Abstract:
An article-storage unit is configured to store various articles in several compartments. The article-storage unit is compactable to assume a smaller size when not in use.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an article-storage unit, and particularly to a multi-compartment article-storage unit. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a compactable article-storage unit for storing personal items. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    An article-storage unit in accordance with the present disclosure includes a tray formed to include an interior storage region. The tray includes a floor and a side wall coupled to a perimeter edge of the floor. 
         [0003]    In illustrative embodiments, the article-storage unit further includes a detachable tray organizer that can, at the option of the consumer, be coupled to the tray to partition the interior storage region. The tray is made of a pliable material and, once the consumer detaches the tray organizer from the tray, the consumer can fold the tray to assume a smaller size that can be stored in a small space until it is needed later. A manufacturer can also fold the tray to form a compact unit that can be packaged in a small box at retail. 
         [0004]    In illustrative embodiments, the tray organizer includes a partition wall, a front lid pivotably coupled to a top edge of the partition wall, and a rear divider panel coupled to a rear side of the partition wall. A consumer can mount the tray organizer in the interior storage region of the tray in the field to establish a front chamber and to establish a separate rear chamber divided by the rear divider panel into two side-by-side compartments and to orient the front lid so it can be moved to cover the front chamber. The article-storage unit also includes a rear lid that is movable to close the two compartments in the rear chamber and one or more front divider panels for dividing the front chamber into two or more compartments. 
         [0005]    In illustrative embodiments, the floor of the tray carries a floor anchor that can be operated by a consumer to anchor the tray to an underlayment such as a pad or a carpet in the trunk of a vehicle. The floor anchor includes a piercing member that can be rotated about a vertical axis manually by a co to pierce an outer surface of the underlayment to retain the tray temporarily in a stationary position on the underlayment. The consumer can retract the piercing member from the underlayment by rotating the piercing member about the vertical axis in an opposite direction so that the tray can be folded easily to assume a stowable compact shape when the article-storage unit is not in use. 
         [0006]    Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an article-storage unit in accordance with the present disclosure that can be folded by a consumer (when not in use) or a manufacturer in an illustrative manner shown in  FIGS. 8-11  and showing that a front lid has been moved to a closed position covering a front chamber formed in a tray and mating with an outer surface of a front wall of the tray and that a rear lid has been moved to a closed position covering a rear chamber formed in the tray and mating with a rear portion of a topside of the front lid and also showing two pull tabs associated with the front and rear lids and arranged to be gripped and pulled upwardly by a consumer to facilitate opening of a selected lid; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show that each of the lids can be opened independently without moving the other lid relative to the tray away from a closed position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  showing that the rear lid has been moved about a rear-lid pivot axis provided along a top edge of a rear wall of the tray to an opened position to expose two compartments provided in the rear chamber without disturbing the closed position of the front lid; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing that the front lid has been moved to an opened position about a front-lid pivot axis provided along a top edge of a detachable partition wall that has been placed by a consumer in the field (as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) into an interior storage region formed in the tray to partition that region to form the front and rear chamber and showing that the front lid was moved to the opened position to expose three compartments provided in the front chamber without disturbing the closed position of the rear lid; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of components that are made in accordance with the present disclosure to be (1) assembled by a consumer in the field to produce an erected article-storage unit shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5  and (2) disassembled by the consumer in the field to produce a compacted article-storage unit ready to be stored until its next use and showing that the article-storage unit comprises a container including a tray formed to include an interior storage region and a rear lid coupled to a rear wall of the tray for pivotable movement about a rear-lid pivot axis, a detachable tray organizer including a vertical partition wall, a forwardly extending front lid coupled to the partition wall for pivotable movement about a front-lid pivot axis, and a rearwardly extending rear divider panel coupled to the partition wall and arranged to extend in a rearward direction, a pair of front divider panels arranged to be coupled to the partition wall of the tray organizer and the front wall of the tray, and one of the four floor anchors coupled to the floor of the tray and configured to pierce a surface of an underlayment (e.g., vehicle trunk carpet) underlying the tray floor to anchor the article-storage unit temporarily to that surface; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an article-storage unit in accordance with the present disclosure after assembly of the components shown in  FIG. 4  by a consumer in the field showing each of the rear and front lids in an opened position and showing two of the floor anchors that are made in accordance with the present disclosure and that cooperate to anchor the floor of the tray of the article-storage unit in an erected use mode to an underlying surface as suggested in  FIGS. 13-19 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  taken from a forward point of view to show an empty front chamber before the two detachable mesh-style front divider panels shown in  FIG. 4  are mounted as shown in  FIG. 5  to divide the front chamber into three compartments at the option of the consumer; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  taken from a rearward point of view to show the rear chamber after the detachable rear divider panel included in the tray organizer and shown in  FIG. 4  has been coupled to the rear wall by the consumer in the field to divide the rear chamber into two compartments; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 8-11  shown an illustrative process for folding the article-storage unit in accordance with the present disclosure to convert the unit from the erected use mode shown in  FIGS. 1-3  to a most compact mode shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the tray after the consumer has first removed a cover comprising the detachable partition wall and the front lid and pivoted the rear lid to an opened position and suggesting that the consumer apply (1) a first inwardly directed force to a first side wall (on a right side) of the tray (made of pliable materials) to cause two rectangular segments comprising the first side wall to pivot toward one another about a vertical first-side fold line and (2) an opposite second inwardly directed force to a second side wall (on a left side) of the tray to cause two rectangular segments comprising the second side wall to pivot toward one another about a vertical second-side fold line; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing that the tray has been collapsed accordion-style in accordance with the present disclosure to establish a compact first folded mode of the article-storage unit in which the rear wall is arranged to lie in close proximity to the front wall to define a segment-receiving space therebetween receiving therein the segments of each of the folded first and second side walls and also receiving therein the folded floor and suggesting that a folded tray organizer and one or more front divider panels could be placed on the rear wall of the tray before the rear lid is folded about the rear-lid pivot axis to reach the position shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is another perspective view showing that the rear lid has been pivoted forwardly about the rear-lid pivot axis to cause the underside of the rear lid to face toward the front wall and the folded first and second side walls to establish a more compact second folded mode of the article-storage unit; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is yet another perspective view showing that the rectangular flattened structure shown in  FIG. 10  has been folded in half to produce a most compact third folded mode of the article-storage unit; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of one of the two front divider panels shown in  FIG. 4  and sized to fit into the front chamber and showing that an illustrative front divider panel in accordance with the present disclosure is formed of an open-mesh material to include a storage pocket that can be closed by operation of a reclosable fastener (e.g., zipper) provided along a top edge of the panel; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing an article-storage unit in accordance with the present disclosure, with portions broken away to show two floor anchors coupled to opposite corner portions of the floor of the collapsible tray and configured to engage an underlying trunk pad or carpet to fix the article-storage unit in a stationary position on an underlying surface in a vehicle or other support platform; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a view of an article-storage unit in accordance with the present disclosure showing an empty interior storage region and one of the floor anchors coupled to one of the rear corner portions of the floor of the collapsible tray; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is another view of the portion of the article-storage unit shown in  FIG. 14  showing another of the floor anchors couple to one of the front corner portions of the floor of the collapsible tray; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged exploded perspective assembly view of components comprising a floor anchor in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  after the components have been assembled to produce a floor anchor; 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 13  showing the floor anchor coupled to the floor of the collapsible tray by means of two rivets and to a vehicle carpet underlying the floor of the collapsible tray by means of a helically wound piercing member moved to pierce the underlying vehicle carpet; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a view similar to  FIG. 18  showing the floor anchor before it is operated to pierce a surface of an underlayment located under the floor of the tray. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    An article-storage unit  10  includes a tray  12 , a detachable tray organizer  14  including a partition wall  16 , a front lid  18 , and a rear divider panel  20 , and a rear lid  22  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1-4 . Tray  12  and rear lid  22  cooperate to form a container  13  that is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Container  13  is made of pliable material in an illustrative embodiment so that it can be folded as suggested in  FIGS. 8-11  when not in use. 
         [0030]    Article-storage unit  10  also includes anchor means  30  coupled to a floor  24  of tray  12  for piercing a surface  100 S of an underlayment  100  included in a vehicle  102  or other device at the option of a consumer to retain tray  12  in a stationary position on underlayment  100  as suggested in  FIGS. 13-19  so that article-storage unit  10  remains in a stationary position in, for example, the rear-storage area  104  in a mini-van or other vehicle during motion of that mini-van as shown in  FIG. 13 . Anchor means  30  includes four floor anchors  31 - 34  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 ,  14 , and  15 . 
         [0031]    Tray  12  is formed to include an interior storage region  26  that is shown in an empty state in  FIG. 4  and that is sized to receive detachable tray organizer  14  therein as suggested in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 . Once tray organizer  14  is mated to tray  12  and floor  14 , interior storage region  26  is partitioned by partition wall  16  to form rear and front chambers  27 ,  29  and rear chamber  27  is divided by rear divider panel  20  to form first and second compartments  271 ,  272 . Tray organizer  14  is detachable from tray  12  so that container  13  can be folded when article-storage unit  10  is packaged for retail sale or not in use. Tray  12  is made of a pliable material and is collapsible to assume a compact size after removal of detachable tray organizer  14  from tray  12  in an illustrative embodiment as suggested in  FIGS. 8-11 . 
         [0032]    Article-storage unit  10  also includes two front divider panels  19  as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Each front divider panel  19  can be located in front chamber  28  and coupled to tray  12  and partition wall  16  as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In an illustrative embodiment, two front divider panels  19  are mounted in front chamber  28  to divide front chamber  28  to produce three compartments  281 ,  282 ,  283  as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Both front divider panels  19  are detached from tray  12  and removed from interior storage region  26  of tray  12  along with detachable tray organizer  14  before tray  12  is collapsed as suggested in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0033]    Container  13  is sized to receive tray organizer  14  and front divider panels  19  therein as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Tray organizer  14  is detachable so that it can be separated from tray  12  at the option of a consumer so that container  13  can be folded as suggested in  FIGS. 8-11  to assume a compact shape shown, for example, in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0034]    Tray  12  includes an endless wall  25  coupled to floor  24  to define interior storage region  26  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 4 . Endless wall  25  includes, in series, rear wall  36 , first side wall  37 , front wall  38 , and second side wall  39 . 
         [0035]    Rear lid  22  is coupled to a top edge of rear wall  36  for pivotable movement about a rear-lid pivot axis  22 A between a closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and an opened position shown in  FIG. 2 . In the closed position, rear lid  22  closes a top aperture opening into rear chamber  27 . Rear lid  22  can be opened even though front lid  18  remains closed as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0036]    Front lid  18  is coupled to a top edge of partition wall  14  for pivotable movement about a front-lid pivot axis  18 A between a closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and an opened position shown in  FIG. 3 . In the closed position, front lid  18  closes a top aperture opening into front chamber  28 . Front lid  18  can be opened even though rear lid  22  remains closed as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0037]    Endless side wall  25  of tray  12  includes, in series, eight articulated segments  251 ,  252 ,  253 ,  254 ,  255 ,  256 ,  257 , and  258  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 4 . First and second segments  251 ,  252  cooperate to form rear wall  36  and define a rear-wall fold line  36 F therebetween. Third and fourth segments  253 ,  254  cooperate to form first side wall  37  and define a first-side fold line  37 F therebetween. Fifth and sixth segments  255 ,  256  cooperate to form front wall  38  and define a front-wall fold line  38 F therebetween. Seventh and eighth segments  257 ,  258  cooperate to form second side wall  39  and to define a second-side fold line  39 F therebetween. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8-11  show an illustrative process for folding article-storage unit  10  to convert the unit  10  from the erected use mode shown in  FIGS. 1-3  to a most compact mode shown in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing tray  10  after the consumer has first removed detachable tray organizer  14  from interior storage region  26  of tray  12  and pivoted rear lid  22  to an opened position and suggesting that the consumer apply (1) a first inwardly directed force F 1  to first side wall  37  of tray  12  to cause two rectangular segments  253 ,  254  comprising first side wall  37  to pivot toward one another about a vertical first-side fold line  37 F and (2) an opposite second inwardly directed force F 2  to second side wall  39  of tray  12  to cause two rectangular segments  257 ,  258  comprising second side wall  39  to pivot toward one another about a vertical second-side fold line  39 F. This folding action is continued until tray  12  has been collapsed accordion-style in accordance with the present disclosure to establish a compact first folded mode of article-storage unit  10  as shown in  FIG. 9  in which rear wall  36  is arranged to lie in close proximity to front wall  38  to define a segment-receiving space  40  therebetween receiving therein the segments  253 ,  254 ,  257 , and  258  of each of the folded first and second side walls  37 ,  39  and also receiving therein the folded floor  24  and suggesting that a folded tray organizer  14  and one or more front divider panels  19  could be placed on rear wall  36  of tray  12  before rear lid  22  is folded about rear-lid pivot axis  22 A to reach the position shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0039]    As suggested in  FIG. 10 , rear lid  22  has been pivoted forwardly about rear-lid pivot axis  22 A to cause the underside of rear lid  22  to face toward front wall  38  and folded first and second side walls  37 ,  39  to establish a more compact second folded mode of article-storage unit  10 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the rectangular flattened structure shown in  FIG. 10  has been folded in half to produce a most compact third folded mode of article-storage unit  10 . 
         [0040]    In illustrative embodiments, floor  24  of tray  12  carries a floor anchor (e.g.,  31 - 34 ) that can be operated by a consumer to anchor tray  12  to an underlayment  100  such as a pad or a carpet in the trunk  104  of a vehicle  102  as suggested in  FIGS. 13 and 18 . Each floor anchor  31 - 34  has an identical structure in an illustrative embodiment. Floor anchor  32  includes a piercing member  50  that can be rotated about a vertical axis  50 A manually by a consumer as suggested in  FIG. 19  to pierce an outer surface  100 S of underlayment  100  to retain tray  12  temporarily in a stationary position on underlayment  100  as suggested in  FIG. 18 . The consumer can retract piercing member  50  from underlayment  100  by rotating piercing member  50  about vertical axis  50 A in an opposite direction so that tray  12  can be folded easily to assume a stowable compact shape when article-storage unit  10  is not in use. Floor anchor  32  is coupled to floor  24  of collapsible tray  12  by means of two rivets  51 ,  52  and to a vehicle carpet  100  underlying floor  24  of collapsible tray  12  by means of sharpened point  50 P moved to pierce the underlying vehicle carpet  100 . 
         [0041]    Article-storage unit  10  includes a detachable tray organizer  14  and a container  13  comprising a collapsible tray  12  and a rear lid  22  as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Collapsible tray  12  is formed to include an interior storage region  26 . Rear lid  22  is coupled to collapsible tray  12  for pivotable movement about a rear-lid pivot axis  22 A relative to collapsible tray  12  from an opened position shown in  FIG. 2  to a closed position shown in  FIG. 4  to cover a portion of interior storage region  26 . 
         [0042]    Tray organizer  14  is configured to provide means for detachably mating with collapsible tray  12  as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5  to (1) partition interior storage region  26  to establish a front chamber  28  that is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to rear-lid pivot axis  22 A and a separate rear chamber  27  that is arranged to lie between rear-lid pivot axis  22 A and front chamber  28  and to (2) close, at the option of a user, a front top aperture opening into front chamber  28  as suggested in  FIG. 2  so that rear lid  22  is free to mate with detachable tray-organizer  14  upon movement of rear lid  22  about rear-lid pivot axis  22 A relative to collapsible tray  12  to the closed position to close a rear top aperture opening into rear chamber  27  without blocking motion of a front lid  18  included in detachable tray organizer  14  away from collapsible tray  12  to open the front top aperture to gain access to any items stored in front chamber  28  as suggested in  FIG. 3 . Tray organizer  14  can be separated from tray  12  before container  13  is folded as suggested in  FIGS. 8-11  to assume a compact shape. 
         [0043]    Tray organizer  14  further includes a partition wall  16 , a front lid  18 , and a rear divider panel  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Partition wall  16  is coupled to collapsible tray  12  to partition interior storage region  26  to establish front and rear chambers  27 ,  28  in interior storage region  26  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Front lid  18  is coupled to partition wall  16  for pivotable movement about a front-lid pivot axis  18 A relative to partition wall  16  and to collapsible tray  12  between a closed position mating with collapsible tray  12  to close the front top aperture as shown in  FIG. 2  and an opened position disengaging collapsible tray  12  to open the front top aperture as shown in  FIG. 3 . Rear divider panel  20  is coupled to partition wall  16  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0044]    Rear lid  22  includes a rear panel  22 P coupled to collapsible tray  12  for pivotable movement about rear-lid pivot axis  22 A. Rear lid  22  also includes first fastener means  22 F 1  for detachably fastening rear panel  22 P to front lid  18  to retain rear lid  22  in the closed position when front lid  18  is in the closed position and also when front lid  18  is in the opened position as suggested in  FIGS. 2-4 . 
         [0045]    Tray  12  includes a floor  24  and an endless side wall  25  coupled to floor  24  to form interior storage region  26  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 4 . Endless side wall  25  includes, in series, a rear wall  36  coupled to rear lid  22 , a first side wall  37 , a front wall  38  arranged to lie in generally spaced-apart parallel relation to rear wall  36  to locate partition wall  16  about midway therebetween, and a second side wall  39  coupled to rear wall  36  and arranged to lie in generally spaced-apart parallel relation to first side wall  37 . Partition wall  16  is coupled to each of floor  24  and the first and second side walls  37 ,  39 . Front lid  18  mates with front wall  38  upon movement of front lid  18  about front-lid pivot axis  18 A to the closed position as suggested in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0046]    Rear lid  22  further includes second fastener means  22 F 2  for detachably fastening rear panel  22 P to at least one of first and second side walls  37 ,  39  to retain rear lid  22  in the closed position as suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . In an illustrative embodiment, second fastener means  22 F 2  comprises hook-and-loop fasteners  223 ,  224  wherein fastener  223  is coupled to a first side of rear panel  22 P and fastener  224  is coupled to a nearby top edge of first side wall  37  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Zippers, snaps, or other fasteners could also be used within the scope of this disclosure. For example, a first zipper track could be coupled to a first-side edge of rear panel  22 P and a second zipper track could be coupled to a first-side edge of first side wall  37  alongside first compartment  271 . 
         [0047]    Tray organizer  14  further includes a rear divider panel  20  coupled to partition wall  16  and fastener means  20 F for detachably fastening rear divider panel  20  to rear wall  36  when partition wall  16  is coupled to collapsible tray  12  to divide rear chamber  27  into separate first and second storage compartments  271 ,  272 . Rear panel  22 F includes an underside arranged to face toward floor  24  when rear lid  22  is in the closed position and a topside that is arranged to face away from floor  24  when rear lid  22  is in the closed position. Front lid  18  includes a front panel  18 P having an underside arranged to face toward floor  24  when front lid  18  is in the closed position and a topside arranged to face away from floor  24  when front lid  18  is in the closed position. The first fastener means  22 F of rear lid  22  includes a first fastener strip  221  coupled to the underside of rear panel  22 P for movement therewith relative to collapsible tray  12  and a companion second fastener strip  222  coupled to the topside of front panel  18 P of front lid  18  for movement therewith and configured to detachably grip first fastener strip  221  upon engagement therewith. In an illustrative embodiment, hook-and-loop fasteners are used to provide first and second fastener strips  221 ,  222 . 
         [0048]    Partition wall  16  includes a partition panel  16 P and fastener means  16 F for detachably coupling partition panel  16 P to collapsible tray  12  to establish front and rear chambers  28 ,  27  in interior storage region  26  as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Partition panel  16 P is arranged to extend above floor  24  from first side wall  37  to second side wall  39  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . The fastener means  16 F of partition wall  16  is coupled to partition panel  16 P and each of floor  24  and first and second side walls  37 ,  39  as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Front lid  18  mates with front wall  38  upon movement of front lid  18  to the closed position as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
         [0049]    The fastener means  16 F of partition wall  16  includes six fastener strips  161 ,  162 ,  163 ,  164 ,  165 , and  166  in an illustrative embodiment as suggested in  FIG. 4 . A first fastener strip  161  is coupled to a first end edge of partition panel  16 P. A companion second fastener strip  162  is coupled to first side wall  37  and configured to detachably grip first fastener strip  161  upon engagement therewith. A third fastener strip  163  is coupled to a bottom edge of partition panel  16 P. A companion fourth fastener strip  164  is coupled to floor  24  and configured to detachably grip third fastener strip  163  upon engagement therewith. A fifth fastener strip  165  is coupled to a second end edge of partition panel  16 P. A sixth fastener strip  166  is coupled to second side wall  39  and configured to detachably grip fifth fastener strip  166  upon engagement therewith. 
         [0050]    Rear divider panel  20  is coupled to partition wall  16  to move therewith as suggested in  FIG. 4 . Rear divider-panel fastener means  20 F is provided for detachably fastening rear divider panel  20  to rear wall  22  when partition wall  16  is coupled to collapsible tray  12  to divide rear chamber  27  into separate first and second storage compartments  271 ,  272  as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Rear divider-panel fastener means includes a first fastener strip  201  coupled to rear divider panel  20  and a companion second fastener strip  202  coupled to rear wall  22  and configured to detachably grip first fastener strip  201  upon engagement therewith. 
         [0051]    A front divider panel  19  is located in front chamber  28  as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Front divider-panel fastener means  19 F is provided for detachably fastening front divider panel  19  to each of partition panel  16 P and front wall  38  to divide front chamber  28  into separate first and second storage compartments. In an illustrative embodiment, two front divider panels  19  cooperate to divide front chamber  28  into three separate compartments  281 ,  282 ,  283 . As suggested in  FIG. 18 , front divider panel  19  is formed to include opposing mesh walls that lie next to one another and cooperate to form a storage pocket  19 SP therebetween that can be accessed through a top opening closed normally by a zipper  19 Z. 
         [0052]    Front divider-panel fastener means  19 F includes four fastener strips  191 ,  192 ,  193 ,  194  in an illustrative embodiment. First fastener strip  191  is coupled to an inner edge of front divider panel  19 . A companion second fastener strip  192  is coupled to partition panel  16 P and configured to detachably grip first fastener strip  191  upon engagement therewith. A third fastener strip  193  is coupled to an outer edge of front divider panel  19 . A companion fourth fastener strip  194  is coupled to front wall  28  and configured to detachably grip third fastener strip  193  upon engagement therewith. Second fastener strip  192  is arranged to extend on partition panel  16 P along a vertical line from floor  24  to front-lid pivot axis  18 A in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . Second fastener strip  192  (shown in phantom) is arranged to extend on partition panel along a horizontal line from first side wall  37  to second side wall  39  in an alternative embodiment as suggested in phantom in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0053]    Front lid  18  includes a front panel  18 P coupled to partition wall  16  for pivotable movement about front-lid pivot axis  18 A and first fastener means  18 F 1  for detachably fastening front panel  18 P to collapsible tray  12  to retain front lid  18  in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 6 . Partition wall  16  is coupled to each of floor  14  and first and second side walls  37 ,  39 . The first fastener means  18 F 1  of front lid  18  is coupled to front panel  18 P and to front wall  38  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In an illustrative embodiment, first fastener means  18 F 1  comprises hook-and-loop fastener strips  181 ,  182 . A first fastener strip  181  is coupled to the underside of front lid  18  for movement therewith relative to tray  12  and a companion second fastener strip  182  is coupled to front wall  38  and is configured to detachably engage first fastener strip  181  upon engagement therewith. 
         [0054]    Front lid  18  further includes second fastener means  18 F 2  for detachably fastening front panel  38  to at least one of first and second side walls  37 ,  39  to retain front lid  18  in the closed position as suggested in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 . In an illustrative embodiment, second fastener means  18 F 2  comprises hook-and-loop fasteners  183 ,  184  wherein fastener  183  is coupled to a first side of front panel  18 P and fastener  184  is coupled to nearby top edge of first side wall  37  as shown in  FIG. 5 . It is within the scope of the present disclosure to use a zipper to provide the second fastener means and couple a first zipper track to a first-side edge of front panel  18 F and second zipper track to a first-side edge of first side wall  37  alongside first compartment  281  of front chamber  28 . 
         [0055]    Front lid  18  includes a front panel  18 P coupled to partition wall  16  for pivotable movement about front-lid pivot axis  18 A relative to partition wall  16 . Front panel  18 P includes a top plate  18 P 1  and a front lip  18 P 2  as suggested in  FIG. 3 . Top plate  18 P 1  is arranged to lie above and in spaced-apart confronting relation to floor  14  when front lid  18  is in the closed position. Front lip  18 P 2  is coupled to a front edge of top plate  18 P 1  for pivotable movement about front-lip pivot axis  18 A relative to top plate  18 P 1  and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to partition wall  16  to locate top plate  18 P 1  between front lip  18 P 2  and partition wall  16 . First fastener means  18 F 1  is provided for detachably fastening front lip  18 P 2  to collapsible tray  12  to retain front lid  18  in the closed position. First fastener strip  181  is coupled to front lip  18 P 2  in an illustrative embodiment. 
         [0056]    Tray  12  is made of a pliable material and includes a floor  24  and an endless side wall  25  coupled to floor  24  to form interior storage region  26  and coupled to rear lid  22  at rear-lid pivot axis  22 A. Endless side wall  25  includes, in series, as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , a first segment  251  coupled to rear lid  22  at rear-lid pivot axis  22 A, a second segment  251  coupled to rear lid  22  at rear-lid pivot axis  22 A and to first segment  251  at a rear-wall fold line  36 F to define rear wall  36 , a third segment  253  coupled to second segment  252  at a first-corner fold line  1 CF to establish a first corner  12 C 1  of collapsible tray  12 , a fourth segment  254  coupled to fifth segment  255  at a second-corner fold line  2 CF to establish a second corner  12 C 2  of collapsible tray  12 , a sixth segment  256  coupled to fifth segment  255  at a front-wall fold line  38 F to define front wall  38 , a seventh segment  257  coupled to sixth segment  256  at a third-corner fold line  3 CF to establish a third corner  12 C 3  of collapsible tray  12 , and an eighth segment  258  coupled to seventh segment  257  at a second-side fold line  39 F to define second side wall  239  and to first segment  251  at a fourth-corner fold line  4 CF to establish a fourth corner  12 CA of collapsible tray  12 . 
         [0057]    Foldable storage unit  10  is reconfigurable by a user to assume one of an erected use mode shown in  FIG. 5  and a compact first folded mode shown in  FIG. 9 . In the compact erected use mode, shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 , first and second segments  251 ,  252  lie in coplanar relation to one another to establish rear wall  36 , third and fourth segments  253 ,  254  lie in coplanar relation to one another to establish first side wall  37  and orient first side wall  37  to lie in perpendicular relation to rear wall  36 , fifth and sixth segments  255 ,  256  lie in coplanar relation to one another to establish front wall  38  and orient front wall  38  to lie in perpendicular relation to first side wall  37  and in spaced-apart parallel relation to rear wall  36 , and seventh and eighth segments  257 ,  258  lie in coplanar relation to one another to establish second side wall  39  and to orient second side wall  39  to lie in perpendicular relation to each of front and rear walls  38 ,  36  and in spaced-apart parallel relation to first side wall  37 . In the compact first folded mode shown, for example, in  FIG. 9 , rear wall  36  is arranged to lie in closely confronting generally parallel relation to front wall  38  to define a segment-receiving space  40  therebetween, third and fourth segments  253 ,  254  are arranged to lie in the segment-receiving space  40  provided between rear and front walls  36 ,  38  in closely confronting relation to one another to form a first-side segment stack S 1 , and seventh and eighth segments  257 ,  258  are arranged to lie in the segment-receiving space  40  provided between rear and front walls  36 ,  38  in closely confronting relation to one another to form a second-side segment stack S 2  arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first-side segment stack S 1 , and floor  24  is folded to lie substantially in the segment-receiving space  40  provided between rear and front walls  36 ,  38 . 
         [0058]    Each of the segments  251 - 258  includes an inner surface facing into interior storage region  26  and an outer surface facing away from interior storage region  26  when foldable storage unit  10  is in the erected use mode. In the compact first folded mode of foldable storage unit  10  shown, for example, in  FIG. 9 , inner surface of second segment  252  faces toward inner surface of third segment  253 , outer surface of third segment  253  faces toward outer surface of fourth segment  254 , inner surface of fourth segment  254  faces toward inner surface of fifth segment  255 , inner surface of first segment  251  faces toward inner surface of eighth segment  258 , outer surface of eighth segment  258  faces toward outer surface of seventh segment  257 , and inner surface of seventh segment  257  faces toward inner surface of sixth segment  256 . 
         [0059]    Foldable storage unit  10  is also reconfigurable by a user to assume a more compact second folded mode shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 . Rear lid  22  includes an underside arranged to face toward floor  24  and a topside arranged to face away from floor  24  when foldable storage unit  10  is in the erected use mode and rear lid  22  is in the closed position. The underside of rear lid  22  is arranged to face toward and lie in closely confronting relation to outer surfaces of fifth and sixth segments  255 ,  256  to establish a compact second folded mode of foldable storage unit  10  in response to pivoting movement of rear lid  22  about rear-lid pivot axis  22 A toward rear wall  36 . 
         [0060]    Foldable storage unit  10  is also reconfigurable by a user to assume a most compact third folded mode of foldable storage unit  10  shown, for example, in  FIG. 11 . The topside of rear lid  22  includes a right-side portion arranged to lie in closely confronting and generally parallel relation to second segment  252  and a left-side portion arranged to lie in closely confronting and generally parallel relation to first segment  251 . The right-side portion of the topside of rear lid  22  is arranged to lie in closely confronting and generally parallel relation to the left-side portion of the topside of rear lid  22  in response to pivoting movement of second segment  252  about rear-wall fold line  37 F toward first segment  251  and pivoting movement of fifth segment  255  about front-wall fold line  38 F toward sixth segment  256 . 
         [0061]    Foldable storage unit  10  further includes anchor means  30  coupled to floor  24  of collapsible tray  12  for piercing a surface  100 S of an underlayment  100  under floor  24  to retain collapsible tray  12  on underlayment  100 . Anchor means  30  includes a first floor anchor  31  coupled to a first corner portion of floor  24  at first corner  12 C 1  of collapsible tray  12 , a second floor anchor  32  coupled to a second corner portion of floor  24  at second corner  12 C 2  of collapsible tray  12 , a third floor anchor  33  coupled to a third corner portion of floor  24  at third corner  12 C 3  of collapsible tray  12 , and a fourth floor anchor  34  coupled to a fourth corner portion of floor  24  at fourth corner  12 C 4  of collapsible tray  12 . 
         [0062]    Floor  24  is formed to include an anchor-receiving aperture  24 A (as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 ) for each of floor anchors  31 - 34 . Floor anchor  32 , for example, is coupled to floor  24  at the anchor-receiving aperture  24 A and arranged to extend through floor  24  to reach an underlayment  100  located under floor  24  as suggested in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0063]    Floor anchor includes a base  70 , a fastener  51 ,  52 , and an anchorage  75  comprising a piercing member  50  and a grip  76  coupled to piercing member  50  as suggested in  FIG. 16 . Base  70  is located in interior storage region  26  of collapsible tray  12  and formed to include a central aperture  77  aligned and in communication with the anchor-receiving aperture  24 A formed in floor  24  to establish an aligned position of base  70  on floor  24 . Fastener  51 ,  52  is coupled to floor  24  and base  70  to retain base  70  in the aligned position on floor  24 . Grip  76  is configured to provide means for supporting piercing member  50  in a tethered position on base  70  for movement under the control of a user in a first direction to move piercing member  50  to pierce surface  100 S of an underlayment  100  located below floor  24  and remain in a temporary locked position therein and in an opposite second direction to remove piercing member  50  from underlayment  100  without untethering piercing member  50  from base  70  so that the user can move piercing member  50  relative to base  70  in the first direction while floor  24  of tray  12  is at rest on an underlayment  100  to anchor tray  12  to underlayment  100  and alternatively can move piercing member  50  relative to base  70  in the opposite second direction to disengage piercing member  50  from underlayment  100  to release tray  12  from underlayment  100 . 
         [0064]    Piercing member  50  included in anchorage  75  is corkscrew-shaped in an illustrative embodiment as shown in  FIG. 16 . Piercing member  50  has an upper end coupled to grip  76  and a lower end formed to include a sharpened point  50  and is helically wound about a vertical axis  50 A extending through central aperture  77  of base  70 . Sharpened point  50 P is arranged to lie in central aperture  77  of base  70  when piercing member  50  is moved to assume the retracted position and to lie outside of central aperture  77  of base  70  when piercing member  50  is moved to assume the temporary locked position as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0065]    Foldable storage unit  10 , in accordance with the present disclosure, may be mounted in a stationary position on surface  100 S on an underlayment  100  provided in a motor vehicle  102  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 13 . Storage unit  10  can be attached to surface  100 S by use of floor anchors  31 - 34  that are installed by a user, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . Foldable storage unit  10  may be collapsed and folded for storage when not needed, as shown in  FIGS. 8-11 . 
         [0066]    Each of floor anchors  31 - 34  is located on floor  24  in one of the four corners  12 C 1 - 4  of tray  12  as shown in FIGS.  5  and  13 - 15 . Floor anchors  31 - 34  are used to secure floor  24  of tray  12  to surface  100 S of motor vehicle  104  so that the position of article storage unit  10  remains fixed in, for example, a rear cargo area  102  of vehicle  104  during movement of vehicle  104  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0067]    Base  70  of floor anchor  32  includes fastener rings  71 ,  72  that are configured to accept floor fasteners  51 ,  52  in the form of rivets used to secure a support plate  74  included in base  70  to floor  24  of tray  12  as shown in  FIGS. 16-19 . Support plate  74  also includes a central support ring  73  located between fastener rings  71 ,  72  used to orient and support a rotatable anchorage  75  comprising grip  76  and piercing member  50  during installation of floor anchor  32  onto surface  100 S of underlayment  100 . In illustrative embodiments, base  70  is a monolithic structure. 
         [0068]    Anchorage  75  of floor anchor  32  includes a grip  76  and a corkscrew-shaped piercing member  50  that extends downwardly from grip  76  as suggested in  FIGS. 16 and 19 . Grip  76  includes a knob  76 K that is configured to be grasped by a user to permit anchorage  75  to be screwed in a clockwise direction about axis  50 A to pierce surface  100 S and enter underlayment  100  as suggested in  FIGS. 19 and 18 . Anchorage  75  can be removed from surface  100 S by rotating grip  76  in a counterclockwise direction about axis  50 A. 
         [0069]    A foundation  76 F of grip  76  is generally circular and has a diameter slightly less than a diameter of an inner surface of cylindrical wall of support ring  73 . Corkscrew-shaped piercing member  50  extends downwardly from foundation  76 F and is formed to include a sharpened point  50 P that allows corkscrew-shaped piercing member  50  to pierce surface  100 S of underlayment  100 . Piercing member  50  is inserted into a center passageway  77  formed in base  70  to cause grip foundation  76 F to overlie a foundation-support platform  78  provided in base  70  and downward pressure is exerted while anchorage  75  is turned to cause piercing member  50  to pierce surface  100 S and enter into underlayment  100 . Rotation of anchorage  75  continues until a bottom surface of grip  76  reaches foundation-support platform  78  of base  70  as shown in  FIG. 18 .