STORAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

A storage tub may include one or more flexible wall dividers which may be pushed or pulled into a first stable position in which the wall divider is retracted up against the tub walls so that the interior of the tub forms a single storage compartment. One of the dividers may be pulled to a stable extended position away from the tub walls for form a second storage compartment with the tub. A second dividers may be also pulled into a stable extended position to form a second storage compartment. When both dividers are in the extended position four equal storage compartments may be formed within the tub.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of the filing date of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/910738 filed Dec. 2, 2014 and incorporation herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to storage containers and in particular to storage tubs with dividers, useful for example for food storage.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various plastic storage tubs are known, for example, for storing food, hardware, fishing tackle and the like. Conventional designs typically include a storage tub sufficiently rigid to generally maintain its shape. A snap on top or lid is often provided for the storage tub which may typically be square, rectangular, oval or other convenient shapes. For example, rectangular storage tub with cover may be used to store left over food after a meal, for example spaghetti, in the refrigerator.

Some storage tubs have been provided with various types or dividers, such as rigid dividers molded into the storage tub to form a predetermined multiple compartment configuration. Similarly, removable dividers may be positioned in some of a plurality of slots to allow the used to select between different multiple compartment configurations. Fixed rigid dividers forming predetermined multiple compartments limit the flexibility of use of storage tubs. Removable dividers often provide more flexibility at the cost of easily lost or damaged dividers.

What is needed is a new design for storage tubs with internal dividers which are more flexible in selecting or adjusting storage compartment size and do not have removable dividers which may be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A storage tub with adjustable dividers is described. The tub has a tub bottom, a plurality of generally vertical tub walls connected at one end to the tub bottom to form a first storage compartment and at least one storage compartment divider flexibly mounted to one or more tub walls. The wall divider may be moved by a user into a dynamically stable retracted configuration within the first storage compartment without substantially reducing the storage capacity of the first compartment. Thereafter, the divider may be moved by the user to a second, dynamically stable extended configuration forming a second storage compartment within the first storage compartment.

In the storage tub, two of the tub walls may be connected together by an included tub wall angle. The storage compartment divider may be flexibly mounted at one end to a first tub wall, at a first distance from the included angle between the tub walls, and flexibly mounted at a second end to another tub wall at a second distance from the included angle. In the extended position, one panel of the divider may be generally transverse to the tub wall from which its mounted. In the refracted position, a second panel of the storage compartment divider is generally parallel with the tub walls from the second end of said storage divider to the included tub wall angle.

When the storage tub is a generally square shape, the second compartment will also be a generally square shape approximately one quarter of the size of the first storage compartment in which the second compartment is located.

The storage tub may include a second wall divider, also dynamically stable in retracted and extended positions. The second wall divider may form a third storage compartment so that when both wall dividers are in their extended positions, at least three compartments are formed within the storage tub. When the corners of both wall dividers are adjacent each other, four generally equal sized compartments are formed within the storage tub when both wall dividers are in their extended positions.

The storage compartment divider is flexibly mounted to said storage tub by molding or by a mounting base affixed to the tub wall in which the storage compartment divider is removably mounted. Stabilizers adjacent the bottom edge of an inside surface of the storage tub bottom and the lowest edge of the wall divider may be used to enhance the dynamic stability of the extended wall divider. The lowest edge of the wall divider may fit within stabilizers to make the storage compartment at least somewhat liquid proof.

The flexibly mounted storage compartment divider may be formed from a material sufficiently flexible so that the divider may be pulled by the user away from the tub walls at a point intermediate the ends thereof by flexing the material. The divider may be pushed by the user away from extended position toward the tub walls at a point intermediate the ends thereof into the retracted position by flexing the material.

The flexibly mounted storage compartment divider may be formed from a plurality of panels flexibly mounted to each other so that the divider may be pulled by the user, away from the retracted position and into the extended position, by flexing the mounting between the panels of the wall divider and then be pushed from the extended position into the retracted position by flexing the mounting of the panels of the wall divider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of storage tub 10 shown with flexible wall dividers 12 and 14 both in a retracted configuration in which they are aligned with the vertical tub walls 16, 18, 20 and 22, providing a maximum sized, single compartment within storage tub 10.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of storage tub 10 shown with flexible wall divider 12 in a retracted position aligned with tub walls 1 and 18 while flexible wall divider 14 is in an extended configuration forming a second compartment with the included portions of tub walls 20 and 22, providing two compartments within storage tub 10.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of storage tub 10 shown with flexible wall dividers 12 and 14 both in extended positions providing four compartment within storage tub 10.

