DRAWER ORGANIZER AND BOX BUILDER
Presented is a divider for partitioning an interior space of a drawer, and building a custom box adherable on counter tops or similar flat surfaces. The divider is configured from a substantially rectangular and solid plastic sheet. The divider so formed from the solid plastic sheet includes features and characteristics such as a pair of central panels, a central hinge, a pair of lateral panels, a pair of lateral hinges, and ridges which are operationally connected to each other.
The present invention relates to drawer dividers, and in particular to a divider adapted for partitioning an interior space of a drawer, and building a custom box adherable on counter tops or similar flat surfaces.
BACKGROUNDUsers use different types and sizes of boxes and drawers for storage of various contents such as arts and crafts items, electronic items, stationery and office purpose items, and many other general purpose items. A very common problem that has existed is to get hold of a right size box that a user can use for storage of contents and at the same time, the box can be held firmly over the surface where the box is placed. Another problem that has existed in the past with storage of the contents in the boxes and drawers is a proper separation of such items.
A lot of drawer dividers are proposed in the past for organizing the contents stored in the boxes or drawers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,181 to Benoit describes a portable inverted T shaped divider for installation in a drawer, or on a shelf, to separate the stored contents of the shelf or drawer. The divider of Benoit as described includes a horizontal base member, two vertical supports with each mounted at end of the base near the mid-section of the base, and hollow partition members that slide over vertical supports to separate the contents of the shelf in which the divider is mounted.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,921 to Ernst describes a divider assembly for installation in a tool box or chest drawer to provide separate drawer areas for the storage of various grouped articles. The divider assembly in rectangular shape for the storage drawer uses perimeter rails joined by corner clips, divider rails that extend intermediate to perimeter rails to form storage areas of various shapes and sizes, divider and perimeter clips that ensures the perimeter rail members remain confined to the divider rails against any displacement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,223 to Koves describes about a divider system that comprises divider panels and mounting supports that are used for forming different partitioning inside a box. In use, the divider panels are held in place by the mounting supports which can be secured to the drawer bottom, drawer sides or another divider panel to retain the divider panels in the selected position. Further, the divider panels are notched for breakoff to the desired length.
Although various dividers for drawers are proposed in the past, they are impractical in terms of their manufacturing cost and time, rapid removal of the contents out of the drawer, and building boxes adherable on counter tops or similar flat surfaces. Further, lots of dividers for drawers are often telescopic in nature and rely on support from the lateral walls of the drawers where they are installed. Further, some of the dividers use interlocking slots provided on their body to connect with other divider when such divides are installed into the interior of the drawers.
Thus, there is a room for an improved divider for partitioning the interior space of a drawer to separate the contents stored therein, and for facilitating building of custom boxes that can hold various items or contents and are adherable on the counter tops or similar flat surfaces.
BRIEF SUMMARYIt is an objective of the present invention to provide a drawer divider that can be used for partitioning the interior space of a drawer to form storage compartments/sections of different sizes for the contents present in the drawer.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a drawer divider that can be used for building custom boxes of different sizes with or without their interior space partitioned for holding the contents.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a drawer divider that's adherable on counter tops or similar flat surfaces such as bottom of the drawers.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a divider made of a solid plastic sheet that can easily be packaged, stored, and shipped while minimizing store shelf space. Further, since the present invention uses a flat, thin sheet of plastic of preferably 0.1″ thickness. These flat sheets of plastic can be easily stacked and stored on top of each other. For example, a package of size 12″×4″×1″ would contain 10 dividers (with each sheet of plastic being 12″×4″×0.10″ in dimension.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a substantially rectangular and solid plastic sheet. The sheet is configured to get transformed into a divider that can be used for partitioning the interior space of a drawer to form storage areas of different sizes for the contents present in the drawer or be used for building custom boxes of different sizes for holding the contents.
