Stackable storage device for footwear

Abstract

A display case assembly for footwear that allows the user easy access to each individual pair of footwear while displaying each item of footwear. The assembly includes one or more containers that can be stacked to form an assembly of storage devices that cooperate to assist access to the footwear in that a first device stacked on top of a second device can be used to hold the door of the second device open while the user accesses the footwear inside. The containers feature two adjacent doors with magnets located on their exterior surfaces positioned to contact the magnets on a door of a second container stacked on top of a first container. In addition, the containers feature a support column with magnets that are positioned to contact magnets on the doors when the doors are fully closed.

Claims

1. A stackable storage device for footwear comprising: a container having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of sidewalls, two doors each located adjacent to each other and connected to the top surface of the container; at least one magnet featured on the plurality of movable doors and a support column connecting the top surface and the bottom surface, said support column positioned at the intersection of the two doors that are located adjacent to each other; and wherein each of the two doors is located opposed to at least one sidewall.

2. The storage device of claim 1 further comprising at least one first magnet featured on a surface of the column, at least one second magnet located on an inside surface of at least one door wherein the at least one second magnet is positioned to contact the at least one first magnet on the column when the door is closed.

3. The storage device of claim 2 further comprising at least one protrusion featured by the top surface of the container and at least one cavity featured by the bottom surface of the container wherein the protrusions on a first container and configured to insert into the holes of a second container when the second container is stacked on top of the first container.

4. The storage device of claim 3 further comprising at least one magnet on the bottom surface of the second container and at least one magnet featured on the top surface of the first container; said magnets being positioned such that they are in contact when the second container is stacked on top of the first container.

5. The stackable storage container of claim 1 wherein each door features a magnet.

6. A stackable storage assembly for footwear comprising: a plurality of containers stacked one on top of the other and each having a top surface, a bottom surface, at least one sidewall and at least one moveable door; wherein at least one container features two doors that are located adjacent to each other and each door is located opposed to at least one sidewall; and wherein each top surface features at least one protrusion that is complementary to and able to fit into a cavity located on each bottom surface of each of the plurality of containers; and wherein each door of each of the plurality of containers features a first magnet and wherein the first magnet of a first container of the plurality of containers is positioned to come into contact with the first magnet featured by the door of a second container of the plurality of containers when it is stacked on top of the first container of the plurality of containers when the door of the first container is fully opened.

7. The stackable storage assembly of claim 6 wherein each of the doors of the plurality of containers features a second magnet and wherein the second magnet of a first container is positioned to contact the first magnet on the door of a second container stacked on top of a first container when each of the doors is fully opened.

8. The stackable storage assembly of claim 7 wherein the second container is smaller than the first container.

9. The stackable storage assembly of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of containers features a support column with a first end and a second end, said first end being in contact with the bottom surface of its respective container and the second end is in contact with the top surface of its respective container.

10. The stackable storage assembly of claim 9 wherein the support column in each of the plurality of containers is positioned such that a first surface of the support column is in contact with one of the two doors and a second surface of the support column is in contact with a second door; and wherein the first side of each assembly features a third magnet and the second side features a fourth magnet.

11. The stackable storage assembly of claim 10 further comprising a fifth magnet being located on each door and positioned such that the fifth magnet is in contact with the third or fourth magnet featured by the support column when each door is fully closed.

12. A stackable storage assembly comprising: at least two containers stacked on top of each other, each container having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first sidewall and a first door located at opposing ends of the container, and a second sidewall and a second door located opposite the second sidewall; wherein each door features a first magnet, a second magnet, and a third magnet; a support column that connects the top surface to a bottom surface and is located a corner of the container where the first door and the second door meet; wherein said support column features a fourth magnet and a fifth magnet; wherein the first magnet or the second magnet on each door is positioned to come into contact with the first magnet or the second magnet of the door on the container stacked on top of it when fully opened; and the third magnet on each door is positioned to be in contact with either the fourth magnet or the fifth magnet on the support column when the door is in a closed position.

13. The stackable storage assembly of claim 12 wherein each top surface features at least one protrusion that is complementary to and able to fit into a cavity located on each bottom surface of each of the at least two containers.

