Abstract:
A storage device includes a generally enclosed body including inner and outer areas. The inner area includes axially adjustable shelves for dividing the inner area into adjustable compartments, and the outer area includes a plurality of pockets disposed along a periphery of the body for facilitating storage of shoes within the pockets. A release mechanism provides and prevents access to the inner area when in respective opened and closed configurations. A connection mechanism is disposed adjacent a top of the body and affixable to a complementary connector to allow the storage device to be hung and thereby permit axial extension of the body when in a hung configuration and otherwise permit collapse of the body. In other configurations, instead of adjustable shelves, the storage device may include an independently rotatable inner body including a plurality of pockets, or individual shoe storage bodies mounted on rails.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of priority of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/383,444, filed May 25, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    a. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates generally to a storage device for holding articles and objects, and, more particularly to a method and apparatus for storing articles such as shoes and the like.  
           [0004]    b. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Devices for storing articles such as shoes and the like are well known in the industry. Such devices range from conventional bags for storing individual or multiple shoes to the more elaborate rack designs for storing multiple shoes.  
           [0006]    Exemplary devices for storing shoes are known and disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,331,513 to Cappelli (Cappelli) and 3,039,599 to Mintz (Mintz).  
           [0007]    Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,513 to Cappelli discloses a shoe butler  10  including a plurality of pockets  14  for storing shoes, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Shoe butler  10  further includes a zipper  28  for providing access to upper surface of member  27  (disposed at the lower end of shoe butler  10 ) for storage of larger articles, such as boots. Cappelli however fails to provide a device which maximizes usage of the external as well as the internal areas thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,599 to Mintz also discloses an enclosed bag for storage of shoes. As discussed above for the storage device of Cappelli, Mintz also fails to provide a storage device which maximizes usage of the external as well as the internal areas thereof.  
           [0008]    Accordingly there remains a need for a method and apparatus for storing articles such as shoes and the like, which is economically feasible to manufacture, which is robust and ergonomic in design, and which provides a user with the flexibility to maximize usage of the external as well as the internal areas thereof.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0009]    The invention solves the problems and overcomes the drawbacks and deficiencies of prior art article holding devices by providing a shoe and accessory carousel storage device with adjustable compartments (hereinafter “storage device”) for storing articles such as shoes and the like.  
           [0010]    Thus, an exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for storing articles such as shoes and the like, which is economically feasible to manufacture, which is robust in design, and which provides a user with the flexibility to maximize usage of the external as well as the internal areas thereof.  
           [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a storage device which includes a large capacity for storing shoes and other objects.  
           [0012]    Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a storage device which is collapsible for facilitating shipment, sale and transportation thereof.  
           [0013]    The present invention achieves the aforementioned exemplary aspects by providing a storage device including a generally enclosed body including an inner area and an outer area. The inner area may include axially adjustable shelves for dividing the inner area into adjustable compartments. The outer area may include pockets disposed along a periphery of the body for facilitating storage of shoes and other articles within the pockets. A release mechanism may provide and prevent access to the inner area when in respective opened and closed configurations. A connection mechanism may be disposed adjacent a top of the body and may be affixable to a complementary connector to allow the storage device to be hung and thereby permit axial expansion of the body when in a hung configuration and otherwise permit collapse of the body.  
           [0014]    For the storage device described above, a cross-section along a longitudinal length of the body may be circular, square, rectangular, oval and/or a geometric shape including a plurality of sides. An inner surface of the body may include a plurality of internally disposed knots mounted therein. The knots may permit peripheral areas of the shelf to rest thereon and thereby permit retention of the shelf at predetermined distances from a bottom end of the body. Alternatively, the inner area of the body may include a plurality of cords having knots mounted thereon. The knots may permit peripheral areas of the shelf to rest thereon and thereby permit retention of the shelf at predetermined distances from a bottom end of the body. In another configuration, an inner surface of the body and peripheral areas of the shelf may include VELCRO strips mounted thereon. The VELCRO strips may thereby permit affixation of the shelf to the inner surface and also permit retention of the shelf at predetermined distances from a bottom end of the body. The storage device may further include removable pockets including VELCRO strips mounted thereon and removably affixable to complementary VELCRO strips mounted on inner and/or outer surfaces of the body.  
