Abstract:
A modular organizer is capable of attachment to a rod of a playpen or crib, and includes first and second storage members that are connected removably to each other. Each of the first and second storage members is attached to the rod by a positioning element. Preferably, one or more third storage members are disposed between and connected removably to the first and second storage members. The third storage members can be interconnected removably to one another and to the first and second storage members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/452,658, filed on Jun. 13, 2006, and published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0000857 A1, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a storage device, and more particularly to a modular organizer for a crib or a playpen. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,064 discloses a portable playard storage system. U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,849 discloses an organizer for a playard. Each of the playard storage system and the organizer includes a plurality of storage members. Because the storage members are interconnected fixedly, the number of the storage members cannot be changed, thereby resulting in inconvenience during use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of this invention is to provide a modular organizer for a crib or playpen, which includes a plurality of storage members that are interconnected removably so as to allow for a change to the number and shape of the storage members. 
     A modular organizer is adapted for attachment to a rod of a playpen or crib, and includes first and second storage members that are connected removably to each other. Each of the first and second storage members is attached to the rod by a positioning element. Preferably, one or more third storage members are disposed between and connected removably to the first and second storage members. The third storage members are interconnected removably. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of the first preferred embodiment of a modular organizer for a playpen according to this invention, illustrating the modular organizer in a state mounted to a playpen; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective top view of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective bottom view of a third storage member of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective bottom view of a first storage member of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective side view of a second storage member of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary assembled perspective bottom view of the second storage member and a second positioning element of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  a fragmentary, partly sectional, assembled perspective top view of the first and third storage members of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective top view of the second preferred embodiment of a modular organizer for a playpen according to this invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective bottom view of first and second storage members of the second preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective top view of the third preferred embodiment of a modular organizer for a playpen according to this invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective bottom view of first, second, third, and fourth storage members of the third preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before the present invention is described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that similar elements and structures are designated by like reference numerals throughout the entire disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the first preferred embodiment of a modular organizer  200  according to this invention is adapted to be attached to a curved top rod  11  of a playpen  1 . Alternatively, the modular organizer  200  may be used with a crib. The organizer  200  includes a horizontal row of first, second, and third storage members  2 ,  3 ,  4 , first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34 , and two joining mechanisms  5 . The first, second, and third storage members  2 ,  3 ,  4 , as well as the first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34  are made of plastic. Each of the first, second, and third storage members  2 ,  3 ,  4  has a rear side surface facing the playpen  1 . 
     The third storage member  4  is disposed between the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 . The first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34  are disposed respectively on the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 , and are attached to the rod  11 . One of the joining mechanisms  5  is disposed within a gap defined by the first and third storage members  2 ,  4  so as to interconnect the same removably. The other of the joining mechanisms  5  is disposed within a gap defined by the second and third storage members  3 ,  4  so as to interconnect the same removably. 
     The third storage member  4  is generally rectangular, and includes a bowl-shaped container body  40  defining a rectangular accommodating chamber  41  therein, and an openable top cover  42  disposed pivotally on the container body  40  for covering the accommodating chamber  41 . Each of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  has a top surface that is formed with two circular blind holes  21 ,  31 . 
     Each of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  has a sleeve portion  22 ,  32  formed on the rear side surface thereof and formed with a rectangular hole  23 ,  33 . The first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34  extend respectively through the holes  23 ,  33  in the sleeve portions  22 ,  32  of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 . 
     Each of the first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34  has an elongated vertical rod body  241 ,  341 , an inverted U-shaped retaining hook portion  242 ,  342  connected to an upper end of the rod body  241 ,  341 , and a lower end connected to a lower end of the rod body  241 ,  341  and formed with two resilient arms  243 ,  343  in a two-pronged configuration. The retaining hook portions  242 ,  342  engage the rod  11  of the playpen  1  such that movement of the first, second, and third storage members  2 ,  3 ,  4  relative to the rod  11  is prevented. Each of the resilient arms  243 ,  343  has a retaining portion  244 ,  344 , and is configured as a barb that has a horizontal abutment surface  245 ,  345 . The abutment surfaces  245 ,  345  abut respectively against bottom surfaces of the sleeve portions  22 ,  32  of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 . This prevents movement of the retaining portions  244 ,  344  through the sleeve portions  22 ,  32  and, thus, removal of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  from the first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34 . For each of the first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34 , the retaining portions  244 ,  344  can be pushed toward each other to allow for movement of a corresponding one of the first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34  through the corresponding sleeve portion  22 ,  32  of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 . 
     Each of the joining mechanisms  5  includes a first joining unit  51  and a second joining unit  52 . The first joining units  51  are disposed respectively on opposite lateral side surfaces (i.e., left and right side surfaces) of the third storage member  4 . The second joining units  52  are disposed respectively at the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 . Each of the first joining units  51  includes a hollow dovetail tongue  511  having a T-shaped cross section and formed integrally with the third storage member  4 . Each of the dovetail tongues  511  has an annular narrow tongue portion  512 , an inner reinforcing rib  513 , and an annular wide tongue portion  514 . Each of the narrow tongue portions  512  and the inner reinforcing ribs  513  is formed on the corresponding lateral side surface of the third storage member  4 . Each of the inner reinforcing ribs  513  has a central ring-shaped rib portion  513 ′, and a plurality of radial rib portion  513 ″. Each of the radial rib portions  513 ″ has a radial inner end formed integrally with the corresponding central ring-shaped rib portion  513 ′, and a radial outer end formed integrally with the corresponding narrow tongue portion  512  and the corresponding wide tongue portion  514 . Each of the wide tongue portions  514  has an inverted U-shaped outer peripheral portion extending outwardly from the corresponding narrow tongue portion  512  so as to define an inverted U-shaped groove  516  between the corresponding wide tongue portion  514  and the corresponding lateral side surface of the third storage member  4 . Each of the first joining units  51  further includes a hollow positioning tongue  515  disposed under the corresponding dovetail tongue  511  and formed integrally with the corresponding dovetail tongue  511  and the corresponding lateral side surface of the third storage member  4 . Each of the positioning tongues  515  has a horizontal first contact surface (i.e., bottom surface)  517  and an inclined second contact surface  518 . 
