Not Applicable.
Not Applicable
This invention relates in general to a storage device. Specifically, the invention relates to a soft-sided, collapsible organizer operative to create a collapsible storage space.
In today's day and age, vehicular transportation is an integral part of everyday life. Most people use vehicles to get to and from their place of employment as well as to and from points of recreation. In fact, some people work out of their vehicle. As such, people tend to store items in their vehicle, either permanently or temporarily. Such items may relate to work, play, or common necessities. An exemplary list of items commonly carried in a vehicle includes groceries, beach gear, recreational equipment, first aid supplies and work related equipment and supplies.
Due to the fact that so many items may be kept in a vehicle at any given time, it is desirable to have a storage container for storing and organizing such items. If the items are not properly stowed within the vehicle, slight acceleration, deceleration, turns and/or bumps may cause the items to move, shift, or possibly break. Therefore, storing the items within a storage container mitigates the chances that the items will shift or break during transport. Such a storage container may be placed within the vehicle, most likely the trunk or rear of the vehicle, and the items may be placed therein and removed therefrom as needed.
Although placing a container within a vehicle may advantageously create a storage space for the user, it also has inherent disadvantages as well. One disadvantage is that the space occupied by the storage container may be needed for alternate uses. For instance, a user's trunk may be needed for transport of larger items, such as golf clubs or other large cargo. Consequently, the storage container would need to be removed in order to make space for the larger item. This may be a very tedious process, especially if it must be done on a fairly regular basis.
In addition to the space that traditional storage containers consume, most storage containers do not offer flexibility with regard to the size of individual storage compartments. Rather, they tend to offer storage compartments having a fixed volume. Some storage containers contain only one storage bin, while others are divided into smaller storage compartments. In both cases, most storage containers are not capable of adjusting the storage size of each storage compartment.
Furthermore, traditional storage devices may not offer a top or lid to enclose the storage space. In many cases, the storage container may be comprised of an open-ended bin without a lid. However, even if the storage device does include a top or lid, such top or lid is generally not rigid. As such, additional items cannot be placed on top of the storage device. In addition, most lids do not include a hinge or pivot. A pivoting lid allows a user to open a portion of the lid to access the storage space without removing the entire lid.
As was stated above, many people work out of their vehicle. Therefore, they may be required to carry work-related materials with them in their vehicle. Such work related materials may include hanging files, folders, notebooks, etc. Many of the traditional storage devices mentioned above are not capable of accommodating hanging files. Therefore, the hanging files may simply be placed inside the storage container, which is not as effective as hanging the file so the file name or subject can be easily read from the tab on the hanging file.
It is therefore evident that there exists a need in the art for a soft-sided collapsible vehicle organizer operative to create a collapsible storage space within a vehicle.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soft-sided, collapsible, vehicle organizer operative to create a collapsible storage space. The vehicle organizer includes a base and a pair of opposing primary walls coupled to the base. The vehicle organizer further includes a pair of opposing secondary walls coupled to the base. The vehicle organizer is foldable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, at least two opposing walls are generally parallel to the base. In the deployed position, the pair of primary walls and the pair of secondary walls are substantially upright. The vehicle organizer also includes at least two batten pockets, each being operative to receive a batten to enhance wall rigidity.
The present invention may be used to provide a storage space within a user's vehicle. When space is needed, the vehicle organizer may be placed in the deployed position. If the user needs the space for larger items, the vehicle organizer may easily be folded into the stowed position to create space for the larger item. When in the stowed position, the vehicle organizer does not take up valuable space within a vehicle. As such, larger items such as golf clubs or large boxes may be placed in the space previously occupied by the deployed vehicle organizer.
The vehicle organizer may include at least one divider to partition the storage space when the organizer is in the deployed position. The dividers may include a pair of lower connection members detachably coupled with a pair of base connection members coupled to the base. In addition, the dividers may also include a pair of upper connection members detachably coupled with a pair of wall connection members coupled to opposing walls.
