Compact folded garment storage display and dispensing device

Abstract

This compact storage, display, and dispensing system for folded garments comprises a plurality of stackable, flexible trays, each of which may hold a uniformly-folded garment, and vertical rails to which each tray may attach individually by magnets in single reinforced tray edges. Trays have nonslip upper surfaces so the garments do not slide off. Users view and select a desired garment, then remove the appropriate tray without disturbing adjacent garments or trays by simply pulling to overcome the magnetic force holding that tray attached. The remaining trays remain attached, and the force of gravity causes them to slide down the rails to occupy the space previously occupied by the now removed tray. Empty trays can either be added to the top of the stack, or removed for refilling. Due to the force of the magnets, removed trays remain in neat vertical stacks, either when empty or refilled.

Claims

1. A device for compactly and neatly storing, displaying, and dispensing uniformly sized folded garments, comprising: a plurality of stackable trays with tray edges, a plurality of parallel, substantially vertical, elongated rails, composed of a material to which a magnet attracts; a plurality of permanent magnets made a part of one tray edge as a means for temporarily attaching each said tray edge to said elongated rails, and for allowing trays to be individually removed from any position in the stack, and to slide down the rails to automatically fill gaps created by removal of trays.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the number of said permanent magnets is two, and the number of said elongated rails is two.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the drawings show typical embodiments of the invention and are not intended to be limiting of its scope.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a single tray in one embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a profile view of a single tray in one embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 at top shows a perspective view of the rails and a stack of trays in the stowed configuration, then proceeding clockwise shows the sequence of events as a tray is removed from the stack and replaced at the top of the stack, at which point the trays slide down the rails and return to the stowed configuration.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an approximately planar, approximately rectangular tray.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an approximately planar, approximately rectangular tray with the additional feature of a tab protrusion on the edge of the tray opposite the reinforced tray edge.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an approximately planar, approximately rectangular tray with the additional feature of a plurality of ventilation holes through it.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an approximately planar, approximately rectangular tray with the additional feature of a vertical spacer on the edge of the tray opposite the reinforced tray edge.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an approximately planar, approximately rectangular tray with the additional feature of an alignment cutout from the top center of the reinforced tray edge.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a tray with a concave upper surface created by bends in the tray surface along a plurality of longitudinal axes.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a tray of the preferred embodiment, with a concave upper surface created by two bends in the tray surface, also incorporating the features of a tab protrusion, a plurality of ventilation holes, a vertical spacer, an alignment cutout, and a nonslip surface.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a different perspective view of the tray of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10, looking across the vertical spacer longitudinally from a point slightly above the tray surface.

(13) FIG. 12 shows yet another perspective view of the tray of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10, looking underneath the reinforced tray edge longitudinally from a point slightly below the tray, and showing two additional features of the preferred embodiment; longitudinal splines on the bottom edge of the reinforced tray edge, and a cutaway of the lower portion of the outer transverse vertical face of the reinforced tray edge.

(14) FIG. 13 shows the preferred embodiment, with a stack of trays held to two vertical rails by two magnets, and maintained in a substantially horizontal position by the vertical spacers.

DRAWINGS REFERENCE NUMERALS

(15) 1a tray, or the upper surface of a tray.

(16) 2reinforced tray edge

(17) 3permanent magnets

(18) 4tab protrusion

(19) 5ventilation holes

(20) 6vertical spacer

(21) 7alignment cutout

(22) 8tray upper surface bend axis

(23) 9nonslip surface

(24) 10longitudinally oriented splines

(25) 11removed portion of outer transverse vertical side of reinforced tray edge

(26) 12parallel, substantially vertical rails

(27) 13stack of trays

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(28) The invention in its most basic form comprises a plurality of trays 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of which trays may hold a uniformly folded garment, which trays may be placed one atop the other to form a stack 13, and which trays are individually attached to a plurality of parallel, substantially vertical rails 12, as shown in FIG. 3, for a compact storage solution that takes advantage of previously wasted vertical space.

(29) Each of said trays 1 is flexible, for easy bending, and is substantially planar in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a concave upper surface 1 in other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 9-12, and is of concave cross section in yet other embodiments.

(30) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a single tray 1 of approximately rectangular shape in the plan view and profile view, respectively, with one reinforced tray edge 2 containing a plurality of permanent magnets 3.

(31) A plurality of trays placed on top of one another forms a stack 13 as shown in FIG. 3. Each tray individually attaches by magnetic force to a plurality of parallel substantially vertical rails 12 secured to the environs, which rails 12 are composed of a material to which magnets attract.