     Each of the second joining units  52  includes a dovetail groove  521  formed in a corresponding one of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  and engaging fittingly the corresponding dovetail tongue  511 . Each of the dovetail grooves  521  is defined by an inverted U-shaped plate portion  522  and a tongue groove-defining wall  523  of the corresponding one of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 , between which an inverted U-shaped accommodating space  520  is formed. The groove-defining walls  523  define respectively bottoms of the dovetail grooves  521 . The inverted U-shaped plate portions  522  of the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  are disposed respectively around the wide tongue portions  514  of the dovetail tongues  511  of the third storage member  4 . The inverted U-shaped outer peripheral portions of the wide tongue portions  514  of the dovetail tongues  511  are fitted respectively within the inverted U-shaped accommodating spaces  520 . 
     Each of the second joining units  52  further includes a resilient plate  524  extending integrally and downwardly from the corresponding groove bottom-defining wall  523  and formed with a rectangular hole  526  therethrough. The positioning tongues  515  of the third storage member  4  engage respectively the holes  526  in the resilient plates  524 . Each of the resilient plates  524  has a hole-defining wall  525  defining the corresponding hole  526 . The horizontal first contact surfaces  517  of the positioning tongues  515  of the third storage member  4  abut respectively against lower ends of the hole-defining walls  525  of the resilient plates  524 , and the inclined second contact surfaces  518  of the positioning tongues  515  of the third storage member  4  abut respectively against upper ends of the hole-defining walls  525  of the resilient plates  524 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Since the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  are made of a plastic material, when the dovetail tongues  511  of the third storage member  4  are inserted vertically into the dovetail grooves  521  in the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  during assembly, the resilient plates  524  deform so as to allow for movement of the positioning tongues  515  into the holes  526  in the resilient plates  524 . When the horizontal first contact surfaces  517  of the positioning tongues  515  come into contact with the lower ends of the hole-defining walls  525  of the resilient plates  524 , removal of the dovetail tongues  511  from the dovetail grooves  521  is prevented. 
     When it is desired to remove the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  from the third storage member  4 , the resilient plates  524  are pushed away from the third storage member  4  so as to separate the positioning tongues  515  from the holes  526  in the resilient plates  524 . Subsequently, the dovetail tongues  511  are separated from the dovetail grooves  521 . 
     As such, the modular organizer  200  can be assembled and disassembled with ease. Furthermore, this configuration allows for an adjustment to the number of the storage members  2 ,  3 ,  4 . Thus, the object of this invention can be achieved. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the second preferred embodiment of a modular organizer  600  according to this invention includes first and second storage members  2 ,  3 , first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34 , and a joining mechanism  5 . The joining mechanism  5  consists of first and second joining units  51 ,  52  that are disposed respectively at the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 . The first storage member  2  includes a bowl-shaped container body  20  defining a generally rectangular accommodating chamber  22 , and an openable top cover  22 ′ disposed pivotally on the container body  20  for covering the accommodating chamber  22 , and is connected removably to the second storage member  3  by the joining mechanism  5 . The second storage member  3  has a top surface that is formed with two circular blind holes  31 . The first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34  are similar in construction to those of the first preferred embodiment, and are connected respectively to the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  in the same manner as in the first preferred embodiment. The structures of the first and second joining units  51 ,  52  are also similar to those of the first preferred embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the third preferred embodiment of a modular organizer  700  according to this invention includes a first storage member  2 , a second storage member  3 , left and right third storage members  4 ,  4 ′, first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34 , and third joining mechanisms  5 . The left and right third storage members  4 ,  4 ′ are disposed between the first and second storage members  2 ,  3 . Each adjacent pair of the first, second, and third storage members  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  4 ′ is interconnected removably by the corresponding joining mechanism  5 . The first, second, and third storage members  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  4 ′ are arranged in a horizontal row. Each of the second storage member  3  and the left third storage member  4  has a top surface that is formed with a blind hole  31 ,  41 . The first storage member  2  includes a container body  20  defining an accommodating chamber  22 , and an openable top cover  22 ′ disposed pivotally on the container body  20  for covering the accommodating chamber  22 . The right third storage member  4 ′ is formed with an accommodating chamber  41 ′. The first and second positioning elements  24 ,  34  are similar in construction to those of the first preferred embodiment, and are connected respectively to the first and second storage members  2 ,  3  in the same manner as in the first preferred embodiment. Each of the joining mechanisms  5  includes first and second joining units  51 ,  52 . The first joining units  51  are similar in construction to those of the first preferred embodiment, and are disposed respectively at left side surfaces of the first storage member  2  and the left and right third storage members  4 ,  4 ′. The second joining units  52  are similar in construction to those of the first preferred embodiment, and are disposed respectively at right side surfaces of the left and right third storage members  4 ,  4 ′ and the second storage member  3 . 
     With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.