Patent Application
20070051284
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The present invention is directed toward shelf units, and particularly toward shelf units usable in lockers.
Lockers are widely used in a variety of places, including schools, airports, bus stations, etc. Some uses are relatively transient, short term or infrequent. For example, locker type structures may be used for long or short term storage by individuals, where access to the stored materials is only infrequently had. However, in many cases the lockers are used over a long period of time, with the user making frequent access to the locker. Schools are a common example where lockers are so used, with a student keeping a specific locker for an entire school year and going into their locker to place or retrieve items (e.g., books, coats, boots, etc.) multiple times each school day. Each locker may be used in that manner for decades by scores of different students.
While many school lockers will have, for example, a shelf at the top of the locker, many students using such lockers wish to have the ability to organize items in their locker to a greater extent than that single shelf may permit. Therefore, students have heretofore added a variety of different structures to help them organize the space in their lockers.
For example, in some instances, students have added their own shelf units at the bottom of their lockers. Such shelf units have been, for example, free standing structures which extend across less than the full width of the locker, where the structure is put into the locker fully assembled. Other exemplary shelf units which have been used require assembly within the locker. While shelf units requiring assembly have the advantage of permitting the shelves to potentially span substantially the full width of the locker (i.e., since the door opening of the locker is typically narrower than the locker interior space, full-width pre-assembled units may be difficult to get into the locker), units which require assembly in the locker can be difficult to assemble and can be relatively flimsy even after assembled.
Further, in addition to, or instead of, adding horizontal shelves, some students have added vertical dividers whereby, for example, books, notebooks and papers may be placed in the locker standing up, with the vertical dividers assisting in separating such materials for organization. Such vertical dividers may, however, also be difficult to get through the narrow locker door opening and/or difficult to assemble in the locker, particularly for younger students.
Still further, it should be appreciated that many students do not wish to carry a conspicuously large structure to school, as it may make them self-conscious about standing out. As a result, organizing structures which are large, no matter how advantageously functional when in place, may be unsuitable because the student may never bring the structure to school.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an organizing unit for a locker is provided, including a collapsible box portion having first, second, third and fourth sides, a middle panel, and a releasable connection between opposite edges of the middle panel and the second and fourth sides. The first and third sides are substantially rigid and opposite one another, with the second side pivotally connecting one edge of the first side to one edge of the third side and the fourth side pivotally connecting the opposite edge of the first side to the opposite edge of the third side. The second and fourth sides each include a central hinge therein between their pivotal connections with the first and third sides. The distance between the middle panel opposite edges is substantially the same as the distance between the one and opposite edges of both the first and third sides.
In one form of this aspect of the present invention, the central hinges of the second and fourth sides fold in toward one another in a storage position.
In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the connection is at the central hinge of the second side and the central hinge of the fourth side.
In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the connection secures the middle panel substantially rigidly to both the second and fourth sides. In one further form, the second and fourth sides are substantially flat when the middle panel is connected to the second and fourth sides and, in another further form, the middle panel is substantially at right angles to the second and fourth sides when connected thereto.
According to yet another form of this aspect of the present invention, the releasable connection includes flanges along the middle panel opposite edges and a channel defined at each of the central hinges when the second and fourth sides are substantially flat, wherein the flanges are slidably receivable in the channel of the side connected thereto. In a further form, the flanges are T-shaped with a base and outwardly extending ears, and the channel includes portions closing four sides with a slot through the portions closing one of the four sides, wherein the base of the associated flange is slidable through the slot. In a still further form, one of the central hinges pivotally connects segments of the second side and the other of the central hinges pivotally connects segments of the fourth side, and the central hinges are defined by channel members pivotally secured to associated side segments and defining the channel. In yet a further form, the channel members are separately pivotally secured to associated side segments about spaced pivot axes, with the pivot axes spaced sufficiently to allow the side segments to be disposed substantially parallel in a storage position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an organizing unit for a locker is provided including a collapsible box portion having first, second, third and fourth sides, a middle panel, and a releasable connection between opposite edges of the middle panel and the second and fourth sides. The first and third sides are substantially rigid and opposite one another, with the second side pivotally connected to one edge of the first side and to one edge of the third side and the fourth side pivotally connected to the opposite edge of the first side and to the opposite edge of the third side. The second and fourth sides each include a central hinge between their pivotal connections with the first and third sides. The connection substantially rigidly secures the middle panel substantially at right angles to both the second and fourth sides with the second and fourth sides substantially flat. Further, the connection includes flanges along the middle panel opposite edges, and a channel defined at each of the central hinges when the second and fourth sides are substantially flat, and the flanges are slidably receivable in the channel of the side connected thereto.