According to the embodiments, the divider so formed using the sheet includes a pair of central panels, and a pair of lateral panels, a central hinge for connecting the pair of central panels, and a pair of lateral hinges, each used to connect the lateral panels to the central panels. In the preferred embodiments, the central hinge and the pair of lateral hinges may be configured as living hinges using the same material as that of the sheet. In some other embodiments, the central hinge and the pair of lateral hinges may be made configured as external hinges using materials such as but not limited to plastic, rubber, or other like flexible material or any combinations thereof that can bend and replicate a hinge movement.
According to the preferred embodiments, the central hinge is configured to allow the pair of central panels to rotate 180 degrees, whereas the lateral hinges are configured to allow the lateral panels to rotate 90 degrees. The lateral hinges may further embody ridges to ensure rotational motion of the lateral panels are restricted to 90 degrees.
According to the preferred embodiments, each of the central panels may selectively embody an adhesive layer at underside of the central panels. The adhesive layer configured underside of the central panels may include simple adhesives, differential adhesives, double sided tape or differential adhesive double sided tape. The differential adhesives such as double sided tape may be preferred as differential adhesives provide added strength to the pair of central panels to attach to each other and be separated if needed when forming a divider wall.
According to the preferred embodiments, each of the lateral panels may selectively embody an adhesive layer at underside of the lateral panels. The adhesive layer configured underside of the central panels may include simple adhesives, differential adhesives, double sided tape or differential adhesive double sided tape. The differential adhesives such as double sided tape may be preferred as differential adhesives provide reversible strength to the pair of lateral panels to attach on a mounting surface (such as a counter top or a drawer's base) when forming a divider base. A divider may be positioned, lifted and repositioned as required while maintaining base adhesion.
According to the preferred embodiments, the length of the lateral panels of the divider may be made shorter or equal in length relative to the length of the central panels. According to the embodiments, multiple dividers may be used and arranged strategically to form custom boxes. In the embodiment, where the length of the lateral panels of the dividers are made shorter in length relative to the length of the central panels, the divider base of each divider would allow the dividers to connect to each other properly or come together leaving no spaces. The shortening of the lateral panels allow the divider walls of the dividers to touch each other, if desired while forming the custom boxes.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. There is shown in the drawings example embodiments, however, the application is not limited to the specific system and method disclosed in the drawings.
Various embodiments will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any methods, and systems similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments, the preferred methods, and systems are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary.
References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “an example”, “another example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements.
The various features and embodiments of a divider adapted for partitioning an interior space of a drawer, and building custom boxes adherable on counter tops or similar flat surfaces will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying figures, namely
Referring to
As seen, the divider 6 is formed by strategically folding the solid plastic sheet 2. The divider 2 includes a first central panel 16 with a first end and a second end, and a second central panel 12 with a third end and a fourth end. The first and second central panels 16, 12 are hingedly connected to one another at their first end and the third end, respectively using a central hinge 14. According to preferred embodiment, the central panels 12, 16 are equal in length and width and are substantially rectangular in shape.
The divider 6 further includes a first lateral panel 20 with a fifth end and a six end, and a second lateral panel 8 with a seventh end and an eighth end. The first lateral panel 20 and the first central panel 16 are hingedly connected to one another at their fifth end and the second end, respectively using a first lateral hinge 18. The second lateral panel 8 and the second central panel 12 are hingedly connected to one another at their seventh end and the fourth end, respectively using a second lateral hinge 10. According to the preferred embodiment, the lateral panels 20, 8 are equal in length and width. Further, the length of each of the lateral panels 20, 8 may be made equal or shorter relative to the length of the central panels 16, 12. Further, the lateral panels 20, 8, are substantially rectangular in shape.
