Rotable Storage Device with Dual Mounting Capability
A rotatable lazy susan storage device has a wire frame and a turntable. The turntable has a vertical sleeve and an annular flange with a support surface extending outward from near a bottom end of the sleeve. The sleeve is received over an upright section of the wire frame. The turntable rests on the wire frame and is rotatable about a generally vertical axis relative to the wire frame. The wire frame can optionally be mounted for use by the top end suspended from a surface and can optionally be mounted for use with the bottom end resting on a surface.
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1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is generally directed to rotatable storage devices, and more particularly to a lazy susan device that can be optionally suspended under a shelf or rested on top of a surface for use.
2. Description of Related Art
Space directly beneath shelves in kitchen cabinets and other storage areas is often unused. Ione problem is that items stored on a lower shelf often do not take up the full height of the space between shelves in a cabinet. Another problem is that items placed toward the rear of a shelf in a cabinet or pantry, such as spices or baby food, can be difficult to see and access. Such items can be difficult to see when stored behind other larger items placed toward the front of the shelf. Items near the front on the shelf may need to be moved in order to see, access, and/or remove items placed toward the rear of the shelf, as these forward items can hide or hinder access to the smaller items in the rear.
Lazy susan devices have existed in the market for many years. These have taken many forms, but all include some type of storage surface that spins or rotates. Lazy susan devices rotate to make it easier for a user to access stored items. Any item stored on a lazy susan device can be accessed easily by rotating the storage surface so that the desired item is positioned facing the user. One example of a known lazy susan is a flat disc on a turning or spinning mechanism sized to fit on a shelf or as a tabletop accessory.
Some lazy susan devices have a storage shelf supported by a vertically oriented structure. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,626,305 and 5,312,003 to Domenig et al. each disclose a rotating shelf assembly with multiple rotating shelves mounted on a vertical post. The post is attached to support surfaces at both the bottom and top of the vertical post. Both patents to Domenig disclose a device that is designed for use between two shelves inside a cabinet where the support surfaces for the device are the cabinet shelves. These devices can only be used with the one mounting arrangement.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,352 to Mondragon et al. discloses a lazy susan device with a multi-tiered series of support trays of graduated size. Each has a hollow cylindrical support column sized to receive and hold the next adjacent tray and its corresponding support column. The components of the Mondragon device include a base and the stackable series of support trays wherein each support tray is formed as one piece with its respective central support column. The central support columns are hollow cylinders that fit and stack one inside another to form a structure that supports the entire unit together with the base. The topmost support tray has a central support column that can serve as a vase for flowers or the like. This device can also only be used with one mounting arrangement.
An example of a hanging lazy susan is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,723,763 to Baldwin. The Baldwin device has a central inverted cup with a platform laterally projecting from the lower end of the cup and a circular top with an aperture. The circular top of the hanging device presses rotatably against the undersurface of a shelf and is sandwiched between the shelf and a bearing plate. The circular top of the hanging device rotates about a hub of the bearing plate that fits through the aperture. The assembly is mounted to the shelf by one screw through the hub. The lazy susan disclosed in Baldwin cannot rotate while placed on a top of a surface, such as a top or upper side of a shelf, as its specific rotation mechanism is located only at the top of the inverted cup.
There are also storage products presently in the market that can attach to an underside of an existing shelf in a cabinet or pantry. These storage products do not offer rotation of their respective storage surfaces or receptacles. There are other lazy susan devices in the market, but these are not necessarily easy to assemble. Many are constructed of complex parts making those devices difficult to assemble. Furthermore, other lazy susan products are not readily or securely stackable for storage or transport.
Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following descriptions in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
The present invention is for a rotatable storage device that can be optionally suspended from the underside of a shelf or stably placed on a shelf or other surface for use. The same rotation mechanism for the disclosed rotatable storage device allows rotation of the turntable in either mounting arrangement. Multiples of the disclosed rotatable storage devices also can be mounted in a vertical pseudo-stacked arrangement with one unit suspended from a lower surface of a shelf and a second unit resting on an upper surface of a second shelf to create a tiered configuration, thereby maximizing storage space. The disclosed rotatable storage device is stackable or nestable with like devices in alternative compact configurations for retail display or shipping. The nesting feature allows for compact shipping, storage of the units prior to sale, when displayed on a store shelf or when not in use. The disclosed rotatable storage device is also easy to assemble and install in either optional mounting arrangement.
While the disclosed rotatable storage device is described for use in a kitchen, such description is not meant to limit its use to kitchens. The device may be used outside the kitchen as well. The disclosed rotatable storage device is adaptable for use in any other location or use that can benefit from efficient use of storage space. For example, the disclosed rotatable storage device is suited to office, school, home, work shop, studio, or other use to be limited only by the imagination.
Turning now to the drawings,
As shown in
In the disclosed example, each wire spoke 38 of the frame 20 is generally “L” shaped and has a short bent tip 42 at the top end 34 that is bent inwardly toward the axis A-A. Each spoke 38 also has a relatively longer bent leg 44 at the lower end 36 that is bent outwardly away from the axis A-A. Each leg 44 terminates at a free end 45. A vertically oriented segment 43 of the spokes 38 extends between each of the respective short bent tips 42 and the longer bent legs 44. The vertical segments 43 are oriented to generally define the upright section of the wire frame 20. In another embodiment, the short bent tips could point outwardly from the central vertical axis or be eliminated entirely. As shown in
As further shown in
In the disclosed example, the wire frame 20 is formed of bent metal wires and the turntable 22 is formed of a molded plastic material. However, the types of material used for the wire frame and the turntable may vary. For example, both can be formed of a molded plastic material, a metal material, or other suitable materials as desired and suitable for the disclosed device 10.