FIG. 4 is a partial exaggerated top view of compartment C illustrating one embodiment of flexible wall divider 14 together with flexure mounts 34 and 36.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another flexible wall divider configuration.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to FIG. 1, storage tub 10 is a generally square shaped tub having equal length tub walls 16, 18, 20 and 22. The length L of tub wall 20 and height H of tub corner A (at the intersection of tub walls 20 and 22 are illustrated for convenience. The maximum storage capacity of generally square shaped storage tub 10 would therefore be L×L×H. Storage tub 10 may have a removable cover or lid, not shown, which may seal against the tops of tub walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 and rest against tub rim 24. The side of storage tub bottom 26 inside the storage compartment is shown in this figure

Storage tub 10 also includes flexible wall divider 12 illustrated in a retracted configuration in which wall divider 12 is aligned with the vertical tub walls 16 and 18 and included tub corner A. Storage tub 10 also includes flexible wall divider 14 also illustrated in a retracted configuration in which wall divider 14 is aligned with the vertical tub walls 20 and 22 and included tub corner C. As a result of wall dividers 12 and 14 both being in a retracted configuration, a maximum sized, single compartment within storage tub 10 is produced, generally of having a capacity of about L×L×H.

Flexible wall divider 12 is mounted at one end via vertical flexure mount 28 to about the middle of tub wall 16 and at the other end via vertical flexure mount 30 to about the middle of tub wall 18. Flexure mounts 28 and 30 may be molded into tub 10 along the midpoints of tub walls 16 and 18 so that wall divider 12 is held firmly in a position generally against the included portions of tub walls 16 and 18. In this position wall corner A of divider 12 is firmly held in a position generally in the vicinity of tub corner A in the retracted position as shown. Flexure mounts 28 and 30 allow flexible wall divider 12 to be pulled away from included tub corner A toward the interior of the single storage compartment so that wall corner A is positioned at center 32 of tub bottom 26.

That is, flexure mount 28 allows one end of wall divider 12 to rotate from an orientation generally parallel with tub wall 16 by about 90° to an orientation generally perpendicular to the center of tub wall 16. Similarly, flexure mount 30 allows one end of wall divider 14 to rotate from an orientation generally parallel with tub wall 18 by about 90° to an orientation generally perpendicular to the center of tub wall 18. When the wall panels of flexible wall divider 12 are rotated to be generally perpendicular to tub walls 16 and 18 as described, wall corner A will be positioned generally above tub bottom center 32, wall flexible wall divider 12 will be moved into the extended position as will be discussed in more detail below with regard to flexible wall divider 14 as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 2, flexible wall divider 12 remains in the retracted position in which the wall panels of wall divider 12 are generally parallel with tub walls 16 and 18. One end of flexible wall divider 14 is mounted via flexure mount 34 to the midpoint along tub wall 22. The other end of wall divider 14 is mounted via flexure mount 36 to midpoint along tub wall 12. In this figure, flexible wall divider 14 has been moved into the extended configuration to create a second storage compartment, compartment C. In particular, some portion of flexible wall divider 14 has been pulled away from tub corner C so that wall corner C has been moved from tub corner C to about center 32.

Referring now to FIG. 3, flexible wall divider 14 has been moved into the extended configuration to create a second storage compartment, compartment C as also shown in FIG. 2. Flexible wall divider 12 has been pulled away from tub corner A so that wall corner A has been moved from tub corner A to an extended configuration and is positioned in the vicinity of center 32 where it may be preferably be in contact with wall corner C of wall divider 14. Moving wall divider 12 into an extended position creates another compartment, compartment A.

As a result of extending both wall dividers 12 and 14, the internal compartment of storage tub 10 has been divided into 4 generally equal compartments. Compartment B is formed by the wall panel of flexible wall divider 12 extending from flexure mount 30 perpendicular to tub wall 18 and by the wall panel of flexible wall divider 14 extending from flexure mount 34 perpendicular to tub wall 20. Similarly, compartment D is formed by the wall panel of flexible wall divider 14 extending from flexure mount 36 perpendicular to tub wall 22 and by the wall panel of flexible wall divider 12 extending from flexure mount 28 perpendicular to tub wall 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, compartment A may be formed by extending flexible wall divider 12 so that wall corner A is located at about center 32. Compartment C may be formed by extending flexible wall divider 14 so that wall corner C is also located at about center 32. When both wall divider 12 and wall divider 14 are extended, compartments B and C are also created. In this configuration, the entire storage compartment of storage tub 10 is divided into 4 generally equal size compartments, A, B, C and D.

