MOUNTABLE ORGANIZER HAVING FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING RECEPTACLES

Abstract

An organizer has a planar back panel, a front panel, a core between the back panel and the front panel comprised of a resilient foam material, and at least one receptacle defined by an opening in the front panel aligned with a channel in the core extending from the opening in the front panel toward the back panel. The channel has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the opening such that a device having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the channel will form a friction fit with an interior wall of the channel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/743,655 filed on Oct. 10, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cosmetics organizer that frictionally engages the devices retained with in it. More particularly, the invention relates to a cosmetics organizer having a plurality of receptacles formed by channels through a resilient foam material that form a friction fit with devices inserted therein.

Description of the Related Art

A hairstylist, cosmetologists, beauticians and ordinary women and men often use many different cosmetic devices, compounds and applicators when applying makeup. It is not uncommon for persons to have several dozen different cosmetics devices. Ordinary women commonly have several different shades and styles of lipstick, not to mention base, blush, eye shadow, mascara as well as several brushes, sponges and the like for applying various types of makeup. It is not unusual for a person to have several dozen different items used for cosmetic reasons.

As a result, it has become common for both professionals and ordinary people to attempt to organize various cosmetic products and efficient manners. Existing devices often provide several different compartments of different sizes, shapes and numbers that may be inserted into drawers or purses. Complete portable folding cabinet type devices are also common. There have even been furniture pieces particularly designed to have many small drawers that are often further subdivided.

The prior art organizing devices suffer from many drawbacks. Cosmetics may be stored in drawers, but this does not particularly organize them. Large folding cabinets may be cumbersome and are prone to being disorganized. With several different storage compartments, it also becomes easy to forget where different specific items are located. A person often has to rifle through an entire cabinet drawer or set of drawers to find a particular item. These shortcomings are only exacerbated when used on a more mobile platform. For example, in a mobile home, in an automobile or on a boat, storage devices as well as everything else is often subjected to sudden swaying or jerking motions that can knock loose or disorganize many things.

The above-described deficiencies of today's systems are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an apparatus or system for organizing cosmetics or other items in a manner that makes them readily accessible but also prevents them from being easily dislodged and disorganized.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a cosmetics organizer that securely holds one or more cosmetics devices so that they are easily accessible and readily available. The cosmetics organizer also secures cosmetic devices and receptacles such that they are not easily dislodged.

In one embodiment, a cosmetics organizer has a planar back panel, a front panel, a core between the back panel and the front panel comprised of a resilient foam material, and at least one receptacle defined by an opening in the front panel aligned with a channel in the core extending from the opening in the front panel toward the back panel. The channel has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the opening such that a device having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the channel will form a friction fit with an interior wall of the channel.

The cosmetic organizer may include a channel in the core that extends from the front panel to a backwall defined by the back panel. The front panel is curved or planar. At least one backwall may include a mounting hole extending through the back panel.

The cosmetic organizer can be mounted on a wall, on a ceiling or affixed to a portable object. A peripheral wall may extend from the front panel to the back panel around a periphery of the organizer. The organizer may have the shape of a heart.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cosmetics organizer that securely holds a plurality of devices so that they are readily accessible but will not become dislodged from their receptacles.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a cosmetics organizer and an upside-down orientation in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cosmetics organizer affixed to a wall in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cosmetics organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The disclosed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the various embodiments herein.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

Disclosed is an organizer for storing multiple items that are easily removed by hand but are held firmly enough to prevent the items from falling out. The device includes a foam core sandwiched between a front panel and a back panel. Each of a plurality of receptacles are defined by an opening in the front panel aligned with a channel through the resilient foam core. The channel through the foam core has a smaller diameter or cross-sectional area than its respective opening. When a cosmetic device such as a lipstick is inserted into a receptacle, it forms a friction fit with the sides of the channel through the foam core. The friction fit holds the cosmetic device regardless of how the cosmetics organizer is oriented relative to the direction of gravity. Thus, the cosmetics organizer frictionally engages devices inserted into its receptacles using the interior walls of the channels formed through the resilient foam core.

FIGS. 1-6 show a cosmetic organizer 10 in accordance with the principles of the invention. In these figures, the invention is described with reference to a cosmetic organizer 10. This is for exemplary purposes only. Organizers in accordance with the principles of the invention are well-suited for organizing cosmetics such as lipsticks. However, it will be apparent to a skilled artisan that the invention may be utilized to organize and retain a nimiety of articles beyond cosmetics. The invention may be used to organize tools, kitchen utensils, office supplies such as pens and highlighters, medicine, electronic devices and the like.

