Magnetic Cargo Divider System

Abstract

Modular payload dividers utilize magnetism to operatively couple with a container and form storage compartments. Magnets are strategically placed to allow multiple storage compartment configurations within a container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to transportable storage containers. Specifically, it relates to the use of magnets to create adjustable compartments within a container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a removable divider system for luggage, a backpack or other containers comprising compartments used to transport cargo.

Magnetism enhances the ability of luggage dividers to removably couple. The dividers are configured to be installed into a compartment. Magnets are embedded within or coupled by other means with dividers. Magnets are also embedded within or coupled with a perimeter defining the compartment. The magnets are configured to enable the magnets of at least one divider to engage with magnets in the perimeter defining the compartment.

The dividers are made of one or more plates. The plate(s) comprise the main structural component(s) of a divider. One or more flanges also comprise the primary coupling component(s) of a divider. Flanges are disposed on the perimeter of a plate.

A cover may encase the plate(s) and flange(s). The cover may form hinges in the spaces intervening the plate(s) and flange(s). The hinges enable the plate(s) and flange(s) of a divider to move relative to each other. A plate and adjacent cover may form a base. A flange and adjacent cover may form a flap. Auxiliary coupling means may be disposed on the surface of a flap. A Velcro® male coupling aspect may comprise the auxiliary coupling means. The cover and surface of the perimeter of the container may comprise Velcro® female coupling aspect, thus enabling the auxiliary coupling means to engage and couple with the perimeter of the compartment and other dividers.

Magnets are strategically placed to allow installation of the dividers within the compartment to create cells. Dividers may vary in length to enable a variety of cell configurations within the compartment. Based on the size and weight of the intended cargo, dividers can be configured for optimal storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a single plate divider.

FIG. 2 is a top and right perspective view of a single plate divider.

FIG. 3 is a bottom and left perspective view of a single plate divider.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a single plate divider with flaps in extended positions.

FIG. 4B is a front view of a single plate divider with flaps in folded positions.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a multiple plate divider.

FIG. 5B is a top and right perspective view of a multiple plate divider with flaps in extended positions.

FIG. 5C is a top and right perspective view of a multiple plate divider with flaps in folded positions.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a single plate divider.

FIG. 7A is a top view of a container with installed dividers and a front removed.

FIG. 7B is a top and left perspective view of a container with installed dividers and a front removed.

FIG. 7C is a top and left perspective view of a container.

DRAWING NUMERALS

10 Single Plate divider

11 Multiple Plate divider

12 Top Cover

13 Plate magnets

14 Bottom Cover

15 Base

16 Flap

18 Hinge

19 Utility Plate

20 Plate

21 Utility Base

22 Flange

24 Flap Magnets

25 Width Edge

27 Length Edge

32 Auxiliary Flap Coupling Means

50 Container

52 Compartment

53 Cell

54 Back

55 Front

56 Container Width

57 Container Length

58 Perimeter Magnets

60 Sidewalls

62 Sidewall lining

70 Elongate Flap

71 Extended Position

72 Folded Position

80 Compartment Interval

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or multiple adjustable plates 20 comprise a primary boundary forming portion of an adjustable divider. FIGS. 1-3 depict a single plate divider 10. Two flanges 22 align with the width edges 25 (shorter edges) of the plate 20. Rigid material, such as plastic, glass-filled polymer, or other material capable of maintaining structural integrity while storing cargo may comprise the plate 20 and flanges 22. Alternative plates may be comprised of more pliable material; the plate material may be determined by the weight, shape and/or fragility of the intended cargo.

A cover 12 encapsulates and couples the plate 20 and flanges 22. The cover 12 may contour the surfaces and edges of plate 20 and flanges 22. Adhesive or other method of binding may be used to bind the cover 12 with the plate 20 and flanges 22. FIG. 3 shows a cover with top cover 12 and bottom cover 14 components. The cover 12 may be comprised of fabric capable of serving as a female Velcro® coupling means and does not substantially interfere with the magnetic fields of magnets 24 coupled with the plate 20 or flanges 22.

The covered plate 20 and the magnets 13 coupled therewith may comprise a base 15. The covered flange 22 and magnet(s) 24 coupled therewith may comprise a flap 16.

The cover 12 may form a hinge 18 in space intermediate a flange 22 and plate 20. The coupled flange 22 and plate 20 may be oriented to allow movement of the components (20, 22) relative to each other. The hinge 18 may enable folding, whereby the surfaces of a flap 22 and base 20 abut. The folded position 72 may enable reduction of the dimensional space of a divider, or a flange 22 to be oriented at an oblique or perpendicular angle relative to a plate 20. (See FIG. 6B). A flap 16 may be capable of movement from an extended position 71—in which the flap 16 is substantially aligned on the same plane with the adjoined base 15—and two folded positions 72—in which a flap 16 surface abuts the adjoined base 15 surface.

