Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a caddy, space saver, container or organizer for holding various objects such as implements, tools, gadgets, consumables, etc., typically related to a specific or particular utility, field of endeavor or environment, e.g., kitchen, computer or desk work space (e.g., home office, children&#39;s room), garden, shop or workplace, bathroom, baby room, bedroom (e.g., dressing table), etc. Organizer embodiments are provided that are customizable for various environments and/or customizable within an environment. Customizable organizers may be provided by combinations of a base and various components (e.g., receptacles, compartments, racks, hooks, tabs, implements, containers, parts, etc.) that can be attached to the base, detachably, e.g., at the factory, at retail or by a consumer, or permanently, e.g., at the factory. Detachable components that may be used with the same or different organizers to provide the organizers with aspects of modularity and interchangeability.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which may be subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosures, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a caddy, space saver, container or organizer for holding various objects such as implements, tools, gadgets, consumables, etc., typically related to a specific or particular utility, environment or field of endeavor (hereinafter referred to as “environment”), e.g., kitchen, computer or desk work space (e.g., home office, children&#39;s room), garden, shop or workplace, bathroom, baby room, baby changing table, bedroom (e.g., dressing table), sewing, cosmetics, house cleaning, etc. According to embodiments of the invention, organizers are provided that are customizable for various environments and/or customizable within an environment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Organizers provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention are customizable for various environments and/or customizable within an environment. Customized organizers in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be provided by combinations of a base and various components (e.g., receptacles, compartments, racks, hooks, tabs, implements, containers, parts, etc.) that can be attached to the base, detachably, e.g., at the factory, at retail or by a consumer, or permanently, e.g., at the factory. For example, a particular base can accommodate various components, which provides for various configurations or organizers from a base or bases and a set of components. This provides aspects of modularity and dynamism to an organizer or organizers. The components may be configured for a particular environment or organizer type and also may be usable with organizers for another environment or environments. The ability to install the same component on different organizers and to remove and install different components on the same organizer or different organizers provides an aspect of interchangeability. 
         [0004]    Embodiments of organizers may have various sizes and shapes and may include a base and one or more detachable components, each of which may be fabricated, or made, in a variety of materials including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, aluminum, glass, or other material. In some embodiments, the base is rotatable relative to a supporting surface such as a countertop and may be implemented using a lazy Susan or other arrangement. The detachable components may be mounted to the organizer in various ways with various fasteners and/or parts. The detachable components may be of different shapes and sizes, and have specific or general utility. For example, a kitchen organizer may include components for holding spice jars, bulk condiments, plastic wraps, foils, recipes, timers, thermometers and/or other kitchen utensil or other kitchen related items. A bathroom organizer may include receptacle or space for a tissue box, and containers or drawers for other items, such as cotton balls and cotton swabs, or components for holding medicines or cosmetics. 
         [0005]    Embodiments of organizers may be portable, and for large or small organizers, may include wheels similar to arrangements for luggage, and carrying cases made of various materials including, but not limited to materials such as, cloth fabric, synthetic materials, plastic, waterproof, insulated, flame retardant, etc., may be provided for the organizers, with wheels being attached to the carrying case for large or small organizers. Some embodiments of organizers may be an apron-based organizer which comprise a wearable apron constructed of various materials, such as the aforementioned carrying case materials. The apron includes one or more of the latching devices further described herein for affixing organizer components, such as oven gloves or mitts, utensils, timer, or other component, to the apron. Some organizer embodiments may have components that are electrically operated by battery or other power source, such as electronic devices, e.g., kitchen timers, radios, clocks, lights, calculators, thermometers, or other electronic device. A detachable component, which may be designed for a specific utility in a specific environment, or for general utility may be used with organizers designed for another environment. For example, a spice rack for a kitchen organizer may attach to a bathroom organizer for use with tubular shaped items, or a cotton ball holder for a bathroom organizer may attach to a baby changing table organizer, etc. Thus, according to embodiments of the invention, one or more organizer components may be interchanged from organizer to organizer. 
         [0006]    Embodiments of organizers comprise one or more anchors or frames attached to the base, preferably, permanently, but need not be. One or more components are attached to the anchor, exclusively or predominately, detachably or permanently. An anchor may comprise a single unitary structure, or two or more separate structures which may be attached to one another to form, e.g., a composite structure. 
