SELF-SUPPORTING, FLEXIBLE ORGANIZERS
Novel methods and devices for organizing and storing articles are disclosed. The storage devices may include a flexible inner container having one or more partition walls therein. An outer skirt may be attached to the top of the container wherein the skirt extends downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve. The inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting, whereby one or more articles may be stored in an upright manner in the container. The sleeve is preferably configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device. If desired, a user may advantageously employ the disclosed methods or devices to organize and store articles in a container in a manner that maximizes floor space under low-hanging clothes in a closet, for example.
The present disclosure relates generally to storage containers that organize and maximize valuable and often limited space in a house, building, or the like.
Conventional storage organizers are typically bulky and heavy. Some storage organizers, such as filing cabinets or shelving, are all but immovable. Storage organizers that are relatively lightweight and portable are often made of rigid materials. Such organizers are therefore generally incapable of being folded or collapsed when not in use. However, collapsible storage organizers are usually not self-supporting and typically not stackable upon one another. Such organizers are therefore not ideal.
In terms of storage organizers that are focused on utilizing the most of a given space, known organizers particularly fail to maximize floor space that exists in closets under low-hanging clothes. Moreover, conventional organizers that are able to fit in such a limited space are typically not flexible and also susceptible to dust and the like.
Accordingly, novel methods and devices for effectively and efficiently organizing articles within tight space constraints, while also being lightweight, flexible, self-supporting, and include other such benefits, are therefore desired.
SUMMARYOne exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a storage device including a flexible inner container having one or more partition walls therein, wherein the container has a top and a bottom. An outer skirt may be attached to the top of the container wherein the skirt extends downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve. The inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting, whereby one or more articles may be stored in an organized manner in the container. The sleeve is configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device as desired.
The storage device may optionally include one or more pockets attached to the outside of the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container. The partition walls form inner compartments that are preferably configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner. The storage device may also optionally include a top cover attached at or about the top of the container to keep dust and the like away from articles that may be stored within the inner container. The storage device may further optionally include two handles attached at or about the top of the container at opposite ends to permit a user to move the storage device with ease. The storage device may also optionally include a flap attached at or about the top of the skirt to cover each pocket and thereby keep dust and the like away from articles that may be stored within a pocket.
Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a device comprising a flexible inner container having a plurality of partition walls that form inner compartments configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner. An outer skirt is preferably attached to the top of the container such that the skirt extends downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve. Both the inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting. The container is preferably made of polypropylene. The sleeve is preferably configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device.
The device may optionally include a plurality of pockets attached to the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container and configured to receive one or more articles. Each pocket may optionally include a flap attached or about the top of the skirt to cover the pocket. The device may further optionally include a clear cover attached at or about the top of the container.
A further exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a storage method comprising inserting a basket into a sleeve formed by joining an outer skirt to an inner container at or about a top of the container; and placing a shoe into a compartment formed in the container by attaching one or more partition walls to an interior of the container, wherein the shoe is placed in an upright manner in the compartment. The storage method may optionally include further placing an article into a pocket attached to the outer skirt.
Some non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are illustrated in the following drawings. Identical or duplicate or equivalent or similar structures, elements, or parts that appear in one or more drawings are generally labeled with the same reference numeral, optionally with an additional letter or letters to distinguish between similar objects or variants of objects, and may not be repeatedly labeled and/or described. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation. For convenience or clarity, some elements or structures are not shown or shown only partially and/or with different perspective or from different point of views.
A general problem in the field of storage is the limited space that exists under low-hanging clothes in a closet or the like. A general solution is a specially designed storage container that organizes and maximizes such a difficult strip of real estate.
A technical problem in the field of storage containers is bulky, heavy, and rigid containers that are basically immovable and not collapsible when not in use. A technical solution implementing the spirit of the disclosed inventions is a lightweight, portable, and self-supporting storage container for effectively and efficiently organizing articles.
Potential benefits of the general and technical solutions provided by the disclosed subject matter include those identified above plus the ability to create a portable cedar closet merely by adding some cedar balls to the interior of the novel container.
A general non-limiting overview of practicing the present disclosure is presented below. The overview outlines exemplary practice of embodiments of the present disclosure, providing a constructive basis for variant and/or alternative and/or divergent embodiments, some of which are subsequently described.
The storage device 100 may optionally include one or more pockets 112 attached to the outside of the skirt 104 proximate at or about the top of the container 102. The pockets 112 may be made of a clear plastic or the like and designed to hold accessories such as hats, purses, gloves, scarves, belts, and the like. Each more pocket 112 may optionally include a flap 118 (as seen in
The storage device 100 may also optionally include a top cover 116 (such as cover 116 best seen in
As illustrated in
The storage device 100 has no rigid support, making it advantageously collapsible. All or part of the device 100 is also preferably made of white polypropylene, making it advantageously lightweight and portable as well. Though the device 100 is collapsible, lightweight, and portable, it is also self-supporting. Moreover, once articles 110 are placed within one or more compartments 108 and the top cover 116 closed about the inner container 102, the device 100 is stackable such that more than one device 100 may be placed upon another for maximizing space.
Turning in detail to
In operation, devices 100, 200, and/or 300 permit novel storage methods. For example, with reference to
While certain embodiments have been described, the embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel devices and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the devices and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Claims
1. A storage device comprising:
- a flexible inner container having a partition wall therein, wherein the container has a top and a bottom, and wherein the container has a bottom wall and side walls extending upward from the bottom wall; and
- an outer skirt having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the outer skirt is attached to the top of the container and extending downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve, and wherein the entirety of the bottom of the outer skirt is about the level of the bottom wall of the container, wherein the inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting, whereby one or more articles may be stored in an organized manner in the container.
2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device.
3. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a pocket attached to the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container.
4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the partition wall forms an inner compartment configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner.
5. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a cover attached at or about the top of the container.
6. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached at or about the top of the container.
7. The storage device of claim 3, further comprising a flap attached at or about the top of the skirt to cover the pocket.
8. A device comprising:
- a flexible inner container having partition walls therein to form inner compartments configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner, wherein the container has a top and a bottom, and wherein the container has a bottom wall and side walls extending upward from the bottom wall; and
- an outer skirt having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the outer skirt is attached to the top of the container and extending downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve, and wherein the entirety of the bottom of the outer skirt is about the level of the bottom wall of the container, wherein the inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the container is made of polypropylene.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device.
11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a pocket attached to the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container and configured to receive one or more articles.
12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a flap attached or about the top of the skirt to cover the pocket.
13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a clear cover attached at or about the top of the container.
14. A storage method comprising:
- inserting a basket into a sleeve formed by joining an outer skirt to an inner container at or about a top of the container; and
- placing a shoe into a compartment formed in the container by attaching one or more partition walls to an interior of the container, wherein the shoe is placed in an upright manner in the compartment.
15. The storage method of claim 14, further comprising placing an article into a pocket attached to the outer skirt.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 4, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2014
Inventor: Holly S. Tucker (Hendersonville, NC)
Application Number: 13/759,213
International Classification: B65D 25/04 (20060101); B65D 21/02 (20060101); B65B 5/06 (20060101); B65D 25/28 (20060101);