Patent Publication Number: US-6991307-B2

Title: Drawer organizer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/351,541, filed Jan. 24, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a drawer organizer and, more particularly, a spring-biased drawer organizer that automatically adapts to the dimensions of a drawer. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Items in a drawer are often not kept in an orderly fashion. In these instances, time must be spent searching through the drawer to find the particular item sought. This can be irritating and inefficient. Drawer organizers were developed in response to this problem. Drawer organizers serve to organize, sort, and/or segregate items within a drawer. While they have worked for their intended purposes, the drawer organizers of the related art generally suffer from the disadvantage that they occupy too much space in the drawer and thus limit the drawer capacity. In addition, they can be time-consuming and difficult to install. More specifically, installation of known drawer organizers requires tools and other devices and involves cutting and other permanent alteration of the drawer organizer as well as nailing, gluing, clamping, and the like to secure the drawer organizer within the drawer. In addition, the drawer organizers of the related art imprecisely fit the dimensions within a drawer, because they are usually designed for use with a particular type of a drawer. 
   Thus, there is a need in the related art for a drawer organizer that is adjustable, efficiently sized and simple to quickly install within a drawer. In addition, there is a need in the related art for a drawer organizer that precisely fits the dimensions within a drawer, and designed for use within any type of a drawer. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the related art in a drawer organizer for partitioning the interior space of a drawer having at least two opposed walls. The drawer organizer of the present invention includes a male member, a female member, and a biasing member. The male member has a base including at least one substantially flat end wall and a body extending from the base. The female member has a base including at least one substantially flat end wall and a body extending from the base and defining a housing having an open end. The biasing member is supported within the housing. The male member is received through the open end and operatively retained relative to the housing. The biasing member generates a biasing force acting between the male and female members to bias the male and female members in opposite directions relative to one another such that the end walls are braced against two opposed side walls of the drawer. 
   One object of the present invention is to provide an organizer for use in a drawer that is readily adjustable to size and can be quickly positioned at any point along the length, width, and depth of the drawer without the need for permanent fasteners so as to organize, sort, and/or segregate articles within the drawer. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an organizer for use in a drawer that can be maintained, by reason of its construction, in an operative position within the drawer and easily positioned within or removed from the drawer without any physical changes to the construction of the organizer or the drawer. 
   An advantage of the drawer organizer of the present invention is that it occupies less space within a drawer than do the drawer organizers of the related art. 
   Another advantage of the drawer organizer of the present invention is that it is simpler and less time-consuming to install than are the drawer organizers of the related art. 
   Another advantage of the drawer organizer of the present invention is that it does not require the use of tools and other devices to install it as do the drawer organizers of the related art. 
   Another advantage of the drawer organizer of the present invention is that it does not involve cutting, nailing, gluing, clamping and/or any other permanent alteration of the drawer to install it as do the drawer organizers of the related art. 
   Another advantage of the drawer organizer of the present invention is that it is adjustable so that it more precisely fits the dimensions within a drawer than do the organizers of the related art. 
   Another advantage of the drawer organizer of the present invention is that it may be adapted for use with a wide variety of drawers. 
   Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood while reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, partial phantom view of the drawer organizer of the present invention showing it in operation within a drawer. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the drawer organizer of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the drawer organizer of the present invention of  FIG. 2  with a partially cut-away portion showing the tabs and detents of the retaining mechanism. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the male member of the drawer organizer of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the female member of the drawer organizer of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the drawer organizer of the present invention showing the tabs and detents of the retaining mechanism in phantom. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the figures, where like numerals are used to designate like structure, a drawer organizer of the present invention is generally indicated at  10  and shown in operation within a drawer  12  in  FIG. 1  and per se in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  6 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , the drawer  12  is shown substantially in an open disposition from the top end of a dresser  14 . The drawer  12  is substantially of a rectangular shape and has a bottom surface  16 , two opposed side walls  18 , and two opposed end walls  20  extending between the ends of the side walls  18 . A knob  22  for use with opening and closing the drawer  12  relative to the dresser  14  is shown connected to the end wall  20  opposite the dresser  14 . The bottom surface  16 , side walls  18 , and end walls  20  define an interior space  24  of the drawer  12  that is adapted to receive articles. The drawer organizer  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  partitioning the interior space  24  of the drawer  12  and is described below as being adapted for operative support and use within the drawer  12  for organizing, sorting, and/or segregating the articles. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the drawer organizer  10  may be so employed in filing cabinets, trays, boxes, and the like. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  6 , the drawer organizer  10  includes a male member, generally indicated at  26 , a female member, generally indicated at  28 , and a biasing member  30 . In general and as best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the male member  26  has a base  32  including at least one substantially flat end wall  34  and a body  36  extending from the base  32 . The female member  28  also has a base  38  including at least one substantially flat end wall  40  and a body  42  extending from the base  38 . The body  42  defines a housing  44  having an open end  46 . The biasing member  30  is supported within the housing  44 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  6 , the male member  26  is received through the open end  46  and operatively retained relative to the housing  44 . The biasing member  30  generates a biasing force acting between the male and female members  26 ,  28 , respectively, to bias them in opposite directions relative to one another such that the end walls  34 ,  40  are braced against two opposed side walls  18  of the drawer  12 . Each of the male member  26 , female member  28 , and biasing member  30  will now be described in greater detail. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the drawer organizer  10  and as best shown in  FIG. 4 , the body  36  of the male member  26  is substantially rectangular and may be hollow or solid to any degree. The base  32  of the male member  26  also is substantially rectangular, has a height substantially equal to that of the body  36 , and also may be hollow or solid to any degree. Also, the base  32  defines an inside face  48  that tapers away from the body  36  to the side edges of the base  32 . Further, the base  32  is integrally formed with and extends substantially perpendicular to the body  36 . Specifically, the inside face  48  is disposed substantially at a right angle to and co-extensively with the corresponding end of the body  36  at a substantially central area of the inside face  48 . 
   In a preferred embodiment of the drawer organizer  10  and as best shown in  FIG. 5 , the body  42  of the female member  28  is substantially rectangular, has a thickness greater than that of the body  36  of the male member  26 , and may be hollow or solid to any degree. The base  38  of the female member  28  also is substantially rectangular, has a height substantially equal to that of the body  42 , and also may be hollow or solid to any degree. Also, the base  38  defines an inside face  58  that tapers away from the body  42  to the side edges of the base  38 . Further, the base  38  is integrally formed with and extends substantially perpendicular to the body  42 . Specifically, the inside face  58  is disposed substantially at a right angle to and co-extensively with the corresponding end of the body  42  at a substantially central area of the inside face  58 . The open end  46  of the housing  44  is disposed opposite the base  38 . The body  36  of the male member  26  is adapted to be operatively slidably received through the open end  46  within the housing  44 . 
   In a preferred embodiment of the drawer organizer  10  and as best shown in  FIG. 1 , the biasing member  30  is a spring  30 . The spring  30  is operatively retained within the housing  44  between the base  38  of the female member  28  and the body  36  of the male member  26 . The spring  30  is adapted to operatively constantly urge the male member  26  longitudinally and away from the female member  28 . However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the biasing member  30  can have any suitable structure and take any suitable position within the drawer organizer  10  such that the biasing member  30  can operatively constantly urge the male member  26  longitudinally and away from the female member  28 . Thus, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the biasing member  30  may take the form of a foam-like element or any other biasing force generating structure and that the present invention is not limited to the use of a spring. 
   The drawer organizer  10  of the present invention also includes a retaining mechanism, generally indicated at  50 . The retaining mechanism  50  acts to retain the body  36  of the male member  26  within the housing  44  defined by the female member  28  and against the biasing force of the spring  30 . The retaining mechanism  50  includes at least one open-ended slot  52  that may be formed in the end of the body  36  distal the base  32  and extending longitudinally into the body  36  toward the base  32 . In addition, the retaining mechanism  50  may include at least one tab  54  extending in cantilevered fashion from the body  36  within the boundaries defined by the slot  52 . The tab  54  includes a tooth  56  extending from the end of the tab  54  distal the body  36  and in a direction transverse to the tab  54 . In particular, the tooth  56  extends substantially perpendicularly to the body  36  and parallel with the base  32 . 
   The retaining mechanism  50  also includes at least one detent  60  formed on the body  42  of the female member  28  that corresponds with the tab  54 . More specifically, the detent  60  is a substantially rectangular aperture formed in the housing  44 . The tab  54  is received by the detent  60  to operatively retain the body  36  of the male member  26  within the housing  44  against the biasing force. In particular, the tooth  56  is cooperatively received within the detent  60 . 