Flap magnets 24 may be embedded in or otherwise couple with the plate 20 and flanges 22. The flap magnets 24 may be positioned along the perimeter of the plate 20 and flanges 22.

Plate magnets 13 may be couple with the plate 20 at a position adjacent to a flap magnet 24. The adjacent magnets (13, 24) may be configured so the opposite polarities face the same surface of the divider. For example, in an extended position 71, if the north polarity of a flap magnet 24 is facing relatively upward, an adjacent plate magnet 13 would be disposed so the south polarity is facing relatively upward.

A flap magnet 24 and plate magnet 13 with opposing polarity may be coupled with the plate 20 and flanges 22 to abut when a flap 16 is moved relative to the hinge 18 and abuts the adjacent base 15 surface (see FIG. 6B). Magnetic force may cause the flap 16 and base 15 to engage. A predetermined opposing force may overcome the magnetic force and disengage the flap 16 and base 15.

An auxiliary flap coupling means 32 may be disposed on a surface of the flap 16. The auxiliary flap coupling means 32 may be capable of coupling with a container 50 sidewall 60 or may augment the flap's 16 ability to magnetically couple. The auxiliary flap coupling means 32 may be the hook aspect of Velcro® coupling means, or the hook aspect of a hook-and-loop fastener system or touch fastener system.

A elongate flap 70 may extend from the length edge 27 of a base 15 or flap 16. Exemplary elongate flaps 70 shown in FIG. 7A are configured to abut with a container 50 back 54. The flange 22 aspect of an elongate flap 70 may be relatively longer than the flange 22 aspects of flaps 16 configured to couple with a width edge 25 of a plate 20. A hinge 18 may couple an elongate flap 70 with a base 15 and allow movement of the elongate flap 70 relative to the base 15.

Alternative divider embodiments may have multiple plates 20. Plates 20 of varying sizes may comprise a multiple plate divider 11 (see FIG. 5A-B). A cover 12 may encapsulate the plates 20, forming hinges 18 whereby the plates 20 are coupled. A flange 22 my couple with an outermost plate 20. Plate magnets 24 may couple with or be embedded in one or all the plates 20 in a multiple plate divider 11.

A multiple plate divider 11 may comprise one or more utility bases 21. A utility base 21 can serve the dual purposes of base, i.e. acting as a cell boundary component, and flap, i.e. as adjustable coupling means.

A plate magnet 13 may be embedded in or otherwise coupled with the outermost utility divider 21 (see FIG. 5A-C). A flange magnet 22 may be embedded in or otherwise coupled with the adjacent flange 22 and disposed so the opposite polarity portion of each magnet (13, 24) is facing the same direction when the divider is in the extended position shown in FIG. 5B. The magnets (13, 24) may be configured to align when the flap 16 is folded around the hinge 18 and abuts the adjacent utility base 21 (see FIG. 8). In FIG. 8 the auxiliary flap coupling means 32 are shown abutting the surface of the adjacent bases (15, 21). In alternative folded position 72 orientations, the auxiliary flap coupling means 32 may face outward in a folded position 72.

Folded positions 72 may enable the contraction of divider (10, 11) length, or, in the case of the elongate flap 70, contraction of the divider (10, 11) width.

A container 50 may be the aspect of a backpack, luggage, or case intended to store cargo. Four sidewalls 60 and a back 54 and a front 55 may define a compartment 52 within which cargo may be installed. The four sidewalls 60 may be comprised of rigid material, such as plastic, glass-filled polymer, or other material capable of maintaining structural integrity during intended use. The back 54 and front 55 may be comprised of textile material, or rigid material.

The container 50 may be opened by detaching the back 54 or front 55 from the sidewalls 60, thereby enabling installation of dividers (10, 11). The back 54 or front 55, or portions thereof, may attach to sidewalls via a zipper or by other means known in the art.

Sidewall lining 62 may cover part or all the sidewall 60 edges and surfaces. The sidewall lining 62 may be comprised of material not substantially interfering with the magnetic fields of the magnets (13, 24, 55). The sidewall lining may comprise loop aspect of Velcro® coupling means, or the loop aspect of a hook-and-loop fastener system or touch fastener system. The sidewall lining 62 may be the same or similar fabric to the covers (12, 14) to allow the flap magnets 24 and auxiliary flap coupling means 32 to interchangeably couple with other dividers (10, 11) and sidewalls 60.

Perimeter magnets 58 may couple with the sidewalls 60. The perimeter magnets 58 may be coupled by adhesive, stitching or other method, and may be embedded in the sidewalls 60. The polarity of perimeter magnets 58 may be the opposite, i.e. attract, some or all the plate magnets 13.

Perimeter magnets 58 may be oriented at compartment intervals 80. The compartment intervals 80 may be configured to allow dividers (10, 11) to couple with the sidewalls 60.

Compartment intervals (80) may be configured to enable coupling of a divider (10, 11) with a sidewall 60 and/or a second sidewall 60 or another divider (10, 11) to create a cell 53. A divider (10, 11) is aligned with a perimeter magnet(s) 55 so the magnetic field of the flap magnet(s) 24 exerts enough force to engage and couple with the perimeter magnet(s) 55. The hinge 18 may allow the base 15 of a coupled divider (10, 11) to extend perpendicularly or obliquely from the coupled sidewall 60.

A divider (10, 11) may be configured so the base 15 extends substantially across the container width 56 or length 57. Such a configuration may allow the two flaps 16 of a divider (10, 11) to couple with perimeter magnets 58 on opposing sidewalls, thereby forming a plurality of cells 53.

A divider (10, 11) may be configured so only one flap 16 couples with perimeter magnets 58 and the base 15 and the other flap 16 extends into the compartment 52. Such dividers (10, 11) may be configured so the flap 16 opposing the coupled sidewall 60 may couple with another divider (10, 11) base (15). Plate magnet(s) 13 may be disposed to allow such cell 53 configurations. If the divider (10, 11) to be coupled with does not have viable plate magnet 13 coupling means, the auxiliary flap coupling means 32 may couple with the base 15 surface and thereby form cells 53.

A divider may be configured so elongate flap(s) 70 abut the back 54 or front 55 when inserted into the compartment 52 to form cells 53. Perimeter magnets 58 may be disposed on or within the back 54 or front 55. These perimeter magnets 58 may be configured to align with the flange magnet 24 of a divider (10, 11) inserted to form cells 53.

The foregoing disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not limiting the scope of the invention. Merely exemplary embodiments and methods related to the invention are discussed and described. As will be understood by those familiar to the art, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied in other forms or methods without departing from the essence of the invention, which is set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A payload divider, comprising: a. a plate comprised of material;b. the plate comprising a plate magnet;c. a flange;d. the flange comprising a flap magnet;e. a hinge, the hinge coupling the flange and plate;f. the hinge enabling a folded position;g. the plate magnet and flap magnet configured so that in the folded position the plate magnet and flap magnet engage and magnetically couple.

2. A storage compartment, comprising: a. a container comprising a sidewall, a back, and a front;b. the sidewall, the back, and the front defining the storage dimensions of the container;c. the sidewall comprising perimeter magnets;d. a modular payload divider;e. the modular payload divider comprising divider magnets;f. the perimeter magnets and divider magnets being configured to magnetically couple, whereby multiple compartments are created.

3. A payload divider, comprising: a. a plate comprised of rigid material;b. at least one flange;c. a cover, the cover encapsulating the plate and at least on flange;d. the cover comprising at least one hinge, the hinge operatively coupling the plate and at least one hinge;e. the at least one flange comprising at least one flap magnet.

4. The payload divider in claim 3, wherein the plate comprises a plate magnet capable of magnetically coupling with the at least on flap magnet.

5. An adjustable payload divider, comprising: a. a plate and at least one flange comprised of rigid material;b. a cover, the cover being configured to surround the plate and the at least one flange;c. the cover comprising a hinge, whereby the plate and the at least one flange are operatively coupled;d. an auxiliary flap coupling means located on surface of the cover opposing the at least one flange; ande. the at least one flange comprising ferromagnetic material.

6. The adjustable payload divider in claim 5, wherein the auxiliary flap coupling means comprises one aspect of a hook-and-loop fastener system.

7. The adjustable payload divider in claim 5, wherein the plate comprises ferromagnetic material with a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one flange.

8. An adjustable payload divider system, comprising: f. a container comprising a plurality of sidewalls defining a cavity, at least one of the plurality of sidewalls comprising ferromagnetic material;g. a plurality of adjustable dividers, each of the plurality of payload dividers comprising: i. a plate and at least one flange comprised of rigid material;ii. a cover, the cover being configured to surround the plate and the at least one flange;iii. the cover comprising a hinge, whereby the plate and the at least one flange are operatively coupled;iv. an auxiliary flap coupling means located on surface of the cover opposing the at least one flange; andv. the at least one flange comprising ferromagnetic material;vi. said plurality of adjustable dividers being capable and sidewalls capable of interfacing and creating adjustable compartments within the cavity.h. the ferromagnetic material comprising the flange having an opposite polarity of the polarity of the ferromagnetic material comprising the at least one of the plurality of sidewalls comprising ferromagnetic material, whereby the flange and sidewall may couple when positioned within a magnetic field.