Further, as seen, the divider 6 comprises a first adhesive layer 21 configured underside of either the first central panel 16, or the second central panel 12. In the view 4 of
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive layers 21 applied underside of either of the two central panels 12, 16 or underside of the lateral panels 8, 20 may be like in nature or may be different. The adhesive layers 21 used for the purpose of this invention may be simple adhesives known in the art, or may be differential adhesives, double sided tape or differential adhesive double sided tape. Differential adhesives or differential adhesive double sided tape is preferred as these adhesives offer reversible adhesive strength resulting in ease of reversible adherence of the two central panels 12, 16 (back to back adherence) and adherence of the lateral panels 8,20 over the mounting surface. Further, the adhesives used may be reversible or irreversible in nature depending on the intended use of a box build using the dividers 6.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the central hinge 14 connecting the central panels 12, 16 together is a living hinge (made of the same material as the divider 6, polypropylene in the preferred embodiment) that allows 180 degrees rotation to the central panels 12, 16 and enable them to reversably connect together at their undersides using the adhesive layer 21 to form the divider wall. Although, presence of a living hinge 14 between the central panels 12, 16 is described, a complex or so to say a true living hinge as known in the art is not required because during the lifetime of the divider 6, the number of times the central panels 12, 16 would be bent or folded would not be high. Thus, simply during the manufacturing process, decreasing the thickness of the plastic sheet to an appropriate level at the point where the central panels 12, 16 would fold would serve the purpose of this invention. In some embodiments, instead of using the living hinge 14, one can use other material (such as plastic, rubber, or other flexible material) capable of replicating a hinge movement to practice the invention.
Further, the first lateral hinge 18 connecting the first lateral panel 20 and the first central panel 16, and the second lateral hinge 10 connecting the second lateral panel 8 and the second central panel 12 are made as living hinges (made of same material as the divider 6) that allow 90 degrees rotation to the lateral panels 8, 20 to form the divider base that support the divider wall. The divider base attaches or adheres to the mounting surface using the adhesive layers 21 discussed above. Although, presence of the living hinges 10, 18 for connecting the lateral panels 8, 20 to respective central panels 12, 16 is described, a complex or so to say a true living hinge as known in the art is not required because during the lifetime of the divider 6, the number of times the lateral panels 8, 20 would be bent or folded will not be high. Thus, simply during the manufacturing process, decreasing the thickness of the sheet to an appropriate level at the point where the lateral panels 8, 20 would fold would serve the purpose of this invention. In some embodiments, instead of using the living hinges 10, 18, one can use other material (such as plastic, rubber, or other flexible material) capable of replicating a hinge movement to practice the invention.
Referring to the partial end view 7 and the divider 6 of
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In operation, as shown in the view 40, in order to form the separation walls by strategic placement of multiple dividers 6, the divider base 34 of one divider 6 can be slidably placed into the spaces 25 underneath of the other divider 6 allowing the divider wall 32 of one divider 6 to contact or touch the divider wall of other divider 6. In the example shown, three dividers 6 are shown arranged, where one divider 6 is placed horizontally and other two dividers 6 are vertically and slidably disposed to lie within the spaces 25 present underneath the divider 6 placed horizontally. This allows the divider wall 32 of all the three dividers 6 to be in contact or touch each other. Such configuration of the dividers 6 allow formation of a closed box leaving no spaces as in such configuration the divider walls 32 of the dividers 6 physically touch each other. The dividers 6 can be placed at any position along a wall length and are not limited to placement at any specific location. The separation walls/divider walls can be of different heights and lengths, depending on the sizes of the flat plastic sheet 2 or the dimensions of the central panels 12, 16.