That is, the storage capacity of tub 10, discussed above as capacity L×L×H, may be available as a single compartment, compartment ABCD when both flexible wall dividers are retracted. Further, compartment ABCD may be divided into 2 unequal capacity compartments, either into compartment A and compartment BCD if flexible wall divider 12 has been extended or into compartment C and compartment ABD if flexible wall divider 14 has been extended.

Still further, compartment ABCD may be divided into 4 generally equal capacity compartments, A, B, C and D if both flexible wall dividers 12 and 14 are extended.

The following table illustrates the compartmentalizations available by operation of wall dividers 12 and 14:

Wall	Compart-	Compart-	Compart-	Compart-
Dividers	ment 1	ment 2	ment 3	ment 4
Both	L × L × H	—	—	—
retracted
One	L × L × H/4	3 ×	—	—
extended		(L × L × H/4)
Both	L × L × H/4	L × L × H/4	L × L × H/4	L × L × H/4
extended

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exaggerated top view of compartment C is used to illustrate the operation of a preferred embodiment of the operation flexible wall divider 14 is provided. Flexure mount 34 is illustrated in the figure as a flexure mounting affixed to tube wall 20, such as the triangular mounting shown, into which one end of flexible wall divider 14 is mounted for rotation. Flexible mount 36 is illustrated as a more flexible, typically thinner portion of wall divider 14 and are shown as thick, curved lines in the extended position and as dotted lines when retracted.

Flexible mounts 34 and 36 may both be configured as shown by the illustration of flexible mount 34 in this figure, one advantage of which is that wall divider 14 may be removed for cleaning and/or replacement. Flexible mounts 34 and 36 may both be configured as shown by the illustration of flexible mount 36 in this figure, one advantage of which is that wall divider 14 is not removable and therefore not easily lost.

Wall corner C may—similar to the illustration of flexible mounting 36, be a more flexible, typically thinner portion of wall divider 14 and is also shown as a thick, curved line in the extended position. Wall divider wall 14 panels are shown as a thicker cross hatched section when extended and an unfilled, dotted line section when retracted.

In operation, for example starting from the retracted position when wall corner C is adjacent tub corner C, the user may grasp an upper edge of one of the wall divider 14 panels and pull that panel toward the inside of the tub 10. As wall divider 14 is pulled (generally along the direction of the arrow labeled “PULL”), some portion of the wall divider is allowed to distort, typically mostly flexure mounts 34 and 36, so that wall corner C can be pulled away form tub corner C and moved to the vicinity of center 32 forming compartment C.

In one embodiment, in order to make the wall divider panels more flexible, an additional joint or flexure point may be added. For example, as shown in the horizontal portion of flexible wall divider 14 extending from the midpoint of rub wall 22 at flexure mount 36, the wall panel may include an additional flexure 42 between the main portion of the panel and a shorter portion, lever 40. For example, when wall divider 14 has been extended, it may be desirable for the operator to be able to push against lever 40 as the first part of the operation of returning wall divider 14 to the retracted position.

It should be noted, that it is very advantageous to have flexible wall divider 14 sufficiently rigid so that, although wall divider can easily be distorted by the operator to move between the extended and retracted positions, flexible wall divider will snap into and then remain in either position when moved there. For example, from the retracted position, when moved by the operator along the PULL direction, as some point the resistance of wall divider 14 should drop dramatically and then the flexure of wall divider 14 would take over and “pop” wall divider into the extended position and hold it there in the desired shape.

In other words, wall divider 14, flexures 34 and 36 as well as wall corner C should hold wall divider 14 dynamically stable in the retracted position so that wall divider 14 does not move from this position unless and until the user provides a substantial pull in the direction of extension and maintains this pull until the flexure forces of the system cause the configuration of wall divider 14 to become dynamically unstable. The system then moves wall 14 into the extended position which is also dynamically stable. In this way, when wall 14 is extended, compartment C would remain generally in its desired extended shape, typically a square shape.

Depending upon the materials used, it may be desirable to provide additional features to aid the dynamic stability of the extended and retracted positions. One technique mentioned above, is to provide sufficient resistance to the flexure needed to transition between dynamically stable extended and retracted configurations so that it is somewhat difficult to do. This may be done by control of the flexibility of the wall, flex mounts and corner. In such a situation, it may be convenient to add additional flexure 42 between lever 40 and the remainder of the flexible wall panel. Overcoming the resistance of lever 40 would be substantially easier to do then bending the wall panel without additional flexure 42. Thereafter, pushing wall corner C toward tub corner C would be easier.