The organizer 10 has a front defined by a front panel 12 and a back defined by a back panel 14. A core 16 is sandwiched between the front panel 12 and the back panel 14. The front panel 12 and back panel 14 are preferably formed from a rigid material such as wood, plastic, metal or the like, and may optionally be laminated, coated or otherwise treated to provide a desired surface appearance and/or texture. The core 16 is formed from a resilient foam material. Other resilient materials would also be suitable. The organizer 10 has a periphery 18 that may optionally be covered by a peripheral wall, not shown. The front panel 12, back panel 14 and core 16 are coextensive such that they are all flush along the periphery 18. In this embodiments, the cosmetic organizer 10 is in the shape of a heart. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a cosmetic organizer 10 may be formed in any of a variety of shapes.

The organizer 10 includes receptacles 20. Best seen in FIG. 3, receptacles 20 are defined by an opening 22 in the front panel 12 and a channel 24 extending through the opening 22, through at least a portion of the core 16 and terminating at a back wall 26 defined by the back panel 14. Optionally, the organizer 10 may also include one or more receptacles 21. Receptacle 21 is defined by an opening 22 in the front panel 12 and a channel 25 extending into the core 16 and terminating at a back wall 27 formed in the material of the core 16 and not extending to the backwall 26. Receptacle 21 has a channel 25 that does not extend entirely through the core 16. Optionally, receptacles in the same organizer may have channels extending different lengths into the core. The organizer 10 may include one or more mounting holes 32 located in the back wall 26 of a receptacle 20 that extends all the way through the core 16. Nails, screws, anchors or other devices may be used to affix the organizer 10 to a wall, ceiling or other surface by using these mounting holes 32. Other mechanisms for mounting an object to a surface are well known in the art. FIG. 4 shows to such mounting holes 32 extending through the back panel 14. Preferably two or more mounting holes 32 are included.

In this embodiment, each opening 22 is circular and each channel 24 is cylindrical. Thus, the receptacles 20 are cylindrical, and some contain lipstick containers 30. The receptacles 20 may optionally have a square, rectangular, oval, trapezoidal, a hexagonal or other cross-sectional shape shapes to accommodate different cosmetic items. For example, eyeshadow is often retained within a rectangular container. Thus, a receptacle having a rectangular cross-section may be more suitable for storing and organizing eyeshadow.

The openings 22 have a larger diameter, and thus larger cross-sectional area, than the channels 24 or 25 through the core 16. The core 16 is formed from a resilient foam material. A lipstick container 30 sized to fit through the opening 22 will compress the interior wall 28 of the channel 24 or 25, forming a friction fit that holds the lipstick tube securely in place. The static friction force between the interior wall 28 and a device inserted into the receptacle 20 or 21 is greater than the force of gravity but is still low enough to allow a person to easily withdraw the device from the receptacle 20.

Because the organizer 10 of the present invention secures devices within its receptacles 20 strongly enough to prevent them falling out due to gravity, as shown in FIG. 5. The organizer 10 may be mounted on a wall 34 as shown in FIG. 6. Optionally, the organizer may be mounted upside down on a ceiling or similar surface in the orientation shown in FIG. 5. The organizer 10 is also particularly suitable for use in buildings where earthquakes are common, on boats, in mobile homes, on airplanes or in other environments subjected to disruptive forces. Because of the devices relatively simple design, it may be produced quickly and efficiently. The front panel 12, back panel 14 and core 16 may all be cut from their respective materials and sandwiched together using a simple adhesive. The openings 22 and channels 24 may be cuts before or after the front panel 12 and core 16 have been attached to each other. In addition, it is relatively easy, inexpensive and efficient to form an organizer in accordance with the principles of the invention in a variety of shapes. The cosmetic organizer 10 of the present invention as shown in the Figures has a heart shape. However, any other desired shape may readily be formed from the same materials.

