Patent Application
20140246393
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
Various Various hanging compartments are known that have two vertical fabric sides with horizontal fabric shelves at periodic locations. If the sides are flat the compartments are rectangular in shape. If the sides are curved the compartments are curved to match. But in all cases the vertical size of the compartments are determined by the shelf or bottom of the compartment which has opposing ends sewn to or otherwise engaging opposing vertical sides to form a horizontal shelf or bottom. Because the opposing sides of the shelf are sewn to the vertical side supports, the vertical height of the compartments is limited. This limit on vertical height poses problems, as for example when the compartments are used to hold shoes. Hanging shoe holders have a series of vertically aligned compartments with square openings in the front and a long width or depth and a closed back. The compartments are sized to hold a pair of shoes. But if the shoes have long high heels or if boots are to be stored, the compartments are too small to hold two shoes. The compartments could be made larger, with a rectangular opening, by sewing the bottom panel further from the shelf above it to form a rectangular opening. But then space is wasted if the user wants to store regular sized shoes instead of boots or very high heels. There is thus a need for a shoe hanger and for a hanging storage device in general, that has variable sized compartments to hold a variety of things.
Suspended housings having compartments of fixed vertical length are sub-divided by repositionable shelves having first and second parts and having two positions. In the first position the first shelf part is vertical and abutting a first side panel of the housing while the second part forms a horizontal shelf. In the second position the first part forms a horizontal top and the second part is vertical and abutting a second opposing side panel of the housing, with the horizontal top preferably abutting a bottom side of the next higher compartment or the top panel of the housing.
In more detail, a series of hanging or suspended compartments are provided and since these compartments are suspended the relative terms vertical, horizontal, up and down will be used to describe these devices relative to the position they typically assume when hanging downward from a closet bar, with a user looking at the front, open side of the suspended compartments. Thus, a flexible, suspended housing is formed having first and second (left and right) side panels that are parallel, and a back panel. The side panels and back panel depend from a top panel to which is fastened a hanging mechanism such as a hook, loop, or a pair of fastening members sized to encircle a closet bar, such as fabric straps with hook-and-loop fasteners on the mating strap ends. The top panel is preferably rectangular in shape is made of a stiff material strong enough to support the weight placed in the compartments that are suspended from the top panel. The side and the back panels are joined together to form a rectangular enclosure open along one side, the front side. The side and back panels may be made of flexible material, such as fabric, polymers, canvas, etc., sewn, glued, riveted or otherwise fastened or engaged together along the corners.
At periodic locations along the length of the side panels, a horizontal shelf is fastened to horizontally opposing locations on the side panels in order to form one or more fixed shelves. The side panels are located a predetermined distance W apart to define a constant width of the housing. The panels have a depth D corresponding to the width of the side panels. The fixed floors are preferably located a height H from the top panel or one of the shelves, preferably corresponding to multiples of two times the width to form a first set of elongated compartments having a height twice the width of the compartment, with the depth of the compartments determined by the width of the side panels. A repositionable shelf is fastened in each of these first compartments. The repositionable shelf is formed of two (first and second) stiff, rectangular plates, preferably of plastic, having a width of about W and sewn in a pouch that may slightly compress or bow the plate so that it snaps into a straight, flat position. Each plate has opposing first and second edges. A first edge of the first plate is connected to the first side panel at the juncture with the top panel, preferably by sewing the pouches containing the panel to the first side panel. The first plate hangs downward adjacent the first side panel. The second edge of the first plate is fastened to the first edge of the second plate, preferably by sewing the abutting edges of the pouches containing the plates. The second edge of the second plate is fastened to the second side panel a distance W below the top panel, to form a horizontal shelf. This is the first, shelf position of the first and second panels. In this shelf position the juncture of the first and second plates is along the first side panel and the enclosure of the first plate helps carry weight on the shelf to the first side panel
The juncture of the first and second plates may be moved to the second side panel by moving the juncture diagonally toward the juncture of the top panel and the second side panel. In this second position the first plate is adjacent to and preferably abutting the top panel while the second plate is alongside and preferably abutting the second side panel. There is thus provided a repositionable shelf having a first shelf position, and having a second storage position. The first plate is fastened to the first panel at distances H determined by Y×W, where Y is from the series of even numbers beginning at zero, namely 0, 2, 4, etc. and W is the width of the space between side panels. The second plate is fastened to the second panel at distances , H determined by Z×W, where Z is from the series of odd numbers beginning at 1, namely 1, 3, 5 and W is the width of the space between side panels. These formulas result in square openings in the suspended housing. The permanent shelves are sewn to the first and second panels at distances H determined by Y×W, described above.