Other techniques for maintaining flexible wall divider 14 in a dynamically stable state when fully extended could include the use of stabilizers 38 on one or both sides of the wall panels which contact the sides or edges of the panel nearest tub bottom 26. Stabilizers 38 may be low bumps on tub bottom 26 on one or both sides of the wall panels which tend to hold the panels in place in the extended position. The holder power of these stabilizer must be balanced against the effort by the user to overcome this dynamic stabilization to move the wall panels into the retracted configuration. Similarly, in the retracted configuration, each panel may be held against the related tub wall portion by one or more stabilizers. Further, corner stabilizer 40 may have an appropriate shape to maintain wall corner C adjacent center 32 on the extended position has been reached.

Alternately, rather than using bumps rising from tub bottom 26 to contact portions of wall divider 14, stabilizers 38 and 40 may extend downward from the bottom of wall divider 14 for contact with appropriate surface feature of tub bottom 26. For example, one or more tabs (not shown) may extend downward from wall divider 14 into contact with tub bottom 26 to maintain dynamic stability in both the extended and retracted configurations. Alternately, a roughened or other specialized surface on the bottom of portions of wall divider 14 may interact with appropriately configured surfaces on tub bottom 26 to maintain the desired dynamic stability.

The height of flexible wall 14 should be on the order of the height within storage tub 10 of the tub walls 16, 18, 20 and 22. The bottom of wall divider 14 should be at least adjacent, if not touching, tub bottom 26. If desired for example to make a relatively water or liquid proof seal between tub bottom 26 and the adjacent end of wall 14, stabilizers 38 may be used to fully surround the bottom edges of wall divider 14 when wall 14 is extended.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of flexible wall divider 48 having dynamically stable extended and retracted configurations, may be understood from the following process of moving from a dynamically stable extended configuration in step 1, through dynamically unstable configurations in steps 2-4 back to a dynamically stable refracted configuration in step 5.

In step 1, the flexible wall divider 48 is illustrated in a dynamically stable extended configuration. Curved wall corner 46 is located away from tub 44 to form compartment X. One end of wall divider 48 is mounted to an upper wall of a storage tub (not shown in this figure) via flexure mount 52. The other end of wall divider 48 is mounted to a side wall of the storage tub via flexure mount 54. The horizontal portion of divider 48 includes addition flexure point 56 between the wall panel and lever 58 which is affixed to flexure mount 54.

In step 2, lever 58 has been pushed upward and has rotated substantially clockwise, moving wall corner 46 toward the right of the figure. This may preferably be a dynamically unstable configuration in that if pressure were released from lever 58, flexible wall divider 48 would move on its own back to the dynamically stable retracted configuration of step 1.

In step 3, lever 58 has been caused to rotate even further clockwise which causes the rest of wall divider 48 to rotate counterclockwise at flexure mount 52 substantially into what had been compartment X and further toward tub corner 44. This may preferably be a dynamically unstable configuration in that if pressure were released from lever 58, flexible wall divider 48 would tend to move on its own back to the dynamically stable retracted configuration of step 1.

In step 4, further pushing on lever 58 has caused that lever to rotate almost fully clockwise to a position almost tangent to the dynamically stable extended position of step 1. Step 4 may be seen to be the most dynamically unstable position in that flexible wall divider is almost straight from flexure mount 52 to additional flexure point 56 so that even a slight motion could cause flexible wall divider 48 to snap into either the dynamically stable extended configuration of the dynamically stable retracted position discussed below with respected to step 5.

In step 5, flexible wall divider 48 has moved to the dynamically stable retracted position in that wall corner 46 may be as close as possible to tub corner 44, substantially eliminating compartment X and further pushing may cause no substantial change in position.

To return to wall divider 48 to the dynamically stable extended configuration, wall corner 46 or some other portion of wall divider 48 would have to be pulled in the opposite direction (from the PUSH direction). The most unstable position would be the position shown in step 4 where small changes could cause wall divider 48 to retract or extend. Thereafter, when further pulling moved wall divider 48 to the position shown in step 3, further pulling may not be required and wall divider 48 may snap through the position shown for step 2 directly into the dynamically stable extended position of step 1.