         [0007]    In detachable embodiments, a mounting structure is associated with an anchor (and/or base) and/or the one or more components to detachably mount a component to the base. Such mounting structure may include fasteners and parts of various kinds including, but not limited to, hook and loop structures, mating projections and receptacles (including blind and open holes), snap on structures, hooks, releasable adhesives, etc. The mounting structure is suitably positioned and configured so that a plurality of components may be mounted to organizers. 
         [0008]    An anchor may be configured to provide additional functionality. For example, an anchor may be configured to receive certain items or objects depending on the environment of use, e.g. a hook or pin may be provided on which, e.g., keys, jewelry may be suspended, and/or an anchor may be configured to define a space or compartment for receiving items, etc. 
         [0009]    Embodiments of organizers including a base and an anchor are typically, but not necessarily, customized for a particular environment. For example, an embodiment of a kitchen organizer may comprise a disk-like base, preferably including a stationary part that supports the organizer from a flat surface such as a kitchen counter, shelf or table, and a part preferably rotatably mounted thereto in a lazy-Susan fashion. An upwardly, e.g., vertically extending anchor, typically having a cross-sectional area substantially less than that of the base, is mounted to the base, preferably, but not necessarily, permanently, and in the case of a base having a rotatable part, to the rotatable part. For example, the anchor may have a rectangular cross section, e.g., equal in length to the diameter of the base, or a circular cross section. The base may be provided in different sizes for the same environment or field, e.g., small, medium and large. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of organizers may comprise various components attached to the anchor, preferably detachably, so that the organizer may be customized after leaving the factory, using interchangeable or common components, as well as parts fashioned for a specific environment. In such embodiments, a stripped down, or partially outfitted organizer may be provided separately from various components that later may be attached to the stripped down or partially outfitted organizer. For example, a stripped down, or various versions of partially outfitted organizers, may be sold at retail separately from other components that may be attached to further outfit the organizer, as selected by a particular consumer. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment of a kitchen organizer, such components may comprise: one or more upwardly, e.g., vertically-extending structures, e.g., of tubular configuration, attached to an anchor for receiving, e.g., kitchen foils and/or wraps; one or more open-ended compartments, e.g., of tubular or rectangular cross section, extending from the anchor for receiving, e.g., spice jars or recipe cards or other thin and flat objects; open-ended compartments upwardly extending from the base for receiving, e.g., various implements. Such organizers are customizable in that in one embodiment tubular compartments may be provided for spice jars and in another embodiment rectangular compartments are provided for recipe cards, etc. In another embodiment, a component may be provided with narrow slots for receiving, e.g., notes, knives, photos or other items. 
         [0012]    In embodiments of the invention that provide for detachable mounting of various components, consumers may select components to customize the organizer for their own use. In one embodiment, all components, with the possible exception, e.g., of the anchor(s), may be detachably mounted. In other embodiments, some components may be permanently mounted and others detachably mounted. 
         [0013]    In embodiments of the invention which provide for permanent attachment of parts, customization is made at the factory where a number of versions of an organizer for a particular environment may be fabricated. 