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It should be understood according to the preceding description of the present invention that the same is susceptible to changes, modifications and adaptations, and that the said changes, modifications and adaptations fall within scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A divider (6) adapted for partitioning an interior space of a drawer, or building a custom box, comprising:
- a first central panel (16) with a first end and a second end;
- a second central panel (12) with a third end and a fourth end, wherein the first and second central panels (16,12) are hingedly connected to one another at the first end and the third end, respectively using a central hinge (14);
- a first lateral panel (20) with a fifth end and a six end, wherein the first lateral panel (20) and the first central panel (16) are hingedly connected to one another at the fifth end and the second end, respectively using a first lateral hinge (18);
- a second lateral panel (8) with a seventh end and an eighth end, wherein the second lateral panel (8) and the second central panel (12) are hingedly connected to one another at the seventh end and the fourth end, respectively using a second lateral hinge (10);
- a first adhesive layer (21) configured underside of at least one of: the first central panel (16), and the second central panel (12);
- a second adhesive layer (22) configured underside of the first and second lateral panels (20,8); and
- Wherein the central hinge (14) connecting the first and second central panels (16,12) allows 180 degrees rotation to the first and second central panels (16,12) to connect together at their undersides using the first adhesive layer (21) to form a divider wall (32), and wherein the first lateral hinge (18) connecting the first lateral panel (20) and the first central panel (16), and the second lateral hinge (10) connecting the second lateral panel (8) and the second central panel (12) allow 90 degrees rotation to the first and second lateral panels (20,8) to form a divider base (34) that then attaches to a mounting surface using the second adhesive layer (21).
2. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second central panels (16, 12) are equal in length and width.
3. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second lateral panels (20, 8) are equal in length and width.
4. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second lateral panels (20, 8) are equal in length relative to the length of the first and the second central panels (16,12), respectively.
5. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second lateral panels (20, 8) are shorter in length relative to the length of the first and the second central panels (16,12), respectively.
6. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein the first and second adhesive layers (21) comprises of differential adhesives.
7. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein the first and second adhesive layers (21) comprises of a double sided tape.
8. The divider (6) of claim 1 further comprising a first pair of ridges (22) configured adjacent to the first lateral hinge (18), and a second pair of ridges (22) configured adjacent to the second lateral hinge (10) to restrict rotation of the first and second lateral panels (20,8) to 90 degrees.
9. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein the divider (6) is made of a solid plastic sheet substantially rectangular in shape.
10. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein the central hinge (14), and the first and second lateral hinges (18, 10) are living hinges made of same material as the divider (6).
11. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein the central hinge (14), and the first and second lateral hinges (18,10) are made of a material selected from a group of material consisting of plastic, rubber, or other flexible material that can bend and replicate a hinge movement.
12. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral panels (20,8) forming the divider base (34), and the first and second central panels (16,12) forming the divider wall (32) are substantially rectangular in shape.
13. The divider (6) of claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral panels (20,8) forming the divider base are further made in the form of triangular cutouts, rectangular cutouts, square cutouts with a matching angled ends.
14. A solid plastic sheet (2) configurable in the form of a divider (6) for partitioning an interior space of a drawer, or building a custom box, comprising:
- a first central panel (16) with a first end and a second end;
- a second central panel (12) with a third end and a fourth end, wherein the first and second central panels (16,12) are hingedly connected to one another at the first end and the third end, respectively using a central hinge (14);
- a first lateral panel (20) with a fifth end and a six end, wherein the first lateral panel (20) and the first central panel (16) are hingedly connected to one another at the fifth end and the second end, respectively using a first lateral hinge (18);
- a second lateral panel (8) with a seventh end and an eighth end, wherein the second lateral panel (8) and the second central panel (12) are hingedly connected to one another at the seventh end and the fourth end, respectively using a second lateral hinge (10);
- a first adhesive layer (21) configured underside of at least one of: the first central panel (16), and the second central panel (12);
- a second adhesive layer (22) configured underside of the first and second lateral panels (20,8); and
- Wherein the central hinge (14) connecting the first and second central panels (16,12) allows 180 degrees rotation to the first and second central panels (16,12) to reversably connect together at their undersides using the first adhesive layer (21) to form a divider wall (32), and wherein the first lateral hinge (18) connecting the first lateral panel (20) and the first central panel (16), and the second lateral hinge (10) connecting the second lateral panel (8) and the second central panel (12) allow 90 degrees rotation to the first and second lateral panels (20,8) to form a divider base (34) that then attaches to a mounting surface using the second adhesive layer (21).
Type: Application
Filed: May 2, 2019
Publication Date: Nov 5, 2020
Inventor: Paul Robert Chalifoux (Naples, FL)
Application Number: 16/402,081