Turning back to
The number of ridges 61, the width or height of the ridges 61, and the number of wire spokes 38 or legs can vary. Furthermore, the length of the flange 50 and/or the legs 44 can also vary. Furthermore, the position, number, or diameter of the wire rings 47 and 48; the position, diameter, and height of the sleeve 51; the materials of the frame and turntable; and the angle of the legs 44 and the flange 50 could also all vary within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
To assemble the disclosed lazy susan 10, the sleeve 51 of the turntable 22 is simply placed over the upright section and spokes 38 of the wire frame 20. As can be seen in
Once assembled, the lazy susan device 10 may then be mounted for use in one of the two optional arrangements selectable by the user. As stated above,
As shown in
As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, a variety of other mounting schemes employing an array of clips, screws, bolds, nuts, washers, and the like may be used to secure the device 10 to a shelf in the under mount arrangement and yet remain within the teachings of the present invention. In another optional example, an adhesive pad can be used to secure the disc 46 to a shelf bottom surface in order to mount the lazy susan 10 in the first optional mounting arrangement. Such an adhesive pad can have a top adhesive surface and a bottom adhesive surface. The bottom adhesive surface of the pad can be pressed onto the top of the disc 46 of the wire frame 20 and the top adhesive surface of the pad can be pressed onto the underside of a shelf at the desired location.
As shown in
Although certain rotatable storage devices have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
Claims
1. A rotatable storage device comprising:
- a wire frame having a top end, a bottom end, and an upright section defining a generally vertical axis; and
- a turntable with a generally cylindrical sleeve and a support flange extending radially outward from near a bottom end of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is received over the upright section of the wire frame, rests on a part of the wire frame, and is rotatable about the generally vertical axis relative to the wire frame; and
- wherein the wire frame can be optionally mounted for use by the top end suspended from a surface and can optionally be mounted for use with the bottom end resting on a surface.
2. A rotatable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the wire frame comprises:
- a plurality of wire spokes each having an elongate wire section oriented generally vertically and arranged around the generally vertical axis.
3. A rotatable storage device according to claim 2, wherein each of the elongate wire sections has a top end, a lower end, and a bent leg at the lower end bent outwardly relative to the generally vertical axis.
4. A rotatable storage device according to claim 2, wherein the wire frame has an annular wire ring affixed to and interconnecting the plurality of spokes near free ends of the bent legs.
5. A rotatable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve of the turntable has an open top sized to fit over the upright section of the wire frame and is of a height shorter than the upright section of the wire frame.
6. A rotatable storage device according to claim 2, wherein the upright section of the wire frame and the sleeve of the turntable have complimentary frustoconical shapes.
7. A rotatable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the wire frame is formed of bent metal wires and the turntable is formed of molded plastic.
8. A rotatable storage device according to claim 2, wherein the wire frame has an annular wire ring affixed beneath the bent legs adjacent the elongate sections.
9. A rotatable storage device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one foot pad having a bottom surface with a non-slip characteristic and being optionally attachable to the bottom end of the wire frame.
10. A rotatable storage device according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the annular flange is oriented at an upward angle moving away from the sleeve, wherein the lower end of the wire frame includes radially outward extending wire legs that are tilted at an angle that corresponds with the upward angle of the annular flange, and wherein the bottom surface of the annular flange rests on and can slide over the wire legs.
12. A rotatable storage device according to claim 3, wherein the flange of the turntable rests directly on the bent legs of the plurality of spokes of the wire frame and can slide along the bent legs.
11. A rotatable storage device according to claim 10, wherein the bottom surface further has a plurality of concentric ridges that are radially spaced apart and extend circumferentially around the flange.
13. A lazy susan storage device comprising:
- a wire frame having a central upright wire section with a top end, a bottom end, and an annular wire turntable support extending outward from and surrounding the upright wire section near the bottom end; and
- a turntable with a center sleeve and an annular flange with a top facing support surface, the flange extending radially outward from a perimeter of the sleeve,
- wherein the sleeve is received over the upright section of the wire frame, the annular flange rests on the turntable support, and the turntable is rotatable about a generally vertical axis relative to the wire frame.
14. A lazy susan storage device according to claim 13, wherein the wire frame can optionally be mounted for use by the top end suspended from a surface and can optionally be mounted for use with the bottom end resting on a surface.
15. A lazy susan storage device according to claim 13, wherein two or more of the assembled lazy susan devices fit together in a nested and stacked configuration with one another.
16. A lazy susan storage device according to claim 13, wherein two or more of the wire frames fit together in a nested and stacked configuration with one another.
17. A lazy susan storage device according to claim 13, wherein two or more of the turntables fit together in a nested and stacked configuration with one another.
18. A rotatable storage device according to claim 13, wherein the upright section of the wire frame has a frustoconical shape.
19. A rotatable storage device according to claim 13, wherein the sleeve of the turntable has a frustoconical shape.
20. A lazy susan storage device comprising:
- a wire frame with a frustoconical upright section; and
- a turntable with a frustoconical sleeve, wherein the sleeve is disposed over the upright section of the wire frame and is rotatable about a generally vertical axis relative to the upright section, and
- wherein two or more of the assembled lazy susan storage devices can optionally be stacked in an assembled nested configuration with one another and wherein two or more of the unassembled wire frames can optionally be stacked in a nested configuration with one another and two or more of the unassembled turntables can optionally be stacked in a nested configuration with one another.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 21, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 25, 2009
Applicant: Rubbermaid Incorporated (Huntersville, NC)
Inventors: Roddy Burgess (Charlotte, NC), Teren Peck (Charlotte, NC), Larry T. McKinney (Huntersville, NC)
Application Number: 11/963,342
International Classification: A47F 5/02 (20060101); A47F 5/14 (20060101);