In one form of this aspect of the present invention, the central hinges of the second and fourth sides fold in toward one another in a storage position.
In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the connection is at the central hinge of the second side and the central hinge of the fourth side.
In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the flanges are T-shaped with a base and outwardly extending ears, and the channel includes portions closing four sides with a slot through the portions closing one of the four sides, wherein the base of the associated flange is slidable through the slot. In a further form, one of the central hinges pivotally connects segments of the second side and the other of the central hinges pivotally connects segments of the fourth side, and the central hinges are defined by channel members pivotally secured to associated side segments and defining the channel. In a still further form, the channel members are separately pivotally secured to associated side segments about spaced pivot axes, with the pivot axes spaced sufficiently to allow the side segments to be disposed substantially parallel in a storage position.
An organizing unit 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in the Figures. In the advantageous embodiment illustrated, the organizing unit 10 includes a box portion 14 and a middle panel 16.
In the illustrated embodiment, the box portion 14 includes two rigid sides 20, 22 connected by two hinged sides 26, 28 by suitable hinges 30 connecting their edges. The sides 20, 22, 26, 28 may be formed of any suitable material providing the desired strength required in the organizing unit 10. For example, a flat panel 32 of rigid plastic having cutouts 34 (for reduced weight and material cost) and lateral flanges 36 (for strength against bending), may be advantageously used to form the sides 20, 22, 26, 28 of the present invention.
A central hinge 40 (described in greater detail hereafter with reference to
As best illustrated in
Moreover, as particularly illustrated in
Once inside the locker, the box portion 14 may be expanded as illustrated in
The middle panel 16 includes a T-shaped flange 60 on its outer edge, which flange includes outwardly extending ears 62 which are received in the channel member 50. Another set of laterally extending ears 64 may be provided to help secure the middle panel 16 in a configuration where it is retained substantially rigidly at right angles to the connected hinged side 28 (or 26) when the panel 16 is slid into the box portion 14 to the position shown in
It should be appreciated that the compact storage position is not only commercially advantageous with respect to product handling, but it is also ideal for students to transport to their locker for placing therein. That is, not only is the compact size convenient, but it also allows the students to carry it unobtrusively, which is important to some students who are afraid of carrying something which might cause them to not look “cool” to others (particularly at the uneasy start of a new school year when such items are typically taken to school for use in their new locker). Further, it should be appreciated that the organizing unit 10 when taken to a locker for use may be quickly and easily installed by even young students with just a few simple steps.
It should be appreciated that units configured other than as shown in the Figures may be used which advantageously incorporate aspects of the present invention. For example, connections for more than one panel between the rigid sides 20, 22 may be provided, and such connections may be at other than the hinge of the hinged sides 26, 28. Further, suitable hinge configurations need not be of the structure illustrated in
Further, it should be appreciated that the present invention may be used in organizing units having less or more than four legs, and with legs at other than the corners of the shelf. It should also be appreciated that the legs 20 could be adjustable in length (e.g., by telescoping) so as to provide a different, selectable height, if desired.
Still other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the specification, the drawings, and the appended claims. It should be understood, however, that the present invention could be used in alternate forms where less than all of the objects and advantages of the present invention and preferred embodiment as described above would be obtained.
