Tray organizer

An organizer, the organizer being configured in such a manner as to have improved stacking and nesting capabilities, a projecting handle and other advantages described herein. The organizer may be used in conjunction with a bucket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
Bucket mounted tool organizers, comprising fabric like materials, have been 
adapted to drape over an empty bucket. The use of these tool organizers 
has become wide spread. The tool organizers generally comprise a plurality 
of pockets which are useful for the storage and carrying of tools and 
other small utensils. Items may also be carried inside the bucket such as 
nails, screws, nuts, bolts, etc. The present invention is directed toward 
an organizer for the storage of small items inside a bucket. The organizer 
may also be used not in conjunction with a bucket. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is known to have a generally cylindrical article manufactured from a 
fabric like material such as canvas or nylon which is draped over an empty 
pail or bucket (preferably a five gallon bucket, or a "short" five gallon 
bucket, which has a shorter side wall) thereby converting the bucket to a 
tool holding device. Such a tool holding device is generally referred to 
in the industry as a bucket mounted tool carrier. Bucket mounted tool 
carriers have a plurality of pockets surrounding the outside and inside of 
the bucket which are useful for tools, or any other utensils which are 
preferably organized and kept together. An example of a bucket mounted 
tool carrier is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,551. Typically, these 
tool carriers have a plurality of pockets located on the outside and often 
times in the inside of the tool carrier. The inner portion of the tool 
carrier is open such that larger objects may be placed inside the bucket. 
Various trays and organizers have been disclosed, which are meant to fit 
inside the bucket. U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,303 discloses container inserts 
which are intended to be inserted into the bucket. U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,295 
also discloses a bucket organizer insert. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 325,281 
discloses a design for a tool organizer. However, a problem which has not 
been addressed to date, has been that the carrier organizers do not 
effectively stack, in a user friendly manner. A further problem exists 
with present organizers is that there is no projecting handle which can be 
grasped easily. To date, a lip or some cut out in the organizer serves as 
a handle. This makes it difficult to carry an organizer, especially if it 
is heavily loaded. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a bucket organizer which may 
nest snugly for shipping purposes, but when in use, is stackable in an 
easy manner, inside the bucket. 
It is also an object of this invention to provide a bucket organizer which 
can adjust between five gallon buckets and short five gallon buckets. 
It is also an object of this invention to provide stacked bucket organizers 
which do not rotate vis-a-vis one another. 
It is also an object of this invention to provide a stackable tool 
organizer with an easy to use, projecting handle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an improved organizer to be preferably used in a 
bucket. The organizers are intended to be stacked, with the stacked 
organizers to fit within a bucket. A first organizer is to be stacked atop 
a second organizer, with each of the organizers comprising: 
(a) a plurality of compartments defined by partitions, the compartments 
configured such that upon stacking the organizers in a nesting mode, the 
first organizer fits within the second organizer; 
(b) a handle, the handle projecting upwardly from said organizer, the 
handle having an interior handle cavity space such that upon stacking a 
second organizer atop the first organizer, the handle of the first 
organizer fits within the handle cavity of the second tray organizer; and 
(c) a means for support, in a functional mode. 
The organizer has two modes; a functional mode and a nesting mode. The 
functional mode has the organizers stacked in a manner such that items may 
be stored in the compartments. In the preferred embodiment, the functional 
mode has three positions, which accommodate different bucket heights. The 
nesting mode has one position, which is used for shipping or storage of 
the organizers during non-use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an insert for a bucket which can be used 
as an organizer for a variety of items. Bucket mounted tool carriers have 
gained considerable popularity over the years. Bucket mounted tool 
carriers fit on the outside of a standard five-gallon bucket, as well as 
other sized buckets, and generally drape both on the outside and the 
inside of the bucket. The bucket mounted carriers have numerous pockets, 
which hold tools of all shapes and sizes. The most efficient way to 
utilize the whole bucket includes storing small tools, or accessory items 
such as nails, screws, bolts and other accessories on the interior of the 
bucket. The bucket may be any size, and even any shape, such as a square 
bucket. The present invention is directed to such a tray organizer. 
FIG. 1 generally shows a bucket 10 (in phantom) with bucket tray organizers 
12, 14 and 16. The bucket organizers 12, 14, and 16 are stacked within the 
bucket 10, and have compartments shown as 18, 20, 22 and 24 in bucket 
organizer 16. The compartments 18, 20, 22 and 24 are of sufficient depth 
to hold any items which might be useful to be carried around in a bucket. 
It is not necessary that the present invention be used in conjunction with 
a bucket mounted tool carrier. Indeed, the bucket trays may be sized 
having two diameters, with one diameter having a circumference such that 
the bucket organizers fit snugly within the bucket with no bucket mounted 
tool carrier present, that is it snugly engages the interior wall of the 
bucket 10. This is shown in FIG. 1. Another sized bucket carrier, not 
shown, would have a slightly smaller diameter and would accommodate the 
bucket mounted tool carrier having an interior row of pockets for tools. 