         [0014]    Embodiments of organizers may be provided for use in many other environments, and may vary in size depending upon the intended environment, and different sizes may be provided for any particular environment. Similarly, the number and size of modular or interchangeable components may vary. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the following drawings, in which the same or similar references refer to the same, similar or corresponding parts. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an organizer according to one embodiment of the invention showing a base and anchor of the organizer. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 1  from the opposite side adapted for use in a kitchen environment, including a foil holder component and a top component for the anchor detachably mounted to the side and top, respectively, of the anchor. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 2  viewed from the opposite side showing lids detachably mounted on the tops of tubes of the foil holder. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 3 , additionally including a spice jar rack and a storage bin detachably mounted to the side of the anchor opposite to the one to which the foil holder is mounted. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 4 , additionally including wedge-shaped storage bins detachably mounted to the same side of the anchor as the spice jar rack. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 2  including a rack with bins for recipes and the like instead of a spice jar rack. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of an accessory stand according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the accessory stand depicted in  FIG. 7  with the spice jar rack depicted in  FIG. 4  detachably mounted to one side of the anchor of the stand and the storage bin depicted in  FIG. 4  detachably mounted on the other side of the anchor. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the organizer and components depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , with the foil holders attached and the other components detached. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view, from one side, of a base and anchor of an organizer according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 10  including components mounted on opposite sides of the anchor. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a side perspective view of the organizer depicted in  FIG. 11  from the opposite side. 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the organizer and components depicted in  FIGS. 10-14  showing the components depicted in  FIGS. 11-14 , and additional components including an additional base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Described below are exemplary embodiments of customizable kitchen organizers, as illustrated in the drawings, which can be customizable for a wide variety of specific uses. However, organizers as disclosed herein, including the organizer depicted in the drawings, may be configured and used in various environments, for example, as pointed out above. The illustrated embodiments are exemplary and are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the claims of this application. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , organizer  20  comprises a base  22  and an anchor  24  extending upwardly therefrom. As described in more detail herein, components useful in various environments may be attached to anchor  24 . Organizer  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  and  9  as including one anchor, but other embodiments may include more than one anchor. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-6  and  9 , the anchor  24  and components mounted thereto are rotatable relative to a supporting structure such as a counter or desktop. Such rotatability is provided in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  by a two-part base. Base  22  comprises a lower part  26  and an upper part  28  rotatably mounted thereto. Lower base part  26  supports organizer  20  on a flat surface such as a counter top, shelf, desk or table, and upper part  28 , to which the anchor  24  is mounted, rotates relative to lower base part  26 . Non-skid feet  29  ( FIG. 6 ) or other means may be provided on the bottom of the lower part of the base to prevent the organizer from easily moving or sliding on a flat surface. Any suitable arrangement may be used to rotatably mount the upper base part  28  to the lower base part, e.g., in Lazy Susan fashion. The organizer embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , which includes an rotatable anchor, comprises a circular base which facilitates rotatability and in many instances optimizes use of available space on a countertop or desk, etc., but other shapes and configurations may also be suitable, e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 10 . 
         [0034]    Rotatability of the anchor  24  may also be provided by a base that itself is rotatable relative to a counter or desktop. Instead of attaching the anchor  24  to a base part that is rotatable relative to another base part, as in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the anchor  24  may be non-rotatably mounted to the base, and bearings or rollers may be mounted to the bottom of the base, or the bottom of the base may be provided with a low friction coating or legs, or made of a low friction material, e.g., Teflon, so that the base and anchor are rotatable as a unit. 