If a permanent shelf is fastened to opposing side panels to locate the second plate in the first shelf position at a repeating distance of 2W from the top shelf, then a repositionable shelf having first and second plates may be fastened between each permanent shelf. With the repositionable shelves each in the first shelf position, a series of equally sized compartments with square openings are provided. As desired, one or more of the repositionable shelves can be moved to the second position to provide compartments twice as high as they are wide.
With the plates in the second position, the first plate supports the bottom of the adjacent and preferably abutting shelf. If the weight to be placed on the shelves is not too heavy, the first plate in the second position can be used as a shelf itself, providing further flexibility in the shape and number of compartments. This is not preferred as a permanent shelf is preferred to be used above the first plate in the second position. But if the second position is to be used with only the first plate acting as a shelf, it is preferably to releasably fasten the second plate to the second side panel of the housing, as for example, by using snaps, hooks or hook and loop fasteners between the inside of the second panel and the abutting side of the pouch containing the second plate.
A hanging organizer has opposing first and second flexible sides and back panel joining rectangular shelves of width W. A repositionable shelf has first and second rectangular plates with first and second edges and joined at a flexible juncture parallel to those edges. The first edge engages the first panel and the second edge engages the second panel a distance W below the first edge. The repositionable shelf has a first position where the first plate abuts the first panel with the second plate horizontal, and has a second position where the first plate is horizontal and the second plate abuts the second panel.
There is thus advantageously provided a hanging collapsible container having a connector to hang the container from a support. The container has a collapsible housing with first and second opposing side panels joined by back panel to form an enclosure having a rectangular cross-section. The panels are made of a flexible material and suspended from a stiff top panel. The first and second panels being spaced apart a distance of about W. The container has at least one permanent shelf extending generally horizontally between the first and second panels, with the shelf having a width of about W. The container has a first repositionable shelf having first and second rectangular plates joined at a flexible plate juncture that is parallel to a first edge of the first plate and parallel to a second edge of the second plate. Each plate has a width of about W. The first edge engages the first panel and the second edge engages the second panel a distance below the first edge a distance sufficient so the first repositionable shelf has a first position in which the first plate extends alongside the first panel and the second plate extends generally horizontally. The first repositionable shelf has a second position with the first plate generally horizontal and the second plate extending alongside the second panel. As the repositionable shelf moves between these first and second positions it is not being permanently fastened to the back panel.
In further variations, the container may have the first edge engage the first panel at a location where the first panel joins the top panel, with the second edge engaging the second panel at a distance of about W from the top panel. Preferably, the container has a plurality of permanent shelves each spaced a distance of about 2W from the top or the adjacent permanent shelf, with the first repositionable shelf having its first edge engaging the first panel at a location where the first panel joins the top panel, and with the second edge engages the second panel at a distance of about W from the top panel.
Additionally, a second repositionable shelf may be provided I the container with the second repositionable shelf having second and third rectangular plates joined at a second flexible plate juncture that is parallel to a first edge of the second plate and parallel to a second edge of the third plate. Each second and third plate has a width of about W. The second edge of the third plate engages the first panel and the second edge of the fourth plate engages the second panel a distance below the first edge a distance sufficient so the second repositionable shelf has a first position in which the second plate extends alongside the first panel and the third plate extends generally horizontally. The second repositionable shelf has a second position with the second plate generally horizontal and the third plate extending alongside the second panel.
In further variations, there are a plurality of repositionable shelves each having a first edge fastened to the first panel a distance apart of about 2W, and each repositionable shelf has a second edge fastened to the second panel a distance apart of about 2W, but offset below the first edge a distance of about W. Preferably there are four repositionable shelves. Suspended housings having compartments of fixed vertical length are sub-divided by repositionable shelves having first and second parts and having two positions. In the first position the first shelf part is vertical and abutting a first side panel of the housing while the second part forms a horizontal shelf. In the second position the first part forms a horizontal top and the second part is vertical and abutting a second opposing side panel of the housing, with the horizontal top preferably abutting a bottom side of the next higher compartment or the top panel of the housing.