There are two stacking modes for the present invention. The stacking modes 
are a novel and patentable feature of the present invention. One stacking 
mode shown in FIG. 9 is the stacking mode for storage or shipment of the 
containers. Typically, these organizers are produced overseas, and thus 
must nest in a manner which allows them to be shipped overseas, or 
overland, in an economical manner. The present invention is uniquely 
configured such that there is one nesting position, but the three 
remaining positions are in a non-nesting mode. The preferred organizer has 
four positions. However, more or fewer positions, may be added, through 
the use of supports, and additional compartments, as described below. 
In reviewing FIG. 8, organizer 16 includes a bottom 100 connected to a 
surrounding side wall 102. Side wall 102 extends upwardly from bottom 100 
thereby forming with bottom 100 a central cavity 104. Side wall 102 has an 
upper rim 106. Organizer 16 also has supports 32, 34 and 36. The supports 
have two surfaces 38 and 40, with one surface being a side wall engaging 
or guiding surface 38 and a lower surface being bottom-engaging surface 
40. As is apparent from FIG. 9, when the tray organizers 12, 14, and 16 
are nested for shipment or storage, supports 32, 34 and 36 all nest within 
one another due to the cavity formed in creating the supports 32, 34, and 
36. The cavity of the supports is visible in numerous figures, but FIGS. 4 
and 5 show cavities 46, 42 and 44 which are created such that supports 32, 
34 and 36 fit respectively therein. As more particularly shown in FIG. 4, 
cavity 44 has an open end 108 proximate bottom 100 and an opposed end 110 
bounded by guiding surface 38 which projects inwardly from upper rim 106. 
The nesting position must align supports 32, 34 and 36 respectively. If the 
supports 32, 34, and 36 are not aligned with cavities 46, 42, and 44, the 
organizer is not nestable, which is evident from FIGS. 1 and 10. In 
referring to FIG. 10, if the organizer 48 were rotated 90.degree. in a 
clockwise manner, the organizer 48 would still stay in a stacked position. 
If organizer 48 was rotated another 90.degree. clockwise, it would be 
nested. If organizer 48 were rotated 90.degree. counter clockwise from the 
position shown in FIG. 10, organizer 48 would still be in a stacked 
position. From that position, if organizer 48 were rotated another 
90.degree. counter clockwise, it would nest, with cavity 50 falling within 
cavity 52 which is shown in phantom, on the organizer 54 which is situated 
below the organizer 48. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the uniquely 
spaced supports provide three positions whereby the tool tray organizer 
may be stacked in its functional mode and only one position where it is 
stacked in a nonfunctional (nestable) mode. Thus, the majority of the 
stackable positions result in the organizer being useful in a functional 
mode. More or less supports may be added, with modifications, such that 
more positions in the functional mode could be achieved. As an example, 
six supports with six positions or eight supports with eight positions 
could be used. Each support could also have a different height, thus, for 
example, six supports could have six different height adjustments. 
The supports could be achieved as shown in the figures, or could be 
separate pieces which snap into a support holding means. The supports also 
could be part of a living hinge system, which could be assembled 
downstream from manufacturing. 
By "functional" mode it is meant that the tool tray organizer is not 
nested. This is a "functional" mode because when screws, bolts, wire etc. 
are stored in the organizer, it is desirable to have the organizer in a 
stacked mode rather than a nested mode. The nested mode is generally 
useful during shipping or storage on retailers shelves of the products and 
thus, it is not used as often. During use, the tool tray organizers are 
often times pulled out of the bucket, used and thereafter put back in the 
bucket. Thus, the positioning is constantly being changed during use. It 
is inconvenient and disconcerting for the user, upon replacing the tool 
tray organizers, to have the tool tray organizers collapse into a nesting 
mode. Thus, the present invention, which has a majority of its positions 
being in a non-nesting mode, makes it easier for the user to stack the 
tool tray organizers in their functional mode. 
Furthermore, in the functional mode, there are two different modes of 
stacking. The organizers can be stacked to fit within a regular five 
gallon bucket, or they can be stacked to fit within a short five, without 
exceeding the height of the rim of the bucket. (Smaller or larger buckets 
are also envisioned with the size or shape of the bucket being immaterial 
to the present invention). This is important in that bucket covers or 
BUCKET SEAT.TM. covers are sold with the bucket mounted tool organizers, 
which fit snugly on the rim. If a stack of organizers exceed the top of 
the rim, the BUCKET SEAT cover cannot be put on the bucket. The preferred 
present organizers can be stacked four deep, in the functional mode, in 
either a short five or a regular five gallon bucket. 
Bottom 100 of the tool tray organizer 16 must be configured such that it 
may be both nested and put in the functional mode. FIG. 3 is a bottom 
perspective view of the tool tray organizer 16. Cavities 42, 44 and 46 are 
visible. Recesses 60, 62 and 64 are also visible in FIG. 3 as well as the 
other figures. The purpose of these recesses is to engage the supports 32, 
34 and 36 during the functional mode. The spacing of supports 32, 34, and 
36 is such that in two of the three functional modes, the supports 32, 34, 
and 36 engage the bottom edge of organizer 16. That is, bottom 100 of 
organizer 16 is seated on surfaces 40 of 32, 34, and 36. The lower side 
wall of organizer 16 is pressed flush against the vertical step between 
surface 40 and supports 32, 34, and 36. These two positions of the 
functional mode have the organizers situated such that in a preferred 
embodiment, four organizers will reach the top of a five gallon bucket. 
