Abstract:
A bucket divider is adapted to be used with a bucket. The bucket divider includes plates that interconnect between them to form compartments inside the bucket. The height of the plates is larger than the width in order to fit the interior of the bucket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/257,535 filed Nov. 3, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a divider. More specifically, the present invention relates to a divider adapted to be used with a bucket to divide the interior of the bucket into compartments. 
         [0003]    Homeowners, handymen, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, other tradesmen, and janitorial/housekeeping staff frequently need to use different tools or items to do a task. It is a common practice to use a standard bucket to hold, carry, and store the tools or items. Unfortunately, organizing the tools inside the bucket is almost impossible, since the small tools or items fall to the bottom of the bucket. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for a simple and inexpensive device that cooperates with a standard bucket to organize the tools or items inside the bucket. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, the bucket divider is adapted to be used with a bucket and includes a first plate; a second plate interconnected to the first plate, both of the plates are made of plastic, metal, composite material, wood, or resin material. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, the bucket divider is adapted to be used with a bucket and includes a first plate; a second plate interconnected to the first plate, a base having a plurality of holes, both of the plates are made of plastic, metal, composite material, wood, or resin material, the plates interlock with each other and then lock into the base. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective front view of a bucket divider according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention while being used inside of a bucket; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the bucket divider of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the components of the bucket divider according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of the bucket divider of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of the bucket divider of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a plan view showing the geometry of the components of the bucket divider of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a detailed view of the slotted hole according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0016]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0017]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a simple, interchangeable bucket divider that may divide a common bucket into compartments. 
         [0018]    The bucket divider  10  will be described below with reference to five gallon plastic buckets. However, this reference is not intended to limit the scope of this invention in any manner. The present invention may be used with any size plastic, metal, or glass buckets. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates the bucket divider  10  secured inside a bucket  12 . The bucket divider  10  may include a first plate  16 , a second plate  18 , and, optionally, a base plate  20 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 2-3  illustrate that the first plate  16  may have a top end  21 , a bottom end  23 , a height H 1 , a width W 1 , a width W 3 , tapered sides  25 , a slot  24  near the bottom end  23 , a slide snap tab  26  to connect the slot  24  to the bottom end  23  of the first plate  16 , and push tabs  28  projecting from the bottom end  23 . Push tabs  28  may be peened or formed to resist pull-back after insertion into slotted holes  34 . The first plate  16  may include a finger lift hole  22  to allow the user to pull, push, or rotate the bucket divider  10  inside the bucket  12  for tool/item access. The first plate  16  may be a flat plate. The tapered sides  25  of the first plate  16  may by tapered from the top end  21  to the bottom end  23  in order to conform to the inside of the bucket  12 . 
         [0021]    The height H 1  and width W 1  of the first plate  16  may vary and depend on the height H and width W of the bucket  12 . In one embodiment, the height H 1  of the first plate  16  may be larger than the width W 1  in order to accommodate the bucket divider  10  to the depth of the bucket  12 . In one embodiment, the first plate  16  may have a height H 1  between 10½ to 13¾ inches; a width W 3  of the bottom end  23  between 10¼ to 10 3/16 inches; and a width W 1  of the top end between 11¼ to 11⅛ inches. The slot  24  may be approximately 4½ inches long. The slide snap tab  26  may be approximately 1 inch long. 
         [0022]    The second plate  18  may have a top end  31 , a bottom end  33 , a height H 2 , a width W 2 , a width W 4 , tapered sides  35 , a slot  30  near the top end  31 , a slide snap slot  32  at the bottom end  33 , and push tabs  28  projecting from the bottom end  33 . Push tabs  28  may be peened or formed to resist pull-back after insertion into slotted holes  34 . The second plate  18  may include a perforated cut-out or knock-out  36  that may be removed to receive the handle of a drill or tool across the top of the second plate  18 . The second plate  18  may be a flat plate. The top end  31  may include a nested top-pattern cut having an offset to ease of access to finger lift hole  22  and to eliminate material waste in fabrication as shown in  FIG. 6 . In one embodiment, the cut offset may be one inch. In addition, the top end  31  may have a 0.75 of an inch radius on the outside corners for user safety, aesthetics and to accomplish ease of fabrication/cut-out. The tapered sides  35  of the second plate  18  may by tapered from the top end  31  to the bottom end  33  in order to conform to the inside of the bucket  12 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates the first plate  16  and the second plate  18  may be connected to the base  20  by pressing the push tabs  28  inside a respective slotted hole  34 , with slots  37  on the base  20 . The 4 slots  37 , on hole  34 , may be punched, cut, sawed or otherwise formed. The base  20  may have a geometrical shape. In one embodiment, the base  20  may have a round shape. The size of the base  20  may depend on the size of the base of the bucket  12 . In one embodiment, the plates  16  and  18  may be vertical panels. 
         [0024]    The height H 2  and width W 2  of the second plate  18  may depend on the height H and width W of the bucket  12 . In one embodiment, the height H 2  of the second plate  18  may be larger than the width W 2  in order to accommodate the bucket divider  10  to the depth of the bucket  12 . In one embodiment, the second plate  18  may have the height H 2  of between 8½ to 12 inches; a width W 4  of the bottom end approximately 10¼ to 10 3/16 inches; and the width W 2  of the top end approximately 11¼ to 11⅛ inches wide. The slot  30  may be approximately 4 inches long. The slide snap slot  32  may be approximately 1 inch long. 
         [0025]    Both of the plates may be made of a rigid material. In one embodiment, the plates may be made of plastic, aluminum, composite material, resins, wood, or metal. The panels  16  and  18  may be made by casting, molding, extruding, sawing, tool cutting or laser cutting the material. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the second plate  18  may be an optional element. In another embodiment, the base  20  may be an optional element. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3 and 6  illustrate that the second plate  18  may include a perforated cut-out or knock-out  36  that may be removed to receive the handle of a drill or tool across the top of the second plate  18 . 
         [0028]    Since the plates  16  and  18  may be dimensioned to the inner dimensions of the bucket  12  the bucket divider  10  may frictionally engage with the inside walls of the bucket  12 . 
         [0029]    The user may assemble the panels, engage the first plate  16  with the second plate  18  by aligning and sliding the slit, slide snap tab  26  of the first plate  16  with the slot  30  of the second plate  18  until the slot  30  is secure inside the slot  24  and until the slit, slide snap tab  26  is secure in the slot  32 . The first panel  16  and the second panel  18  may form perpendicular angles dividing the interior of the bucket  12  into compartments. The user may lift or introduce the bucket divider  10  into the bucket  12  by using the finger lift hole  22 . 
         [0030]    The bucket divider  10  may be used with any size bucket. In addition, the bucket divider may be used as a storage device for long-term storage of toys, fabrics, sport equipments, small items, or tall items. 
         [0031]    The bucket divider  10  according to the present invention may provide the user with a simple, interchangeable device that may divide and organize a common bucket into compartments. 
         [0032]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.