Container storage organizers

• US 20050045641A1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gerald H. Doran
• Original Assignee: Gerald H. Doran
• Inventors: Doran, Gerald H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,232,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/507
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/04 Paint boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/14 Holders for paint cans
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/50 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank

Abstract

Container storage organizers are provided by an integral and preferably molded plastic shell having a profile defined by top panels and side panels of the shell, which side panels meet the top panels and extend to an open bottom. The profile provides a shape enabling one or more of the shells to be assembled in adjacent and preferably adjoining relationship. The top sides of the profile meet at an acute angle preferably about 90° while the sides are generally parallel, preferably having a slight taper so as to enable several shells to be stacked on top of another for ease of shipment and handling. One of the top panels has a plurality of side-by-side openings which receive the containers, such as cans, through lips which guide the cans into the shell so that they rest on a base to which the shell is attached, preferably by tabs which extend laterally from the lower edges of the side panels. The edges of the side panels are notched so that the tabs extend through the notches and into interdigited relationship to facilitate the mounting of the shells in adjoining each other on the base. The shells may be mounted vertically on a vertical wall, which provides the base, or horizontally on a horizontal floor or table.

Claims

1. Container storage organizer apparatus comprising a shell having a profile of quadrilateral shape with a pair of top sides separately meeting generally parallel sides, said top sides meeting each other as an acute angle, said shell being open at a bottom thereof, which faces said top sides, side panels of said shell defining said parallel sides, each of said side panels being adapted to be positioned adjacent to side panels of another shell of like profile when said shells are mounted on a base disposed horizontally or vertically with said side panels extending to said base and said base closing said bottom, a pair of top panels defining said top sides of said profile, one of said top panels having container receiving openings therein so that containers can be located in said openings with ends thereof resting against said base when said shell is mounted on said base.

2. The container storage organizer according to claim 1 wherein the one of said top sides of said profile which defines said panel having said opening is larger than the other said top side thereof.

3. The container storage organizer according to claim 2 wherein said generally parallel sides of each are of approximately equal length.

4. The container storage organizer according to claim 1 wherein said acute angle is approximately 90°

.

5. The container storage organizer according to claim 4 wherein said parallel sides are approximately of equal length.

6. The container storage organizer according to claim 4 wherein said top sides of said profile define obtuse angles with said parallel side where such said parallel and top sides meet.

7. The container storage organizer according to claim 1 wherein said opening has lips tapering inwardly of said shell.

8. The container storage organizer according to claim 1 wherein said side panels have tabs extending outwardly thereof from edges of said side panels which meet said base through which attachment elements can extend for attaching said shell to said base.

12. The container storage organizers according to claim 1 wherein said shell is an integral member.

13. The container storage organizers according to claim 12 wherein said integral shell member is molded of plastic material.

9. The container storage organizer according to claim 9 wherein said tops have generally circular ridges on surfaces thereof facing away from said base, said ridges extending away from said facing away surfaces holes, said ridges protecting holes in said tabs via which said elements attaching said shells to and base extend.

10. The container storage organizer according to claim 9 wherein said side walls have notches alignable with the tabs extending from side walls of adjacent shells and through which said tabs extend.

11. The container storage organizers according to claims 10 wherein said notches are of sufficient height to clear said tabs and said ridges thereof.

14. A container organizer comprising:

two top walls meeting at an angle of approximately 90 degrees or less;

two generally parallel side walls each meeting a different one of said top walls at an obtuse angle; and

one of said top walls has a plurality of openings for receiving containers.

15. The container organizer according to claim 14 further comprising two opposing end walls each meeting a different end of said top and side walls.

16. The container organizer according to claim 14 wherein said openings are in a single row along said one of said top walls.

17. The container organizer according to claim 14 wherein said container organizer represents one of a plurality of said container organizers in which said plurality of container organizers are stackable along a surface such that two adjacent ones of said plurality of container organizers have said side wails adjacent to each other.

18. The container organizer according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of container organizers are stackable in two different orientations along the surface in which containers are receivable in said opening along a downwardly projecting angle which enables contents to be retained within said containers while enabling unobstructed access to the containers.

19. The container organizer according to claim 14 wherein each of said openings have a cross-section in accordance with a cross-section of the containers to be received in the opening.

20. The container organizer according to claim 14 further comprising a bottom opening facing said two top walls, and means for mounting said container organizer upon a surface along said bottom opening.

21. The container organizer according to claim 14 wherein the containers receivable in said openings represent cans.

22. The container organizer according to claim 14 wherein one or more of said openings opens into a chamber extending from said top wall which has said openings, and said chamber has one of open or closed ends and a cross-sectional shape capable of receiving a container.