The vehicle organizer may also include a rigid lid operative to substantially cover the storage space within the organizer. The lid includes a second lid connector detachably coupled with a first lid connector, wherein the first lid connector is coupled to at least one wall. Although the lid may be comprised of one uniform body, it may also be comprised of a first lid portion and a second lid portion, wherein the first and second lid portions are in pivotal communication with each other.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a collapsible mobile office organizer operative to create a collapsible storage space for a plurality of hanging folders and other office supplies. The mobile office organizer includes a base and a pair of opposing primary walls. The pair of opposing primary walls are coupled to the base and include a wall connection member. The mobile office organizer also includes a pair of opposing secondary walls coupled to the base. The mobile office organizer is foldable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, at least two opposing walls are generally parallel to the base. In the deployed position, the pair of primary walls and the pair of secondary walls are substantially upright. In addition, each wall in at least one pair of opposing walls includes a batten pocket operative to receive a batten to enhance wall rigidity. The mobile office organizer also includes at least two office dividers operative to partition the storage space when the mobile office organizer is in the deployed position. Each office divider includes at least one recessed edge to support at least one hanging folder. The office dividers also include upper connection members detachably coupled to the wall connection members.
The base of the mobile office organizer may include a pair of base connection members. The mobile office organizer dividers may include a pair of lower connection members detachably coupled to the pair of base connection members.
The mobile office organizer may also include a rigid lid for covering the storage space. A first lid connector may be coupled to at least one wall. The rigid lid includes a second lid connector detachably coupled with the first lid connector. The rigid lid may be comprised of a first lid portion and a second lid portion, where the first and second lid portions are in pivotal communication with each other.
In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a soft-sided, collapsible tote organizer operative to create a collapsible storage space. The tote organizer comprises at least two totes and a soft-sided bin configured to receive at least two totes. The bin comprises a base and a pair of opposing primary walls. In addition, the bin includes a pair of opposing secondary walls coupled to the base. The bin is foldable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, at least two opposing walls are generally parallel to the base. In the deployed position, the pair of primary walls and the pair of secondary walls are substantially upright. Furthermore, each wall in at least one pair of opposing walls includes a batten pocket operative to receive a batten to enhance wall rigidity.
The tote organizer may further include a tote lid coupled to at least one wall. The tote lid is operative to substantially cover the storage space of the storage and organization system. The tote lid includes a second lid connector detachably coupled with a first lid connector, wherein the first lid connector is coupled to at least one wall. Each tote may also include two fastening members operative to aid tote transportation.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,
The vehicle organizer 10 is foldable between a stowed position and a deployed position.
According to various embodiments, the primary and secondary walls 14, 16 of the vehicle organizer 10 are soft-sided. In this regard, the walls 14, 16 are selectively deformable to allow a user to fold the organizer 10 to conserve space. Each of the primary and/or secondary walls 14, 16 may include a batten pocket 18, wherein each batten pocket 18 is operative to receive a batten 44 to enhance wall rigidity. Battens 44 are thin planar members that are made of a substantially rigid material. Preferably, the battens 44 are made of an ABS or vinyl material, but other materials known by those skilled in the art may also be used. Battens 44 are inserted into the batten pockets 18 located in the walls 14, 16 of the vehicle organizer 10 in order to provide rigidity and strength when the vehicle organizer 10 is in the deployed position. The batten pockets 18 are configured to tightly conform to the battens 44. The battens 44 substantially increase the compaction and strength of the vehicle organizer 10. They enable the soft-sided organizer 10 to function as a hard-sided container.
When the vehicle organizer 10 is in the deployed position, each wall 14, 16 includes a batten 44. Battens 44 are removed from the batten pocket 18 to allow the user to fold the vehicle organizer 10 into the stowed position.
It is understood that it may be advantageous to fold the vehicle organizer 10 into the stowed position when not in use. It is envisioned that the vehicle organizer 10 will be kept in the back of the user's vehicle. When additional storage space is needed, the vehicle organizer 10 may quickly be unfolded into the deployed position. When the storage space is not needed, the organizer 10 may be folded into the stowed position so that it does not take up valuable space. For instance, a user may need the space to stow a large item, such as golf clubs.
