The present invention relates generally to the field of organizers, and more particularly to a portable organizer that can also function as a seat and engage with a bucket.
Various portable organizers are known to be useful for storage and transport of various items including tools hardware, small parts and fasteners. In conventional tool organizers such as a tool box, items may be scattered haphazardly in a single large compartment or divided between multiple stacked trays so that it may be difficult to quickly locate and access a specific item at a work site. While conventional organizers and others of the prior art are useful in some instances, there are still numerous deficiencies and the potential for more useful portable organizers and features.
A portable organizer can be adapted for removable installation on a bucket is described. The portable organizer can include a main body and a lid. The main body can include a bottom wall, at least one sidewall, and a rim extending proximate a top end of the at least one sidewall and substantially parallel to the bottom wall. The bottom wall and at least one sidewall can define a main compartment with an open top. The lid can be attached to the main body at a first end of the main body and configured to pivot between a closed position covering the open top and a position where the open top is uncovered. The main body can also include a handle extending longitudinally from a second end of the main body, with the second end opposite the first end. The main body can also include a support surface at the first end and extending perpendicular to the rim.
The lid can include first and second connectors on a first lateral half of the lid and third and fourth connectors on a second lateral half of the lid. The first and third connectors can also be on opposing longitudinal halves of the lid from the second and fourth connectors. The first and second connectors can also be configured to removably attach to an outside of the rim and the third and fourth connectors can configured to removably attach to the sidewall or an inside of the rim.
The rim of the main body can also include first and second engaging portions. The first connector on the lid can be configured to removably engage with the first engaging portion, and the second connector can be configured to removably engage with the second engaging portion. The first and second connectors can also include projecting engagement members. The main body can also include third and fourth engaging portions on the sidewall or an inside of the rim. The third connector on the lid can be configured to removably engage with the third engaging portion, and the fourth connector can be configured to removably engage with the fourth engaging portion. The third and fourth connectors can also include a ridge and each of the third and fourth engaging portions can include a recess or aperture.
The main body can also include a channel adjacent the inside of the rim; and the lid can include a generally planar cover member and a lip extending substantially perpendicular to the cover member and adapted for fitting within the channel when the lid is in the closed position. The third and fourth removable connectors can also extend from the lip of the lid toward the inside of the main compartment, and the third and fourth removable connectors can be configured to removably engage with third and fourth receiving portions on the channel.
The lid can also include at least two reinforcing projections along an inside of the lip and the at least one sidewall can also include notches in a top edge of the sidewall. At least a portion of each of the reinforcing projections can rest within the notches and within the channel on the main compartment when the lid is in the closed position.
The main body can also include at least one support wall within the main compartment extending from the bottom wall to a top of the main compartment. The lid can also include at least one reinforcing rib on the lid. The at least one reinforcing rib can be configured to align with at least a portion of the top edge of the at least one support wall when the lid is in the closed position.
The portable organizer can also include at least one removable divider wall and first and second facing walls selected from at least one sidewall, at least one support wall, and a plurality of support walls. The removable divider wall can include a first flared edge and a second flared edge opposite the first flared edge. The first facing wall can include a first track for slidably engaging with the first flared edge, and the second facing wall can include a second track for slidably engaging with the second flared edge. A top edge of the at least one removable divider wall can also include a flared support portion. The bottom wall of the portable organizer can also include at least one pair of alignment members for receiving at least a portion of a bottom edge of the at least one removable divider wall between the pair of alignment members.
A portable organizer seat can be adapted for removable installation on a bucket. The portable organizer seat can include a main body having a bottom wall, at least one sidewall, and a rim extending from a top of the at least one sidewall and substantially parallel to the bottom wall, with the bottom wall and at least one sidewall defining a main compartment with an open top; and a lid attached to the main body at a first end of the main body and configured to pivot between a closed position covering the open top and a position where the open top is uncovered. The lid can include a generally planar cover member such that the cover member and the rim form a generally planar surface when the lid is in a closed position. The lid can also include first and second connectors on a first lateral half of the lid and third and fourth connectors on a second lateral half of the lid.
