Hanging storage unit

Abstract

A storage unit for holding a plurality of items such as compact disks is provided. The storage unit includes a body portion having a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively storing at least one of the items. The storage unit also includes a hanger portion disposed along the top of the body portion. The hanger portion is formed with an underlying extending slot which leads into a cavity that is sized and shaped for selectively receiving a conventional clothes-type hanger.

Description

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a hanging storage unit, and more particularly to a hangable storage unit for holding a plurality of items.

Many types of products have been designed to store a large number of the same item, for example, photo albums hold large numbers of photographs.

Various devices have been developed which are adapted to store compact disks. These devices are typically characterized by their inability to allow compact disks that are stored to be readily viewable, their unattractive appearance, their relatively high cost and the inefficient use of space. Furthermore, existing compact disk holders typically cannot be conveniently stored. This is due to their general bulky shape.

A fairly recent design which overcomes some of these disadvantages is a hanging plastic storage unit that is being sold and or distributed by the company Computer Expressions of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under the brand name DOORJAMS. As shown in FIG. 1, the DOORJAMS product is used in conjunction with a closet door or room door. In FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional closet 11 having an interior 13 with a shelf 15 and a hanging rod 17. Acess to interior 13 of closet 11 is achieved by means of opening and closing door 19 by utilizing doorknob 23 in a conventional fashion.

The DOORJAMS product, generally indicated at 27, includes a plurality of circular holding compartments 29 sized for receiving conventional compact disks. The DOORJAMS product is made of a see-through plastic material so that compact disks 31 stored in compartments 29 may be easily viewed without having to remove them.

As shown in FIG. 1, the DOORJAMS product also includes a pair of top panels 33 and bottom panels 34, each having a small opening defined by grommets 35. Each grommeted opening has one end of a fabric rope 37 tied thereto. The other end of each fabric rope 37 is tied ti a rectangularly figured metal hook 39, as shown in FIG. 1. In use, the DOORJAMS product is laid over inside wall or panel 21 of door 19 and hooks 39 coupled to top panels 33 grab top 25 of door 19 while hooks 39 coupled to bottom panels 34 grab along bottom 27 of door 19.

Unlike prior designs, the DOORJAMS product efficiently uses space since it lays over a closet or room door and enables the disks which are stored to be readily viewed. It also is relatively inexpensive to manufacture since it is made of see through plastic material.

Nonetheless, the DOORJAMS product is less than desirable. In the first place, in order for the DOORJAMS product to be hung, as shown in FIG. 1, specially designed hooks and ropes must be used. Perhaps of greater concern is the use of the DOORJAMS product for different size doors. In order to do so, it is necessary to adjust the length of ropes 37, which will undoubtably require untying of the ropes from grommet holes 35; this can be rather complicated and time consuming.

Accordingly, it will be desirable to provide a compact disk or other item storage holder which can be conveniently stored, efficiently uses space and requires no special attaching mechanisms.

SUMMARY Of THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a hanging storage unit for holding a plurality of items such as compact disks is provided. The storage unit includes a body portion having a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively storing at least one of the items. The storage unit also includes a hanger portion disposed along the top of the body portion. The hanger portion is formed with an underlying extending slot which leads into a cavity that is sized and shaped for selectively receiving a conventional clothes-type hanger.

In use, a clothes hanger is passed through the extending slot of the hanger portion so that it is received within the cavity thereof. The cavity is defined by a pair of overlying panels of a substantially triangular configuration. These panels define a small opening at the top of a hanger portion through which the hook of the hanger may pass. Thus, the storage unit can be hung in a closet or other location which has a horizontally running rod on which the hook of the hanger is seated.

Although the preferred design of the inventive storage unit is for use in connection with storing a plurality of compact disks, other items such as, for example, footwear may be stored within the holding compartments of the storage unit's body portion.

Because the inventive storage unit is normally used by hanging it along the rod of a closet or other storage area, multiple storage units may be stored side-by-side in a manner similar to storage of multiple clothing items.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a hanging storage unit for holding a plurality of items.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanging storage unit which enables viewing of the stored items.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a hanging storage unit which efficiently uses a space.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hanging storage unit which requires no special mechanical components.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hanging storage unit in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of the inventive hanging storage units being hung along the rod of a closet;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a single inventive hanging storage unit;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial rear elevational view of the inventive hanging storage unit and showing the placement of a conventional clothes hanger inside the chamber of the hanger portion thereof;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive hanging storage unit in which a plurality of footwear items may be stored; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, a hanging storage unit made in accordance with the invention and generally indicated at 127 is described. Hanging storage unit 127 includes an extending body portion 128 and a preferably triangularly configured hanger portion 130 disposed along the top of body portion 128. Body portion 128 includes a rectangular main plastic panel 133 having a front surface 132 and a back surface 134. Front surface 132 includes a plurality of holding compartments 125 each defined by a see-through plastic cover 129 running, for the most part, substantially straight across compartment 125 and substantially ¾ of the way up. Each compartment 125 is capable of selectively receiving a compact disk of standard shape and size which will be visible through plastic covers 129, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Each of compartments 125 are separated from horizontally adjacent compartments by reinforcing vertical plastic panel strips 138 and are separated from adjacent vertical compartments by means reinforcing horizontal plastic panel strips 136 (see FIG. 3).