When the vehicle organizer 10 is in the deployed position, storage space is created within the organizer 10. It is contemplated that a user may want to divide the storage space created by the vehicle organizer 10. As such, one embodiment of the invention includes at least one divider 22. The divider 22 is operative to partition the vehicle organizer 10 into a number of different storage areas. The different storage areas may be used to store and organize different possessions. For example, if a family is going to a beach or park, they may place recreational equipment in one storage area, blankets/towels in another storage area, and food in still another storage area. The dividers 22 are detachably coupled to the vehicle organizer 10 and may be inserted or removed as needed. According to various embodiments, the dividers 22 may detachably couple to various parts of the vehicle organizer 10. In one embodiment, the dividers 22 detachably couple to the base 12. The base 12 includes a pair of base connection members 20, as is shown in
When the dividers 22 are placed within the vehicle organizer 10, the storage space is divided into a number of different storage compartments. In one embodiment of the invention, the position of each divider 22 may be altered to vary the size of the different storage compartments. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the base and lower connection members 20, 24 and the wall and upper connection members 26, 28 are complementary hook and loop fasteners. As such, the position of each divider 22 may easily be changed by the user to accommodate the user's storage and organizational needs.
It may be desirable to cover the items placed within the storage space. As such, various embodiments of the invention include a lid. The lid is configured such that it substantially covers the belongings placed within the organizer 10. Preferably, the lid is a rigid lid 34 as shown in
In one embodiment, the rigid lid 34 is comprised of a first lid portion 36 and a second lid portion 38. The first and second lid portions 36, 38 are in pivotal communication with each other.
In order to enhance the portability of the vehicle organizer 10, at least one handle 40 may be coupled to at least one of the walls 14, 16. In the embodiment shown in
The storage capacity of the vehicle organizer 10 may be enhanced with the addition of at least one storage pocket 42. In the embodiment shown in
In addition to the foregoing, it is expressly contemplated that the present invention may find widespread applicability to not only use in general storage and organization applications, but may further be implemented to provide mobile office organization and storage. As such, one embodiment of the present invention is a mobile office organizer 60. The mobile office organizer 60 is similar to the vehicle organizer 10 described above, however, the mobile office organizer 60 includes office dividers 62 that are different from the dividers 22 of the vehicle organizer 10. Referring now to
In another embodiment, the present invention may be used as a soft-sided, collapsible tote organizer 80. The tote organizer 80 is comprised of at least two totes 82 and a bin 84 configured to receive at least two totes 82. The bin 84 is similar to the vehicle organizer 10 described above in that the bin 84 includes a base 12, a pair of opposing primary walls 14, and a pair of opposing secondary walls 16. The primary and secondary walls 14, 16 are coupled to the base 12. The bin 82 is foldable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, either the primary walls 14 or the secondary walls 16 are generally parallel to the base 12. In the deployed position, the pair of primary and secondary walls 14, 16 are substantially upright. Similar to the vehicle organizer 10, the rigidity of the tote organizer walls are enhanced by battens 44. At least one pair of opposing walls, namely the primary walls 14 or secondary walls 16 includes a batten pocket 18 operative to receive a batten 44 to enhance wall rigidity.
It is contemplated that the totes 82 may be removed from the bin 84 as the user desires. The totes 82 may be general purpose totes 82, or cooler totes 82. The general purpose totes 82 may be used for general storage and organization purposes. The cooler totes 82, on the other hand, include foam and insulation and are used to insulate its contents from the outside temperature. In one embodiment, the totes 82 include a fastening member 86 operative to aid tote transportation. A strap may be attached to the fastening member 86 to enable easy transportation of the tote 82. The user may return the tote 82 to the bin 84 and remove the strap from the fastening member 86.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the tote organizer 80 includes a tote lid 88 to substantially cover the storage space. The tote lid 88 may be a soft lid or a rigid lid. As shown in
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 disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein 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 scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11639629 | Dec 2006 | US |
Child | 13018848 | US |