Modular suspendable organizational apparatus
09999322 ยท 2018-06-19
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F16B7/0413
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
Modular suspendable organizational apparatus comprising at least one receptacle element are disclosed. In an aspect, organizational apparatus are provided that include at least one modular component that facilitates adjustment of the size of an apparatus's frame and/or adjustment, addition, and/or removal of the at least one receptacle element associated with the apparatus.
Claims
1. A modular suspendable organizational apparatus, comprising: a frame; and at least one removably attachable modular component comprising an end portion that comprises a connector, wherein the connector comprises: a first connector portion comprising at least one substantially flat planar surface securely attached to two substantially parallel sidewalls oriented perpendicularly thereto, the first connector portion further comprising an indentation and a distal end integrated with a lip; and a second connector portion comprising at least one substantially flat planar surface securely attached to two substantially parallel sidewalls oriented perpendicularly thereto, the second connector portion further comprising an indentation configured to removably receive the lip of the first connector portion and a distal end with a lip configured to be removably received by the indentation of the first connector portion; wherein the sidewalls of the first and second connector portions are at least semi-pliable and comprise a tension force biased to return the sidewalls to a position substantially perpendicular to each of the at least one planar surfaces of the first and second connector portions upon deviation from such position; wherein the distal end with the lip of the second connector portion comprises at least one protrusion configured to be removably secured within at least one recess within the indentation of the first connector portion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises at least one locking band.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one locking hand is removably secured within the indentation of the first connector portion, the indentation and the locking band spanning the at least one substantially flat planar surface and the two substantially parallel sidewalls of the first connector portion.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, an inner portion of the at least one locking band comprising at least one raised nodule configured to be removably secured within at least one notch within the indentation of the first connector portion.
5. A modular suspendable organizational apparatus, comprising: a plurality of interchangeable parts; a connector to interconnect at least two interchangeable parts of the plurality of interchangeable parts, wherein the connector comprises: a first portion comprising a substantially flat first planar surface, a first left sidewall integrally attached and perpendicular to the first planar surface, and a first right sidewall parallel to the first left sidewall, and integrally attached and perpendicular to the first planar surface, the first portion further comprising a first distal end and a first indentation offset from the first distal end to form a first lip and a first recess, the first lip further comprising a first protrusion extending from the first lip over the first indentation; and a second portion comprising a substantially flat second planar surface, a second left sidewall integrally attached and perpendicular to the second planar surface, and a second right sidewall parallel to the second left sidewall, and integrally attached and perpendicular to the second planar surface, the second portion further comprising a second distal end and a second indentation offset from the second distal end to form a second lip and a second recess, the second lip further comprising a second protrusion extending from the second lip over the second indentation, the first indentation of the first portion configured to receive the second lip of the second portion and the second indentation of the second portion configured to receive the first lip of the first portion; wherein the first left sidewall and the first right sidewall of the first portion, and the second left sidewall and the second right sidewall of the second portion comprise a tension force biased to return the sidewalls to a position substantially perpendicular to each of the at least one planar surfaces of the first and second portions upon deviation from such position.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first left sidewall and the first right sidewall of the first portion, and the second left sidewall and the second right sidewall of the second portion are at least semi-pliable.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the Detailed Description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(13) The present disclosure is directed to apparatus that facilitate the ability of a user to create a customized configuration of an organizational system designed to cater to the user's particular needs. Additionally, apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure may allow individual portions thereof to be interchangeable, thereby allowing a broken portion to be replaced instead of replacing the entire apparatus.
(14) Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus which facilitate a user's ability to add, remove, and/or replace one or more frame extension segments and/or receptacle elements used therewith, such as shelves, hooks, and the like. To accomplish this, organizational apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise at least one modular component that may be used to add, remove, and/or replace various elements associated with the apparatus.
(15) The term receptacle element and/or the plural form of this term are used throughout herein to refer to any element capable of receiving one or more items, including personal care items, tools, decorations, and the like.
(16) The terms module, modular component, and modular portion and/or the plural form of these terms are used throughout herein to refer to any one of a set of standardized parts or independent units that may be added or removed in order to customize or repair one or more organizational apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. In some aspects, a modular component may comprise a frame extension segment, a receptacle element, or the like.
(17) The term hook and/or the plural form of this term is used throughout herein to refer collectively to any receptacle element capable of removably receiving an item in a hanging fashion, including hooks, clips, clasps, clamps, and the like.
(18) Referring now to
(19) In an aspect, apparatus 100 may comprise a frame 102 and at least one receptacle element, such as a shelf 104 (shown as shelves 104a-b in
(20) In some aspects, frame 102 may comprise substantially parallel vertical members 120 (labeled as vertical members 120a-b in
(21) In some aspects, one or more shelves 104 integrated with apparatus 100 may be integrated with a corresponding retention bar 106 configured to prevent items received upon shelves 104 from being displaced therefrom. Retention bar 106 may comprise one or more materials substantially similar to those used for frame 102 and/or shelves 104.
(22) In some additional aspects, one or more shelves 104 may be integrated with one or more gripping elements 108 (labeled only as gripping element 108a in
(23) In still some additional aspects, one or more shelves 104 may be integrated with at least one slot 110 (labeled only as slot 110a in
(24) Shelves 104 may comprise any appropriate shape and/or configuration as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. By way of example and not limitation, shelves 104 may be substantially flat and rigid planar components. In some aspects, shelves 104 may be configured in an extra-large or extra-small size so as to receive a wide range of items of various sizes. In some additional aspects, one or more portions of a given shelf 104 may be configured in a shape as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein so as to removably receive the top portion of a container, so as to allow the container to be received by shelf 104 in an inverted fashion, thereby allowing for easy access to the contents of such container on demand in instances wherein the top portion of the container comprises the container opening. This may save time when the contents of the container are slow-moving when compared with tipping the container over when needed and waiting for the contents to slide to the top portion (i.e., opening). Shelves 104 may include netting portions.