           [0015]    In another configuration, the inner area of the body may include cords having cord restraints provided thereon. The cords may be threaded through holes in the shelf. The cord restraints may permit the shelf to rest thereon and thereby permit retention of the shelf at predetermined distances from a bottom end of the body. In yet another configuration, the inner area of the body may include cords threaded through holes in the shelf and frictionally retained within the holes. The cords may thereby permit retention of the shelf at predetermined distances from a bottom end of the body. The storage device may further include a cord extending from the top to a bottom end of the body and threaded through a generally centrally disposed hole in the shelf for thereby guiding axial movement of the shelf along a longitudinal length of the body. The shelf may include a radially extending slot from the hole to a peripheral edge of the shelf for permitting insertion of the cord from the edge.  
           [0016]    For the storage device described above, the release mechanism may be one or more zippers, buttons affixed to provide access to the inner area and/or VELCRO strips. The connection mechanism may be a swivel hook removably engageable with the complementary connector. The storage device and its various components may be made of clear vinyl, polyester mesh, cotton, canvas, khaki, plastic, metal, wood and/or ceramic.  
           [0017]    The present invention also provides a storage device including a generally enclosed body including an inner area and an outer area. The inner area may include independently rotatable inner bodies including pockets and the outer area may include additional pockets disposed along a periphery of the enclosed body for facilitating storage of shoes and other articles within the pockets. A release mechanism may provide and prevent access to the inner area when in respective opened and closed configurations. A connection mechanism may be disposed adjacent a top of the enclosed body and affixable to a complementary connector to allow the storage device to be hung and thereby permit axial expansion of the enclosed and inner bodies when in a hung configuration and otherwise permit collapse of the enclosed and inner bodies.  
           [0018]    For the storage device described above, a cross-section along a longitudinal length of the enclosed and inner bodies may be circular, square, rectangular, oval and/or a geometric shape including a plurality of sides. The storage device may further include removable pockets including VELCRO strips mounted thereon and being removably affixable to complementary VELCRO strips mounted on inner and/or outer surfaces of the enclosed body. The independently rotatable inner body may be hung by a cord extending from the top of the enclosed body. The pockets in the inner body may include a generally horizontal surface for permitting storage of an object thereon. The release mechanism may be one or more zippers, buttons affixed to provide access to the inner area and/or VELCRO strips. The connection mechanism may be a swivel hook removably engageable with the complementary connector. The storage device and its various components may be made of clear vinyl, polyester mesh, cotton, canvas, khaki, plastic, metal, wood and/or ceramic.  
           [0019]    The present invention yet further provides a storage device including a frame including at least one rod and a shoe support body mounted to the rod and including pockets disposed on each side of the body for facilitating storage of shoes and other articles within the pockets. A connection mechanism may be disposed adjacent a generally central location of the frame and affixable to a complementary connector to allow the storage device to be hung and thereby permit axial expansion of the shoe support body when in a hung configuration and otherwise permit collapse of the shoe support body.  
           [0020]    For the storage device described above, a cross-section along a longitudinal length of the shoe support body may be circular, square, rectangular, oval and/or a geometric shape including a plurality of sides. The pockets may include VELCRO strips mounted thereon and may be removably affixable to complementary VELCRO strips mounted on the shoe support body. The connection mechanism may be a swivel hook removably engageable with the complementary connector. The storage device may be made of clear vinyl, polyester mesh, cotton, canvas, khaki, plastic, metal, wood and/or ceramic.  
