MODULAR DESKTOP CRAFT UTENSILS STORAGE SYSTEM FOR STORING CRAFT UTENSILS

Abstract

A modular desktop craft utensils storage unit for storing craft utensils includes a bottom wall, a top wall and two side walls, which together define an interior of the storage unit for receiving one or more craft utensils. One of the bottom wall or the top wall includes at least one male coupling device, which protrudes from the respective bottom wall or top wall and the other one of bottom wall or the top wall includes at least one female coupling device, which is formed by a recess in the respective bottom wall or top wall. The male coupling device of the storage unit is adapted to interlock with the female coupling device of another storage unit and the female coupling device of the storage unit is adapted to interlock with the male coupling device of yet another storage unit.

Claims

1. A modular desktop craft utensils storage unit for storing writing utensils, such as pens, pencils and/or markers, comprising: a bottom wall, a top wall, which is spaced in a vertical direction at a distance from the bottom wall, and two side walls, each vertically extending in between the bottom wall and the top wall at opposite sides thereof, wherein the bottom wall, the top wall and the side walls together define an interior of the storage unit for receiving one or more craft utensils along a horizontal insertion direction, wherein the storage unit further comprises a coupling device, which is configured to interlock with a coupling device of another storage unit to interconnect the storage unit and the other storage unit to each other, wherein one of the bottom wall or the top wall comprises at least one male coupling device, which protrudes from the respective bottom wall or top wall in a vertical direction during use of the storage unit, wherein the other one of bottom wall or the top wall comprises at least one female coupling device, which is formed by a recess in the respective bottom wall or top wall, and wherein the male coupling device of the storage unit is adapted to interlock with the female coupling device of the other storage unit and wherein the female coupling device of the storage unit is adapted to interlock with the male coupling device of yet another storage unit in order to prevent horizontal mutual movements of the storage unit with respect to the other storage units.

2. The modular storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the male coupling device has an elongate, for example a rectangular or oval cross-section, when seen in the vertical direction, wherein the female coupling device has a circular cross-section, when seen in the vertical direction, and wherein a horizontal width of the elongate male coupling device substantially corresponds to the diameter of the circular female coupling device.

3. The modular storage unit according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the male coupling devices substantially extends in a transverse horizontal direction, aligned perpendicular to the horizontal insertion direction, and wherein the horizontal width of this elongate male coupling device in the transverse horizontal direction substantially corresponds to the diameter of the circular female coupling device.

4. The modular storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising a grid, which is arranged in the interior of the storage unit and which defines a plurality of craft utensil storage spaces, wherein each storage space is adapted to receive a single craft utensil, to be inserted therein in the horizontal insertion direction.

5. The modular storage unit according to claim 4, wherein the grid comprises one or more vertical grid walls in the interior of the storage unit, which extend in between the bottom wall and the top wall in the vertical direction, and wherein the vertical grid walls define multiple craft utensil storage spaces arranged next to each other in the transverse horizontal direction.

6. The modular storage unit according to claim 4, wherein the grid comprises one or more horizontal grid walls in the interior of the storage unit, which extend in between the side walls in the transverse horizontal direction, and wherein the horizontal grid walls define multiple craft utensil storage spaces arranged above each other in the vertical direction.

7. The modular storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises a drawer, which is slidably arranged at least partially in the interior of the storage unit and which comprises a reception volume for receiving craft utensils and/or stationery articles.

8. The modular storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cover element, which is removably positioned against the walls of the storage unit to cover the plurality of craft utensil storage spaces from the front.

9. The modular storage unit according to claim 8, wherein the cover element is a transparent cover element.

10. The modular storage unit according to claim 7, further comprising an elastic band, configured to be positioned to surround the storage unit and to hold the cover element in place against the walls and/or to hold the drawer at least partially in the interior of the storage unit.

11. The modular storage unit according to claim 1, comprising four male coupling devices and four female coupling devices, wherein the four male coupling devices are mutually arranged to form corner points of a rectangular male coupling pattern, wherein the four female coupling devices are mutually arranged to form corner points of a rectangular female coupling pattern, wherein rectangular male coupling pattern substantially corresponds to the rectangular female coupling pattern.

12. The modular storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising a handle that is rotatably connected to the top wall and that is configured to be rotated with respect to the top wall between a retracted position, in which the handle is substantially flush with the top wall, and an upright position, in which the handle projects away from the top wall in an upright direction.

