Patent Publication Number: US-2011062174-A1

Title: Bathroom Caddy

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/315,844 filed Jul. 29, 2009, entitled “Bathroom Caddy” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/273,883 filed Aug. 10, 2010, entitled “Bathroom Caddy” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates in general to a storage device, and more particularly, to a bathroom caddy intended for use in a bathroom to store tools and supplies for bathroom use. 
     2. Background Art 
     The use of storage devices is well known in the art. Typically, bathrooms are areas that have a number of tools and supplies which are typically housed in a cabinet or drawer. Problematically, in smaller bathrooms, the lack of storage space necessitates the placement of such tools and supplies on the floor or on the fixtures. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a bathroom caddy which can store tools and supplies in an attractive and utilitarian configuration. 
     This object as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure is directed to a bathroom caddy that offers the ability to store various objects in a convenient and compact design. Indeed, various features enable a compact retention of the different items that are necessary in a bathroom. This includes spare toilet paper, brushes, cleaning fluids, plungers and the like. Additionally, the bathroom caddy stores these items within reach and with ease of retrieval and access. Furthermore, the bathroom caddy supplies an aesthetic appearance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  of the drawings is a perspective view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  of the drawings is a front elevational view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  of the drawings is a back elevational view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  of the drawings is a top plan view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  of the drawings is a bottom plan view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  of the drawings is a first side elevational view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  of the drawings is a second side elevational view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  of the drawings is a perspective view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure, shown in an open configuration, and in particular, with tools and supplies therein; 
         FIG. 9  of the drawings is a partial perspective view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  of the drawings is a perspective view of the bathroom caddy of the present disclosure, showing, in particular, a transparent front access door. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification and is not intended to be limited to the embodiment illustrated. 
     It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity. 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 10 , a bathroom caddy according to the present disclosure is shown generally at  10 . The bathroom caddy  10  includes housing  12 , front access door  14  and top access door  16 . The bathroom caddy is sized so as to fit alongside a toilet in a bathroom, while providing an attractive storage compartment in which to releasably retain bathroom products and tools. Among other tools, products and accessories, the bathroom caddy is configured to hold toilet paper  100 , cleaning products, like cleaning product  102 , plunger  104  and scrub brush  106 . Of course, these are only illustrative, and are not to be deemed to be limiting. 
     The housing  12  is shown as comprising base  20  and upstanding wall  22 . The base  20  includes collection tray  28  which is configured to retain and collect any fluids that may drip from the plunger  104 . Thus, a slightly concave configuration is shown. Of course, other configurations are contemplated. 
     The upstanding wall  22  substantially surrounds at least a portion of the base  20 . In the embodiment shown, the upstanding wall extends approximately half way around the perimeter of the base. The upstanding wall terminates in a first side edge  36  and a second side edge  38 . Additionally, a top edge  34  defines the upper end of the upstanding wall. Together the upstanding wall and the base define cavity  26  with ingress either from the top or from the side. 
     The upstanding wall  22  further includes outer surface  30  and inner surface  32  opposite the outer surface. A handle, such as handle  45  may be molded into the upper end of the what amounts to the back surface of the upstanding wall  22 . Furthermore, vent openings, such as vent openings  44  may be positioned strategically about the back surface of upstanding wall  22 . Additionally, the upstanding walls have first shelving unit  40  having slot  41  and second shelving unit  42  having slot  43 . The shelving units can be integrally molded with the upstanding wall. In other embodiments, the shelving units can be adjustable relative to the upstanding wall. The two slots  41 ,  43  are configured to allow for the handle of the plunger to extend beyond the two shelving units. Additionally, the toilet paper can be placed on the first shelving unit  40  with the handle extending through the roll portion of the toilet paper. 
     The front access door  14  includes outer perimeter  46  which substantially corresponds to the first side edge  36 , the second side edge  38  and the top edge  34  so as to close the separation between the two side edges of the upstanding wall  22 . The front access door additionally includes outer surface  48  and inner surface  49 . The outer surface  48  includes a surface design in the embodiment shown, which substantially corresponds to a sea shell. In other embodiments, other shapes and surface configurations are contemplated. In addition, it will be understood that the design can extend to the base  20  and to the top access door  16 . Hinge assembly  50  couples the front access door  14  to the housing  12  about a lower end of the access door  14 . 
     A hook may be positioned on the inner surface  49  of the front access door  14 . 
     The hook is configured to receive scrub brush  106  or the like. The configuration of the base and the front access door is such that the lower end has a larger cross-sectional area than the upper end. Such a configuration accommodates the plunger and the brush in the lower portion while accommodating the toilet paper in the upper end, and thereby minimizing the size of the overall caddy. 
     Top access door  16  includes outer surface  60  and inner surface  62 . As indicated above, the outer surface  60  may include a surface configuration, such as one that continues a pattern from the front access door  14  and/or the housing  12 . The top access door fits over the top of the caddy and extends about the outer perimeter defined by the upstanding wall  22  and the front access door  14 . The top access door additionally, serves to maintain the front access door  14  in the closed orientation by extending over a portion (i.e., an upper tab  52 ) thereof. 
     The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.