DRAWER ORGANIZER

Abstract

A drawer organizer includes one or more extendible arms. The arms are positioned to be extendible beyond an outer surface of the peripheral sidewalls of the organizer, and selectably retractable to a position in which they are within a perimeter defined by the sidewalls, The extendible arms are positioned so that they tit within a space defined within longitudinal interior walls that divide the organizer into compartments, thereby allowing the extendible arms to extend at a location in line with the interior sidewalls and to retract within the space defined by the sidewalk.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many desk organizers having a variety of compartments for pens, paper clips, and other desk supplies. In most cases, the organizers are formed from plastic and are molded into a fixed arrangement of compartments for containing various items. Most organizers of this type are formed in a standardized size that is intended to fit as many drawers as possible. In order to accommodate the largest number of drawer sizes, a typical organizer is sized to be somewhat smaller than most drawers, often leaving a relatively large gap along the edges of the organizer. As a result, the organizer may slide around within the drawer and the surrounding space is not compartmentalized, rendering it less useful than the segments within the organizer. There is currently no acceptable solution for a drawer organizer that is configurable to fit within a variety of drawer sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred organizer includes a peripheral sidewalk a floor, and several interior compartments. The various compartments may be configured as desired, including larger or smaller compartments, reconfigurable or positionable dividers, sliding trays, and other options.

The drawer organizer may be intended or configured for use as an office desk organizer, thereby including interior compartments that are sized and shaped to hold a variety of office supplies such as pens, paper clips, or other such items. It may also be intended or configured for use as a kitchen organizer, thereby including interior compartments sized and shaped to hold kitchen utensils or silverware.

In one version, the drawer organizer also includes a number of slots around the peripheral sidewalls and interior walls, with the slots being spaced as desired to provide preset locations for receiving dividers. The dividers include tabs formed along an upper edge of the dividers, with the tabs being sized to be received within the slots in order to hold the dividers in place.

The organizer further includes one or more extendible arms, The arms are positioned to be extendible beyond the outer surface of the peripheral sidewalk, and alternatively retractable to a position in which they are within a perimeter defined by the sidewalls. The extendible arms are positioned so that they fit within a space defined within one of the longitudinal interior walls thereby allowing the extendible arms to extend at a location in line with the interior sidewalk and to retract within the space defined by the sidewalls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of the invention is provided with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred drawer organizer.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a preferred drawer organizer.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective exploded view of a preferred drawer organizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred organizer 10 includes a peripheral sidewall, a floor, and several interior compartments. The various compartments may be configured as desired, including larger or smaller compartments, reconfigurable or positionable dividers, sliding trays, and other options as described below.

In the exemplary version as shown in FIG. 1, the organizer includes a peripheral sidewall 40 and a floor that combine to form an interior space, with two longitudinal interior walls 11, 13 that divide the interior space into three compartments or bins 12, 14, 16. Any number of bins or interior walls may be provided, consistent with this invention. Likewise, the interior walls may be in any position and of any size and shape.

The interior sidewalk 11, 13 are formed by a pair of panels that combine to form channels 42, 44 between the opposing panels. Thus, the interior sidewalk define channels 42, 44 that are formed within the sidewalls and in the space between the bins 12, 14, 16 formed in the drawer organizer In a preferred version of the invention, the panels forming the sidewalls are substantially perpendicular to the floor of the organizer and form channels that are generally in the shape of a rectangle. Alternatively, the channels may be circular, trapezoidal, or have any other shape in cross section. The rectangular shape is preferred in that it can occupy the largest amount of space between panels that are oriented vertically.

The exemplary drawer organizer also includes a plurality of interior dividers 20 to further subdivide the bins into smaller compartments. In the version as shown, the dividers are generally planar and are sized and configured to abut opposing sidewalls forming a bin. A number of slots 18, 19 are provided around the upper edges of the peripheral sidewalk and interior walls, with the slots being spaced as desired to provide preset locations for receiving the dividers. The dividers include tabs formed along an upper edge of the dividers such that the dividers are generally in a T-shape having a wide base of the T, The tabs are sized to be received within the slots in order to hold the dividers in place within the bins.

The organizer further includes one or more extendible arms 30. As shown, the arms are positioned to be extendible beyond the outer surface of the peripheral sidewalls, and alternatively retractable so that they are retained within a perimeter defined by the sidewalls. The extendible arms are positioned so that they fit within a space defined by the channels 42, 44 within either one of the longitudinal interior walls 11, 13, thereby allowing the extendible arms to extend at a location in line with the interior sidewalk and to retract within the space defined by the sidewalk.

In alternate versions of the invention the channels 42, 44 may be performed in the peripheral side-walls rather than interior sidewalk.