The organizer 10 of the present invention includes a planar, flat front panel 12 and a core 16 having a uniform thickness. While it is generally desirable to have a back panel 14 that is flat and planar, the front panel may be curved and the core 16 may be shaped to accommodate a curved front panel such that the organizer 10 has a distance between the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 that varies. Optionally, channels may be formed in the core that extend inward from the periphery instead of from the openings in the front panel. This allows devices to be secured by a friction fit along the periphery of the device instead of only on the front. If a peripheral wall is included, wrapped around the periphery, openings aligned with the peripheral channels may be provided also.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of an organizer 40 having a front panel 42, a back panel 44 and a resilient foam core 46 sandwiched therebetween. In this embodiment, the front panel 42 includes several openings of different shapes. These include the large circular openings 48, elongate oval openings 50 small circular openings 52 and other circular openings 54 of varying size. To form the organizer 40, a front panel 42, a back panel 44 and a foam core 46 are cut to equal, coextensive dimensions. These components are then attached by means of an adhesive. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, tape 58 has been used to hold the front panel 42 securely to the foam core 46 while the adhesive sets. The various openings in the front panel 42 may be cut prior to attachment to the foam core 46. After the front panel 42 is aligned with and affixed to the foam core 46, channels may be cut into the resilient foam material. In this embodiment, circular channels 60 and 62 have been cut into the foam core 46 and aligned with openings 48 and 54, respectively. Mounting holes may be cut or drilled through the back panel at the back wall of one or more of the channels. Once the adhesives have cured, all of the channels corresponding to the openings have been cut, and the mounting holes have been added, the organizer 40 is complete. Optionally, the organizer may be painted, further molded or finished using other methods known in the art. Different sized receptacles allow an operator to store many different types of cosmetic or other products in a manner that is both secure and readily accessible.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 also receptacles having parallel inner sidewalls. It may be desirable for the sidewalls of the receptacles to be curved, tapered, angled or ripped. For example, if a relatively rigid core material is used, it may be preferable to form receptacles having ribs rather than a smooth surface.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-7 utilize a core material comprising a foam. Foams suitable for use in accordance with the principles of the invention for providing a friction fit with items stored include but are not limited to ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, also referred to as polyethylene-vinyl acetate (PEVA), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and polyurethane (PU) foam.

In addition, it may be desirable to utilize integral skin foams. Integral skin foams, also known as self-skin foam, is a type of foam with a high-density skin and a low-density core. It can be formed in an open-mold process or a closed-mold process. In the open-mold process, two reactive components are mixed and poured into an open mold. The mold is then closed and the mixture is allowed to expand and cure. Examples of items produced using this process include arm rests, baby seats, shoe soles, and mattresses. The closed-mold process, more commonly known as reaction injection molding (RIM), injects the mixed components into a closed mold under high pressures. Foams may be formed such that the integral skin forms along the inside walls of the organizers receptacles. This may prevent dirt and particulates from accumulating within the receptacles and damaging, disfiguring or otherwise rendering undesirable the inside walls of the receptacles. Other materials besides foam may be utilized. Any material suitable for forming a friction fit with items placed within the receptacles may be used.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a mountable organizer 70 in accordance with principles of the invention. Organizer 70 includes a core material 72 affixed to a back panel 74. In this embodiment, the core material 72 is an integral skin foam having a compressible core 76 surrounded by a tear resistance and water resistant skin 78. The core material 72 may be affixed to the back panel 74 using adhesives or may optionally be molded in place so that the core material 72 cures while in direct contact with the back panel 74. The curing process itself creates a bond between the back panel 74 and the core material 72. Because the core material 72 is an integral skin foam forming a skin 78, the mountable organizer 70 does not include a front panel. The integral skin 78 itself forms the front surface 80 of the organizer 70, as well as that sidewalls 82.

The integral skin 78 also forms the inner sidewalls 90 of the receptacles 84 which extend from an opening 88 to a backwall 86 formed by the back panel 74. On the rear 92 of the organizer 70 is a Velcro® pad 94 complementary to a Velcro® pad 96 affixed to a ceiling 98. By utilizing a hook and loop complementary attachment system, the organizer 70 may be readily affixed to and removed from the ceiling 98 or other surface.

FIG. 9 shows another alternative embodiment of an organizer 100 in accordance with principles of the invention. The organizer 100 is defined by a front panel 102, a back panel 104 and side panels 106. In this embodiment, the core material is an inflatable bladder 108 configured to fit within the organizer 102 and forms a plurality of receptacles 112 aligned with openings 114 and the front panel 102 and having back walls 116 formed by the back panel 104. A pump 120 is located on the front panel 102 and includes a button 122 that when depressed pumps additional air into the bladder 108. A relief valve 124 located on a side panel 106 may be actuated by pulling a button 126 to release air from within the bladder 108. By actuating the pump 120 and the relief valve 124, an operator may adjust the air pressure within the bladder. As air pressure is increased, the inner walls 128 of the receptacles 112 bow inward, both decreasing the size of the receptacles 112 and increasing the strength of a friction fit with any objects placed within the receptacles 112. When air pressure is decreased by actuating the relief valve 124, the receptacles 112 white in and the amounts of friction applied to an object within the receptacle decreases. This allows a user to adjust the size of the receptacles and the amount of friction applied to objects within them in order to accommodate objects of different size or weight.

