Patent Application
20080000914
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.
The bin organizer 10 is constructed by example and without limitation having a substantially continuous pliant fabric inner wall 16 having both an upper margin 18 and a lower margin 20 with substantially continuous interior and exterior surfaces 22 and 24 therebetween. The substantially continuous inner wall 16 is optionally formed as a single unitary piece of the durable fabric with opposite ends sewn, glued or otherwise joined along respective edges 26 and 28 to form a substantially continuous band of the fabric. Alternatively, the substantially continuous inner wall 16 is formed of two or more opposing side panels 30 and 32 with opposing end panels 34 and 36 joined along corner joints 38 to form the substantially continuous fabric band.
Two substantially continuous pliant fabric outer walls 40 and 42 are each formed having both an upper margin 44 and a lower margin 46 with substantially continuous interior and exterior surfaces 48 and 50 therebetween. Each of the outer walls 40, 42 is optionally formed as a single unitary piece of out the durable fabric, with each of the outer walls 40, 42 being slightly less than about one half the length of the continuous band that is the inner wall 16. With the interior surface 48 of each outer wall 40, 42 facing the exterior surface 24 of the inner wall 16, the upper margins 44 of each outer wall 40, 42 is sewn, glued or otherwise joined to the to the upper margin of the inner wall 16 with a space 52 between respective outer wall edges 56 and 58 that provide access to handles H on the outside of the storage bin S, for example positioned at opposite ends when the storage bin S is rectangular. Edge reinforcement 60 is optionally provided along the respective spaced apart outer wall edges 56, 58, for example, as substantially continuous strips of conventional binding tape sewn, glued or otherwise joined to the edges 56, 58. Optionally, an additional portion of edge reinforcement 62 is provided along the upper margin 18 of the fabric inner wall 16 in the space 52 between respective outer wall edges 56 and 58. The additional portion of edge reinforcement 62 stiffens the fabric to avoid gapping along the top edge of the storage bin S.
A substantially continuous pliant fabric floor panel 64 is formed having a substantially continuous interior surface 66 surrounded by a continuous edge margin 68. The substantially continuous floor panel 64 is optionally formed as a single unitary piece of out the durable fabric. The continuous edge margin 68 of the fabric floor panel 64 is joined to the lower margin 20 of the inner wall 16 in a substantially continuous manner such as by sewing, gluing, welding, or another substantially continuous joining method that forms a substantially continuous seam 70 therebetween. Joining the fabric floor panel 64 to the lower margin 20 of the inner wall 16 causes the inner wall 16, including the upper margin 18, to assume substantially the shape as the floor panel 64. Consequently, the interior space 14 is formed between the opposing interior surfaces 22 of the inner wall 16 with the exterior surface 24 forming an exterior surface 72 of the interior space 14. The interior space 14 is closed at the lower margin 20 by the floor panel 64 joined thereto, and the joined upper margin 18 of the inner wall 16 and upper margin 44 of the outer walls 40, 42 together form an opening 74 into the interior space 14.
When the fabric floor panel 64 is formed in a square, rectangular or circular shape that matches the shape of the intended storage bin S, the inner wall 16 and upper margin 18 both assume a substantially matching square, rectangular or circular shape when joined thereto. Consequently, the interior space 14 and the opening 74 thereinto also assume substantially matching square, rectangular or circular shapes and thus match the shape of the storage bin S. Furthermore, corners 76 of the substantially rectangular fabric floor panel 64 are optionally rounded to conform more closely to the rounded interior corners typical of a molded plastic storage bin S.
The pliant fabric outer walls 40, 42 fold against the exterior surface 72 of the interior space 14 along the opening 74 thereinto with the interior surfaces 48 of the pliant fabric outer walls 40, 42 facing the exterior surfaces 24 of the inner wall 16. Two folds 78 and 80 are thus formed along the opening 74 into the interior space 14 between the interior surfaces 48 of the outer walls 40, 42 and the cavity's exterior surface 72. The folds 78, 80 each conform to the interior space 14 and the opening 74 thereinto also assume substantially square, rectangular or circular shape assumed by them. The folds 78, 80 thus each conform to the substantially square, rectangular or circular shape of the storage bin S. Furthermore, the pliant nature of the fabric inner wall 16 and outer walls 40, 42 permits the folds 78, 80 to conform more closely to the rounded corners typical of a molded plastic storage bin S.
A plastic, leather or fabric belt 82 is provided for interconnecting the lower margins 46 of the first and second outer walls 40, 42 around the outside of the storage bin S. Additionally, the belt 82 optionally includes a coupler 84 between two cooperating end portions 86 and 88. For example, the coupler 84 is a metal or plastic buckle of conventional design, such as a plastic buckle having a snap fastener. The buckle coupler 84 joins the two belt end portions 86, 88 for example in the vicinity of the handles H on the outside of the storage bin S. Else, the two end portions 86, 88 of the belt 82 are tied or otherwise joined without the intervening buckle coupler 84. The end portions 86, 88 of the belt 82 are adjustable in length such that, when the buckle coupler 84 is fastened, the belt 82 gathers the lower margins 46 of the first and second outer walls 40, 42 snuggly around the outside of the storage bin S.