(25) In yet some further aspects, hooks 112 may be securely or removably received at one or more lower distal ends of frame 102. In aspects wherein apparatus 100 is a shower caddy, hooks 112 may be configured to removably receive one or more washcloths, loofahs, poufs, sponges, and the like.
(26) In still some additional aspects, apparatus 100 may be configured with at least one means for being removably or securely mounted in a suspended fashion. In some aspects, this may be accomplished, for example, by integrating a curved portion 114 with the top portion of frame 102 to removably attach apparatus 100 to showerhead pipe 116, such as when apparatus 100 is used as a shower caddy. In some alternative aspects, the top portion of apparatus 100 may be integrated with one or more hooks, clips, clasps, brackets, or similar elements capable of removably or securely mounting apparatus 100 upon a door, wall, or similar elevated structure. Additionally, apparatus 100 may be integrated with one or more adhesion elements 118 (labeled only as adhesion element 118a in
(27) Referring now to
(28) In some aspects, apparatus 100 may be configured to removably receive a module in the form of extension portion 202. Extension portion 202 may connect to apparatus 100 at one or more connection locations 204 (shown only as connection location 204a in
(29) Referring now to
(30) In some aspects, apparatus 100 may be used with additional modules in the form of one or more frame extension segments 302 (shown as frame extension segments 302a-b in
(31) In some additional aspects, one or more shelves 104 may be integrated with one or more holes 304 (labeled only as holes 304a-b in
(32) Referring now to
(33) In some aspects, various portions of apparatus 100, such as extension portion 202, may be configured to removably or securely receive one or more modules in the form of a hanger element 402. In some aspects, hanger element 402, as well as other modules associated with apparatus 100, may attach to apparatus 100 via a clip, clasp, or similar mechanism such as, by way of example and not limitation, clasp 504 (not shown in
(34) Referring now to
(35) Modules that may be used with apparatus 100 may comprise any of the elements of apparatus 100, including, but not limited to, an upper portion 506, including its own shelf 104 (labeled as shelf 104a in
(36) Shelf 104 may also include one or more hooks 112 for hanging personal care items such as loofahs, poufs, sponges, washcloths and the like.
(37) In some aspects, any of the various types of modules, as well as frame 102, may be produced using one or more additive manufacturing processes and their associated devices, thereby allowing a user to produce portions of, as well as entire copies of, apparatus 100 as needed.
(38) Referring now to
(39) In some aspects, hook 112 may removably attach to apparatus 100 via connector 502 at a first end portion. A second end portion of hook 112 may, in some aspects, comprise a knob 602. Knob 602 may prevent items received by hook 112 from sliding or falling off unintentionally. In some additional aspects, hook 112 may include one or more stability segments that contacts either apparatus 100 or a surface apparatus 100 is mounted on in order to provide additional support for hook 112 and apparatus 100. In such aspects, a distal end of such stability segment may be integrated with an adhesion element 118.
(40) Referring now to
(41) In some aspects, connector 502 may be configured as connector 700.
(42) Connector 700 may comprise a first connector portion 702 and a second connector portion 704. First and second connector portions 702 and 704 may be securely integrated with corresponding distal ends of two modules or a module and a portion of frame 102, depending on what elements a user desires to attach together. In some aspects, connector portions 702 and 704 may each comprise a rectangular parallelepiped with an open bottom side and an open distal end; however, any appropriate shape and configuration may be used as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Additionally, first and second connector portions 702 and 704 may be connected to and disconnected from each other without the use of tools and may be configured so as to engage in little to no lateral movement relative to each other.
(43) In an aspect, first connector portion 702 may comprise an indentation 710 which further comprises one or more recesses 706 (labeled only as recess 706a in
(44) In order to connect and disconnect second connector portion 704 to/from first connector portion 702, sidewalls 718 (labeled as sidewalls 718a-b in
(45) Referring now to
(46) In some aspects, connector 700 may be used with at least one locking band 802. Locking band 802 may serve to fill in the extra space within indentation 710 when lip 712 is received therein and protrusions 708 (labeled only as protrusion 708b in
(47) In some aspects, in order to keep locking band 802 in place, one or more inner portions of locking band 802 may comprise one or more nodules 804 (shown only as nodule 804a in
(48) As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, nodules 804 and notches 806 may comprise other appropriate structures and/or configurations, including, by way of example and not limitation, placing nodules 804 within indentation 710 and placing notches 806 along the inner portion of locking band 802.
(49) Referring briefly to
(50) Referring now to
(51) In some aspects, connector 502 may be configured as connector 1100.
(52) Connector 1100 includes a series of teeth 1106 (labeled only as tooth 1106a in
(53) In an aspect, connector 1100 may comprise one or more rigid and/or semi-rigid materials, including but not limited to metals, plastics and other polymers. Sidewalls 1110 may be configured of such appropriate materials so as to be sufficiently pliable in order to allow a user to squeeze them together with or without the use of tools to connect or disconnect second connector portion 1104 from first connector portion 1102. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, in some aspects, teeth 1106 and nooks 1108 may be configured in an angled fashion to allow second connector portion 1204 to be slidably movable in one direction so as to be received by first connector portion 1102 without having to squeeze sidewalls 1110.
(54) While various aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects.
(55) In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present disclosure, are presented for example purposes only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures (e.g., implementation within computing devices and environments other than those mentioned herein). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, certain features from different aspects of the apparatus of the present disclosure may be combined to form yet new aspects of the present disclosure.
(56) Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present disclosure in any way.