Desk organizer or the like

• US 5,040,681 A
• Filed: 02/26/1987
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Inventors: Grusin, Gerald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/019,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 206/224, 206/371, 206/503, 206/508, 206/509, 206/557, 206/561, 206/815, 206/821, 206/505, 206/506, 206/372, 220/23.6, 220/23.83, 220/4 C, 220/4 D, D 7/3, D 7/43, D 7/83, D 7/354
• US Class Current: 206/503
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/00 Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/06 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 99/008 Desk-receptacles for holding writing appliances

Abstract

A desk organizer or the like includes a plurality of vertically stackable trays having partitions formed therein for storing articles of various sizes and shapes. Each tray has a hollow upright center post which is received within the center post of the tray positioned immediately on top of it. The posts have apertures formed in their distal ends and are so dimensioned that as the organizer is fully assembled each aperture is in closely spaced relation to the respective apertures in the posts of adjacent trays. When it is desired to manually separate particular trays to gain access to certain contents of the organizer, the user may insert the index finger of a single hand into the apertures and grip the desired number of posts, which allows one or more trays to be lifted and separated from the tray to which access is sought. A cover is provided with a knob-like projection having an aperture formed therein so that the cover may be gripped in a manner similar to the manner in which the trays are gripped.

Claims

1. An organizer for storing articles, comprising:

a first storage tray;

a first post member formed integrally with said storage tray and extending generally perpendicular thereto, said first post member having a distal end;

means associated with the distal end of said first post member for permitting gripping of said first post member;

a second storage tray adapted to be placed over and rest atop said first storage tray;

a second post member formed integrally with said second storage tray and having a hollow interior to telescopingly receive said first post member, said second post member having a distal end;

means associated with the distal end of said second post member for permitting gripping of said second post member simultaneously with the gripping of said first post member;

a cover adapted to be placed over and rest atop said second storage tray and having a knob formed integrally therewith, said knob having a hollow interior to telescopingly receive said second post member of said second tray; and

means associated with said knob for permitting gripping of said knob, said second post member and said first post member simultaneously.

2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said means for permitting gripping of said first post member comprises a first lip defined by a first aperture formed in the distal end of said first post member.

3. The organizer of claim 2 wherein said means for permitting gripping of said second post member comprises a second lip defined by a second aperture formed in the distal end of said second post member.

4. The organizer of claim 3 wherein said first and second lips are disposed in closely spaced relation one to another.

5. The organizer of claim 3 wherein said means for permitting gripping of said knob comprises a third lip defined by a third aperture formed in said knob.

6. The organizer of claim 5 wherein said first, second and third lips are all in closely spaced relation one to another.

7. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said first and second post members each have a non-circular cross-section.

8. The organizer of claim 7 wherein said knob has a non-circular cross-section.

9. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said knob is recessed into the outer surface of said cover.

10. The organizer of claim 3 wherein said first aperture is smaller in size than said second aperture.

11. The organizer of claim 5 wherein said third aperture is smaller in size than said second aperture.

12. In an organizer for storing articles, the combination therewith including:

a first storage tray;

a first post member formed integrally with said first storage tray and extending generally perpendicular thereto, said first post member having a distal end with an aperture formed therein defining a first lip;

a second storage tray adapted to be placed over and rest atop said first storage tray thereby defining a compartment between said trays for the storage of articles;

a second post member formed integrally with said second storage tray and having a hollow interior to telescopingly receive said first post member when said storage tray is placed atop said first storage tray, said second post member having a distal end with an aperture formed therein defining a second lip;

wherein said first post member is longer than said second post member such that said lips of said first and second post members are disposed in closely spaced relation one to another when said second storage tray is placed atop said first storage tray, whereby said first and second storage trays can be lifted simultaneously by insertion of a finger into said apertures and gripping said lips.