           [0021]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and arc incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detail description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a shoe and accessory carousel storage device with adjustable compartments (hereinafter “storage device”) according to the present invention, illustrating the storage device in an expanded configuration and its zipper in an opened configuration;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the storage device of FIG. 1, illustrating the storage device in a collapsed configuration;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of a cord including knots and/or a conventional cord restraint affixed thereon for allowing height adjustment of the internal compartments for the storage device of FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is an exemplary isometric view of a shelf including a slot for insertion of a cord for the storage device of FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is an exemplary isometric view of a shelf including VELCRO strips for the storage device of FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is an exemplary isometric view of a shelf including multiple holes for insertion of cords for the storage device of FIG. 1;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a storage device according to the present invention, illustrating the storage device in an expanded configuration;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a storage device according to the present invention, illustrating rotatable internal pockets and the zipper in an opened configuration; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is a top cutout view of the storage device of FIG. 8, illustrating the rotatable internal pockets.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS.  1 - 6  illustrate a first embodiment of a shoe and accessory carousel storage device with adjustable compartments (hereinafter “storage device”), according to the present invention, generally designated  10 .  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 1, storage device  10  may include a tubular body  12  having respective top and bottom ends  14  and  16 , and including a plurality of circumferentially disposed pockets  18 . The structure of body  12  may be formed of a breathable mesh material and/or a flexible material for permitting predefined expansion thereof under its own weight or under the weight of shoes and other articles. Likewise, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the flexible material for body  12  may be chosen for facilitating a predefined collapsed configuration for storage device  10 .  
         [0034]    Pockets  18  may include longitudinal edges  22  at two or more comers thereof, which may be formed as extensions of the material for pockets  18  and sewn and/or otherwise affixed to body  12 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that the bottom-most edge  24  of pockets  18  may be sewn onto body  12  to form an enclosed pocket, or instead, may be left open to allow the toe of a shoe to protrude therethrough. Pockets  18  may be uniformly and/or randomly disposed around the circumference of storage device  10  for facilitating storage of shoes and other such articles of various sizes and shapes. Pockets  18  may be formed of the same material as body  12 , or instead, may be formed of materials such as clear vinyl, a polyester mesh, cotton, canvas, khaki and the like.  
         [0035]    Storage device  10  may further include respective top and bottom rigid support members  26  and  28  for maintaining body  12  in a predefined expanded and collapsed configuration. Support members  26  and  28  may be formed of metal, or other suitable material for providing sufficient rigidity to storage device  10 . It is apparent that although rigid support members  26  and  28  are illustrated in a circular configuration for the embodiment of FIG. 1, square, rectangular, oval or various other geometric shapes may be used for rigid support members  26  and  28 . Moreover, for a square support member for example, body  12  may be formed of a complementary configuration, as with the other geometric shapes discussed above.  
         [0036]    Support members  26  and  28  may be affixed to body  12  by being sewn thereto, or alternatively, may be glued or otherwise affixed to body  12 . In another configuration (not shown), support members  26  and  28  may include a VELCRO strip and/or another device such as a zipper and the like for removable connection thereof to body  12 . In order to provide an aesthetic appearance for storage device  10 , support members  26  and  28  may be covered by material similar to that of body  12 .  
         [0037]    In order to facilitate the hanging of storage device  10  to a closet rail for example, top support member  26  may include a swivel hook  32  affixed thereon by means of wires  34  tied onto support connections  36 . Support connections  36  may be of the form of standard hooks and/or other connection means, as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. In another configuration (not shown), wires  34  may include hooks and/or other means at the lower ends thereof for releasably connecting to support connections  36  so as to facilitate the disconnection of wires  34  from body  12 . Swivel hook  32  may be configured to include a standard dampener (not shown) within swivel mechanism  38  to control the rotation speed thereof and also provide 360° rotation capability for storage device  10 .  
         [0038]    In order to control the maximum expandable length of storage device  10 , cords  30  may be affixed within body  12  to each support connection  36  of top support member  26  and likewise affixed to complementary opposite support connections  42  on bottom support member  28 . It is apparent that additional cords  30  may be provided as needed for controlling the maximum extension of storage device  10  and/or for providing additional rigidity. Cords  30  may be made of nylon or other flexible material having a predetermined elasticity and/or a semi-rigid material to control the maximum extendable length of storage device  10 .  
         [0039]    In addition to outer pockets  18  for storage of shoes and the like, storage device  10  may further include adjustable inner compartments  44  for storage of shoes and other such articles such as socks and the like. Inner compartments  44  may be accessible by opening zipper  50  and may be formed by a plurality of shelves  46  whose location may be axially raised or lowered along the longitudinal length of body  12 . For example, the lower most inner compartment  44  may be formed by axially moving shelf  48  toward or away from bottom support member  28 .  
         [0040]    Each shelf  46  may include a central hole  40  through which a cord  31  made of nylon or other suitable material may pass through. Cord  31  may be appropriately affixed to the respective top and bottom ends  14  and  16  of body  12  so as to provide guidance for axial movement of each shelf  46 . Cords  30  may each include a plurality of knots  33  sewn or otherwise affixed thereon at predetermined intervals in order to facilitate the axial adjustment of shelves  46  relative to bottom support member  28 . Additional shelves  46  may be added into body  12  to form additional compartments  44 . As shown in FIG. 4, the additional shelves  46  may include a slot  47  to facilitate insertion of pre-attached cord  31  into hole  40  of the additional shelf  46 .  
         [0041]    Referring next to FIG. 5, in an alternative configuration, instead of a shelf  46  being adjustably disposable within body  12  by means of knots  33 , shelves  46  may be provided with circumferentially affixed VELCRO strips  58  for affixation with complementary VELCRO strips (not shown) within body  12 . The complementary VELCRO strips within body  12  may be provided at predetermined intervals in a similar manner as with knots  33  on cords  30 . Thus in order to adjust the dimensions of compartments  44 , shelves  46  including VELCRO strips  58  may be detached from and thereafter reattached to the complementary VELCRO strips within body  12  as needed.  
         [0042]    For a body  12  provided with VELCRO strips therein, it is apparent that instead of shelves  46 , complementary pockets (not shown) having VELCRO strips (not shown) may be provided for attachment with the VELCRO strips within body  12 , thus providing a storage device  10  with internal and external pockets.  
         [0043]    In yet another alternative configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 6, each shelf  46  may include holes  52  which cords  30  may be threaded through. Each cord  30  may be provided with a conventional cord restraint  54 , such as the one illustrated in FIG. 3, disposed at the bottom of each shelf  46  to facilitate axial adjustment and retention of shelves  46 . Alternatively, instead of the use of cord restraints  54 , each cord  30  may be inserted into holes  52  in shelves  46  and frictionally retained therein such that shelves  46  remain at a predetermined height and are movable axially only under a predetermined force. In yet another configuration, each shelf  46  may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially affixed hooks (not shown) which may then be attached within complementary reinforced holes (not shown) in the structure of body  12  in order to support shelves  46  at a predetermined distance from bottom support member  28 . For the configuration with circumferentially affixed hooks, the reinforced holes in body  12  may be disposed at predetermined intervals along the axial length of body  12  to provide an adequate guide for adjusting the height of shelves  46 .  
         [0044]    Referring to FIG. 3, it should be noted that although cord  30  is illustrated with a knot  33  and a cord restraint  54  mounted thereon, knots  33  and cord restraints  54  may be used in combination or exclusively for retaining a shelf  46  at a predetermined height. It should also be noted that even though shelves  46  are disclosed herein as being adjustable, if needed, shelves  46  may be sewn in place onto body  12 , or otherwise glued or bonded in order to provide fixed shelves within body  12 .  
         [0045]    In the particular embodiment of FIG. 1, storage device  10  may include three rows of eight circumferentially disposed pockets  18 , thus providing storage for twelve pairs of shoes. Additionally, storage device  10  may include three adjustable compartments  44  for facilitating storage of large shoes and/or other articles. Shelves  46  may be formed of a twelve inch diameter and body  12  may include an expanded length of three feet and a collapsed height of approximately three inches.  
         [0046]    It should be noted that although only a single zipper  50  is disclosed for access to compartments  44  of storage device  10 , additional zippers (not shown) may be placed along the circumference of body  12  to provide access to compartments  44  from various locations.  
