide the bottom sheet 40 into the crate 20 with the indented portions 48 aligning with the vertical ridges 32, followed by any desired number of dividers inserted into the slots 34 of the crate 20. As shown in
The longitudinal divider 82 of this embodiment further comprises a first face 86a, a second face 86b, and ends 88, wherein the first and second faces 86 each include a plurality of vertical ridges 92 forming slots 94 and a horizontal ridge 96 similar to those formed on the side walls 24 of the crate 20. The ends 88 of the longitudinal divider 82 each include the locking mechanism 58 described above, wherein each locking protrusion 70 removably engages a protrusion (not shown) of each receiving channel 84.
The plurality of lateral dividers 90 is structurally almost identical to the dividers 50 of
The title of the present application, and the claims presented, do not limit what may be claimed in the future, based upon and supported by the present application. Furthermore, any features shown in any of the drawings may be combined with any features from any other drawings to form an invention which may be claimed.
As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean+/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to the invention.
This application for a utility patent claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/136,110, filed Jan. 11, 2021.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20070002518 | Wilk | Jan 2007 | A1 |
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20180060623 | Devine, Jr. | Mar 2018 | A1 |
20180148221 | Hill | May 2018 | A1 |
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Entry |
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www.decked.com/products/drawer-dividers-full-size; Title: Decked Drawer Dividers to Organize Wide Decked System Drawers 4 Pack; Date: 101/20/2021. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220219858 A1 | Jul 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63136110 | Jan 2021 | US |