The main body of the portable organizer can also be generally circular. The rim can also include a ring portion extending generally perpendicular to the bottom wall, such that an underside of the rim defines a generally circular hollow for receiving an edge of an open top end of a bucket and the portable organizer seat is configured to removably cover the open top.
The portable organizer seat can also include a support surface and a handle. The support surface can be at the first end of the main body and extend perpendicular to the rim. The handle can extend longitudinally from a second end of the main body, with the second end opposite the first end.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
A portable organizer adapted for ease of use and removable installation on a bucket is described herein. The portable organizer provides efficient, secure storage and organization for project tools, hardware, small parts and fasteners and can be easily transported from site to site. Additionally, the portable organizer can be placed horizontally on a bucket to provide easy access to the stored parts, a cover for an open top of the bucket, and a stable surface for use as seating or a tabletop. The portable organizer is also adapted to be easily carried using a handle and stored in a vertical orientation because of a unique support surface.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including”, “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and/or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”
As used herein, the terms “top” and “bottom” refer to the vertical direction when the portable organizer is resting horizontally on its bottom wall as shown in
As shown in
As best shown in
In one arrangement shown in
As shown in
The main body 20 can also include a channel 45 proximate the inner edge side of the rim 40. As used herein, the terms “inside,” “inner,” “outside” and “outer” refer to the portions most proximate and least proximate, respectively, to the main compartment 35. At least some portions of the channel 45 can be defined by the at least one sidewall 30, the rim 40, or both 30,40. For example as shown in
As shown in
The main body 20 can also include a support surface 55 at the first end 21 and extending perpendicular to the rim 40. As used herein, the term “support surface” refers to a surface feature configured to support the portable organizer 10 in an upright position when the support surface 55 is placed on a surface (S), such as the ground, a shelf or a work bench.
In one arrangement shown in
The lid 60 of the portable organizer 10 can be attached to the main body proximate the first end 21. The lid 60 can be configured to pivot between a closed position, as shown in
The lid 60 can include first and second connectors 71, 72 configured to removably connect to the main body 20 and secure the lid 60 in the closed position when connected. The lid 60 can also include third and fourth connectors 73, 74 configured to removably connect to the main body 20 and further secure the lid 60 in the closed position when connected.
The removable connectors 71, 72, 73, 74 can be spaced apart on the lid 60. For example as shown in
The connectors, including projecting engagement members extending from the lid 60, can be configured to attach to an outside or an inside of the rim 40 or an outside of the ring portion 42. In another arrangement, the connectors can be configured to removably attach to an interior portion of the main body 20, such as a sidewall 30, an inside of the rim 40, and/or the channel 45. The main body 20 can also include first, second, third and fourth engaging portions 76, 77, 78, 79 for engagement with the respective first, second, third and fourth connectors 71, 72, 73, 74.
In one arrangement shown in
The third and fourth connectors 73, 74 can include a ridge and the third and fourth engaging portions 78, 79 can include openings 78a, 79b. As used herein, the term “opening” refers to a feature adapted for receiving protruding portions of a connector and can include, without limitation, a recess or an aperture. The ridge of the third and fourth connectors 73, 74 can extend generally perpendicularly from the lip 64 of the lid 60, e.g., proximate a distal edge of the lip 64. The third and fourth engaging portions 78, 79 can include openings 78a, 79a adapted for receiving the third and fourth connectors 73, 74 respectively. The openings 78a, 79a can be located in walls of the channel 45 (e.g., inside or outside walls of the channel) and positioned such that the third and fourth connectors 78, 79 (i.e., the ridges) extend into the openings when the lid 60 is closed. The openings 78a, 79a can be positioned far enough down into the channel 45 that the third and fourth connectors 73, 74 are connected to the openings 78a, 79a when the user exerts force on the lid 60 on a surface of the lid 60 opposite the third and fourth connectors 73, 74. The distance between the inner edges of the third and fourth connectors 73, 74 can be smaller than the distance between the outer edges of the openings 78a, 79a.
