Abstract:
An adjustable compartmented container for articles is disclosed, having primary and secondary partitioning members. The location of the primary partitioning members is adjustable via notches in the body of the container, and the location of the secondary partitioning members is adjustable via notches in the primary partitioning members. The length of the secondary partitioning members is adjustable, and the container and primary partitioning members have beveled top surfaces—i.e., they are shorter at the front and taller at the rear.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention is in the area of adjustable compartmented containers for articles.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,760 to Sussman, discloses a compartmented tray for cosmetics. However, the location of Sussman&#39;s single main separator is not adjustable via notches in the tray wall, the length of his horizontal partitions is not adjustable, and his tray (including the main separator) does not have a beveled top surface—i.e., shorter at the front and taller at the rear. In contrast, the invention discloses all these features.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,942 to Snook, U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,091 to Mulaw, U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,445 to Lanius, U.S. Pat. No. 2,985,333 to Kirkman, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,773 to Bitel disclose compartmented organizers. However, these devices do not show main separators that themselves can be adjusted by positioning them in various notches in the box or container. Instead, the main separator position is fixed.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. D169,743 to Fritz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,715 to Sarver, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,815 to Spiegel show adjustable compartmented containers. However, in these devices the main separators have a different notch structure than in the invention. In these devices, both the main separators and the partitions have through-notches that extend partway down the separators and partitions, such that the separators and partitions “nest” into each other at each intersection point in a significantly different way than in the invention. Said another way, although these devices show separators whose location can be adjusted via notches in the container wall, the way the separators and partitions fit together is significantly different than in the invention.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,465 to Thomas shows a container for circuit boards. In Thomas&#39;s device, the horizontal compartmenting members are not partitions, but are instead circuit boards of varying length. Said another way, Thomas does not have partitions that fit into notched main separators, as in the invention. Instead, the horizontal members are circuit boards, which are the very items the container is designed to hold.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,020 to Viira, U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,358 to Schmidt, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,835 to Schmidt also show various toolboxes, but none of these devices disclose partitions that are adjustable via notches in the box and/or the partitions themselves, as in the invention. U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,224 to Ling discloses a tool rack assembly; however, this device is not a container and does not have both primary and secondary partitioning members as in the invention.  
         [0009]     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,768 to Alden, U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,794 to Bidot, U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,305 to McKneely, U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,108 to Schiltz, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,081,674 to Klenk also show various containers, but none of these devices has the specific features of the invention as claimed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The invention is an adjustable compartmented container for articles, wherein the location of the primary partitioning members is adjustable via notches in the body of the container, and the location of the secondary partitioning members is adjustable via notches in the primary partitioning members. The length of the secondary partitioning members is adjustable, and the container and primary partitioning members have beveled top surfaces—i.e., they are shorter at the front and taller at the rear.  
         [0011]     Several objects and advantages of the invention are:  
         [0012]     It is an object of the invention to provide a superior means of organizing and containing articles such as tools. In addition to tools, the following non-limiting list of applications is presented: sundries such as those that are typically stored in an overnight bag; items used by paramedics or other medical personnel; items used by military personnel; items typically stored in a brief case; and various chemicals and liquids.  
         [0013]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a compartmented container with partitions that can be easily adjusted to fit many differently-sized and shaped items.  
         [0014]     The adjustable compartmented container of the invention has many advantages, including the following:  
         [0015]     The articles are held in generally a vertical position for easy retrieval and replacement, and for efficient space utilization. The generally vertical positioning also has the benefit of keeping stored liquids from spilling.  
         [0016]     The sides of the container, and the primary partitions, have beveled top surfaces—i.e., they are shorter at the front and taller at the rear. This “tiering” allows for better visual inspection of the container&#39;s contents and easier retrieval and replacement of the items. Said another way, this feature makes it very easy for the user to quickly find a particular item, or to quickly see that a particular item is missing from the container. In addition, because the compartments have varying depth, from less-deep compartments at the front of the container to compartments of greater depth at the rear of the container, shorter items can be stored toward the front of the container and taller items can be stored toward the rear of the container.  
         [0017]     The expanded polystyrene block located in the middle forward edge of the container allows for easy storage and retrieval of smaller items, for example a pocket knife, awl, tape measure, center punch, etc.  