It should be noted that the operation described in detail above for wall divider 14 also applies to wall divider 12 and at least in part to wall divider 48. Further the some of the features shown in one embodiment may not be used in that embodiment and/or may be used in other embodiments in a mix and match fashion. Still further, various lids may be applied to the storage tub to strengthen the tub, maintain the wall dividers dynamically stable in the current position and/or provide an air tight (and/or water tight) seal to extend the shelf life of food or other materials being stored in the tub which are harmed by contact with air, water or other substances.

Claims

1. A storage tub, comprising:

a tub bottom;

a plurality of generally vertical tub walls connected at one end to the tub bottom to form a first storage compartment; and

at least one storage compartment divider flexibly mounted to one or more tub walls, the divider operable by a user: into a first, dynamically stable retracted configuration within the first storage compartment without substantially reducing the storage capacity of the first compartment, and into a second, dynamically stable extended configuration forming a second storage compartment within the first storage compartment.

2. The storage tub claimed in claim 1, wherein two of the tub walls are connected together by an included tub wall angle,

wherein said storage compartment divider is flexibly mounted at one end to a first one of said two tub walls at a first distance from said included angle between the two tub walls and flexibly mounted at a second end to the second one of said two tub walls at a second distance from said included angle, and

wherein, in said retracted position, a first panel of said storage compartment divider is generally parallel with said first one of said tub walls from the first end of said storage divider to the included tub wall angle.

3. The storage tub claims in claim 2, wherein, in said retracted position, a second panel of said storage compartment divider is generally parallel with said second one of said tub walls from the second end of said storage divider to the included tub wall angle.

4. The storage tub of claim 3, wherein said storage compartment divider includes a flexible, included divider wall angle between said first and second panels, said included divider wall angle positioned adjacent said included tub wall angle in said retracted position.

5. The storage tub of claim 4, wherein, in said extended position, said second storage compartment extends from said flexible mounting of said first end of said divider wall along said first one of said tub walls to the included tub wall angle and then along said second one of said tub walls to the flexible mounting of said second end of said divider wall to the included divider wall angle—at a position displaced from said included wall angle -and then back to said flexible mounting of said first end of said divider wall.

6. The storage tub of claim 5, wherein the tub is a generally square shape and said second compartment is a generally square shape approximately one quarter of the size of the first storage compartment in which the second compartment is located.

7. The storage tub of claim 6 further comprising:

a second wall divider dynamically stable in retracted and extended positions, wherein, when in the extended position, said second wall divider forms a third storage compartment in said storage tub so that when both wall dividers are both in their extended positions, at least three compartments are formed within the storage tub.

8. The storage tub of claim 7 wherein included wall angles of both wall dividers are adjacent each other so that four generally equal sized compartments are formed within the storage tub when both wall dividers are in their extended positions.

9. The storage tub of claim 5 further comprising:

a second wall divider dynamically stable in retracted and extended positions, wherein, when in the extended position, the second wall divider forms a third storage compartment in said storage tub so that when both wall dividers are in their extended positions, at least three compartments are formed within the storage tub.

10. The storage tub of claim 7, wherein more than three compartments are formed in the storage tub when both wall dividers are in their extended positions.

11. The storage tub of claim 1, wherein said at least one storage compartment divider is flexibly mounted to said storage tub by molding.

12. The storage tub of claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting base affixed to at least one of said tub walls wherein said at least one storage compartment divider is removably mounted at one end thereof to said mounting base.

13. The storage tub of clam 1 further comprising:

one or more stabilizers adjacent the bottom edge of an inside surface of the storage tub bottom and the lowest edge of the wall divider to enhance the dynamic stability of the extended wall divider.

14. The storage tub of claim 12 wherein the lowest edge of the wall divider fits within stabilizers to make the storage compartment formed by the all divider at least somewhat liquid proof.

15. The storage tub of claim 1 wherein the flexibly mounted storage compartment divider is formed from a material sufficiently flexible so that the divider may be pulled by the user away from the tub walls at a point intermediate the ends thereof by flexing the material.

16. The storage tub of claim 13 wherein the divider may be pushed by the user away from extended position toward the tub walls at a point intermediate the ends thereof into the retracted position by flexing the material.

17. The storage tub of claim 1 wherein the flexibly mounted storage compartment divider is formed from a plurality of panels flexibly mounted to each other so that the divider may be pulled by the user, away from the retracted position and into the extended position, by flexing the mounting between the panels of the wall divider.

18. The storage tub of claim 15 wherein the divider may be pushed away from the extended position to the retracted position by the user by flexing the mounting of the panels of the wall divider.