Pivoting add-on storage caddy

Abstract

Pivoting add-on storage caddy includes a frame member having a width, a height, and first and second ends to define a length; and a pivot about the first end, which has at least two pivoting contrivances that can be adjustably and slidably substantially spaced apart vertically in a direction substantially parallel with the height. The frame member may be inclusive of a vertical door component and a laterally projecting tray component. The caddy may be provided in kit form. The caddy can be mounted to a vertical support of an open storage rack or another substrate structure.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a pivoting caddy for a storage shelf, said arrangement comprising: a caddy having a body for storage of material, said caddy having connected to said caddy body a generally vertical bearing with upper and lower openings; a first hinge support having a body with a face for abutting a structural member of the storage shelf, said first hinge support having a flexible strap allowing for connection of said first hinge support with the structural member of the storage shelf, and said first hinge support having a lateral arm connected with said first hinge support body, and said first hinge support having a vertically projecting pivot pin connecting with said lateral arm, said pivot pin being insertable within said caddy bearing; and a second hinge support essentially identical to said first hinge support except said second hinge support having a body connected lateral arm extending generally opposite said first hinge support lateral arm and wherein a pivot pin of said second hinge support projects into said caddy bearing opposite said first hinge support pivot pin.

2. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein at least one of said hinge supports has a pre-drilled hole to allow it to be attached to the shelf structural member with a fastener.

3. An in arrangement as described in claim 2 wherein said hinged support has a plurality of holes for a plurality of fasteners.

4. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said caddy has bearings on opposite ends of said caddy.

5. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said caddy is fabricated from a plastic material.

6. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said first pivot is fabricated the plastic material.

7. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said hinge support has a triangular body with said face forming a base of said triangular body.

8. An arrangement as described in claim 7 wherein said hinge support body is pre-drilled for a plurality of fasteners.

9. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said first hinge support lateral arm is connected on said first hinge support body on an end of said first hinge support body generally opposite said face.

10. An arrangement for a pivoting caddy for a storage shelf, said arrangement comprising: a caddy having a body for storage of material, said caddy along opposite rear extreme ends having connected to said caddy body generally vertical bearings with upper and lower openings; a first hinge support having a triangular shaped body with a face along a triangular base for abutting a structural member of the storage shelf, said first hinge support having a flexible strap allowing for connection of said first hinge support with the structural member of the storage shelf and said first hinge support having a plurality of predrilled holes to provide for fastener connection with the support shelf structural member, and said first hinge support having a lateral arm connected with said first hinge support body at an end of said first hinge support body away from said face, and said first hinge support having a vertically projecting pivot pin connecting with said lateral arm, said pivot pin being insertable within one of said caddy bearing; and a second hinge support essentially identical to said first hinge support except said second hinge support having a body connected lateral arm extending generally opposite said first hinge support lateral arm and wherein a pivot pin of said second hinge support projects into said caddy bearing opposite said first hinge support pivot pin.

11. An arrangement for a pivoting caddy for a storage shelf, said arrangement comprising: a caddy having an open box shaped body for storage of material, said caddy along opposite rear extreme ends having connected to said caddy body generally vertical bearings with upper and lower openings; a polymeric first hinge support having a triangular shaped body with a face along a triangular base for abutting a structural member of the storage shelf, said first hinge support having a flexible strap and latched clamp allowing for connection of said first hinge support with the structural member of the storage shelf and said first hinge support having a plurality of predrilled holes to provide for fastener connection with the support shelf structural member, and said first hinge support having a lateral arm connected with said first hinge support body at an end of said first hinge support body away from said face, and said first hinge support having a vertically projecting pivot pin connecting with said lateral arm, said pivot pin being insertable within one of said caddy bearing, said pivot pin having a plunger to restrain free pivotal movement of said caddy; and a second hinge support essentially identical to said first hinge support except said second hinge support having a body connected lateral arm extending generally opposite said first hinge support lateral arm and wherein a pivot pin of said second hinge support projects into said caddy bearing opposite said first hinge support pivot pin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings form part of the specification hereof. With respect to the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, the following is briefly noted:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view, taken from the front, right, top, of two pivoting add-on storage caddies, their frame members made substantially with wood and their pivots made substantially with metal, and mounted, as a generally opposing pair opening centrally to one another, on opposing vertical supports of open wooden shelving, pivoted to closed positions.