The preferred third position of the functional mode is designed for a short 
five gallon bucket. This position is accomplished by aligning supports 32, 
34, and 36 with recesses 60, 62, and 64. This is the position shown in 
FIG. 10. This position also provides a "locked" position, as does the 
other two positions in the functional mode. A locked position is a feature 
which is desirable such that the organizer is not rotated vis-a-vis the 
organizer located below it. Unwanted rotation results in movement of the 
organizer, which is undesirable from a stability standpoint. The locked 
position means the top organizer cannot be rotated with respect to the 
organizer located below the top organizer. For example, in FIG. 10, 
organizer 48 cannot be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion, 
because supports 32, 34, and 36 are located in recesses 60, 62 and 64. 
This is due to the spacing of the recesses and the supports. The preferred 
number of supports and recesses is three of each, however more or less 
than three is possible. There needs to be the same amount of supports as 
recesses. 
FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively FIGS. 4 and 5 with the tool tray organizer 
16 rotated 90.degree. in a counter clockwise fashion. Thus, for FIG. 4, a 
tool tray organizer is rotated 90.degree. in a counter clockwise fashion 
thus, cavity 42 is hidden and cavity 46 is brought into view as is shown 
in FIG. 6 when FIG. 4 is rotated 90.degree.. In the same manner, when FIG. 
5 is rotated 90.degree. in a counter clockwise fashion, cavity 42 is 
brought into view in FIG. 7. 
The locked position is also accomplished by the handle 26, extending into 
channel-shaped cavities 80, 82, 84, and 86, shown in FIGS. 4-7. 
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 8, each channel-shaped cavity 
80, 82, 84, and 86 comprises a pair of side panels 112 joined by a central 
web 114, and is peripherally bounded by a rib 116 which is formed from a 
portion of side wall 102. When the organizer is in the functional mode, 
and not in the position where the supports 32, 34, and 36 are within 
recesses 60, 62, and 64, supports 32, 34, and 36 are engaging the bottom 
corner edge of the organizer. The organizer is prevented from being 
rotated in this position by the handle 26, contacting a side panel of 
channel-shaped cavities 80, 82, 84, or 86. A locked position may also be 
accomplished by placing a bump/dimple configuration which might have a 
dimple projecting out of the bottom of the organizer, and a recess on 
surface 40 . 
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, bucket tray 16 is shown with handle 26 having a 
lower portion 118 and a distal upper portion 120. The handle 26 is unique 
in that other tray organizers have not had a projecting handle. The trays 
existing to date merely have some lip to grasp, or a small cross bar, but 
not a projecting handle. Further, the handle 26 has a cavity 27 (shown in 
FIG. 4) through which a user's fingers can grasp handle 26. 
Handle 26 has a hollow interior 28, which is shown in FIG. 3. The hollow 
interior 28 has ridges 30 at the top of the interior 28 of handle 26. 
Having a hollow handle 26 allows the exterior of the handle 26, which is 
shown in FIG. 8 as 32, to be inserted within the hollow portion 28 of a 
tray organizer when the organizers are in their nesting mode. 
FIG. 8, illustrates the tray organizer's interior rim 56. Interior rim is 
recessed, such that it engages a lower exterior rim 58 of another tool 
tray organizer. This is evident in FIG. 9, where the FIG. 9, where the 
trays are nested, with the rims engaging in an abutting relationship. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a handle cavity shown as 66, with compartment dividing 
means shown as 68, 70, 72 and 74 each having a lower margin 122 proximate 
bottom 100 and a distal upper margin 124. The dividing means can be 
removable inserts, which are inserted into tracks or clips to hold the 
dividing means. However, the preferred compartment dividing means are 
shown. The bottom of compartments 18, 20, 22 and 24 are also shown, but 
these are not cavities, rather they project out. The ridges, shown in 
cavity 66, with one ridge identified as 76, are for gripping purposes as 
well as adding structural support to the handle 26, such that it does not 
collapse under heavy loads. 
FIG. 2 is a top view of the tool tray organizer 16 of the present 
invention. It is useful to incorporate items such as a measuring means 
shown as 78 on the partition. Often times, small measurements need to be 
made such as the length of drill bits, screws, nails, etc. It is useful to 
have a built in measuring means for such situations. Also, the apertures 
with one shown as 90 may also be built into the partitions or dividing 
compartments 68, 70, 72 and 74. These holes have different diameters such 
that the diameters of screws, nails, and drill bits may be measured. 
It is to be understood that while the invention has been described above in 
conjunction with preferred specific embodiments, the description and 
figures are intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the 
invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims.