Abstract:
A portable organizer, with multiple removable storage trays for receiving parts during the disassembly of a piece of apparatus, includes a rectangular frame with opposing side walls, a top, base, front and rear. A number of U-shaped trays are pivotally mounted to the frame side walls and coupled together to pivot in unison via a gang bar slidably mounted on the frame. The trays have an open top which is generally parallel to the frame front in a deployed position and inclined in a retracted position in which parts stored therein are readily accessible. The individual trays may be removed from the frame and placed near the disassembly site and then reinstalled in the frame for storage until the parts are required during the reassembly process.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a parts organizer and more particularly to a portable universal organizer for enabling a user such as a mechanic to organize and temporarily store parts of a vehicle component such as bolts, nuts, washers, etc. resulting from the disassembly of vehicle component, a transmission, engine, brake unit etc.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     During the disassembly of a vehicle component such as a brake unit, transmission, engine, etc. mechanics typically place the small disassembled parts, such as bolts, nuts, cotter pins, lock washers, snap washers, set screws etc. on a work bench, nearby floor space, in pans or other containers. Such a procedure, while perhaps expedient from the standpoint of the disassembly procedure can turn into a time consuming and even expensive process where essential parts are misplaced or lost. Various types of organizers and storage containers have been suggested in the prior art.  
         [0003]     See, for example, U.S. patent No. US/2002/0040880A1 (“&#39;880 publication”) which discloses an organizer in which a plurality of bins with an open front are pivotally mounted in a housing for simultaneous rotation between an open and closed position by means of a strap or bar (5). While the &#39;880 publication would aid a user in placing and keeping the removed parts in specific bins, it suffers from several disadvantages. The individual bins cannot be removed from and reinstalled in the housing. Thus, a user, such as a mechanic, could not take one of the bins and position it adjacent the site where the disassembly process is taking place. For example, a mechanic may be positioned under a vehicle or over the engine compartment while removing a particular assembly or component. It would be advantageous for the mechanic to be able to place the dismantled parts into one or more separate containers located close to the working area and then be able to access the container(s) at a later time when the component is to be reassembled. In addition, the items in the bins of the &#39;880 publication are not readily viewable when the bins are in the closed position.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,409 (“&#39;409 patent”) like the &#39;880 publication discloses a storage container with drawers which are arranged to pivot in unison from an open to a closed position. The drawers are not removable and in the closed position would not allow a user to see the contents in the drawer. In addition, it does not appear that the container would be readily moved from one location to another. Also see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,616,891 and 4,822,119 for similar types of storage compartments.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,851 (“&#39;851 patent”) discloses a storage bin assembly in which individual bins are pivoted on a rod so that the bins are oriented horizontally when empty and oriented at angle to the horizontal when supporting articles. While the bins can be lifted off their respective support rods they are not arranged to pivot in unison and permit the contents to be viewed only when the individual bins are tipped downwardly.  
         [0006]     Conventional storage cabinets are designed to contain loose items of different types such as tools, spare parts and the like. While objects according to type may be stored in individual compartments it may require a considerable time to search through the many compartments to find the particular item(s) the searcher is looking for. In addition, the housing for such compartments are generally not readily portable, and where portable, such as a mechanics tool cabinet, the individual drawers are not readily removable.  
         [0007]     There is a need for a more user friendly organizer which will enable a user such as a mechanic to temporarily store small parts removed during the disassembly of an apparatus and readily retrieve such parts during the reassembly process.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A generally rectangular frame member having opposing side walls, a top, base, front and rear, houses a plurality of generally U-shaped tray members. Each tray member has an open top lying in a plane and is releasably mounted to the side walls of the tray so that the tray members are arranged in a vertical arrangement for rotation between a deployed position in which the plane of the open tops are generally parallel to the frame front and a retracted position in which the planes of the open tops extend at an acute angle to the frame front, for example, at an angle within the range of 15° to 65° and most preferably about 25° to 45° to the horizontal. A gang bar, slidably mounted on the frame, is coupled to the individual tray members so that the tray members, when positioned on the frame, will move in unison from the retracted to the deployed position and visa versa. The mounting between the individual tray members and the coupling between the gang bar and the tray members allow one or more of the tray members to be removed from the frame and placed near the site where an apparatus is being disassembled and then replaced in the frame after receiving the disassembled parts to be temporarily stored.  
         [0009]     The frame with the trays mounted therein, which normally rests on its base in a vertical position, can be laid on the floor near the disassembled site so that the tops of the trays are oriented vertically to receive the disassembled parts or tilted at a small angle to the horizontal by allowing a handle, pivotally mounted to the top of the frame, to support the frame top with respect to the floor. The front, bottom and back walls of the trays may be made of perforated material such as metal to allow the parts within a tray to be cleaned by a suitable solvent. The top of the front and back walls of the trays may be rolled over to provide a rounded top edge to eliminate a sharp edge and the front and back edges may include opposing spaced notches for retaining dividers in place within the trays. The frame may optionally be provided with wheels attached to the base and the top may include a shelf provided with spaced openings for receiving spark plugs and the like.  
         [0010]     The present invention, both as to its construction and operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable organizer in accordance with the present invention with the trays in the retracted position and one of the trays removed and positioned in front;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the organizer with the trays in the deployed position and without the can holder;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the organizer of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the organizer with the trays in the retracted position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the organizer of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a back view of the organizer of  FIG. 2  with the trays removed showing the gang bar member for controlling the rotation of the trays, the collapsible handle arrangement and J hooks for enabling the organizer to be supported on a cart, etc.;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the organizer in a reclined position on a floor with the top of the frame supported on the floor by the handle and without the trays installed therein;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the organizer of  FIG. 7  laying on the floor;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a tray with two dividers inserted therein;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is an end view of a divider; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a tray made of perforated material with two dividers inserted therein. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1-6 , an organizer in accordance with the present invention includes a frame  10  which supports a plurality of trays  42 . The frame has lateral side walls  12  secured between support rods  14  and  16  with the rods  14 . The forward rods  16  extend rearwardly at the top along section  14   a  then upwardly along section  14   b  and thence are joined together via top horizontal rod  15 . The lower ends of the rods  14  are slanted forwardly along section  14   c  and then rearwardly along base section  14   d  to form a bracket to support axles  18   a  of wheels  18 . The bracket includes an upper section  14   e  which is joined to the rod  16  as shown. A lower horizontal rod  20  extends between sections  14   d  to form, along with sections  14   d , the base of the frame as is shown in  FIG. 6 . Additional rear support rods  22  extend vertically from the rod  20  to the top rod  15 . A top shelf  24  is secured to and supported by the rod sections  14   a  and the rod  15  as shown. The slanted portion  24   a  of the shelf  24  is provided with openings or apertures  24   b  for receiving and supporting spark plugs and the like. The horizontal section  24   c  of the shelf may be used to support tools or miscellaneous items.  
         [0023]     Vertically extending rear rods  26   a  and  26   b  are joined to the top and bottom rods  15  and  20 , respectively, to form the rear of the frame. The outer rods  26   a  support two top and bottom J-hooks  28  to enable the frame to be supported on the side of a cart such as a mechanics wheeled cart or a work bench. Horizontally oriented J-shaped handle supports  30  are secured to the upper ends of the rods  26   b  with their inwardly extending lower stubs  30   a  arranged to pivotally mount a foldable rectangular handle bar  32  via eyelets on the lower end of the bar  32 . The handle  32  is held in an upright position via the inwardly extending upper stubs  36   b  as is shown in  FIG. 6 . The lower ends of the handle can be squeezed together to clear the inner surface of the stubs  30   b  and allow the handle to drop down. The handle may then be rotated to engage the outer surface of the stubs  30   b  to support the frame at an inclined position relative to a floor  37  as is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, the frame may be laid on the floor as is shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0024]     A gang bar or rod  34  is slidably mounted to the central rear portion of the frame via a guide collar  36  secured to the rod  15  and blind bore in a post  38  secured to the base rod  20  as is shown in  FIG. 6 . The gang bar, pictured at rest in  FIG. 7  (retracted position), is arranged to slide upwardly until a stop collar  34   a  (carried by the bar) engages the guide collar  36  (deployed position). Actuating pins  34   b  are secured to and extend horizontally inwardly from the gang bar. The actuating pins are arranged to project through cooperating openings or holes in individual trays releasably carried by the frame as will be described.  
         [0025]     An adjustable can or cup holder  40  is secured to the rods  14  and  16  on one side of the frame via a plate  40   a . The holder  40  includes a base  40   b  supporting a divider  40   c  and an adjustable peripheral wall  40   d  for accommodating different sized cans or containers.  
         [0026]     The trays  42  are releasably mounted in the frame via pivot pins or studs  42   a  which extend outwardly from opposed end walls  42   b . The pivot pins  42   a  ride in recesses  12   a  at the terminal ends of inclined channels or slots  12   b  in the frame side walls  12 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 9  and  10 , each tray is formed with a front wall  42   c , a back wall  42   d , bottom wall  42   e  and an opening  42   f  in the center of the bottom wall adjacent the back wall as shown. The junction  42   g  between the front and bottom walls is preferably rounded as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11  to aid a user in the retrieval of parts disposed in the tray. The junction of the bottom and back walls preferably form about a 90° angle. The openings  42   f  receive the actuating pins  34   b . The upper or free edge of the front, back and end walls of the tray form an open top of the tray, the perimeter of which lies in a plane that is generally parallel to the front of the frame when the trays are in the deployed position as is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . The trays pivot relative to the recesses  12   a  about an imaginary axis extending through the pivot pins  42   a  when mounted in the frame through an angle ⊖, with respect to the vertical as illustrated in  FIG. 4  from a deployed position (⊖≅0°) to a retracted position (⊖≅15° to 65°). In the retracted position ⊖ preferably equals about 25° to 45°. The trays pivot in unison as a result of the pin  34   b /opening  42   f  coupling between the gang bar and the trays. The center of gravity of the unloaded trays extends slightly below the imaginary pivot axis. As a result when the organizer is raised from a reclined position, such as that shown in  FIG. 7  (or flat position  FIG. 8 ), to vertical position, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , the trays will automatically rotate to their retracted position unless a set screw  36   a , carried by guide collar  36 , is tightened to prevent movement of the gang bar  34 .  
         [0027]     The trays may be made of any suitable material, but preferably are made of sheet metal such as steel. While the front, bottom and back walls may be solid as shown in  FIG. 1  they are preferably perforated as is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The perforations allow parts contained in the tray to be cleaned with a suitable solvent by either dipping the trays in the solvent container or by pouring solvent onto the parts in the tray and allowing the solvent to drain through the holes to a recovery vessel. The trays after being constructed are preferably provided with a yellow zinc coating in a conventional manner for rust and solvent resistance purposes. It should be noted that the bottom walls of the trays may be provided with a magnetic plate  42   h  (solid or perforated) as is illustrated in  FIG. 8  to retain steel or ferrous alloy parts therein.  
         [0028]     The upper (free) edges of the front and back walls of the trays are preferably rolled over in the form of an inverted U to provide a rounded edge. The top edge is also preferably notched at opposed locations  42   i  along the sides to receive the laterally extending shoulders  44   a  notched at  44   b  at the top of divider  44 . The notches  42   i  and the slotted divider shoulders securely retain the channel free dividers in place to provide separate compartments within each tray as is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The use of edge notches to secure the dividers in place leaves the inside of the tray free of obstructions.  
         [0029]     The frame, with the trays therein in their deployed position, can be laid on a floor or other surface or inclined with respect thereto ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) near the disassembly area to facilitate the placement of parts in the trays. Alternatively, one or more of the trays  42  can be removed from the frame by disengaging the pivot pins and the openings  42   f  from the channels  12   b  and actuating pins  34   b  respectively. Once the trays are removed they can be placed adjacent the disassembly site to facilitate the placement of parts therein. The trays can then be replaced in the frame and accessed later when the parts are needed.  
         [0030]     It is to be noted that in an alternative construction of a releasable mounting between the trays and the frame the pivot pins could protrude from the frame side walls and slide into inclined channels formed in the trays. In addition, the construction of the coupling between the gang bar and the individual trays could be reversed with actuating pins carried by the trays extending into openings in the gang bar.  
         [0031]     By way of example only, the frame can be about 48″ in height, 17″ in width with a distance of about 15¼″ between the side walls. The individual trays can be about 15″ long, 3″ wide and 3″ deep.  
         [0032]     There has thus been described a novel and user friendly parts organizer. Modifications and improvements to the organizer may occur to those skilled in the art without involving any departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as called for in the appended claims.