         [0018]     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container, without any partitions in place.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container, further illustrating its adjustable primary partitions.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container, further illustrating its adjustable secondary and third partitions and other features.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a primary partition and the notches located thereon.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a secondary partition and the score lines located thereon.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a third partition having notches adapted to receive inserts.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an alternate embodiment primary partition and the unequal-length notches located thereon.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment, wherein adjustment notches are not built into the interior walls of the container. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     The following provides a list of the reference characters used in the drawings: 
     10 . Container      11 . Front wall      12 . Rear wall      13   a &amp; b . Side walls      14 . Lid      15 . Front wall notches      16 . Rear wall notches      17 . Side wall notches      18 . Primary partition      19 . Primary partition notches      20 . Secondary partition      21 . Score line      22 . Foam block      23 . Front adjustment panel      24 . Rear adjustment panel      25   a &amp; b . Side adjustment panels      26 . Third partition      27 . Insert    
 
         [0046]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the invention comprises a compartmented container  10 . Container  10  has a front wall  11 , a taller rear wall  12 , and two side walls  13   a &amp; b . A lid  14  is attached to container  10  at the top of rear wall  12 , using any suitable attachment means known in the art. Side walls  13   a &amp; b  are shorter where they join front wall  11  and taller where they join rear wall  12 .  
         [0047]     The interior surface of front wall  11  has a plurality of front wall notches  15  located thereon. Front wall notches  15  extend substantially from the top to the bottom of front wall  11 . Similarly, the interior surface of rear wall  12  has a plurality of rear wall notches  16  located thereon. Rear wall notches  16  extend substantially from the top to the bottom of rear wall  12 . Front wall notches  15  and rear wall notches  16  are substantially vertical.  
         [0048]     The interior surfaces of side walls  13   a &amp; b  each have a plurality of side wall notches  17  located thereon. Proximate to front wall  11 , side wall notches  17  extend substantially from the top to the bottom of side walls  13   a &amp; b . Side wall notches  17  are also substantially vertical. Side wall notches  17  are of substantially equal length across the extent of side walls  13   a &amp; b  from front wall  11  to rear wall  12 , such that further back from front wall  11 , side wall notches  17  do not extend fully to the bottom of side walls  13   a &amp; b . Rather, the bottoms of side wall notches  17 , from the front-wall-proximate portion to the rear-wall-proximate portion of side walls  13   a &amp; b , slope upwards in the same manner as the top surface of side walls  13   a &amp; b.    
         [0049]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , primary partitions  18  extend from front wall  11  to rear wall  12 , and opposing ends of primary partitions  18  fit into front wall notches  15  and rear wall notches  16  respectively. A plurality of primary partition notches  19  are located on each side surface of primary partition  18 . Primary partition notches  19  are substantially vertical. Primary partition notches  19  are of substantially equal length across the extent of primary partition  18  from the front-wall-proximate portion to the rear-wall-proximate portion, such that further back from the front-wall-proximate portion, primary partition notches  19  do not extend fully to the bottom of primary partition  18 . Rather, the bottoms of primary partition notches  19 , from the front-wall-proximate portion to the rear-wall-proximate portion of primary partition  18 , slope upwards in the same manner as the top surface of primary partition  18 . It can be appreciated, from the earlier description of side wall notches  17  on side walls  13   a &amp; b , that  FIG. 4  also generally illustrates the interior surface of side wall  13   a , and that a mirror image of  FIG. 4  would also generally illustrate the interior surface of side wall  13   b.    
         [0050]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a secondary partition  20  extends between two primary partitions  18 , and is substantially perpendicular to the primary partitions  18 . Opposing ends of secondary partition  20  fit into primary partition notches  19  on each of the two primary partitions  18 . Another secondary partition  20  extends between a primary partition  18  and side wall  13   a , and is substantially perpendicular to primary partition  18  and side wall  13   a . One end of this secondary partition  20  fits into a primary partition notch  19  on the primary partition  18 , and the other end fits into side wall notch  17  on side wall  13   a . Secondary partition  20  fits down into two primary partition notches  19 , or one primary partition notch  19  and a side wall notch  17 , until secondary partition  20  reaches the bottom of the notches—at which point the top edge of secondary partition  20  is ideally (although not necessarily) in line with the top edge of primary partition  18  and/or side wall  13   a  or  b.    
         [0051]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , secondary partition  20  has a plurality of score lines  21  located thereon. Secondary partition  20  is scored partly through along score lines  21 , so that the length of secondary partition  20  may be adjusted to fit the distance between two primary partitions  18 , or between a primary partition  18  and a side wall  13   a  or  b , by breaking off a portion of secondary partition  20  along score line  21 .  