(3) FIG. 2 is another perspective view, taken from the front, right, top, of the mounted pivoting add-on storage caddies of FIG. 1, pivoted to open positions.

(4) FIG. 3 is another perspective view, taken from the front, right, top, of one of the pivoting add-on storage caddies found within FIG. 1, here, the right caddy, mounted on a vertical support of common open metal rack shelving, which has prepositioned holes in its vertical supports.

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of a right caddy such as found within FIGS. 1-3, illustrating in particular attachment of its pivot to its frame member.

(6) FIG. 5 is a front view of an additional feature, here, a hook member, found in the caddy depicted within FIGS. 1 and 2.

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of the hook member of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is perspective view, taken from the front, right, top, of a pivoting add-on storage caddy having a frame member with various additional and other features.

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view, taken from the front, top, of a pivoting add-on storage caddy having a frame member made of see-through plastic.

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view, taken from the front, right, top of a pivoting add-on storage caddy. Its frame member may be made, for example, with plastic or wood.

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view, taken from the rear, left of a pivoting add-on storage caddy as of FIG. 9, which is mounted to wooden shelving, and has, moreover, tool-insertion holes and hooks for hanging items such as an extension cord and a dustpan. Compare, FIGS. 1,2 and 5-7.

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view, taken from the front, right of a pivoting add-on storage caddy as of FIG. 10, which is mounted to wooden shelving, but includes a paper towel roll holder. Compare, FIGS. 7 and 8.

(13) FIG. 12 is a perspective view, taken from the front, right of a pivoting add-on storage caddy, mounted to wooden shelving. Its frame member is made with sheet metal.

(14) FIG. 13 is a front view of a pivoting add-on storage caddy with a plural-pivoting pivot. It also embodies a provision for left and right hand reversibility, i.e., left to right side pivot mounting exchange, showing its right hand side mounting configuration.

(15) FIG. 14 is a front view of the caddy of FIG. 13, showing its left hand side mounting configuration.

(16) FIGS. 15A-17 are perspective views of pivoting add-on storage caddies hereof, each with some other provisions for left and right hand reversibility, i.e., a rear to front pivot mounting exchange provision with FIG. 15A illustrating exchange of a pivot component, e.g., a hinge pin with pivoting contrivances, e.g., hinge plates, FIG. 115B illustrating rotation of a pivot, and FIG. 15C illustrating exchange of a complete or modular pivot; a top to bottom laterally projecting tray component mounting exchange provision (FIG. 16); and a front to rear laterally projecting tray component mounting exchange provision (FIG. 17).

(17) FIG. 18 is a perspective view, taken from the front, right, top, of a pivoting add-on storage caddy with a bottom laterally projecting tray component and an inverted top laterally projecting tray component, which projects in the same direction as the bottom laterally projecting tray component with respect to the vertical door component. This provides not only a top ceiling for the caddy, which may help guard stored items, but also left and right hand reversibility through a top to bottom caddy rotation provision.

(18) FIG. 19 is perspective view, taken from the front, right, top, of a pivoting add-on storage caddy. Its frame member has additional features, with a vertical door component but no laterally projecting tray component. It has left and right hand reversibility.

(19) FIGS. 20-29 are views of a pivoting, add-on storage caddy hereof having a pivot embracing a split, vertically oriented hinge post ensemble that is pivotally associated with a corresponding securing contrivance, in which a vertically slidable relationship exists with respect to hinge posts of the ensemblewith FIG. 20 an exploded view of the caddy, which has left or right hand side pivoting capability; FIG. 21 a top perspective view of the caddy being attached to an open rack storage unit, with mounting inside the vertical open shelf support; FIG. 22 a bottom perspective view of the caddy; FIG. 23 a top view, in detail, of part of its frame member/laterally projecting tray component (bin) bottom and attachment of an additional feature/accessory thereto; FIG. 24 another bottom view, but of the bin; FIG. 25 a front view of the bin with accessory; FIG. 26 a side view of the bin with accessory; FIG. 27 a rear perspective view, in detail, of part of the caddy being attached to the open rack storage unit, with mounting in front of the vertical open shelf support; FIG. 28 a perspective view of a hinge post assembly; and FIG. 29 a composite view, which includes an opposing left, right pair of the caddies attached to open rack shelving, and so forth.