As best shown in
The spacing member(s) 78b, 79b and the openings 78a, 79a, can be positioned on opposite sides of the channel 45 and can be proximate each other. For example, the spacing members 78b, 79b can extend from the outer wall of the channel 45 proximate the openings 78a, 79a. In some instances, at least one spacing member 78b, 79b can be radially aligned with at least one opening 78a, 79a. As used herein, “radially aligned” refers to an arrangement where a line extending from the center of the main compartment 35 passes through the aligned objects, e.g., a spacing member 78b, 79b and an opening 78a, 79a.
The base of the spacing members 78b, 79b can have a generally convex shape, including, but not limited to, a cylinder, a half cylinder, or a similar shape with a cross-section of a triangle, a square or another polygon. A top portion of the spacing member(s) 78b, 79b can also include a beveled portion for facilitating the biasing of the lip 64 of the lid 60 toward the inside wall of the channel 45 as the lid 60 is closed. For example, the beveled portion can extend from the outer wall of the channel 45 toward the innermost portion of the base of the spacing member 78b, 79b.
The portable organizer 10 can also include at least one support wall 80 within the main compartment 35 extending from the bottom wall 25 to a top of the main compartment 35. The support wall 80 can extend the length of the main compartment or only a portion of the length of the main compartment 35. The support wall can extend longitudinally or laterally. The portable organizer 10 can also include a plurality of support walls 80 dividing the main compartment 35 into sub-compartments as shown in
The portable organizer 10 can also include at least one removable divider wall 85 that can be removably inserted between two facing walls 81, 82 within the main compartment 35. The first and second facing walls 81, 82 can include any combination of sidewalls 30 or support walls 80. For example, the facing walls 81, 82 can include two support walls 80. The facing walls 81, 82 can also include a support wall 80 and a sidewall 30. The facing walls 81, 82 can also include two sidewalls 30 or the same sidewall 30 when the main body 20 is circular.
In one arrangement as shown in
The bottom wall 25 of the main body 20 can also include at least one pair of alignment members 26. The pair of alignment members 26 can be adapted for receiving at least a portion of a bottom edge 89 of the removable divider wall 85 between the pair of alignment members 26, as shown in
The portable organizer 10 can also include at least one reinforcing rib 90 extending from the lid 60. As shown in
The reinforcing rib 90 can extend completely across the lid 60 or only a portion of the of the lid 60. For example, the reinforcing rib 90 can extend longitudinally across the lid 60, as shown in
In one arrangement, the main body 20 can include a support wall 80 extending longitudinally within the main compartment 35 and the lid 60 can include a corresponding reinforcing rib 90 extending longitudinally on an inner side of the cover member 62. In another arrangement, the main body 20 can include one or two support walls 80 extending laterally within main compartment 35 and the lid 60 can include one or two corresponding reinforcing ribs 90 extending laterally on an inner side of the cover member 62.
As shown in
The lid 60 of the portable organizer 10 can also include at least two reinforcing projections 95 extending from an inside of the lid 60. The reinforcing projections 95 can be positioned adjacent to the lip 64. The at least two reinforcing projections 95 can also be positioned on opposite sides of the lid 60. The reinforcing projections 95 can be received within portions of the main body 20, including portions of the rim 40, the channel 45 or the sidewall 30.
In one arrangement shown in
For example as shown in
As shown in
The improved configuration of the portable organizer 10 further provides efficient and secure storage and organization for items that can be easily transported from site to site. In particular, the secure attachment of the lid 60 to the main body 20 when the lid is in the closed position allows a user to carry the portable organizer 10 by the handle 50 or set the portable organizer 10 in an upright position without the weight of the stored items causing the lid 60 to deform or open. The secure fit of the lid 60 on the main body 20 including the support walls 80 also allows a user to carry the portable organizer 10 by the handle 50 or set the portable organizer 10 in an upright position while keeping the stored items organized in their sub-compartments. Furthermore, the support surface 55 allows the portable organizer 10 to be set down on a surface using the handle 50 and remain in a vertical position without external support.
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, an describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/605,465, filed Mar. 1, 2012, entitled “PORTABLE BUCKET STORAGE SEAT ORGANIZER” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61605465 | Mar 2012 | US |