         [0035]    The anchor  24  may be permanently or detachably attached to the base  22 . Permanent attachment may be achieved by bonding the anchor  24  to the upper base part  28 . Upper base part  28  includes a platform  32  comprising slots  34  that receive and in which anchor walls  36 ,  37  that extend upwardly, preferably vertically, are, e.g., bonded. Other means may be used to attach anchor  24  to base  22 , e.g., clips, fasteners, various frictionally engagement arrangements, etc. Upper base part  28  preferably also includes ribs  30 , e.g., radially-extending, for structural purposes. Embodiments of the organizer may include one or more of the same or different anchors for mounting components thereon. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , anchor  24  includes a compartment or interior space  39 , defined by walls  36 ,  37  and upper base part  28 , which is open at the top and along one minor side (or along both minor sides, not shown). This space may be used for storing a variety of items, e.g., sheets of paper, pamphlets, a cutting board, or a book. Attached, preferably permanently, to the exterior major sides of the walls  36 ,  37  of the anchor  24 , at preselected locations, are parts  41   a  of complementary or mating structures  41   a ,  41   b  (see  FIG. 9 ). Such mating structures may comprise, in one embodiment, protrusions in the form of button-type elements  41   a  and receptacles in the form of keyholes  41   b  ( FIG. 9 ). However, it is to be understood, as is well known to those skilled in the art, that a wide variety of complementary mating structures may be used. Such mating structures can comprise, for example, other protrusions (e.g., buttons, knobs, rods, pins) and receptacles such as pins that snap into and frictionally engage blind holes or receptacles, other snap fit arrangements, hook and fabric arrangements, latches, catches, fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts) etc., and other suitable mating or complementary structure and their equivalents. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , on anchor top component  44  is attached to the top of the anchor  24 . Top component (or “anchor top”)  44  includes a knob or similar structure  45  on opposite minor sides thereof for detachably attaching a carrying strap or handle (not shown). The strap or handle can be fabricated of any material, such as ballistic nylon, leather, or other material and attached to the anchor top  44 . For greater stability, the anchor top  44  may be permanently attached to the anchor, e.g., bonded thereto, when ribs or other structure is provided to attach a carrying strap or handle. A complementary structure (not shown) such as a button hole is provided on the handle to engage with structure  45  to detachably mount the handle to the anchor top. Alternatively, a handle can be mounted to the anchor itself, and a handle could be permanently attached. A strap or handle ( FIG. 9 ) may be used to carry or transport the organizer either within or between premises. In applications where greater height of a particular anchor is desired, the anchor top  44  may be detachably mounted, e.g., by nesting, to the anchor  24 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-6  and  9 , components (e.g., a foil holder component  48 ) may be permanently or removably attached to the anchor  24 . Such components may be provided for specific or general application use with one or more organizers that are provided for particular or general application environments. Various embodiments of the organizers provide for interchangeable use of various components. For example, organizer  20  with the foil holder component, or simply, “foil holder”  48 , depicted in  FIG. 2  is useful as a kitchen organizer. Additional components depicted in  FIGS. 4-6  and  9  are also useful for a kitchen environment. 
         [0039]    Foil holder  48  ( FIG. 2 ) includes tubes  50  which may be used, for example, as dispensers for plastic wrap, aluminum foil or the like. A peripheral wall  52  extends from one edge of wall  37  of anchor  24  around tubes  50 . A vertical slot  54  is provided in the wall  52  adjacent each tube  50  for guiding the contents of the respective tube outward. The edge of each slot  54  may function also as a cutting edge. 
         [0040]    The foil holder component  48  includes a knife holder  56  defined by a space between the outer wall  52  of the foil holder and the wall  37  of the anchor between the tubes  50  closed by an upper wall  56  in which slots  58  are provided for holding knives. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , lids  58  may be provided for closing the tops of tubes  50 . The lids  58  in this embodiment nest in the top of the respective tube. Lids  58  may simply close off the tops of tubes  50 . However, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the lids  58  nest in containers  59  which nest in the tops of tubes  50 . The containers  59  may hold bulk material such as sugar, salt, pepper, flour, etc. The containers  59  and lids  58  are removable as a unit, with the lids  58  then being removable from the containers  59 , e.g., for refilling the containers. Tabs  60  are provided to facilitate removal and replacement. For convenience, a lid/container  58 / 59  includes a spout  61  to facilitate dispensing the bulk material. 
         [0042]    In an alternative embodiment, the tubes  50  may function as containers for bulk materials. In that embodiment, the lids close the tops of the tubes which may be provided with a respective closable opening near the bottom for facilitating dispensing of the bulk materials. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show several components  64 ,  66  and  70 , in addition to foil holder  48 , detachably attached to the anchor  24  using the mating structures  41   a ,  41   b . A spice rack  64  is attached to the side of the anchor  24  opposite to the side to which the foil holder  48  is attached, and a bin  66  is attached above the spice rack  64 . Both are attached to anchor  24  by mating structures  41   a ,  41   b , and the top of the spice rack includes an extension  67  ( FIG. 4 ) which fills in the space between the top of the spice rack and the bottom of the bin, and assists in supporting/stabilizing the bin. Spice rack  64  includes tubular, laterally extending receptacles  68  for holding spice jars and the like. Wedge shaped bins  70  ( FIG. 5 ) may be provided on one or both sides of the spice rack  64 , either or both of which may be divided by divider walls  72 . The bins  66 ,  70  may be used to hold small items such as meat thermometers, bottle openers, and the like. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a recipe rack  74  is attached to anchor  24  in place of the spice rack  64  using mating structures  41   a ,  41   b . The recipe rack  74  defines an interior space, which is subdivided by removable divider walls  76  and a drawer  78 . The compartments  80  formed by the divider walls  76 , and the drawer  78  may be used for holding recipes and other items. Bin  66  may be attached to the anchor  24  above the recipe rack  74  similar to the attachment thereof above the spice rack  64 . The spice rack  74  also includes an extension  67   a  at the top thereof which assists in supporting/stabilizing the bin  66 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an accessory organizer or stand  20   a  is depicted which may be used for holding components that are mountable to another organizer such as organizer  20 . The stand  20   a  may function as a mini-organizer, either as a stand-alone or as a complement to a larger organizer, or as a storage device to hold components for a larger or other organizer when not in use. Stand  20   a  comprises an upwardly extending panel or anchor  24   a  having major sides  36   a ,  37   a . This panel is simplified as compared to the composite anchor of organizer  20  ( FIG. 1 ). Stand  20   a  comprises a base  22   a  from which the panel  24   a  vertically extends. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7 , the anchor  22   a  and the base  24   a  constitute a unitary, one-piece part, e.g., a unitary, integral molded piece, but may be fabricated from a base  22   a  and a panel or sheet  24   a  attached together. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7 , the base  22   a  is rectangular and of a non-rotating type, and may include non-skid feet (e.g., feet  29  in  FIG. 6 ) or other means on the bottom thereof to prevent the organizer from easily moving or sliding on a flat surface. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the spice rack  64  and the bin  66  are detachably mounted to the stand  20   a . Spice rack  64  is mounted to side  36   a  of the anchor  24   a , and bin  66  is mounted to the side  37   a  of the anchor, as mentioned, either for temporary storage of an organizer, or for active use as an extension of or complement to the organizer. 
         [0047]    As discussed above, many components may be detachably mounted to an organizer or a stand, e.g., organizer depicted in  FIGS. 1-6  or stand depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Organizer  20  is depicted in  FIG. 9  with the foil holder  48  attached thereto and surrounded by an assortment of other components that may be attached to the organizer. The component assortment depicted in  FIG. 9  is exemplary only, and other components that are not shown may be provided for attachment to organizer and/or stand. The assortment depicted in  FIG. 9  includes: bins  66 ,  70 , drawer  78 , lid containers/bins  58 / 59 , frame  62   b  which attaches to frame base  62   a  which may be used to store photographs, cards or other similarly sized and shaped, thin and flat items, spice rack  64 , and recipe rack  74 . Organizers  20 ,  20   a  depicted in  FIGS. 1-9  are exemplary of a kitchen organizer, and other configurations and components may be provided for kitchen organizers. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-14 , organizer  20   b  includes a base and an anchor that are similar in some respects to organizer  20   a  depicted in  FIGS. 7-8 . In this embodiment, similar to stand  20   a  depicted in  FIG. 7 , the anchor  20   b  comprises an upstanding panel or anchor  24   b  having opposed major sides  36   b ,  37   b , which are provided with structure, such as  41   a , for detachably mounting components. Similar to stand  20   a  depicted in  FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the organizer  20   b , the anchor  24   b  and the base  22   b  constitute a unitary, one-piece part, e.g., a unitary, integral molded piece. However, in other embodiments, the anchor can be attached (detachably or permanently) to the base after the anchor and base have been provided. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 10 , similar to stand  20   a  depicted in  FIG. 7 , the base is rectangular and of a non-rotating type, and may include non-skid feet (e.g., feet  29  in  FIG. 6 ) or other means on the bottom thereof to prevent the organizer from easily moving or sliding on a flat surface. The anchor  24   b  of organizer  20   b  ( FIG. 10 ) may be provided with the base  24  of organizer  20  ( FIG. 1 ), and the anchor  24  of organizer  20  ( FIG. 1 ) may be provided with the base  22   b  of organizer  20   b  ( FIG. 10 ), etc. Many variations and combinations of bases and anchors, which may have varying sizes, structure and configurations, are possible. 
         [0049]    Base  22   b  of organizer  20   b  ( FIG. 10 ) may be sized and/or configured so as to fit in or stand on any appropriate item. For example, the bottom of base  22   b  may form an enclosure or cover that fits over a tissue box or other item, or the base  22   b  may be sized to nest in a particular item, etc. 
         [0050]    The structure for detachably mounting components to organizer  20   b  comprises buttons  41   a , and pins or hooks  90 . As pointed out above, other suitable structures may be used. Referring to  FIGS. 11-14 , keyholes  41   b  on respective components such as multi-section bins  92  and  93  mate with respective buttons  41   b  to detachably mount the bins  92 ,  93  to the anchor  24   b . Bins  92  and  93  may also rest on the base  22   b.    