(20) FIG. 30 is an enlargement illustrating the connection of the left caddy in FIG. 29 to the storage shelf.

(21) FIG. 31 is an enlargement illustrating attachment of a hinge support to a storage shelf shown in FIG. 30.

(22) FIG. 32 is an enlargement illustrating the connection of the right caddy in FIG. 29 to the storage shelf.

(23) FIG. 33 is an enlarged perspective view of the caddy shown in FIG. 29.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(24) The invention can be further understood by the detail set forth below, which may be read in view of the drawings. The same, as with the foregoing, is to be taken in an illustrative and not necessarily limiting sense.

(25) The pivoting add-on storage caddy can be made with any suitable material(s). For instance, the frame member, which may be configured to be inclusive of a vertical door component and a laterally projecting tray component, may be made with wood, other plant-based material such as wicker, bark and so forth, or with plastic and/or metal; it may be made in several pieces, which are assembled with fasteners, such as by making it of wood with metal or plastic fasteners, or with use of glue; or it may be made in one, unitary piece, for instance, by molding it of plastic. As well, the pivot may be made, for instance, with metal, plastic or wood; it may be made in several pieces, which can be assembled, say, as a steel hinge pin for the vertical orientation onto which two brass hinge plates are pivotally slidably mounted, as a set of two or more ball and socket joints made of aluminum or steel, as a substantially cylindrical vertically oriented groove formed about the first end of the frame member and open to the side into which can be slid at least two balls or cylinders attached to arms for fixing to a suitable vertical substrate, and so forth and the like. Pivot stops to stop at least the upper pivoting contrivance along the pivot can be supplied, for instance, in metal or plastic, say, in a form of a nut to be screwed onto a threaded rod for a hinge pin, in a form of a malleable knock to be tightened about a hinge pin, in a form of a washer or other stop to be slid over a hinge pin and glued, and so forth. Certain embodiments can have an unthreaded hinge pin. Then, too, the pivot may be made to include one or more than one-piece pivoting contrivances of molded plastic living hinges.

(26) In turn, as persons skilled in the art appreciate as well, the present caddy can be made and affixed to be in combination with a suitable substrate structure, for example, the vertical support of an open storage rack, by any suitable method. A number of these are alluded to herein. A kit may provide for assembly of the pivoting add-on storage caddy from components, parts, and accessories in a home environment.

(27) The present caddy may be employed in any suitable configuration. Thus, it may be mounted singly or in multiple units, for instance, two or more units oriented vertically with respect to one another other, askew, say, kitty-comer, from one another, or, for example, in an opposing pair or plural numbers of opposing pairs, which may be vertically oriented with respect to one another, and so forth.

(28) With more particular respect to the drawings, pivoting add-on storage caddy 100, which can be affixed to vertical support 9 for open shelving, includes frame member 10 and pivot 20. Additional feature(s) 30 may be present.