FIG. 10 shows another alternative embodiment of an organizer 140 in accordance with principles of the invention. In this embodiment, the core material is an integral skin foam 142 extending between sidewalls 144 and a back panel 146. The front surface 148 and inner walls of the receptacles 150 are formed by the integral skin 152 surrounding the foam core 154. A magnetic pad 156 extends across the back panel 146. A complimentary magnetic pad 158, or optionally a pad of ferromagnetic material, is affixed to a wall 150. This allows for rapid attachment and detachment of the organizer 140 from the wall 150.

FIG. 11 shows another alternative embodiment of an organizer 161 in accordance with the principles of the invention. In this embodiment, a foam core 162 is positioned between a front panel 164, a back panel 166 and side panels 168. In this embodiment, a sliding front cover 170 lies flush against the front panel 164 and is capable of sliding across the front panel 164. A ratcheting mechanism 172 allows the position of the cover 170 to be locked in place. The foam core 162 provides a frictional engagement that holds items 174 in place with in a receptacles 176. However, when the organizer 160 is being transported over long distances or is exposed particularly rough handling, items 174 may become loose. Thus it may be desirable to provide a mechanism for locking items 174 firmly in place to ensure that they do not move at all. The sliding cover 170 may be slid such that it abuts against items 174 to more securely retain them within the receptacles 176.

FIG. 12 is another alternative embodiment of an organizer 180 in accordance with principles of the invention. In this embodiment, a foam core 182 is contained between side panels 184 and a back panel 186. The foam core 182 includes one or more receptacles 188 which retain items 190 within them by friction fit engagement. The organizer 180 is affixed to a flat surface 183 such as a wall or ceiling. A removable cover 194 extends over the front of the organizer 180 and may be locked in place, preventing access to the items 190 in the organizer. In this embodiment, the cover 194 includes a peripheral cuff 196 which lies flush against the side panels 184. The cover 194 includes an internal pad 195 to prevent damage to the items 190. The peripheral cuff 196 is configured to engage with the side panels 184 by means of one or more latches 200. The latches 200 may be used to lock the cover 194 in place over the organizer 180. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be situations in which it is desirable to limit access to the items 190 retained within the organizer 180. For example, bathrooms and/or dressing rooms backstage of theaters are generally accessible to a large number of persons. A makeup artist or thespian may use the organizer 182 store several cosmetic items which may be expensive, hard to come by, or held in high value by their owners. Rather than removing the organizer 180 from an easily accessed room, the operator of the organizer 180 may instead lock the organizer closed using the cover 194 to prevent others from accessing the items contained within. Similarly, siblings may also desire to restrict access to certain cosmetic items to prevent access to them by small children or others sharing living space.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a wide variety of alternative methods for forming a channel within an organizer that secures devices by means of a friction fit. For example, spring biased interior walls may be used. Similarly, a rubber or other elastomeric material having high static friction may be used to line interior channels. Pliable bands or other devices may also be used to secure various items using a friction fit, as is often found with racks for hanging rooms, mops and the like on a wall. All of these prior art designs are time and labor intensive compared to the present design.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for practicing the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cosmetics organizer comprising:

a planar back panel;

a front panel:

a core between the back panel and the front panel comprised of a resilient foam material;

at least one receptacle defined by an opening in the front panel aligned with a channel in the core extending from the opening in the front panel toward the back panel;

wherein the channel has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the opening such that a device having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the channel will form a friction fit with an interior wall of the channel.

2. The cosmetic organizer of claim 1 wherein the channel in the core extends from the front panel to a backwall defined by the back panel.

3. The cosmetic organizer of claim 2 wherein the front panel is curved.

4. The cosmetic organizer of claim 2 wherein the front panel is planar.

5. The cosmetic organizer of claim 2 wherein at least one backwall includes a mounting hole extending through the back panel.

6. The cosmetic organizer of claim 5 wherein the organizer is mounted on a wall.

7. The cosmetic organizer of claim 5 wherein the organizer is mounted on a ceiling.

8. The cosmetic organizer of claim 5 wherein the organizer is affixed to a portable object.

9. The cosmetic organizer of claim 5 further comprising a peripheral wall extending from the front panel to the back panel around a periphery of the organizer.

10. The cosmetic organizer of claim 5 wherein the organizer has a cross-sectional shape of a heart.