Hanger portion 130 of hanging storage unit 127 is defined by the upper portion of back panel 133 and a back hanger panel 135, as best shown in FIG. 4. Panels 133 and 135 together define an underlying slot 137 which leads into a triangularly configured cavity 140 (see FIG. 6). As a result, a conventional hanger 139 may be slid along back surface 134 of panel 133, passed through elongated slot 137 and received within cavity 140 (see FIG. 4). Hanger 139 includes a hanger body 141 of a triangular configuration which corresponds to the triangular configuration of hanger portion 130 and a hook 143 which can extend through an opening 145 located at the apex of hanger portion 130.

In use, as best shown in FIG. 2, one or more hanging storage units 127 may be hung along a supporting rod 117 located in a closet 111 or other storage area. Alternatively, one or more storage units 127 may be hung on a door or any other surface along which a hanger can be supported. Consequently, a plurality of CDs may be stored in a convenient and compact fashion and so that each is easily viewable when stored, and such that each can be easily removed as needed.

In an alternative embodiment and referring to FIGS. 7-8, a hanging storage unit made in accordance with the invention is generally indicated at 227. Storage unite 227, as with storage unit 127 described hereinabove, includes a body portion 228 and a hanger portion 230. Body portion 228 is defined by a main panel 233 having a plurality of holding compartments 225 for storing an item of footwear. Each of compartments 225 includes a front see through plastic panel 229 through which a stored footwear item may be viewed.

As with the embodiment of FIGS. 2-6, hanger portion 230 of hanging storage unit 227 is preferably of a triangular configuration and defines a triangularly configured cavity 237 in which a conventional hanger may be selectively received. Like hanging storage unit 127 described in FIGS. 2-6, hanging storage unit 227 may be hung along a conventional closet or other storage rod.

Although the inventive hanging storage unit is shown as being used for storing a plurality of compact disks, or plurality of footwear, the inventive hanging storage unit may be used to store any other series of items without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the products set forth above without departing from the spirit and scope from the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims

1. A hanging storage unit for holding a plurality of items comprising:

a body portion having a top and defined by a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively retaining at least a single one of said items;

a hanger portion disposed along the top of said body portion and formed with a cavity that is sized and shaped for selectively receiving a hanger.

2. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of holding compartments are defined by a main panel member and a plurality of front panel covers disposed therealong.

3. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of holding compartments is sized for selectively receiving a compact disk.

4. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of holding compartments is sized for receiving an item of footwear.

5. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein each of said holding compartments is separated from adjacent holding compartments by means of a reinforcing panel strip.

6. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of holding compartments comprises multiple rows and columns of storage compartments.

7. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said cavity of said hanger portion is defined by a portion of said main panel and a back panel.

8. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said cavity is of a substantially triangular configuration.

9. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said hanger portion further includes a top opening through which a hook of said hanger is extendable therethrough when said hanger is received in said hanger portion cavity.

10. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein said hanger portion includes a slot that leads to said cavity through which said hanger can removably pass.

11. A hanging storage system comprising:

a hanger having a body and a hook element;

a storage unit for holding a plurality of items and including a body portion having a top and defined by a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively retaining at least a single one of said items, and a hanger portion disposed along the top of said body portion and formed with a cavity that is sized and shaped for selectively receiving said hanger.

12. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of holding compartments are defined by a main panel member and a plurality of front panel covers disposed therealong.

13. The storage system of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of holding compartments is sized for selectively receiving a compact disk.

14. The storage system of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of holding compartments is sized for receiving an item of footwear.

15. The storage system of claim 11, wherein each of said holding compartments is separated from adjacent holding compartments by means of a reinforcing panel strip.

16. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of holding compartments comprises multiple rows and columns of storage compartments.

17. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said cavity of said hanger portion is defined by a portion of said main panel and a back panel.

18. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said hanger portion further includes a top opening through which said hook element of said hanger is extendable therethrough when said hanger is received in said hanger portion cavity.

19. The storage system of claim 11, wherein said hanger portion includes a slot leading into said cavity through which said hanger can removably pass.

20. The storage system of claim 19, wherein said hanger portion further includes a top opening through which said hook element of said hanger is extendable therethrough when said hanger is received in said hanger portion cavity.

21. A storage system assembly comprising:

a supporting member;

a plurality of hangers each having a body and a hook element designed to be supported along said supporting member; and

a plurality of storage units each for holding a plurality of items, each said storage unit comprising a body portion having a top and defined by a plurality of holding compartments designed for selectively retaining at least a single one of said items, and each also including a hanger portion disposed along the top of said body portion and formed with a cavity sized and shaped for selectively receiving the body portion of at least one of said hangers.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said plurality of holding compartments are defined by a main panel member and a plurality of front panel covers disposed therealong.

23. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of holding compartments is sized for selectively receiving a compact disk.

24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of holding compartments is sized for receiving an item of footwear.

25. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said holding compartments is separated from adjacent holding compartments by means of a reinforcing panel strip.

26. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said plurality of holding compartments comprises multiple rows and columns of storage compartments.

27. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said cavity of said hanger portion is defined by a portion of said main panel and a back panel.

28. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said cavity is of a substantially triangular configuration.

29. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said hanger portion further includes a top opening through which the hook element of any of said hangers is extendable therethrough when any of said hangers is received in said hanger portion cavity.

30. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said supporting member comprises a supporting rod.

31. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said hanger portion includes a slot that leads to said cavity through which said hanger can removably pass.