         [0047]    The second embodiment of storage device, generally designated  60 , will now be described in detail.  
         [0048]    Referring to FIG. 7, storage device  60  may include a frame  62  including support rods  64  each including a shoe support body  66 . Each shoe support body  66  may include respective top and bottom ends  68  and  72 , and further include a plurality of pockets  74  disposed at opposite sides  70  and  71  thereof. The structure of each shoe support body  66  may be formed of a breathable mesh material and/or a flexible material for permitting predefined expansion thereof under its own weight or under the weight of shoes and other articles. Likewise, as illustrated above for storage device  10  in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible material for each shoe support body  66  may be chosen for facilitating a predefined collapsed configuration for storage device  60 .  
         [0049]    Pockets  74  may include longitudinal edges  76  at two or more comers thereof, which may be formed as extensions of the material for pockets  74  and sewn and/or otherwise affixed to each shoe support body  66 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that the bottom-most edge  78  of pockets  74  may be sewn onto each shoe support body  66  to form an enclosed pocket, or instead, may be left open to allow the toe of a shoe to protrude therethrough. Pockets  74  may be uniformly and/or randomly disposed on each side of each shoe support body  66  for facilitating storage of shoes and other such articles of various sizes and shapes. Pockets  74  may be formed of the same material as shoe support body  66 , or instead, may be formed of materials such as clear vinyl, a polyester mesh, cotton, canvas, khaki and the like.  
         [0050]    Storage device  60  may further include a rigid support member  82  at the lower end thereof for maintaining each shoe support body  66  in a predefined expanded and collapsed configuration. Support member  82  may be formed of metal, or other suitable material for providing sufficient rigidity to storage device  60 . It is apparent that although rigid support member  82  is illustrated in a rectangular configuration for the embodiment of FIG. 7, circular, square, oval or various other geometric shapes may be used for rigid support member  82 . Moreover, for a circular support member for example, each shoe support body  66  may be formed of a complementary configuration, as with the other geometric shapes discussed above.  
         [0051]    Support member  82  may be affixed to each shoe support body  66  by being sewn thereto, or alternatively, may be glued or otherwise affixed to shoe support body  66 . In another configuration (not shown), support member  82  may include a VELCRO strip and/or another device such as a zipper and the like for removable connection thereof to shoe support body  66 . In order to provide an aesthetic appearance for storage device  60 , support members  82  may be covered by material similar to that of shoe support body  66 .  
         [0052]    It should be noted that the top end  68  of each shoe support body  66  may be affixed to rods  64  in the manner discussed above for the affixation of support member  82  to shoe support body  66 .  
         [0053]    In order to facilitate the hanging of storage device  60  to a closet rail for example, frame  62  may include a swivel hook  84  affixed thereon. Swivel hook  84  may be configured to include a standard dampener (not shown) within swivel mechanism  86  to control the rotation speed thereof and also provide 360° rotation capability for storage device  60 .  
         [0054]    In the particular embodiment of FIG. 7, storage device  60  may include four shoe support bodies  66 , each including three rows of pockets  74  on each side thereof, thus providing storage for thirty-six pairs of shoes. Additionally, shoe support body  66  may include an extended length of three feet and a collapsed height of approximately three inches.  
         [0055]    The third embodiment of storage device, generally designated  100 , will now be described in detail.  
         [0056]    Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, storage device  100  may include a tubular body  102  having respective top and bottom ends  104  and  106 , and including a plurality of circumferentially disposed pockets  108 . The structure of body  102  may be formed of a breathable mesh material and/or a flexible material for permitting predefined expansion thereof under its own weight or under the weight of shoes and other articles. Likewise, as illustrated in FIG. 2 for storage device  10 , the flexible material for body  102  for storage device  100  may be chosen for facilitating a predefined collapsed configuration thereof.  