13. A modular desktop craft utensils storage system for storing writing utensils, such as pens, pencils and/or markers, comprising a first modular storage unit according to claim 1 and a second modular storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the second storage unit is arranged on top of the first storage unit, wherein the bottom wall of the second storage unit contacts the top wall of the first storage unit, and wherein the male coupling device of the first storage unit interlocks with the female coupling device of the second storage unit, or wherein the female coupling device of the first storage unit interlocks with the male coupling device of the second storage unit in order to prevent mutual horizontal movements of the second storage unit with respect to the first storage unit.

14. The modular storage system according to claim 13, wherein the first storage unit has a first width in the transverse horizontal direction, wherein the second storage unit has a second width in the transverse horizontal direction, and wherein the second width amounts approximately 50% of the first width.

15. The modular storage system according to claim 14, comprising two second storage units, wherein the second storage units are arranged on the first storage unit, and wherein the second storage units are arranged next to each other in the transverse horizontal direction.

16. The modular storage system according to claim 15, wherein the bottom wall of each second storage unit comprises four male coupling devices that are mutually arranged to form corner points of a rectangular male coupling pattern, wherein the top wall of the first storage unit comprises eight female coupling devices that are mutually arranged to form corner points of a first rectangular female coupling pattern and of a second rectangular female coupling pattern, wherein the rectangular male coupling pattern of each second storage unit corresponds to the rectangular female coupling patterns of the first storage unit, and wherein the male coupling devices of a first one of the second storage units interlocks with the female coupling devices in the first rectangular female coupling pattern of the first storage unit and wherein the male coupling devices of a second one of the second storage units interlocks with the female coupling devices in the second rectangular female coupling pattern of the first storage unit.

17. The modular storage system according to claim 16, wherein the bottom wall of each second storage unit comprises four female coupling devices that are mutually arranged to form corner points of a rectangular female coupling pattern, wherein the top wall of the first storage unit comprises eight male coupling devices that are mutually arranged to form corner points of a first rectangular male coupling pattern and of a second rectangular male coupling pattern, wherein the rectangular female coupling patterns of each second storage unit corresponds to the rectangular male coupling patterns of the first storage unit, and wherein the female coupling devices of a first one of the second storage units interlocks with the male coupling devices in the first rectangular male coupling pattern of the first storage unit and wherein the female coupling devices of a second one of the second storage units interlocks with the male coupling devices in the second rectangular male coupling pattern of the first storage unit.

18. The modular set of craft utensils, comprising: the modular storage unit according to claim 1, and a plurality of craft utensils, preferably elongate tubular craft utensils, for example pens, pencils and/or markers, wherein the craft utensils are inserted at least partially in the interior of the storage unit along the horizontal insertion direction.

19. The modular set according to claim 18, wherein the set further comprising a grid, which is arranged in the interior of the storage unit and which defines a plurality of craft utensil storage spaces, wherein each craft utensil is individually inserted at least partially in a respective storage space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0085] Further characteristics of the invention will be explained below, with reference to embodiments, which are displayed in the appended drawings, in which:

[0086] FIG. 1 schematically depicts an embodiment of the modular desktop craft utensils storage system according to the present invention,

[0087] FIG. 2 depicts a rear view on the system of FIG. 1,

[0088] FIG. 3 depicts the system of FIG. 1 in an exploded-view representation, in which the storage units are spaced from each other,

[0089] FIG. 4 schematically depicts an embodiment of the modular desktop craft utensils storage unit according to the present invention,

[0090] FIG. 5 schematically depicts a top view on the storage unit of FIG. 4,

[0091] FIG. 6 schematically depicts a bottom view on the upper storage units of the storage system of FIG. 1,

[0092] FIG. 7A schematically depicts a rear view on another embodiment of the modular desktop craft utensils storage system according to the present invention,

[0093] FIG. 7B depicts a top view on the system of FIG. 7A, and

[0094] FIG. 8 schematically depicts a front view on the system of FIG. 7A.

[0095] Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals are used to refer to corresponding components or to components that have a corresponding function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0096] FIG. 1 schematically depicts an embodiment of the modular desktop storage system for storing craft utensils, such as pens, pencils and/or markers, to which is referred with reference numeral 100. The storage system 100 comprises a first modular storage unit 1, a second modular storage unit 51 and a third storage unit 71.

[0097] The first storage unit 1 comprises a bottom wall 2, a top wall 3, spaced in a vertical direction V at a distance from the bottom wall 2, and two side walls 4, each vertically extending in between the bottom wall 2 and the top wall 3 at opposite sides thereof. The walls 2, 3, 4 of the storage unit 1 are integrally connected to each other and are made of a plastic material, being manufactured by means of an injection-moulding process.

[0098] The bottom wall 2, the top wall 3 and the side walls 4 of the first storage unit 1 together define an interior 5 of the storage unit 1 for receiving one or more craft utensils along a horizontal insertion direction I.