The preferred form of the extendible arm includes an upper end 33 and a lower end 34, with a terminal face 32, The extendible arm is generally linear and in the version as shown the lower end is preferably at least slightly wider than the upper end in order to provide strength and rigidity. The interior sidewalk 11, 13 may be formed with a similar configuration, having an upper end that is at least slightly narrower than the sidewalk at the base. In order to receive the extendible arms, in one version the interior spaces or channels 42, 44 defined by the sidewalk may be larger than the external surface of the sidewalk. Alternatively, in order to provide frictional resistance to hold the extendible arms in any position, the interior space 42, 44 may be formed to be somewhat smaller in cross-section than the corresponding external cross-section of the extendible arms,

The organizer may be formed by a mold that allows the interior sidewalks to define the channels along a lower side of the organizer, with the space generally defining an open rectangle. A portion of the channel may be closed in order to retain the extendible arm by securing a plate 40 to the organizer along one end of the organizer and generally beneath the interior space 40, 42. The plate 40 may be glued, screwed, sonic-welded, or otherwise secured to the organizer. In the version as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 two plates 40 are shown. In alternative versions, a single plate may be provided to cover multiple channels. Likewise, an alternative drawer organizer may have only one interior wall (and channel) or may have more than two interior walls (and channels).

The terminal face 32 of the extendible arm is preferably formed in a trapezoidal shape, with the upper side being narrower than the base and each of the two sides extending from the base to the upper end being angled upward and inward. In alternative versions the terminal face merely includes a surface that extends beyond the perimeter defined by the channels 42 or 44 in order to prevent the extendible arm from being retracted. fully within the channels.

The organizer may also include one or more feet 50 secured to the lower surface. In the version as shown, nine generally circular feet are included. The feet raise the lower surface of the organizer above that of the drawer surface on which it rests, thereby providing a clearance for the extendable arm to move laterally without touching the drawer surface. In a preferred version, the feet are made from rubber, neoprene, silicone, or a similarly resilient material to reduce sliding of the organizer on the drawer surface.

In use, the organizer is placed within a drawer as desired. In the event the drawer is larger than the organizer, the extendible arm (or arms, depending on the configuration of the particular organizer being used) are extended laterally beyond the end of the organizer until the terminal face 32 reaches the sidewall or end wall of the desk drawer. The extension of the arm further serves to hold the organizer in place within the drawer in the event the extendable arm is snugly frictionally fit within the interior space. In addition, the extension of the arm further subdivides the drawer space that is outside the organizer, thereby aiding in the organization of the drawer even when the drawer is larger than the organizer.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A drawer organizer, comprising: a tray defined by a floor, a plurality of peripheral sidewalk defining an interior space, and a first interior wall subdividing the interior space into a plurality of compartments, the tray further having a channel formed within at least one of the first interior wall and the plurality of peripheral sidewalk; andan extendable arm sized and shaped to be received within the channel, the extendable arm having an elongated shape, whereby a user may selectably retract the extendable arm within the channel or extend the extendable arm beyond a perimeter defined by the peripheral sidewalls.

2. The drawer organizer of claim 1, wherein the channel is formed within a space defined by the first interior wall.

3. The drawer organizer of claim 2, wherein the first interior walk further comprise a pair of opposing panels,

4. The drawer organizer of claim 3, wherein the channel is rectangular in cross-sectional shape.

5. The drawer organizer of claim 4, wherein the tray is integrally formed from a unitary material, the tray further being configured as an open rectangular shape, the organizer further comprising a plate secured to a portion of the tray to enclose the open rectangular shape of the channel.

6. The drawer organizer of claim 5, wherein the extendable arm further comprises a terminal face, at least a portion of the terminal face extending beyond a perimeter defined by a cross-section of the channel when the extendable arm is received within the channel.

7. The drawer organizer of claim 6, wherein the channel further comprises a channel width and the extendable arm further comprises an extendable arm width, the extendable arm width being greater than the channel width.

8. The drawer organizer of claim 7, wherein the extendable arm comprises an extendable arm length and the tray comprises a tray length, the extendable arm length being less than one half of the tray length.

9. The drawer organizer of claim 8, wherein the terminal face is trapezoidal in shape.

10. The drawer organizer of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of dividers, the dividers being configured to subdivide one of the plurality of compartments.

11. The drawer organizer of claim 1, further comprising a second interior wall, the first interior wall and the second interior wall subdividing the interior space into a plurality of compartments, the channel further comprising a first channel formed within the first interior wall and a second channel formed within the second interior wall; and the extendable arm further comprising a first extendable arm and a second extendable arm, each of the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm being sized and shaped to be received within a respective one of the first channel and the second channel, the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm each further having an elongated shape, whereby a user may selectably retract either one of the first extendable arm or the second. extendable arm within the respective first channel or second channel, or extend either one of the first extendable arm or second extendable arm beyond a perimeter defined by the peripheral sidewalls.

12. The organizer of claim 11, wherein each of the first extendable arm and the second. extendable arm is sized to be snugly received within a respective one of the first channel and the second channel.

13. The organizer of claim 12, wherein the first channel further comprises a first channel width and the first extendable arm further comprises a first extendable arm width, the first extendable arm width being greater than the first channel width, and further wherein the second channel further comprises a second channel width and the second extendable arm further comprises a second extendable arm width, the second extendable arm width being greater than the second channel width.