(29) The frame member 10 has overall width 11 from back 11B to front 11F, for instance, about from three to six inches, for example, about 4 inches (FIGS. 1-3) or about 3 inches (FIG. 8), with inside width 11W, for instance, about from of an inch to an inch less than the overall width 11, say, about 3 9/16 inches (FIGS. 1-3) or about 3 inches (FIG. 8); overall height 12 with bottom 12B, inside height 12H, and top 12T, which may be open, with the overall height 12, for instance, about from six or ten inches to one foot or two or three or more feet, say, about from seven inches to a foot or about from fifteen to twenty-five inches, for example, about sixteen inches (FIGS. 1-4) or about eight inches (FIG. 8), and with the inside height 12H, for instance, about from of an inch to two to six inches less than the overall height 12, say, about 14 inches (FIGS. 1-4) or about 7 inches (FIG. 8); and first end 13 or lower first end 13 and second end 14 or lower second end 14, which may define overall length 15, for instance, about from six or ten inches to one foot or two or three or more feet, say, about from seven inches to a foot or about from fourteen inches to about two feet, for example, about 16 inches (FIGS. 1-3) or about ten inches (FIG. 8) with inside length 15L, for instance, about from of an inch to an inch less than the overall length 15, say, about sixteen inches (FIGS. 1-3) or about 9 inches (FIG. 8). Other suitable dimensions may be employed, for example, to better conform to a specific commercially available open shelving unit. Horizontal supports 16, which may be lower unitary support 16 or a diagonal support 16, can span the first and second ends 13, 13, 14, 14 or a portion thereof to stiffen and/or provide restraints for items stored on shelf 17 in the frame member 10. The lower unitary support 16 is integral or connected with the shelf 17. Vertical door component 18 may be considered to be made up of the feature(s) 13, 13, 14 and 14 (rearmost portions); 16, 16 and 16 (rear); and 17 (rearmost portion). In cortjunction with the vertical door component 18, laterally projecting tray component 19, 19, which can impart significant asymmetry to the caddy 100, may be considered to be made up of the feature(s) 13, 13, 14 and 14 (middle to front portions); 16, 16 and 16 (front); and 17 (middle to front portion). The frame member 10 may have the vertical door component 18 without a laterally projecting tray component (FIG. 19).

(30) The frame member may include hinge post securing contrivance 19, which embraces receptacle system having a female bottom facing receptacle opening and a female top facing receptacle opening. Alternatively, male posts may be employed in lieu of one or more of the female bottom or top facing receptacle openings.

(31) The pivot 20 is provided about the first end 13 of the frame member 10. Upper pivoting contrivance 21 and lower pivoting contrivance 22, say, separate hinge plates, can be adjustably, substantially spaced apart vertically in a direction substantially parallel with the height 12 of the frame member 10. Vertically oriented hinge pin 23, which may be threaded (FIGS. 1-4, 7 and 8), for example, a 3/16-inch diameter threaded steel rod, is attached to the first end 13 of the frame member 10 by fasteners such as L-brackets 23B with holes, screws, and threaded nuts 23N (FIGS. 1-4) and/or by being molded-in with or screwed into the remaining structure of the frame unit 10 (FIGS. 7-19) so that the hinge plate pivoting contrivances 21, 22 pivotally, vertically, slidably mount on the hinge pin 23. A single long hinge pin may mount, through a series of sets of correspondent hinge plates, a plurality of frame members vertically with respect to one another, with the resultant caddies vertically oriented on the single long hinge pin and mounted to a suitable substrate structure. The pivot may embrace split, vertically oriented hinge post ensemble that is pivotally associated with the hinge post securing contrivance, in which a vertically slidable relationship exists with respect to hinge posts of the ensemble. The split, vertically oriented hinge post ensemble may include a pair of opposing male hinge posts, bottom and top, the bottom post facing upward and receivable in the bottom facing receptacle opening of the receptacle system, and the top post facing downward and receivable in the top facing receptacle opening of the receptacle system. Alternatively, female receptacles may be employed in lieu of one or more of the bottom or top male posts, which would interact with corresponding male posts on the frame member 10 such as those mentioned above. Attachment of the hinge post ensemble, and hence the caddy, to the vertical support may be accomplished with hinge post securement system, which, for example, may be configured as a latch/clamp member that may be commercially available and includes securing strap, and/or may be accomplished with screws, glue and/or magnets, and so forth and the like.

