Abstract:
A versatile drawer organizer structure for segregating a plurality of items. The structure includes a front and back wall and a blank of sheet material wherein a filler is sandwiched between a lower liner and an upper liner. The blank is folded transversely along break lines to define end walls, dividing walls and floor panels between successive walls. The blank is then adjusted in accordion fashion to the inside width of a drawer and held in that shape by attaching a front and a back wall. Thus the structure can be easily sized to precisely fit the inside width of a large number of different drawers and many other enclosed spaces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to devices used to sort, segregate, and organize various items within an enclosed space. 
   Almost every home and business has cabinets, dressers, desks, or other similar types of furniture with drawers that pull out and can be used to hold various items. Such items may be cooking utensils, cutlery, writing implements, office supplies, and other similar items. Generally, without some type of organizer in the drawer, such items are merely thrown into the drawer (or some other enclosed space) and the user must take the time to rummage through the various items in the drawer to find one particular item. 
   Thus, there is a need for structures to organize drawers and other similar enclosures so that the different items can be segregated so that one particular item can be quickly and easily retrieved from the drawer. In order to segregate and organize items, which are stored in drawers as well as other enclosures, various structures have been proposed. 
   One approach to organizing a drawer has been to place boxes of different sizes within the drawer. This approach provides one or more compartments within the drawer in which items can be segregated. Disadvantageously, merely placing boxes in the drawer is unsatisfactory since the boxes do not fit precisely within the drawer and slide around and leave unused drawer space. 
   Another approach has attempted to overcome the disadvantages of placing boxes in the drawer. This approach provides one or more box like structures, which may be independently formed or formed as a unitary structure, which are cut to fit precisely within the drawer, disadvantageously, many users do not want to bother with cutting the box structure or have difficulty making accurate cuts which are necessary to provide a precise fit within the drawer or cuts which are cosmetically pleasing. Moreover, once the box structure is cut, the structure will likely not precisely fit into another drawer of different dimensions and likely cannot be altered to provide a different arrangement even in the same drawer. 
   In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages, it would be an advance in the industry to provide a structure for organizing drawers and similar enclosed spaces, which overcomes these, and other drawbacks. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an organizing structure for drawers and other enclosed spaces, which is efficient and easy to use. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide an organizing structure for drawers and other enclosed spaces, which can be adjusted to precisely fit at least one dimension of the drawer so that space in the drawer is efficiently used. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the description and claims, which follow, or may be learned by the practice of the invention 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
   The present invention provides a versatile structure for segregating a plurality of items in an enclosed space, for example a drawer. The preferred embodiment of the present invention include a single blank of sheet material having an upper liner, a lower liner, and a filler sandwiched between said liners. The sheet material has a predetermined thickness, and the blank has opposed end edges. Parallel divider walls are formed in the blank adjacent floor panels by lower break lines in the sheet material, between respective pairs of parallel lower break lines, e.g., break lines are formed in the sheet material by a break through the lower liner, and the filler, but leaving the upper liner intact. The divider walls are defined between each such pair of break lines. The floor panels are divided from the wall portions by these parallel lower break lines and are defined between successive wall portions. Upper break lines or channels are formed midway between the parallel lower break lines. Upper break lines are formed by a break in the sheet material through the upper liner and filler but leaving the lower liner intact at respective upper break lines midway between the parallel lower break lines. A Channel is formed by a break in the lower liner and the filler approximately twice the thickness of the sheet material in width, at respective Channels midway between the parallel lower break lines. The blank can then be folded upwards at the parallel lower break lines and then folded downwards at the upper break lines or Channels to form double thickness divider walls with the floor panels extending between successive double thickness divider walls. 
   End walls, are formed by the first lower break lines in from either opposing end edges in the blank of sheet material. An end wall is defined between the first lower break line and the associated end edge. The blank is then folded upwards at the first lower break lines in from either opposing end edge to form a single thickness end wall. 
   The resulting structure can be adjusted in accordion fashion to the inside width of a drawer or other enclosure and then held in that shape by attaching front and back walls with an integrated brace portion to the front and back edges or the floor panels of the folded blank of sheet material. The brace portion is attached by the means of holding pins, adhesives, adhesive tape or other suitable connector. 
   Although Lower break lines, Upper break lines and Channels are used to help facilitate the folding of the blank of sheet material. Simply creasing and folding the sheet material in the same manner will achieve a similar structure. Furthermore, instead of the preferred blank of sheet material a series strips of any sheet material when hinged together in order to be folded in the same fashion would also create a similar structure. 
   The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a blank of corrugated sheet, for constructing an organizing structure according to one embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a blank of corrugated sheet, for constructing an organizing structure according to an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a blank of corrugated sheet, for constructing an organizing structure according to an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a folded blank of corrugated sheet forming the organizing structure of this embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a folded blank of corrugated sheet forming the organizing structure of this embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a holding pin. 
       FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  are perspective views of three different embodiments of the front or back walls of the organizing structure according to an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the first, presently preferred embodiment, of the present invention ready to be placed within a drawer. 
       FIG. 11  is plan view of a blank of corrugated sheet, for constructing a front or back wall of an organizing structure according to an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a blank of corrugated sheet, for constructing a front or back wall of an organizing structure according to an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a cross -sectional view of several strips of sheet material hinged together to form an organizing structure according to an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a strip of sheet material, for constructing a hinged sheet according to an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a hinged sheet for constructing an organizing structure according to an embodiment of this invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
   Reference will be first made to  FIG. 1  thereof, a structure for the segregating of a plurality of items according to an embodiment of this invention, and a method of constructing it, involve a blank  10  of sheet material. The blank  10  has a first edge  11  and an opposite edge  12 . As well as a front edge  8  and a rear edge  9 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment blank  10  is made of corrugated plastic; however, blank  10  can be made of any suitable sheet material. As shown in more detail in the cross-sectional elevation of  FIG. 2 , the blank material has a lower liner  14 , a filler  15 , and an upper liner  13 . The filler  15  is sandwiched between the two liners  14  and  13 . 
   As shown in the plan view of  FIG. 1  the blank  10  has lower break lines  16  and  22  that run transversely through the sheet material were the lower liner and the filler material is missing while the upper liner is left intact. Furthermore, the blank  10  has channels  23  approximately the twice the width of the sheet material that run transversely through the sheet material were the lower liner and filler is missing while the upper liner is left intact. Break lines  16  are formed at transverse lines spaced in from each of the respective edges  11  and  12 . Lower break lines  16  define end wall portions ( FIG. 4 ,  19 ). 
   Also shown on  FIG. 1  there are successive pairs of transverse lower break lines  22  spaced at intervals between the end wall portions ( FIG. 4 ,  19 ) with channels  23  midway between the lower break lines  22  of each pair. Each pair of lower break lines  22  and its associated channel  23  define a divider wall portion ( FIG. 4 ,  24 ), and floor panels ( FIG. 4 ,  25 ) are defined between successive divider wall portions ( FIG. 4 ,  24 ), and between each of the end wall portions ( FIG. 4 ,  19 ) and adjacent divider wall portions ( FIG. 4 ,  24 ). In this embodiment, there are two end wall portions ( FIG. 4 ,  19 ) and three divider wall portions ( FIG. 4 ,  24 ), forming four separate cells within the structure. 
   Although the channel ( FIG. 2 ,  23 ) is used as the preferred method to help facilitate the folding of the blank of sheet material  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3  a upper break line  28  can also be used wherein the upper break line  28  runs transversely through the sheet material in which the upper liner  13  and the filler material  15  is missing while the lower liner  14  is left intact. 
   A folded tray  26  is shown in the cross sectional view in FIG.  4  and in the perspective view in  FIG. 5 , with the blank ( FIG. 1 ,  10 ) being folded or rolled at the lower break lines  16  and  22  and channels  23  to form the end walls  19  and divider walls  24  with the floor panels  25  separating these walls from one another. Additionally the lower break lines  16  and  22  and channels  23  permit the blank ( FIG. 1 ,  10 ) to be folded in accordion fashion, and thereby, as shown in  FIG. 10 , permits the adjustment in width of the folded tray  26  to the width of the inside of a drawer  27  or other enclosure. 
   Although this embodiment uses the missing liner and filler material at transverse lower break lines, upper break lines and channels to help facilitate the folding of the sheet material into the desired shape. The same shape can be formed by leaving both liners ( FIG. 2 ,  14 ), ( FIG. 2 ,  13 ) and filler ( FIG. 2 ,  15 ) intact and simply creasing and folding the sheet material at break lines ( FIG. 1 ,  16 ) and ( FIG. 1 ,  22 ) and channels ( FIG. 1 ,  23 ) or upper break lines ( FIG. 3 ,  28 ). 
   The blank ( FIG. 1 ,  10 ) is bent upwards at the lower break lines  16  so that the end walls portions  19  project upwards, as shown in  FIG. 4  The divider wall portions  24  are bent upwards at the lower break lines  22  and are bent downwards at the channels  23 , this forms the divider walls  24 . The height of the end walls  19  and the divider walls  24  as well as the width of the floor panels  25  can be selected as appropriate for a particular application. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6  a holding pin  33  has forward end  32  and a rearward end  31 . The forward end  32  is slightly larger in diameter than the thickness of the filler material ( FIG. 2 ,  15 ) such that it can be tightly pushed into the filler space between the two liners ( FIG. 2 ,  13 ) and ( FIG. 2 ,  14 ) at the front edge ( FIG. 1 ,  8 ) or the rear edge ( FIG. 1 ,  9 ) holding it firmly in place leaving the rearward end  31  protruding from the front edge ( FIG. 1 ,  8 ) or rear edge ( FIG. 1 ,  9 ). 
   Two embodiments of the front or rear walls are shown in FIG.  7  and FIG.  8 . The front or rear wall  30  have an integrated brace portion  36  that runs along the bottom edge of the front or rear wall  30 . The brace portion  36  has a series of successive cavities  34 , which are designed to receive and firmly hold the rearward end ( FIG. 6 ,  31 ) of the holding pin ( FIG. 6 ,  33 ). When several holding pins are installed in the floor panels ( FIG. 4 ,  25 ) at the front edge ( FIG. 1 ,  8 ) or rear edge ( FIG. 1 ,  9 ) the front or rear walls  30  can be held firmly to the front and or rear edges by engaging the successive cavities  34  in the brace portion  36 , to the protruding rearward ends ( FIG. 6 ,  31 ) of the holding pin ( FIG. 6 ,  33 ). 
   Another embodiment of the front or rear walls is shown in FIG.  9 . In this case the front or rear wall  30  has a integrated brace portion  36  that runs along the bottom edge of the front or rear wall  30 . The brace portion  36  has a series of successive integrated holding pins  35  which are slightly larger in diameter than the thickness of the filler material ( FIG. 2 ,  15 ) such that they can be tightly pushed into the filler space between the two liners ( FIG. 2 ,  13 ) and ( FIG. 2 ,  14 ) at the front edge ( FIG. 1 ,  8 ) or the rear edge ( FIG. 1 ,  9 ) holding the front or rear wall firmly to the front edge ( FIG. 1 ,  8 ) or rear edge ( FIG. 1 ,  9 ). 
   Although these embodiments use a holding pin (FIG.  6 , 33 ) to hold the front and rear walls to the front edge ( FIG. 1 ,  8 ) and the rear edge ( FIG. 1 ,  9 ), any means of fastening can be used such as screws, adhesives or adhesive tape. 
   In  FIG. 10  the present invention is shown fully assembled in the perspective view. The front and rear walls  30  have been cut to the width of the inside dimension of the drawer  27 . The blank  10  has been folded and adjusted in accordion action to the same width and held in that shape by installing the forward end ( FIG. 6 ,  32 ) of the holding pin ( FIG. 6 ,  33 ) to the floor panels ( FIG. 4 ,  25 ) at the front edge ( FIG. 1 ,  8 ) and rear edge ( FIG. 1 ,  9 ) of the blank  10 , and engaging the protruding rearward end  31  to the brace portion  36  of the front and rear walls  30 . 
   A plan view of another embodiment of the front or rear walls according to an embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG.  11 . The front or rear wall  40 , involve a wall blank of sheet material  41 . The blank  41  has a first edge  42  and an opposite second edge  43 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment wall blank  41  is made of corrugated plastic; however, wall blank  41  can be made of any suitable sheet material. As shown in more detail in the cross-sectional elevation of  FIG. 12 , the wall blank material has a lower liner  14 , a filler  15 , and an upper liner  13 . The filler  15  is sandwiched between the two liners  14 ,  13 . 
   As shown in the plan view of  FIG. 1  the wall blank  41  has a lower break line  44  that runs transversely through the sheet material were the lower liner and the filler material is missing while the upper liner is left intact. Lower break line  44  is formed at a transverse line spaced in from the first edge  42  defining a front or rear wall portion  45 . The remaining section between the lower break line  44  and the second edge  43  define a brace portion  46 . 
   The wall blank  41  is bent upwards at the break line  44  so that the front or rear wall portion  45  is projecting upwards, as shown in FIG.  13 . The brace portion  46  is then attached to the folded tray  26 , by the use of adhesive or double sided adhesive tape between the brace portion  46  and the floor panels ( FIG. 4 ,  25 ). 
   In  FIG. 14  a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in the perspective view. In this embodiment the folded tray  26  is adjusted in accordian action and held in that shape by attaching a brace  47  to the floor panels  25 . The brace consists of a strip of sheet material cut to the desired width and is attached to the floor panels with adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape between the floor panels  25  and the brace  47 . 
   Although this embodiment uses the missing liner and filler material at transverse break lines to help facilitate the folding of the sheet material into the desired shape. As shown in  FIG. 15  a similar strucure can be formed by using strips of any sheet material  51  hinged together at hinge lines in order to be folded in similar fashion. 
   In  FIG. 16  a single strip of sheet material  60  is shown in the perspective view with upper hinge edges  61 , lower hinge edges  63 , a first edge  64  and a second edge  65 . In order to form a single hinged sheet ( FIG. 17 ,  66 ) as shown in  FIG. 17 , several strips of sheet material  60  are hinged together in which the first edge  64  of one strip of sheet material is hinged to the second edge  65  of the adjacent strip of sheet material  60 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 17  a hinged sheet  66  has opposing end edges  71  and  72 , upper hinge lines  73  and  74 , and lower hinge lines  75 . Upper hinge lines  73  and  74  are formed by hingeing the upper hinge edge ( FIG. 16 ,  61 ) of a strip of sheet material ( FIG. 16 ,  60 ) to the upper hinge edge ( FIG. 16 ,  61 ) of another strip of sheet material ( FIG. 16 ,  60 ). Lower hinge lines  75  are formed by hingeing the lower hinge edge ( FIG. 16 ,  63 ) of a strip of sheet material ( FIG. 16 ,  60 ) to the lower hinge edge ( FIG. 16 ,  63 ) of another strip of sheet material ( FIG. 16 ,  60 ). Upper hinge lines  73  are formed at transverse lines spaced in from each of the respective edges  71  and  72  defining end wall portions ( FIG. 15 ,  53 ). Also shown in  FIG. 17  there are successive pairs of transverse upper hinge lines  74  spaced at intervals between the end wall portions ( FIG. 15 ,  53 ) with the lower hinge line  75  midway between the upper hinge lines  74  of each pair. Each pair of upper break lines  74  and its associated lower hinge line  75  define a divider wall portion (FIG.  15 ,  54 ), and floor panels ( FIG. 15 ,  55 ) defined between successive divider wall portions ( FIG. 15 ,  54 ), and between each of the end wall portions ( FIG. 15 ,  53 ) and the adjacent divider wall portions ( FIG. 15 ,  54 ). In this embodiment, there are two end wall portions ( FIG. 15 ,  53 ) and three divider wall portions ( FIG. 15 ,  54 ), forming four separate cells within the structure. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.