   In one embodiment, the male member  26  may include a pair of tabs  54  defined on the end of the body  36  distal the base  32  and in spaced relationship relative to one another. In this case, the tabs  54  are disposed substantially equidistantly from respective sides of the body  36 . Similarly, the body  42  of the female member  28  may include a pair of detents  60  corresponding to the pair of tabs  54  and formed on the housing  44  in spaced relationship relative to one another and, in particular, at the end of the body  42  distal the base  38 . The detents  60  correspond with the respective teeth  56  to operatively retain the male member  26  within the female member  28  upon assemblage of the drawer organizer  10 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each of the base  32 , body  36 , slots  52 , and tabs  54  can be of any suitable structure. Also, the base  32 , body  36 , slots  52 , and tabs  54  can have any suitable structural relationship with respect to each other. The body  36  can be attached to the base  32  by any suitable means, such as chemical or mechanical. Furthermore, the body  36  and base  32  can be made of any suitable material. In addition, the end wall  34  may be surfaced with an abrasive non-slipping material. Similarly, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each of the base  38 , body  42 , and detents  60  can be of any suitable structure such that the housing  44  can operatively slidably receive the body  36  of the male member  26 . The base  38 , body  42 , and detents  60  can have any suitable structural relationship with respect to each other. The body  42  can be attached to the base  38  by any suitable means, such as chemical or mechanical. Furthermore, the body  42  and base  38  can be made of any suitable material. In addition, the end wall  40  may be surfaced with an abrasive non-slipping material. 
   Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the male member  26  can have any suitable number of tabs  54 , each disposed in any suitable location on the male member  26 , while the female member  28  can have any suitable corresponding number of detents  60  to operatively retain the male member  26  within the female member  28  upon assemblage of the drawer organizer  10 . Those having ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the detents  60  can be disposed on the male member  26  and the tabs  54  can be disposed on the female member  28 . For example, the body  36  of the male member  26  may include a pair of tabs  54  as described above or one tab  54  and one detent  60  disposed spaced relative to one another on the body  36 . In this case, the body  42  of the female member  28  would likewise include a corresponding tab  54  and detent  60  that cooperate with the tab  54  and detent  60  on the body  36  of the male member. In fact, those having ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate that the drawer organizer  10  can have any suitably operative means to retain the male member  26  within the female member  28  upon assemblage of the drawer organizer  10 . 
   The male member  26  and female member  28  are adapted to stabilize the drawer organizer  10  relative to opposite walls of the drawer  12  and extend along the entire width, length, as well as the depth of the drawer  12 —from the bottom surface  16  of the drawer  12  to the top of the walls  18 ,  20 . 
   In operation, the drawer organizer  10  is positioned within the drawer  12  such that the end walls  34 ,  40  of the bases  32 ,  38  are biased into contacting relationship with respective areas of opposite walls  18 ,  20  of the drawer  12 . The spring  30  is adapted to permit displacement of the male member  26  relative to the female member  28  to automatically increase or decrease the length of the drawer organizer  10  to precisely fit the length or width of the drawer  12 . Thus, no manual adjustment of the length of the drawer organizer  10  is necessary. The length of the drawer organizer  10  automatically expands and contracts to engage the opposite walls  18 ,  20  of the drawer  12 . As already described, the end walls  34 ,  40  may have a non-slip abrasive material to further ensure against slipping of the drawer organizer  10  along the walls  18 ,  20  of the drawer  12 . In addition, non-slip material may be placed on the longitudinal-edge facings of each of the bases  32 ,  38  and/or bodies  36 ,  42  to further ensure against slipping of the drawer organizer  10  along the bottom surface  16  of the drawer  12 . 
   The tension of the spring  30  and the resulting force of the end walls  34 ,  40  against respective areas of opposite walls  18 ,  20  of the drawer  12  are such as to yieldably maintain the drawer organizer  10  in a desired position within the drawer  12 . Specifically, the length of the drawer organizer  10  is adapted to range from substantially the length of the female member  28  to substantially the length of the combination of the female member  28  and the male member  26 . Also, the drawer organizer  10  can be disposed within the drawer  12  at any angle between completely vertical to completely horizontal. Furthermore, the construction of the drawer  12  is not effected. The drawer organizer  10  is removable and may be positioned at any desired pair of points of respective opposite walls within the drawer  12 . Moreover, multiple drawer organizers  10  may be used at one time in the drawer  12 , further allowing for more division of items within the drawer  12 . 
   The male member  26  and the female member  28  are preferably made of injection-molded plastic. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the drawer organizer  10  may be constructed of wood, metal, or other like material or any combination thereof. The drawer organizer  10  may be employed in large filing cabinets, trays, boxes, and the like by proportionally increasing or decreasing the size of the drawer organizer  10 . 
   The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.