[0099] The second storage unit 51 also comprises a bottom wall 52, a top wall 53 and two side walls 54 and the third storage unit 71 comprises a bottom wall 72 and two side walls 74, whilst being open at the top for receiving craft utensils and/or stationery articles. The third storage unit 71 lacks a top wall that is fixedly attached to its side walls 74, but instead comprises a top wall that is provided as a separate cover, e.g. not shown in the figures, that can be removably attached to the side walls 74 of the storage unit 71.

[0100] The second storage unit 51 and the third storage unit 71 are arranged on top of the first storage unit 1. The first storage unit 1 has a first width W1 in a transverse horizontal direction T, e.g. a horizontal direction aligned perpendicular to the horizontal insertion direction I, as is best shown in FIG. 2. The second storage unit 51 has a second width W2 and the third storage unit 71 has a third width W3 in the transverse horizontal direction T. The second width W2 and the third width W3 amount approximately 50% of the first width W1.

[0101] The second storage unit 51 and the third storage unit 71 are stacked on the first storage unit 1 and are arranged next to each other in the transverse horizontal direction T.

[0102] The first storage unit 1 comprises grid in its interior 5, as is also shown in FIG. 4. With the grid, the entire interior 5 of the first storage unit 1 is subdivided into a plurality of craft utensil storage spaces 6. Each storage space 6 is accessible from the side and adapted to receive a single craft utensil, which is to be inserted therein in the horizontal insertion direction I.

[0103] The grid comprises nine vertical grid walls 7 in the interior 5 of the first storage unit 1, which extend in between the bottom wall 2 and the top wall 3 in the vertical direction V. The vertical grid walls 7 define, together with the side walls 4 on both sides, rows of ten craft utensil storage spaces 6 arranged next to each other in the transverse horizontal direction T.

[0104] The grid further comprises two horizontal grid walls 8 in the interior 5 of the first storage unit 1, which extend in between the side walls 4 in the transverse horizontal direction T. The horizontal grid walls 8 define, together with the bottom wall 2 and the top wall 3, columns of three craft utensil storage spaces 6 arranged above each other in the vertical direction V.

[0105] It is shown in FIG. 1 that the second storage unit 51 does not comprise any horizontal grid walls and only comprises four vertical grid walls 57 to define a row of five craft utensil storage spaces 56 arranged next to each other in the transverse horizontal direction T

[0106] It is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the storage units 1, 51, 71 each comprise coupling devices, which are configured to interlock with coupling devices of another storage unit.

[0107] The first storage unit 1 comprises eight male coupling devices 11 at its top wall 3, which protrude from the respective top wall 3 in an upward vertical direction V. The male coupling devices 11 have an elevated profile and project above a nominal plane of the top wall 3. Each of the male coupling devices 11 has an elongate, e.g. a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners, when seen in the vertical direction V. The male coupling devices 11 each substantially extend in the transverse horizontal direction T, as is best shown in FIG. 5.

[0108] The first storage unit 1 further comprises eight female coupling devices 12 in its bottom wall 2, which are each formed by a recess in the bottom wall 2. Compared to a nominal plane of the respective bottom wall 2, the female coupling devices 12 have a depressed profile. Seen in the vertical direction V, the female coupling devices 12 each have a circular cross-section. A horizontal width of the rectangular male coupling devices 11 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the circular female coupling devices 12. The female coupling devices 12 are provided as through openings, which extend through the entire bottom wall 2, e.g. into the interior 5 of the first storage unit 1.

[0109] It is best shown in FIG. 5 that the eight male coupling devices 12 at the top wall 3 of the first storage unit 1 are mutually arranged, so that four of them form corner points of a first rectangular, e.g. square male coupling pattern 13 and that four others of them form a second rectangular, e.g. square male coupling pattern 14.

[0110] It is shown that four of the male coupling devices 11 are located at the corner points of a combined rectangular male coupling pattern 15. Hence, the other male coupling devices 11, e.g. not forming the corner points of the combined rectangular male coupling pattern 15, are located at the edges of this pattern 15, e.g. in between the corner points.

[0111] Similarly, the second storage unit 51 comprises four male coupling devices 61 at its top wall 53 and comprises four female coupling devices 62 in its bottom wall 52. The third storage unit 71 is free of a top wall but does comprise four female coupling devices 82 in its bottom wall 72.

[0112] It is best shown in FIG. 6 that the second storage unit 51 has a width W2 and the third storage unit 71 has a width W3 that are both smaller than the width W1 of the first storage unit 1, but which are together just as wide as the first storage unit 1. The four female coupling devices 62 of the second storage unit 51 are arranged in a rectangular, e.g. square female coupling pattern 65 and the four female coupling devices 82 of the second storage unit 71 are arranged in a rectangular, e.g. square female coupling pattern 85 as well.