         [0057]    Pockets  108  may include longitudinal edges  112  at two or more comers thereof, which may be formed as extensions of the material for pockets  108  and sewn and/or otherwise affixed to body  102 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that the bottom-most edge  114  of pockets  108  may be sewn onto body  102  to form an enclosed pocket, or instead, may be left open to allow the toe of a shoe to protrude therethrough. Pockets  108  may be uniformly and/or randomly disposed around the circumference of storage device  100  for facilitating storage of shoes and other such articles of various sizes and shapes. Pockets  108  may be formed of the same material as body  102 , or instead, may be formed of materials such as clear vinyl, a polyester mesh, cotton, canvas, khaki and the like.  
         [0058]    Storage device  100  may further include respective top and bottom rigid support members  116  and  118  for maintaining body  102  in a predefined expanded and collapsed configuration. Support members  116  and  118  may be formed of metal, or other suitable material for providing sufficient rigidity to storage device  100 . It is apparent that although rigid support members  116  and  118  are illustrated in a circular configuration for the embodiment of FIG. 8, square, rectangular, oval or various other geometric shapes may be used for rigid support members  116  and  118 . Moreover, for a square support member for example, body  102  may be formed of a complementary configuration, as with the other geometric shapes discussed above.  
         [0059]    Support members  116  and  118  may be affixed to body  102  by being sewn thereto, or alternatively, may be glued or otherwise affixed to body  102 . In another configuration (not shown), support members  116  and  118  may include a VELCRO strip and/or another device such as a zipper and the like for removable connection thereof to body  102 . In order to provide an aesthetic appearance for storage device  100 , support members  116  and  118  may be covered by material similar to that of body  102 .  
         [0060]    In order to facilitate the hanging of storage device  100  to a closet rail for example, top support member  116  may include a swivel hook  122  affixed thereon by means of wires  124  tied onto support connections  126 . Support connections  126  may be of the form of standard hooks and/or other connection means, as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. In another configuration (not shown), wires  124  may include hooks and/or other means at the lower ends thereof for releasably connecting to support connections  126  so as to facilitate the disconnection of wires  124  from body  102 . Swivel hook  122  may be configured to include a standard dampener (not shown) within swivel mechanism  128  to control the rotation speed thereof and also provide 360° rotation capability for storage device  100 .  
         [0061]    In order to control the maximum expandable length of storage device  100 , cords  120  may be affixed within body  102  to each support connection  126  of top support member  116  and likewise affixed to complementary opposite support connections  132  on bottom support member  118 . It is apparent that additional cords  120  may be provided as needed for controlling the maximum extension of storage device  100  and/or for providing additional rigidity. Cords  120  may be made of nylon or another flexible material having a predetermined elasticity and/or a semi-rigid material to control the maximum extendable length of storage device  100 .  
         [0062]    In addition to outer pockets  108  for storage of shoes and the like, storage device  100  may further include rotatably mounted inner pockets  134  provided in a generally horizontal configuration as opposed to the generally vertical configuration for outer pockets  108 . In the embodiment of FIG. 8, pockets  134  may be uniformly and/or randomly sewn and/or otherwise affixed to inner body  136 . Inner body  136  may be hung by means of a cord  138  within body  102  to thereby permit independent rotation thereof relative body  102 . Thus pockets  134  may be utilized for the storage of shoes and other such articles of various sizes and shapes. As with pockets  108 , inner pockets  134  may be formed of the same material as body  102 , or instead, may be formed of materials such as clear vinyl, a polyester mesh, cotton, canvas, khaki and the like.  
         [0063]    In the particular embodiment of FIG. 8, storage device  100  may include three rows of eight circumferentially disposed outer pockets  108 , thus providing storage for twelve pairs of shoes. Additionally, storage device  100  may include three rows of four oppositely disposed inner pockets  134 , thus providing storage for additional shoes and/or other articles, and body  102  may include an extended length of three feet and a collapsed height of approximately three inches.  
         [0064]    As discussed above for the embodiment of FIG. 1, it should be noted that although only a single zipper  140  is disclosed for access to inner pockets  134  of storage device  100 , additional zippers (not shown) may be placed along the circumference of body  102  to provide access to inner pockets  134  from various locations.  
         [0065]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.