         [0051]    Bin  92  includes partitions  95  ( FIGS. 5 ,  11  and  12 ) that define rectangular compartments  96  accessible from the top of the bin. The partitions may be adjustable to provide adjustable compartments. In an organizer for an office, bathroom, kitchen, garage, supply room, baby changing table, or other environment or multipurpose use, these compartments may be used for paper clips, keys, pens, pencils, rolls of stamps, small tools, cellular telephones, art materials, cosmetics, cotton swabs, bandages, medicine containers, vitamins or other storage items. 
         [0052]    An upper portion of bin  93  ( FIGS. 11-14 ) includes tubular compartments  97 , a larger rectangular compartment  99  ( FIG. 12 ) and a smaller rectangular compartment  101 , all of which are accessible from the top of bin  93 . In an organizer, e.g., for a kitchen or desk, tubular compartments  97  may be provided to store coins or paper clips or other fasteners, and rectangular compartments  99 ,  101  may be provided to store a note pad, recipe cards, playing cards, etc. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , bin  93  also includes compartments  105 ,  106  accessible from the front of bin  93  and a drawer  107  which opens in the front of bin  93 . Compartments  105 ,  106  and drawer  107  may be used to store various items, e.g., index or recipe cards, photographs, paper clips, office supplies, keys, cellular telephones, art materials, cosmetics, cotton swabs, bandages, medicine containers, vitamins or other items. 
         [0053]    Anchor  24   b  of organizer  20   b  includes a hole  109  ( FIGS. 11-14 ) which may be positioned and configured to receive a handle for lifting the organizer, or may receive a hook or pin for hanging the organizer from a suitable structure. One or more of the pins or hooks  90  may be used to hang a variety of items such as keys, rings, other modular components, or other items. 
         [0054]    Organizer  20   b  may also function as an anchor and be attached to a separate base. The same applies to organizer or stand  20   a . In such an embodiment, one of which is illustrated on  FIG. 15 , the reference  20   b  denotes an anchor including a base, e.g., laterally extending, portion  22   b  and an anchor, e.g., upwardly extending, portion  24   b . The anchor  20   b  is attached to a base  112 , in this embodiment, detachably. Base  112 /anchor  20   b  may be made relatively rotatable, as described above, for example. 
         [0055]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the laterally extending base portion  22   b  nests in a compartment  116 , which may also house, for example, an item such as a tissue box, or items such as napkins, or other items. Detachable components are mounted to the upwardly extending anchor portion  24   b . The upper part of compartment  116  may be provided with a lip (not shown) to receive and engage the laterally extending base portion  22   b . Organizer or stand  20   a  may similarly function as an anchor. 
         [0056]    As discussed above in connection with organizer  20  depicted in  FIGS. 1-6  and organizer or stand  20   a  depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , many components may be detachably mounted to an organizer. This applies as well to organizer or anchor  20   b  depicted in  FIGS. 11-14 . The organizer or anchor  20   b  may detachably receive an assortment of components, e.g., bins  92 ,  93  described above in connection with  FIGS. 11-14  (and bin  114  shown in broken lines). The compartments of bin  114  may be configured to store, e.g., CDs DVDs, tapes, etc. The component assortment depicted in  FIG. 15  is also exemplary only, and other components that are not shown may be provided for attachment to organizer and/or base. The base  112  may include a central storage area  116  for receiving, e.g., a tissue box or larger items, and one or more drawers  118  or other storage compartments for storing various items. Thus, the compartment  116  may receive a tissue box, as discussed above, and receive the lateral portion  22   b  of anchor  20   b . Alternatively, the compartment  116  may receive a tray  120 , for example, with compartments for receiving, e.g., jewelry items or keys, may nest in the upper part of compartment  116  instead of an anchor. 
         [0057]    While the invention has been described and illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, suitable structure in addition to that illustrated and described may be used to detachably mount components to anchors or to each other, or to additional bases, etc. Also, organizers may be used in many environments to hold or organize many items. Further, components other than those illustrated may be used for various environments. Therefore, the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings were meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and other organizers for the described and other environments may be provided using the principles of the invention disclosed herein. The invention as set forth in the appended clams is thus not limited to the precise details of construction set forth above as such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.