(32) The bottom tray rests upon a flat horizontal surface, which surface is normally a shelf or a floor of the environs.

(33) By flipping through the stack 13 of trays, a user can view the selection of garments. Once a garment is selected, the user may remove the tray containing that garment from the stack by pulling to overcoming the magnetic force that holds said tray 1 attached to said rails 12.

(34) FIG. 3 at top shows a perspective view of an initial condition of the rails 12 and a stack of trays 13 attached in the stowed configuration; proceeding clockwise in FIG. 3, the sequence of events in a cycle of operation is demonstrated in chronological order, as a tray is first removed from the stack and finally replaced at the top of the stack. The device takes advantage of the force of gravity, which causes the remaining trays to slide down the rails 12 to the space formerly occupied by the now-removed tray, and maintain a neat stack 13. Empty trays, or trays holding newly folded garments are simply added onto the top of the stack.

(35) A portion of the upper surface 1 of each tray has a nonslip surface 9 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, to increase friction and facilitate holding a folded garment in place.

(36) In some embodiments, each tray's upper surface 1 is approximately planar, and approximately rectangular, with generally straight edges, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the reinforced tray edge 2, and indicates the position of the plurality of permanent magnets 3.

(37) In some embodiments, the permanent magnets are neodymium magnets, in order to provide a stronger magnetic field and better holding power.

(38) In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, each tray has a tab protrusion 4 which protrudes from the edge of the tray opposite the reinforced tray edge 2, to facilitate pulling a tray to remove it or facilitate flipping through trays to view their contents much as one thumbs through the pages of a book.

(39) In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIGS. 10-12, each tray has a plurality of ventilation holes 5 to maximize fresh air circulation and prevent suction as trays are moved and separated, and also to reduce material needed for manufacture.

(40) In some embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 7, a vertical spacer 6 is attached to the upper surface 1 of each tray along the tray edge opposite the reinforced tray edge 2. Said vertical spacers 6 help to maintain each tray in an approximately horizontal orientation when stacked 13 with other trays, and also bear some of the weight of trays above, thereby reducing wrinkles in the folded garments. FIG. 13 shows a stack 13 of trays employing the spacer feature to keep their approximate horizontal alignment.

(41) In some embodiments, each tray has a cutout 7 of material removed from the upper surface of each tray's reinforced edge 2, as shown in FIG. 8, which facilitates lateral alignment of the tray as said tray is initially slid into position and attached to the vertical rails 12 or added to the stack 13 by the process described of FIG. 3 described above, of which the final configuration is as shown in FIG. 13. Cutout 7 also serves to save material in manufacturing, and to reduce friction.

(42) Some embodiments employ a concave upper surface 1 on each tray, to take advantage of the force of gravity to facilitate said tray's ability to hold and to keep a folded garment centered upon its upper surface 1, to control the flexibility of the tray, and to facilitate the manufacturing process.

(43) In some embodiments said concave upper surface is achieved as depicted in FIG. 9, in which said tray upper surface 1 is bent along a plurality of longitudinal bend lines 8.

(44) In some embodiments a portion of each tray's upper surface 1 is composed of a nonslip surface 9, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, to increase friction and facilitate said tray's ability to hold a folded garment securely.

(45) Certain embodiments have longitudinal splines 10 along the bottom edge of each tray's reinforced edge 2, as depicted in FIG. 12, to reduce removal friction with the item below upon which the tray rests, and to facilitate manufacturing.

(46) As is also shown in FIG. 12, certain embodiments have removed the lower portion 11 of the outer transverse vertical reinforced tray edge 2 surface to prevent the tray edge from catching on clothing or buttons as it is removed from the stack 13.

(47) The preferred embodiment of claim 10 is depicted in FIGS. 10-13; it employs two vertical rails 12 and a plurality of trays in a stack 13 as shown in FIG. 13; each individual tray employs two permanent magnets 3, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, which magnets 3 are neodymium magnets, a tray pull tab 4, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of ventilation holes 5, as shown in FIGS. 10-12, a vertical spacer 6, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 13, a U-shaped alignment cutout 7 of said reinforced tray edge 2, as shown in FIGS. 10-12, two longitudinal bend lines 8 to achieve a concave upper tray surface 1, as shown in FIGS. 10-12, a portion 9 of nonslip surface on said tray's upper surface 1, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, longitudinal splines 10 on the bottom of said reinforced tray edge 2, as shown in FIG. 12, and a cutout 11 of the lower portion of the outer transverse vertical reinforced tray edge 2 surface, as shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 shows the preferred embodiment entire invention, comprising a stack 13 of trays each of which trays' upper surfaces 1 are partly nonslip 9, each tray having a protruding tab 4, a plurality of ventilation holes 5, a vertical spacer 6, a concave upper surface formed by bend axes 8, an alignment cutout 7 of the upper reinforced tray edge, longitudinal splines 10 on the reinforced tray edge bottom surface, and the removed lower portion 11 of the outer vertical reinforced tray edge 2.