(32) The additional feature(s) 30 may be provided. For instance, accessory(ies) such as serpentine hook(s) or peg(s) 31 may be added about or on a panel below the bottom 12B or about an end, say, the second end 14 of the frame member 10 for hanging tool(s), rag(s) and so forth. Tool channel(s) or hole(s) 32 may be provided in the frame member 10, say, in a vertical orientation generally in or about a frame member front 11F or in an upper horizontal support 16, for inserting tools such as awls, files, knives, pliers, screwdrivers, and so forth. Specialized slot(s) 33 may be provided in the frame member 10, say, within an exposed, accessible part the shelf 17, to insert and suspend suitable tools or equipment, for example, baseball bat(s) with balls and a glove stored within confines of front and rear horizontal supports 16, 16, perhaps along with cleaning equipment and so forth. U-shaped clip(s) or hook(s) 33 may be provided or mounted on the frame member 10, say, on a lower horizontal support 16 at the front, for example, to hang a broom or tennis racket. Paper towel roll holding contrivance 35 may be provided, say, underneath the shelf 17, which may, for example, be affixed with snaps. Removable hanging basket 39 may be provided, for example, to hang from a lower set of the hole(s) 32. Thus, additional storage may be provided the pivoting, add-on storage caddy 100 through such additional feature(s) or accessory(ies).

(33) For use, the caddy can be affixed to the vertical support 9 or another suitable substrate structure. The screws and/or straps, glue and/or magnets, and so forth and the like may be used. The upper pivoting contrivance may be mounted to the vertical support 9 first, followed by the lower pivoting contrivance, for more practically effective adjustability and use, or vice versa as the situation presents itself as, for example, with the hinge post securing contrivance and split, vertically oriented hinge post ensemble system.

(34) Referring to FIGS. 20 through 33 an arrangement 300 of the pivoting caddy for a storage shelf is provided. Arrangement 300 has a caddy with a box shaped body 303. The caddy box is provided for storage of material. Along its extreme rearward ends, the caddy body has connected there to vertical bearings 305. The bearings 305 have upper opening 307 and a lower opening 309. A front end of caddy body 303 has a tool ledge 311 having holes 313 performing the function of previously described holes 30 and 32 for the other embodiments. The caddy also has two frames 315 which form a towel rack. The frames of the how rack along and upper horizontally extending portion 317 have on a top side split vertical hook like projections 319 which extend into holes 321 of the caddy body 303 and then lockable he extend outward to connect the towel rack frames 315 with the caddy body 303. The extensive numbers of holes 321 in the caddy body 303 allow for the connection of various hooks and other devices to the caddy body if desired. The caddy body 303 may be fabricated from a polymeric material such as plastic or other suitable materials.

(35) The caddy body 303 is pivotally secured to a storage shelf 330 by a first hinge support 331. The first hinge support has a body 333 that is generally triangular shaped having a triangular base 335. The base 335 is provided for abutting a structural member 337 of a storage shelf 339. The first hinge support 331 has connected there to a flexible strap 341 which can be retained by a pivotal clamping latch member 343 to allow the hinge support 331 to be connected to the storage shelf structural member 339. On and in of the first hinge support body 333 generally opposite the face 335 there is a connected lateral arm 345. Lateral arm 345 has connected there to a vertically projecting pivot pin 347. Pivot pin 347 has a plunger 349. The pivot pin 347 is insertable within the bearing 305 of the caddy body to its top hole 307 two pivotally mount the caddy body 303 to the shelf structural member.

(36) The plunger 349 prevents the caddy body from pivoting to freely and partially restrained its rotation upon the pivot pin 347. The first hinge support 331 also has 2 predrilled holes 351 to provide for the use of fasteners 355 to attach the first hinge support 331 to the structural member of the storage shelf.

(37) The arrangement 300 also has a second hinge body 361 that is substantially identical to the first hinge body the 31 with the exception that it's lateral arm 363 extends the opposite direction of lateral arm 345 of the first hinge support member. The second hinge support member also has a substantially similar pivot pin which inserts in the lower opening 309 of the bearing 305 opposite the pivot pin of the first hinge support. The two hinge support members are adjustably in slidably substantially spaced apart vertically in relation to one another therefore the distances between the first and second hinge support members can be adjusted allowing for installation of the caddy body 303 to be adjustable for various storage shelf applications and can be switch as required if utilize for attaching the caddy body 303 two the opposite side of the storage shelf.

CONCLUSION TO THE INVENTION

(38) The present invention is thus provided. Various feature(s), part(s), subcombination(s) and/or combination(s) can be employed with or without reference to other feature(s), part(s), subcombination(s) and/or combination(s) in the practice of the invention, and numerous adaptations and modifications can be effected within its spirit, the literal claim scope of which is particularly pointed out as follows: