Patent Publication Number: US-9427096-B2

Title: Container organiser

Description:
This application claims priority to UK patent application 1112167.0, filed on Jul. 15, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a container organizer, and to a refrigeration device having such a container organizer therein, and to a method of manually arranging a plurality of containers in chronological order using such a container organizer. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Presently, containers such as tin, cans, bottles and packets are organised generally randomly on a shelf within a shop or at home. Occasionally a member of staff will reorder the containers so that the older ones are closer to the front in an effort for customers to take these first. More particularly, such containers are only notionally at best organised logically within a refrigerator, such as a cooler behind a bar of a pub, café or restaurant. When new bottles, for example, are taken from storage to restock the cooler, they are more often than not placed within the cooler in no particular order. This is largely due to time pressures of the staff. Furthermore, particularly in domestic settings, there is no order to the insertion of bottles or other containers into a fridge or onto a shelf in a cupboard or pantry. Particularly with a fridge, it is therefore often difficult to determine which items are suitably chilled or older, and which items have only recently been inserted and thus may still not be suitably cooled. 
     The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container organizer comprising a base element and a perimeter wall which extends from the base element, the base element and the perimeter wall defining an enclosure for the insertion of a plurality of containers, and an intermediate wall which divides the enclosure into first and second channels, the intermediate wall extending from the base element and being spaced from the perimeter wall at at least one end, the said space being dimensioned to allow the said container to pass between the first and second channels, and a plurality of inventory indicators provided on at least one of the perimeter wall and the intermediate wall. As containers are moved along at least the first channel, the inventory indicators indicate a number of replacement containers that can be inserted. A stockist can thus determine accurately how many replacement containers are required without trial and error. The exact number of replacement containers can be brought out from stock, thus dispensing with the need for any return trips. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of arranging a plurality of containers in chronological order, whereby the first container to be inserted becomes the first container to be extracted, the method comprising the steps of providing a container organizer in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, wherein the first and second channels are of sufficient width to only accept containers in single file, feeding a plurality of containers into the first channel, whereby the addition of further containers causes the leading containers to slide through the said space defined between the intermediate wall and the perimeter wall and thus pass into the second channel, the introduction of the said further containers causing contra linear movement of the containers in the first and second channels, wherein the leading container is presented for first use at an end of the second channel and once removed from the container organizer a replacement container is urged into the second channel thus causing the plurality of containers to travel along the first and second channels thereby presenting for use a new leading container at the end of the second channel. 
     Preferably, the containers are beverage containers. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a container organizer comprising a base element and a perimeter wall which extends from the base element, the base element and the perimeter wall defining an enclosure for the insertion of a plurality of containers, and an intermediate wall which divides the enclosure into first and second channels, the intermediate wall extending from the base element and being spaced from the perimeter wall at at least one end, the said space being dimensioned to allow the said container to pass between the first and second channels, and an embankment portion at the space between the end of the intermediate wall and the perimeter wall, whereby the containers tilt as they transition between the first and second channels. 
     The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a first embodiment of a container organizer, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a plan view of the container organizer, as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a container organizer, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a plan view of a third embodiment of a container organizer, in accordance with the first and third aspects of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a container organizer, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a container organizer  10  that comprises a rigid base  12  which is preferably generally planar along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent, forming a main supporting surface for holding a plurality of containers, such as bottles, a perimeter wall  14  and an intermediate wall  16 . The container organizer  10  may be formed of plastics or metal. Preferably, the container organizer  10  especially if it is to be used in a refrigeration device, such as a fridge or cooler, is formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity. One such material may be aluminium. This would be highly beneficial as the container organizer  10  would thus act as a heat exchanger enabling more rapid cooling of the containers placed thereon by the dissipation of heat to the contacting base  12 , perimeter wall  14  and/or intermediate wall  16 . 
     The perimeter wall  14  is rigid and extends around a perimeter edge of the base  12 . In this case, the base  12  is substantially rectangular with an arcuate distal portion  18 , but other shapes are envisaged, such as multi-faceted. The perimeter wall  14  upstands from the base  12 , and in use is substantially vertical relative to the horizontal base  12 . The base  12  provides a front edge  20 , back edge  22 , and two opposing side edges  24  interconnecting the front and back edges  20 ,  22 . Preferably, the back edge  22  is fully arcuate or curved whereby in conjunction with a curved back wall portion  26  of the perimeter wall  14  the aforementioned arcuate distal portion  18  is formed. 
     The perimeter wall  14  extends along the opposing side edges  24  of the base  12 , and is substantially flat, providing side wall portions  28 . The side wall portions  28  are parallel or substantially parallel with each other. 
     The perimeter wall  14  terminates at or adjacent to the front edge  20  of the base  12 , providing a substantially open proximal portion  30 . 
     The intermediate wall  16  is also rigid, upstands from the base  12  and extends at least substantially in parallel with the side wall portions  28  of the perimeter wall  14 . The perimeter wall  14  and the base  12  define an enclosure  32  which in this case is open at one end and across the top, and the intermediate wall  16  divides or partitions the enclosure  32  into, in this case substantially equal, first and second container channels  34 ,  36 . The intermediate wall  16  may have a height which is substantially the same as or less than that of the perimeter wall  14 . 
     To this end, the intermediate wall  16  extends from or adjacent to the front edge  20  of the base  12  and terminates spaced from the curved back wall portion  26 . The gap  38  provided between a distal edge  40  of the intermediate wall  16  and the curved back wall portion  26  is dimensioned to enable a container to pass therethrough from the first channel  34  to the second channel  36  unhindered. 
     The first and second container channels  34 ,  36  are at least substantially of the same dimensions, and in this case are at least substantially rectilinear from the front edge  20  of the base  12  to or adjacent to the arcuate distal portion  18 . Consequently, a lateral cross-section of the first and second channels  34 ,  36  is uniform or substantially uniform along at least a majority of the respective longitudinal extents. 
     The container organizer  10  also preferably includes a directional indicator  42   a  for indicating an entrance  44  to the said enclosure  32 , and preferably also a directional indicator  42   b  for indicating an exit  46  from the said enclosure  32 . The or each directional indicator  42   a ,  42   b  may be one or more signs or indicia such as one or more directional arrows identifying an intended movement path along the first and/or second channels  34 ,  36 . In this case, the or each arrow may be printed or more preferably engraved on a surface of at least the first channel  34  at or adjacent to the front edge  20  of the base  12 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, the directional indicator  42   a ,  42   b  may be or include a tonal contrast to indicate the entrance  44  and/or exit  46 . For example, a leading edge  48  of the perimeter wall  14  on one side portion and/or the intermediate wall  16  defining the lateral opening to the first channel  34  may be coloured to indicate the entrance  44 , for example, red to indicate heat. Similarly, a leading edge  50  of the perimeter wall  14  on the other side portion and/or the intermediate wall  16  defining the lateral opening to the second channel  36  may be coloured to indicate the exit  46 , for example, blue to indicate cold. 
     Any other suitable directional indicator or combination of directional indicators may be utilised. 
     A plurality of inventory indicators  55  are provided on at least one of the perimeter wall and the intermediate wall. In this embodiment, a row of spaced apart inventory indicators  55  are provided in an upper free edge of the perimeter wall  14  defining the first channel  34 . The spacing apart of the inventory indicators  55  is preferably dimensioned to match or substantially match a diameter of a container which will be accommodated by the first channel  34 . As such, the spacing apart of the inventory indicators  55  is or approximates to the lateral extent of the first channel  34 . 
     Each inventory indicator in this embodiment is a notch in the upper free edge of the perimeter wall  14 . However, other forms of inventory indicator can be utilised, such as for example a projection, pin or tab, a marker embossed on the outside and/or inside of the perimeter wall, and/or a marker on the base  12 . 
     The inventory indicators  55  are advantageous in that, as containers are moved along at least the first channel  34 , a number of replacement containers that can be inserted is clearly indicated. It is therefore a simple matter of a stockist to determine exactly a number of replacement containers required without any trial and error. A precise number of replacement containers can be brought out from stock, thus dispensing with the need for any return trips. 
     Beneficially, the inventory indicators  55  are viewable from an exterior side of the perimeter wall  14  and an interior side of the perimeter wall  14 . This enables a user or stockist to determine a maximum number of new containers from any direction. 
     A further advantage realized by having the inventory indicators  55  on or adjacent to an upper free edge of the perimeter wall  14  and/or on the base  12  is that a user can also clearly determine from above a number of replacement containers required. 
     Preferably, a depth of the defined enclosure  32  may be suitable to receive a height of the containers fully within the first and second channels  34 ,  36 . This is beneficial in allowing stacking of like or similar container organisers. To this end, engagement means  70  is preferably provided at or adjacent to top edges  52  of the perimeter wall  14  and/or the intermediate wall  16 , and in the lower surface of the base  12  to allow for interengagement between stacked container organisers  10 . 
     By way of example, the engagement means  70  may be one or more projecting bosses or spigots on or adjacent to the perimeter wall  14  and/or intermediate wall  16 , and complementarily shaped recesses in the bottom surface of the base  12 , or vice versa. Push fit interengagement is thus possible by stacking. Additionally or alternatively, a key or keys may be formed along a top edge  52  of the perimeter wall  14  and/or intermediate wall  16 , and complementarily shaped keyways may be formed in the bottom surface of the base  12 , or vice versa. Sliding interengagement is thus possible to achieve stacking. 
     With the container organizer  10  in use, for example in a refrigerator, a plurality of containers such as beverage bottles, cans or tins, are fed in a normal upright condition into the first channel  34  through the entrance  44  which is denoted by the directional indicator  42   a . The first and second channels  34 ,  36  preferably have a lateral extent which is only just greater than that of the containers, and as such the containers are fed in one at a time and assume a single file arrangement within the first channel  34 . 
     As further containers are fed through the entrance  44  and into the first channel  34 , the existing containers are forced along the first channel  34 . On reaching the arcuate distal portion  18 , the containers slide around the curved back wall portion  26 , through the gap  38  and into the second channel  36 . The containers in the second channel  36  then move in the opposite direction to those in the first channel  34 , as more containers are pushed through the entrance  44  into the first channel  34 . 
     Once the leading container reaches the exit  46  at the end of the second channel  36 , further containers are not pushed into the first channel  34 . 
     The leading container at the exit  46  of the second channel  36  will therefore be, in chronological terms, the oldest since it was the first to be inserted into the first channel  34 . In this case, it will therefore be the most chilled. The second directional indicator  42   b , if utilised, indicates that containers should be extracted from the exit  46  at the second channel  36 . Once the leading container or containers is/are extracted for use, a further container or containers from stock is/are retrieved. The number of new containers required is easily determined by the inventory indicators  55 . The new containers are pushed into the first channel  34  in accordance with the directional indicator  42   a . The trailing container or containers just from stock is/are therefore newer and thus warmer. The insertion of the trailing container(s) causes the new leading container in the second channel  36  to be slid forwards to the exit  46 . This container will be cooler since it has been in the container organizer  10  for a longer period of time. 
     By ordering the containers using the container organizer  10 , and especially during restocking, it becomes readily apparent which containers are older and thus in this case more likely to be colder. It is these containers that are more suitable for immediate consumption. 
     A similar method can be employed on the shelf of a store or in the home for other kinds of container which perhaps do not require chilling. In this case, the container organizer  10  is beneficial in that the older containers are automatically moved towards the exit  46  of the second channel  36  as newer stock is introduced through the entrance  44  into the first channel  34 . 
     The first and second container channels  34 ,  36 , although coplanar or substantially coplanar in the above embodiment, one or both may be sloped to encourage sliding movement along the defined path. In this case, the first container channel  34  would slightly sloped towards the arcuate distal portion  18 , and the second channel  36  would be slightly sloped towards the exit  46 . Alternatively or additionally, the sloping would be in the lateral extent, for example, from the perimeter wall  14  to the intermediate wall  16 . This slight tilting of the containers towards one wall  14 ,  16  aids rolling movement of the containers along the channels  34 ,  36 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a second embodiment of a container organizer. Like references refer to parts which are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore further detailed description is omitted. The container organizer  10  of this embodiment again includes the base  12  and perimeter wall  14  defining the enclosure  32 , the intermediate wall  16  which divides the enclosure  32  to define the first and second channels  34 ,  36 , and inventory indicators  55   a  in this case on the perimeter wall  14  of the first channel  34 , inventory indicators  55   b  on the perimeter wall  14  of the second channel  36 , and inventory indicators  55   c  on the intermediate wall  16 . 
     The container organizer  10  also includes a plurality of baffles  54 , two at the entrance  44  and two at the exit  46 . The baffles  54  are preferably flexible strips which extend from or adjacent to the base  12  and along the leading edges  48 ,  50  of the perimeter wall  14  and the intermediate wall  16 . For example, the baffles  54  may be rubber strips. 
     The baffles  54  are beneficial in preventing or inhibiting containers accidentally or unintentionally falling out of the entrance  44  and exit  46 . 
     Although baffles  54  are provided on both sides of the entrance  44  and exit  46 , the baffles  54  may only be provided on the exit  46 , since a container is more likely to be pushed inadvertently out of the second channel  36 . Additionally or alternatively, only one baffle  54  may be provided either on one of the first and second channels  34 ,  36  or on both the first and second channels  34 ,  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a third embodiment of a container organizer will now be described. Again, like references refer to parts which are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore further detailed description is omitted. The container organizer  10  of this embodiment includes the base  12  and perimeter wall  14  defining the enclosure  32 , the intermediate wall  16  which divides the enclosure  32  to define the first and second channels  34 ,  36 , and the inventory indicators  55 . 
     To prevent or inhibit unrestricted sliding movement of containers within the first and second channels  34 ,  36 , a friction rail or strip  56  is provided along the first and second channels  34 ,  36  and around the arcuate distal portion  18 . The friction strip  56  is provided on the base  12 . Although only one friction strip  56  may be provided, in this case two friction strips  56  are utilised. The friction strips  56  preferably extend in parallel spaced relationship relative to each other and with the perimeter wall  14  and intermediate wall  16 . 
     The friction strips  56  are formed of a material having a higher coefficient of friction than the base  12 , and for example may be rubber or plastics. 
     Although preferably provided on the base  12 , the, each or a further friction strip may be provided on one or both of an inner surface of the perimeter wall  14  and the intermediate wall  16 . In this case, the friction strip  56  acts as a rubbing strip or buffer against which the containers contact. 
     Although preferable, the friction strips  56  may be utilised simply as projecting spacer rails or strips and thus formed of the same or similar material as the base  12 . In this case, it is advantageous that the spacer strips  56  are integrally moulded as one-piece with the base  12 . 
     The spacer strips  56  are beneficial in spacing a base of a container away from the surface of the base  12 . This provides for an air-gap between the base of the container and the base  12 , thus promoting evaporative cooling and a reduction in potential condensation build up during refrigeration of a warm or room temperature container. Hygiene is thus improved. 
     Additionally, by forming the spacer strips  56  of the same material as the base  12 , a reduction in friction is achieved, which in some cases may be preferred thereby allowing easier sliding movement of the containers in the first and second channels  34 ,  36 . 
     In this embodiment, an embankment  57  is provided at the gap  38 , formed as a portion of the base  12 . The embankment  57  extends from or adjacent to an end  34   a  of the first channel  34  to or adjacent to an end  36   a  of the second channel  36 . This is denoted by a dotted line  59  in  FIG. 4 . 
     The embankment  57  in this case is slight, causing the containers to tilt in towards the end  40  of the intermediate wall  16  as they approach, pass through and depart from the gap  38 . This tilting aids movement of the containers, leading to less likelihood of binding and jamming. 
     In a modification, the baffles  54  and the friction strips  56  may be used together. 
     Although the arcuate distal portion  18  is preferably continuously curved, it may include a straight or rectilinear portion intermediate two curved portions. 
       FIG. 5  shows a fourth embodiment of a container organizer. Like references refer to parts which are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore further detailed description is omitted. The container organizer  10  comprises a major upright wall forming a base element  12  from which the perimeter wall  14  extends continuously therearound to define the enclosure  32 . The intermediate wall  16  divides the enclosure  32  as before, but in this case slopes from a first side edge  58  of the base element  12  to a position adjacent to an opposing second side edge  60 . As before, a gap  38  is provided between the end of the intermediate wall  16  and the second side edge  60  for a container to pass through, and inventory indicators  55  are included. 
     A lower wall portion  62  of the perimeter wall  14  is also sloped in the opposite direction to the intermediate wall  16 . In this way, first and second channels  34 ,  36  provide a helter skelter arrangement formed by the intermediate wall  16  and at least a lower part of the perimeter wall  14 . 
     An entrance  44  to the first channel  34  is at the uppermost portion of the intermediate wall  16 . A container  64 , preferably being of circular lateral cross-section, such as a beverage tin, can and bottle is fed laterally onto the upper portion  66  of the intermediate wall  16 . The container  64  rolls along the first channel  34 , through the gap  38 , and into the second channel  36 , coming to rest against the perimeter wall  14  at or adjacent to the lowermost portion  68  of the lower wall portion  62 . Further such containers  64  are then also inserted into the enclosure  32  in a similar manner. 
     The exit  46  of the enclosure  32  is at the lowermost portion  68  of the lower wall portion  62 . As the lowermost container  64   a  is extracted laterally of the second channel  36 , the trailing containers roll along the first and second channels  34 ,  36  leaving space at the upper portion  66  of the first channel  34 . A new container can thus be inserted, typically for chilling. 
     Again, it is preferred that at least one indicator is provided marking the entrance  44  to the first channel  34 . An indicator marking the exit  46  is also preferred. 
     The embankment portion may be utilised with or without the inventory indicators. 
     It is thus possible to provide a container organizer which chronologically organises containers thereon. In particular, it enables a method to be used which always presents the first introduced container to a user. In the case of use with a refrigeration device or unit, the first presented container will be the one that has been chilled for the longest amount of time, leaving no confusion as to which is the preferred container for use. Inventory indicators although a precise number of replacement containers to be selected and inserted. An embankment portion enables smoother sliding movement of the containers in the transition between the first and second channels. 
     The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.