The above, and other features and advantages of the present invention are further described in the following drawings and description in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
Referring to
The housing 10 is preferably collapsible, having first and second flexible side panels 14, 16 joined by a flexible back panel 18. The housing 10 has a stiff top panel 20 and an opposing bottom-most shelf 24 that may be stiff or flexible. Preferably the shelves 24 are stiff shelves made of plastic sheets, fiberboard, or wood inserts enclosed in fabric or plastic material. A plurality of permanent shelves 24 are interposed between the top 20 and the bottom-most shelf 24. The permanent shelves 24 are preferably permanently fastened to opposing side panels 14, 16 and may be fastened to the back panel 18. Sewing, rivets, adhesives and other fastening mechanisms may be used to fasten permanent shelves 24 to the panels 14, 16, 18. The shelves 24 are usually spaced the same distance apart to form uniformly sized compartments. The top panel could be formed by an open framework from which the panels 14, 16, 18 depend and the use of a top “panel” herein is meant to encompass such open frameworks and other structures that restrain movement in the plane of the top panel and are sufficiently strong to support the intended weight placed on the shelves of the housing, with the resulting forces from the intended weight being transferred through the panels to the top panel.
The housing is hung or suspended from top connector 28 (
One or more compartments 12 may be subdivided by repositionable shelves 30 having first and second plates 32, 34 respectively. The plates 32, 34 are preferably of stiff plastic or thin metal, wood, fiberboard or other stiff material that has can bend slightly. The plates may comprise a single elongated piece of material with a flexure joint between the two plates 32, 34, but preferably the plates are two separate parts joined together at juncture 36. As used here, a reference to two plates is intended to encompass two separate parts joined together at juncture 36 or a single part with a flexible juncture 36. The plates 32, 34 may be each enclosed in a pouch of material 38 such as fabric and sewn, glued or otherwise engaged or fastened together at juncture 36. The pouch of material 38 preferably compresses or bows each separate plate slightly. Each plate is the same size, having a width W corresponding to the spacing between side panels 14, 16, a height H corresponding to the width W, and a depth D corresponding to a width of the side panels 14, 16. The pouch of material may be molded onto the plates 32, 34 or otherwise encase the plates. As used herein, a reference to connecting to the plates or fastening to the plates is meant to include a direct connection to the specified plate 32, 34, or a connection to the pouch 38 enclosing the specified plate 32, 34. The plates 32, 34 are rectangular, with a rectangle including a square as it is merely a rectangle with equal sides.
The pouch 38 enclosing the first plate 32 has a first edge 40 that is fastened to the first side panel 14 at the juncture of the side panel 14 and top panel 20 or the juncture of the side panel 14 and the permanent shelf 24. The pouch 38 enclosing the second plate 34 has a second edge 42 that is fastened to the second side panel 14 at a distance of W below either the juncture
of the side panel 14 and the top panel 20 or juncture of the side panel 14 and the permanent shelf 24, whichever corresponds to the connection of the first edge 40. The second edge of the pouch enclosing the first plate 32 and the first edge of the pouch enclosing the second plate 34 are fastened together to form juncture 36. The plates 32, 34 and enclosing pouches 38 are thus joined to the first side panel 14 along edge 40 and joined to the second side panel 16 along edge 42, which edges are parallel. The plates 32, 34 and the enclosing pouches 38 are not fastened to the back panel 18.
The plates 32, 34 have a first shelf position in which the first plate 32 extends along and inside of the first side panel 14 while the second plate 34 extends horizontally between side panels 14, 16, with the juncture 36 of the plates adjacent the first side panel 14. The plates 32, 34 have a second support position in which the first plate 32 is below and adjacent to the top panel 20 or permanent shelf 24 to which the first edge 40 is fastened, while the second plate 34 is adjacent to and extending along the inside of the second side wall 16. In the first position the second plate 34 acts as a horizontal shelf of the container 10, while in the second position the first plate 32 acts as a support for the top 20 or the permanent shelf 24 against which the first plate 32 is placed when in the second position. Advantageously the first plate 32 abuts the top 20 or permanent shelf 24 when in the second position.