         [0052]     A foam block  22 , constructed of expanded polystyrene or another suitable material, is located between two primary partitions  18  near front wall  11 . Foam block  22  has various holes and slots located thereon for storage of small items such as a pocket knife, awl, tape measure, center punch, etc.  
         [0053]     The positions of primary partitions  18 , and thus the size of the compartments they create, can be adjusted by placing primary partitions  18  in different front wall notches  15  and corresponding rear wall notches  16 . Similarly, the positions of secondary partitions  20 , and thus the size of the compartments they create, can be adjusted by placing secondary partitions  20  in different primary partition notches  19  and/or side wall notches  17 .  
         [0054]      FIGS. 3 and 6  show a third partition  26 , having notches thereon adapted to receive at least one insert  27 . The notches are substantially vertical, and extend substantially from the top to the bottom of third partition  26 . The notches are T-shaped, as is the corresponding end of the insert. Insert  27 , when engaged with third partition  26 , is substantially perpendicular to third partition  25 . Third partition  26 , when used with one or more inserts  27 , is useful for further separating a compartment to store items such as a set of screwdrivers. Third partition  26  fits into the notches on primary partition  18  and/or side walls  13   a  or  b , in a similar manner as secondary partition  20 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment, wherein the primary partition notches  19  located on primary partition  18  are not of equal length, but rather all extend from the top to the bottom of primary partition  18 . It is also understood the interior surfaces of side walls  13   a &amp; b  may also be notched in such a manner, i.e., with unequal-length notches. In this alternative embodiment, a plurality of differently-heighted secondary partitions  20  are required to fully fill primary partition notches  19  and/or side wall notches  17  from top to bottom. Said another way, those secondary partitions  20  inserted toward front wall  11  would be shorter than those secondary partitions  20  inserted toward rear wall  12 . Equal-height secondary partitions  20  could be used, if all were of a height suitable for insertion toward front wall  11 ; however, when inserted toward rear wall  12 , such secondary partitions  20  would fall below the top of primary partitions  18  and/or side walls  13   a &amp; b.    
         [0056]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment wherein front wall notches  15 , rear wall notches  16 , and side wall notches  17  are not built into the interior surfaces of container  10 , but instead are located on a front adjustment panel  23 , a rear adjustment panel  24 , and side adjustment panels  25   a &amp; b  respectively. In this embodiment, the adjustment panels line the interior of container  10  and thus provide partition adjustment capability.  
         [0057]     While the above descriptions contain many specificities, these shall not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Examples of just a few of the possible variations follow:  
         [0058]     The amount of separation between notches (and thus the number of notches) on the interior surface of the container, and on the primary partitions, can vary. More notches of course yields more adjustability, and fewer notches yield less adjustability. Spacing the notches about 3/16 inch apart gives a good degree of adjustability.  
         [0059]     The orientation of the notches in the container, primary partition, and third partition can be other than the substantially vertical orientation shown in the various embodiments. For example, the notches may be at an angle to the vertical plane.  
         [0060]     Similarly, the amount of separation between score lines (and thus the number of score lines) on the secondary partitions can vary. More score lines yields more adjustability.  
         [0061]     The dimensions of the container, including its height, width, depth, etc., can be different than that shown in the various embodiments.  
         [0062]     The location of the foam block within the container can vary.  
         [0063]     The number of primary, secondary, third partitions, and inserts can vary from the number illustrated. There may be one or more of each of these partitions/inserts, or alternatively a particular partition/insert may be eliminated.  
         [0064]     The slope of the container from front to rear—i.e., the degree to which the rear is taller than the front—can be different than the slope shown in the various embodiments.  
         [0065]     Although the primary and secondary partitions, when engaged together, are shown as substantially perpendicular to each other. However, this does not have to be the case—instead, the primary and secondary partitions may be at an angle to each other, with the notches constructed so as to allow such positioning. The same holds true for the positioning between third partitions and primary partitions, and third partitions and inserts.  
         [0066]     The third partition may alternatively have “inserts” that are permanently fixed to it, rather than removable via T-shaped notches as shown. In this alternative embodiment, the “inserts” would be permanently attached members, substantially perpendicular to the third partition.  
         [0067]     The foam block, shown for clarity in  FIG. 3  with its top surface level with the top edge of the container, may instead be positioned lower in the container. This lower positioning allows room for various small tools, etc. to be inserted into the foam block, and not protrude over the top edge of the container.  
         [0068]     Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.