The belt 82 is joined to the lower margin 46 of each of the fabric outer walls 40, 42 in a substantially continuous manner such as by a sewn, glued, welded joint 90, or another substantially continuous joining method. Alternatively, the belt 82 is joined to the lower margin 46 of each of the fabric outer walls 40, 42 by threading through a long pocket 92 or a quantity of loops 94 provided at intervals along the lower margin 46 of each of the fabric outer walls 40, 42. The belt 82 is optionally joined to the edge reinforcement 60, when present, that is optionally provided along the respective spaced apart edges 56, 58 of the of each of the fabric outer walls 40, 42, which constrains the fabric outer walls 40, 42 in the vicinity of the handles H on the outside of the storage bin S. For example, the belt 82 is optionally sewn, glued, welded or otherwise joined to the edge reinforcement 60.
A quantity of durable fabric pockets 12 is provided on the interior 14 of the bin organizer 10. The pockets 12 are formed of substantially continuous generally rectangular panels 96 of the same weather resistant fabric as the inner wall 16, outer walls 40, 42 and fabric floor panel 64, such as a heavy duty, sturdy woven cloth or canvas or leather material. The single unitary pocket panels 96 are joined to the interior surfaces 22 of the inner wall 16 along respective side and bottom edges 98 and 100 to form a substantially continuous seal. For example, the pocket panels 96 are sewn, glued or otherwise joined to the interior surfaces 22 of the inner wall 16. The pocket panels 96 are positioned with their bottom edges 100 adjacent to lower margin 20 of the inner wall 16, and may be sewn into the seam 70 with the floor panel 64. The side edges 98 of the pocket panels 96 are substantially aligned with the corner joints 38, if present, of the inner wall 16 such that a pocket mouth opening 102 is formed along a top edge 104 of the pocket panel 96 oriented substantially parallel with the upper and lower margins 18, 20 of the inner wall 16 and the upper rim R of the storage bin S.
One or more of the pocket panels 96 may be optionally folded or gathered along its bottom edge 100 so as to form a bucket-shaped pocket 12 with the mouth 102 being a wide opening thereinto, rather than the envelope-shape normally achieved by sewing the pocket panel 96 flat against the interior surface 22. Alternatively, one or more of the pocket panels 96 may be optionally pie or wedge-shaped with the bottom edge 100 being a narrower portion and the side edges 98 spreading wider, such that the pocket 12 is wider toward the pocket mouth 102. When the wedge-shaped pocket panel 96 is joined to the interior surface 22 with the side edges 98 substantially parallel, the pocket 12 is an accordion-shape with the pocket mouth 102 being wider than the bottom edge 100.
Optionally, the top edge 104 of the pocket panel 96 of one or more of the pockets 12 may include a collapsing mechanism 106 whereby the pocket mouth 102 of the pocket 12 may be collapsible (shown for one pocket 12). The collapsing mechanism 106 is, for example, an elastic band joined to the top edge 104 of the pocket panel 96. Alternatively, the collapsing mechanism 106 is a drawstring operable along the top edge 104 of the pocket panel 96. Alternatively, the pocket mouth 102 is closable by a closure mechanism 108 such as button-and-button hole fastener, a snap fastener, a belt-and-buckle fastener, or a fabric hook-and-loop fastener tape of a type well-known by the commercial name Velcro® (shown for one pocket 12). Optionally, an edge reinforcement 110 such as substantially continuous strips of conventional binding tape is sewn, glued or otherwise joined along the top edge 104 of the pocket panel 96 in combination with the closure mechanism 108. Alternatively, a flap closure 112 is provided for one or more of the pockets 12 (shown for 2 pockets 12). For example, the flap closure 112 is provided as a small substantially continuous panel of the same weather resistant fabric as the pocket panels 96, such as a heavy duty, sturdy woven cloth or canvas or leather material. A folding edge 114 of the single unitary flap closure panels 112 is joined to the interior surfaces 22 of the inner wall 16 adjacent to the top edge 104 of the pocket panel 96 to form a substantially continuous joint. For example, the flap closure panels 112 are sewn, glued or otherwise joined to the interior surfaces 22 of the inner wall 16 in a position adjacent to the pocket mouth 102. One of the closure mechanisms 108 is provided between the pocket panel 96 and the flap closure 112 for securing the flap closure 112 over the pocket mouth 102. The pockets 12 are provided on the interior surface 22 of the inner walls 16 such that the respective mouth openings 102 and optional flap closures 112, if present, are positioned approximately midway between the upper and lower margins 18, 20, and may be closer to the upper margin 18, if desired.
While the preferred and additional alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the inventor makes the following claims.