[0113] The first rectangular male coupling pattern 13 of the first storage unit 1 corresponds to the rectangular female coupling pattern 65 of the second storage unit 51. Hence, the locations of four of the male coupling devices 11 of the first storage unit 1 correspond to the locations of the four female coupling members 62 in the rectangular female coupling pattern 65 of the second storage unit 51. The locations of four others of the male coupling devices 11 of the first storage unit 1 correspond to the location of the four female coupling members 82 in the rectangular female coupling pattern 85 of the third storage unit 71.

[0114] With the second storage unit 51 being arranged on top of the first storage unit 1, the bottom wall 52 of the second storage unit 51 contacts the top wall 3 of the first storage unit 1. Four of the male coupling devices 11 of the first storage unit 1 thereby interlock with the female coupling devices 62 in the bottom wall 52 of the second storage unit 51, in order to prevent mutual horizontal movements of the second storage unit 51 with respect to the first storage unit 1.

[0115] Accordingly, with the third storage unit 71 being arranged on top of the first storage unit 1, the bottom wall 72 of the third storage unit 71 contacts the top wall 3 of the first storage unit 1. Four others of the male coupling devices 11 of the first storage unit 1 thereby interlock with the female coupling devices 82 in the bottom wall 72 of the third storage unit 71, in order to prevent mutual horizontal movements of the third storage unit 71 with respect to the first storage unit 1.

[0116] In particular, four of the male coupling devices 11 of the first storage unit 1 are adapted to interlock with the female coupling devices 62 of the second storage unit 51 and four others of the male coupling devices 11 of the first storage unit 1 are adapted to interlock with the female coupling devices 82 of the third storage unit 71. This interlocking is effected by the male coupling devices 11 that are being inserted in the female coupling devices 62, 82 to obtain the connection, wherein the coupling devices 11, 62, 82 merely rely on gravitational forces, e.g. acting in the vertical direction V, to hold them in place.

[0117] FIG. 7A schematically depicts a rear view on another embodiment of the modular desktop craft utensils storage system according to the present invention, to which is referred with reference numeral 200. The system 200 comprises the first storage unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 and comprises another storage unit 91 stacked thereon. Compared to the first storage unit 1, the upper storage unit 91 has a depth D in the horizontal insertion direction I. The upper storage unit 91 comprises a top wall 93 with a handle 92 attached thereto.

[0118] The handle 92 is rotatably connected to the top wall 93 and is configured to be rotated with respect to the top wall 93 between a retracted position, in which the handle 92 is substantially flush with the top wall 93, and an upright position, in which the handle 92 projects away from the top wall 93 in an upright direction.

[0119] In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the handle is displayed in the retracted position. In particular FIG. 7B shows that the handle 92 is flush with the top wall 93. The storage unit 91 comprises a recessed part 94, vertically located below the top wall 93, in which the handle 92 is accommodated in the retracted position.

[0120] The upper storage unit 91 lacks any male coupling device on the top wall 93, so that the top wall 92 is substantially fully flat when the handle 92 is in the retracted position.

[0121] FIG. 8 schematically depicts a front view on the storage system 200 of FIGS. 7A and 7B. It is shown in FIG. 8 that the upper storage unit 91 further comprises a transparent cover element 95, which is removably positioned against the walls of the storage unit 91. The cover 95 is thereby intended to cover the plurality of craft utensil storage spaces from the front.

[0122] The cover element 95 is provided at a frontal side of the storage unit 91, seen along the horizontal insertion direction I. As such, the cover element 95 is configured to prevent access into the interior from outside the storage unit 91 and to prevent undesired removal of writing utensils out of the interior.

[0123] The cover element 95 comprises a head wall 96, which is aligned perpendicular to the top wall 93 of the storage unit 91 when the cover element 95 is installed against the walls of the storage unit 91. The cover element 95 further comprises an annular rim 97, attached to the head wall 96, with which the cover element 95 abuts the walls of the storage unit 91. An outer contour of the annular rim 97 substantially corresponds to the outer contour of the storage unit 91, being substantially flush therewith.

[0124] The annular rim 97 comprises a recessed part, which has an outer contour that corresponds to an inner contour of the of the storage unit 91. The recessed part is inserted in the interior of the storage unit 91, to let the cover element 95 interlock with the walls of the storage unit 91 by means of its annular rim 97, i.e. by obtaining a shape fit between the annular rim 97 and the walls of the storage unit 91.