14. The stackable storage assembly of claim 13 further comprising at least one magnet on the bottom surface of one of the at least two containers and at least one magnet featured on the top surface of the other of the at least two containers; said magnets being positioned such that they are in contact when the containers are stacked on top of one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the stackable storage device;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

(4) FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an assembly of containers according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIGS. 1 through 4 show a preferred embodiment and the anticipated best mode of the stackable storage device for footwear. Specifically, FIGS. 1 and 2 show different angles of the stackable storage device made of a container 10 having a top surface 11, a bottom surface (not shown), two sidewalls (not shown), two movable doors 14 attached to the top surface 11 via hinges 15 and featuring at least one magnet 16 in each door's center. In addition, FIG. 1 shows a cutout 17 featured at the bottom surface of each door that allows a user to more easily open the door 14 to which it is attached. Said cutouts 17 can be featured on a number of different parts of the door 14 as its function is to allow the user a handhold to grip the edge of the door 14 so as to apply enough force to open the door.

(6) FIGS. 1 and 2 also show some of the structures that make the containers easier to stack, specifically, the top surface 11 of reach container 10 features one or more protrusions 18 that are sized and positioned to fit into cavities (not shown) on the bottom surface of another container. In some preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device, the top surface 11 of the container 10 features feet 19 made of a slip resistant material and each of the feet 19 features a raised protrusion 18 extending up and away from the top surface 11 of the foot 19 to which it is attached. Still further preferred embodiments can feature a magnet 16 integrated into the feet 19 or top surface 11 of the container 10 meant to interact with one or more magnets (not shown) on the bottom surface (not shown) of another container (not shown). FIGS. 1 and 2 also shows a magnet 16 featured by each of the two doors 14 of the container.

(7) FIG. 3 shows the sidewalls 13 featured by each container. Preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device include at least two sidewalls 13 located adjacent to each other. However, other embodiments can include up to four doors integrated into the device such that the user can access the stored footwear from any of four directions.

(8) FIG. 3 also shows the bottom surface 12 of a container according to a preferred embodiment of the device. Note, the bottom surface features one or more cavities 20 into which a protrusion (not shown) on the top surface (not shown) of a separate container (not shown) can be inserted. In addition, FIG. 3 also shows the positioning of more magnets 16 on the bottom surface of the container 10. These magnets 16 can be positioned to engage with additional magnets (not shown) on the top surface (not shown) of a separate container (not shown).

(9) FIG. 4 illustrates how the containers interact when they are stacked one on top of the other according to a preferred embodiment of the device. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows four containers 10 stacked on top of each other. Each container features a top surface (not shown), a bottom surface 12, a plurality of sidewalls 13 and a plurality of doors 14 connected to the top surface by hinges 15. Each door 14 features one or more magnets 16. Note FIG. 4 shows two of larger containers 10a stacked in between two of the smaller containers 10b. Also note, the magnets 16 on the doors 14 of the larger containers 10a are positioned such that they can contact the magnets 16 on the door of another larger container 10a or the magnet 16 that is present on the door of a smaller container 10b.

(10) FIG. 4 also shows the support column 21 that is featured by some preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of practicing the invention. The column connects the top surface 11 and the bottom surface 12 at a corner where the two adjacent doors 14 come together. Said column 21 provides support to the top surface 11 that does not depend on the movable doors 14. As discussed above, the column 21 can feature a magnet 16 that is positioned to interact with another magnet 16 located on an inside surface of the same container's 10 door 14. When the door 14 is closed, the additional magnet 16 contacts with magnet 16 on the column 21 providing additional means of keeping the door 16 in a closed position. FIG. 4 also shows the cavities 20 present on the bottom surface 12 of each container 10. Each cavity 20 is configured to receive a protrusion 18 and/or the foot 19 positioned on the top surface 12 of a container 10 stacked underneath.

(11) The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the ability to both display clothing such as footwear while protecting each item from dust and damage and allowing the user easy access to each individual pair of footwear while displaying each item of footwear. Further, the devices when stacked one on top of the other devices assist each other in holding the door to the opening open, making access to the footwear more convenient.

(12) Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

(13) Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

(14) It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

(15) While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.