(48) Some embodiments include only the most basic features of the device, namely a plurality of flat, substantially planar stackable trays 1 as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, with reinforced tray edges 2 and a portion of their surface 1 made nonslip 9, a plurality of permanent magnets 3, and a plurality of parallel substantially vertical elongated rails 12 to which said trays may attach.

(49) Other embodiments employ every permutation from the group of improvement features of permanent magnets 3 that are neodymium magnets to increase magnetic force and holding power, larger sized permanent magnets 3 to increase magnetic force and holding power, tray tab protrusions 4 to facilitate pulling, searching, and manipulating, a plurality of tray ventilation holes 5 to eliminate suction as trays are moved and to reduce material costs, a vertical spacer 6 on the upper tray edge opposite the reinforced tray edge 2 to facilitate keeping trays 1 and the stack 13 approximately horizontal, and to bear a portion of the weight of trays above, minimizing wrinkles in the folded garment held, a slightly concave upper tray surface with longitudinal bend axes 8 to better hold a folded garment, a concave tray cross section to enable adjacent trays to nest together, variations in the nonslip surface 9 material, texture, and geometry of the portion of each tray upper surface 1 to which it is applied, to improve the tray's ability to hold a folded garment, an alignment cutout 7 from the upper portion of each reinforced tray edge 2, to facilitate lining up a tray's magnets with the rails as a tray is slid into position, a plurality of longitudinally oriented splines 10 on the bottom side of each reinforced tray edge 2 to reduce friction with the tray and the garment directly below, and a removed lower portion 11 of the outer transverse vertical side of each reinforced tray edge 2 in order to avoid the tray edge from catching on a garment or button below it when removed.

(50) Some embodiments employ the feature a plurality of thin, flexible, substantially horizontal, nesting, stackable trays 1 of concave cross-section, to facilitate the quality of providing a stable, compact stack 13 of trays that, by virtue of their curved cross-section, nest in between the trays directly above and below them.

(51) Some embodiments employ the feature a plurality of thin, flexible, substantially horizontal, nesting, stackable trays 1 of concave cross-section, to facilitate the quality of providing a stable, compact stack 13 of trays that, by virtue of their curved cross-section, nest in between the trays directly above and below them, and further employ a means providing nonslip qualities to a portion of the upper side of each of said trays, chosen from the group of a textured finish, a material having the property of high friction with garments it contacts, and a combination of the two first members of the group.

(52) Other embodiments begin with the embodiments, and then employ every permutation from the group of improvement features: of permanent magnets 3 that are neodymium magnets to increase magnetic force and holding power; larger sized permanent magnets to increase magnetic force and holding power; tray tab protrusions 4 to facilitate pulling, searching, and manipulating; a plurality of tray ventilation holes 5 to eliminate suction as trays are moved and to reduce material costs; a vertical spacer 6 on the upper tray edge opposite the reinforced tray edge 2 to facilitate keeping trays 1 and the stack 13 approximately horizontal, and to bear a portion of the weight of trays above, minimizing wrinkles in the folded garment held; a slightly concave upper tray surface with bend axes 8 to better hold a folded garment; a concave tray cross section to enable adjacent trays to nest together; nonslip surface 9 material, texture, and geometry of the portion of each tray upper surface 1 to which it is applied, to improve the tray's ability to hold a folded garment; an alignment cutout 7 from the upper portion of each reinforced tray edge 2, to facilitate lining up a tray's magnets with the rails as a tray is slid into position; a plurality of longitudinally oriented splines 10 on the bottom side of each reinforced tray edge 2 to reduce friction with the tray and the garment directly below; and a removed lower portion 11 of the outer transverse vertical side of each reinforced tray edge 2 in order to avoid the tray edge from catching on a folded garment, button or tray below it when removed.

(53) In some embodiments, the positioning of the permanent magnets 3 is such that a stack 13 of trays will self-align in position directly over one another, whether or not attached to the parallel vertical rails 12.

(54) Some embodiments of the invention are suitable for the compact storage of a variety of items other than folded garments, including books, compact discs, and articles of jewelry.