The first position provides a sub-compartment between the permanent shelves 24 or between the top 20 and the permanent shelf 24. The second position provides an elongated compartment and additional support for the top or the permanent shelf 24. If the permanent shelves 24 are spaced a distance 2W from the top 20, then the repositionable shelves 30 may provide shelves in the middle of the space between the permanent shelves 24 when the plates 32, 34 are in the first position so that all compartments are of equal size, having square openings. In this same arrangement the repositionable shelves 30 provide elongated compartments between those shelves 24 when the plates 32, 34 are in the second position. If the permanent shelves 24 are spaced further than 2W apart the repositionable shelves 30 will still provide sub compartments with a square opening, but when the plates 32, 34 are in the first position the compartment 12 between permanent shelves 24 will have one square and one rectangular opening. Advantageously, the stiff plates 32, 34 are fastened in their respective pouches 38 so they are resiliently urged against each other, causing them to be resiliently urged toward the first and second positions. When the juncture 36 between plates 32, 34 is moved from the first to the second positions, it causes the sides 14, 16 of the housing to bulge outward since the length of the dimension of the two plates 32, 36 is longer than the diagonal formed between first and second edges 40, 42, respectively. If the plates 32, 34 are slightly bowed within their respective pouches 38, that further helps resiliently urge the plates and repositionable shelves 30 into the first and second and resists moving the plates from those positions.
For ease of manufacture, the first edges 40 are preferably fastened to the first side 14 and the second edges 42 are fastened to the second side 16. Because the first repositionable shelf 30 has the first edge 40 of the first plate 32 is fastened to the top 20, each successive first edge is fastened a distance H from the top 20 determined by the formula H=Y×W, where Y is selected from the series of even numbers beginning at zero, namely 0, 2, 4, etc. and W is the width of the space between side panels 14, 16. The second plate 34 is fastened to the second panel 16 at distances H determined by the formula H=Z×W, where Z is selected from the series of odd numbers beginning at 1, namely 1, 3, 5 etc., and W is the width of the space between side panels. These formulas result in square openings in the suspended housing 10 when the permanent shelves 24 are sewn between the first and second panels 14, 16 at distances H determined by the formula H=Y×W, where H and Y are as described above. Thus, the first edge 40 of first plate 32 is fastened to the first side panel 14 at the same location as the top 20 or permanent side panel is fastened, and the second edge 42 of the second plate 34 is fastened to the second side panel 16 equidistant from the two adjacent permanent shelves 24 or equidistant from the top 20 and first adjacent shelf 24. The repositionable shelves 30 may be fastened to either side panel 12, 14 in the above connections.
Referring to
By using various arrangements of permanent shelves 24 and repositionable shelves 30, various arrangements and configurations of compartments may be provided. The permanent shelves 24 and the shelves formed by repositionable shelves 30 in the first position are generally horizontal and parallel. If desired, the shelves could be slightly inclined to cause items in the compartments formed by the shelves to be urged by gravity to one side or the other, or toward the back, or toward the front. Inclined angles of about 10-15 degrees or less are believed suitable, with inclinations of about 5 degrees or less preferred. The reference to generally horizontal shelves includes such inclined shelves. The openings to the compartments 12 are show as open and having no blockage. But the openings to the compartments 12 (and sub compartments) could be partially blocked by low walled barriers 48 (
The shelves 24 may be made of flexible materials if desired, and if so they are usually made of the same flexible material as used to make the panels 14, 16, 18. The shelves 24 may be made of stiff material, such as plastic, paperboard, fiberboard, thin metal sheets or other stiff materials. If made of stiff materials the shelves are preferably enclosed in pouches 38 as used for the plates 32, 34, and even used for the top 20 with the pouches configured to permanently engage the side walls 14, 16. Plastic sheets about 1/16-⅛ inch thick are believed suitable for the plates 32, 34 and shelves 24. The number of compartments 12 may vary as desired. Four and eight long compartments 12 with a length of 2W are believed advantageous.
For shipment, the plates 32, 34, shelves 24 and top 20 are stacked as the flexible sided walls 14, 16 collapse. The walls 14, 16 can carry tension loads, but not compression. Thus, a compact shipping configuration is provided. In use, the container 10 is suspended with the weight of the shelves 24 straightening out the flexible walls 14, 16. Depending on the items to be stored on shelves 24, the number and shape of compartments 12 are varied by repositioning one or more the repositionable shelves 30. As desired, the plates 32, 34 may be folded flat against each other (
As used herein, rectangular includes a square unless otherwise noted, because a square is a rectangle with four equal sides. As used herein, a width of “about W” includes a variation of up to 10% of the width W. It should be apparent that the juncture between the plates 32, 34 rotates or pivots between the first and second positions Likewise, the connection between the first plate and the first sidewall rotates or pivots between the first and second positions and the connection between the second plate and the second sidewall rotates or pivots between the first and second positions.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention. Further, the various features of this invention can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the invention is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments but is to be defined by the following claims when read in the broadest reasonable manner to preserve the validity of the claims.
The application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to Provisional Patent Application No. 61/771,221 filed Mar. 1, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61771221 | Mar 2013 | US |
