Abstract:
A multi-directional utility drawer system. The utility drawer system allows multiple drawers to be remotely stored in a corner under a cabinet to maximize storage space. The drawer is connected to a multidirectional track, generally including a platform and a tray. When used, the drawer oriented on the tray can be pulled out as normal along one track. However, when the drawer is pushed back under the cabinet along the first track, it can then be pushed sideways along a second track via the platform, into a remote corner underneath a counter or cabinet. Typically, the tracks are coupled to each other via the tray and platform so that the drawer has a continuous track to move along.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     I. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of cabinets and drawers and more particularly to a multi-directional utility drawer system.  
         [0003]     II. Description of the Related Art.  
         [0004]     Many cabinets, including most kitchen cabinets have a large counter space with several drawers and doors in the cabinets to access storage space. When a cabinet is located in a corner of a kitchen for example, the cabinet may include drawers on one side of the corner and drawers on the other side of the corner, the respective drawers thus being oriented at about ninety degrees to one another. In this orientation, the very corner of the cabinet includes unused storage space into which no drawer moved into or out of. While, doors into the cabinet can provide access to these corner spaces, the corner spaces are still difficult to access and generally unusable for typical daily use.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     In general, the invention features a multi-directional utility drawer system. The utility drawer system allows multiple drawers to be remotely stored in a corner under a cabinet to maximize storage space. The drawer is connected to a multidirectional track, generally including a platform and a tray. When used, the drawer oriented on the tray can be pulled out as normal along one track. However, when the drawer is pushed back under the cabinet along the first track, it can then be pushed sideways along a second track via the platform, into a remote corner underneath a counter or cabinet. Typically, the tracks are coupled to each other via the tray and platform so that the drawer has a continuous track to move along.  
         [0006]     In general, in one aspect, the invention features a utility drawer apparatus, including a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface, a tray connected to the platform and a drawer connected to the tray.  
         [0007]     In one implementation, the platform, tray and drawer travel together in a first direction as a single unit into a first open position.  
         [0008]     In another implementation, the drawer travels in a second direction to a second open position.  
         [0009]     In another implementation, the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to one another.  
         [0010]     In another implementation, the apparatus further includes elongated panels connected to the lower surface of the platform, the panels including a first track.  
         [0011]     In another implementation, the apparatus further includes elongated track panels having mating tracks coupled to the first tracks on the elongated panels.  
         [0012]     In another implementation, the apparatus further optionally includes support panels connected to the elongated track panels.  
         [0013]     In another implementation, the apparatus further includes brackets to be connected to the track panels, optionally to the support panels and to inner walls of a cabinet.  
         [0014]     In still another implementation, the tray includes elongated panels connected to the upper surface of the platform, elongated track panels connected to the elongated panels, a first track connected to the track panels and a second mating track coupled to the first track and connected to the drawer.  
         [0015]     In another implementation, the elongated panels are positioned parallel with respect to the track panels.  
         [0016]     In another implementation, the elongated panels are positioned perpendicular with respect to the track panels.  
         [0017]     In another aspect, the invention features a utility drawer system, including a cabinet having inner walls, a platform connected to the inner walls, a tray connected to the platform and a drawer connected to the tray.  
         [0018]     In one implementation, the platform is connected to the inner walls via elongated track panels having a track coupled to a mating track on elongated panels connected to the platform.  
         [0019]     In another implementation, the tray includes elongated panels connected to the upper surface of the platform, elongated track panels connected to the elongated panels, a first track connected to the track panels and a second mating track coupled to the first track and connected to the drawer.  
         [0020]     In another implementation, the elongated panels are positioned parallel with respect to the track panels.  
         [0021]     In another implementation, the elongated panels are positioned perpendicular with respect to the track panels.  
         [0022]     In another aspect, the invention features a utility drawer system, including a cabinet having inner walls, a platform connected to the inner walls, a tray connected to the platform, a drawer connected to the tray, first means for directing the platform, the tray and the drawer in a first direction to a first open position and second means for directing the drawer to a second open position after the first open position has been attained.  
         [0023]     In one implementation, the first means are a coupled track oriented in a first direction.  
         [0024]     In another implementation, the second means are a coupled track oriented in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.  
         [0025]     One advantage of the invention is that otherwise unused or difficult to access space under cabinets becomes more easily accessible and/or usable.  
         [0026]     Another advantage of the invention is that multiple drawers can be placed into difficult to access space.  
         [0027]     Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system shown in partial phantom;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system in a first position;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system in a second position;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system in a third position;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the constituent components of an embodiment of a utility drawer apparatus;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a utility drawer apparatus; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates an internal side view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0035]     Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, reference is made first to  FIG. 1  that illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system  100  shown in partial phantom. The system  100  generally includes a cabinet  105  having a counter top  110  and multiple cabinet doors  115 . The system  100  further includes an embodiment of a multi-directional utility drawer apparatus  200 , generally shown occupying otherwise unusable corner space  120 . The apparatus  200  is generally accessed by directing the apparatus  200  along a multiple directions shown generally by arrow A in a first direction and arrow B is a second direction generally orthogonal to the direction represented by arrow A. In general, the apparatus  200  includes a platform  205  onto which a tray  210  is connected. In turn, a drawer  215  is connected to the tray  210 . The platform  205 , tray  210  and drawer  215  are discussed in further detail in the description below.  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system  100  in a first position. As described above, the system  100  generally includes the cabinet  105  having the counter top  110  and multiple cabinet doors  115 , and as shown in the figure additional conventional exterior drawers  116 . The system  100  further includes the embodiment of a multi-directional utility drawer apparatus  200 , generally shown occupying otherwise unusable corner space  120 . As shown in the figure, the system  100  can include multiple apparatuses  200 , in this case an upper apparatus  200  and a lower apparatus  200 . As further described above, each apparatus  200  includes a platform  205  onto which a tray  210  is connected. In turn, a drawer  215  is connected to the tray  210 . In this first position, each apparatus  200  is shown in its fully stored and closed position into the space  120 . As such, when in this fully stored position, a user can easily access the normally accessible cabinet space  150  while having items stored remotely in the apparatuses  200 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system  100  in a second position. Once again as described above, the system  100  includes the cabinet  105  having the counter top  110  and multiple cabinet doors  115 , and additional conventional exterior drawers  116 . The system  100  as illustrated includes the upper apparatus  200  and lower apparatus  200 , each apparatus  200  having a platform  205  onto which a tray  210  is connected. In turn, a drawer  215  is connected to the tray  210 . In this second position, each apparatus  200  is being directed along the direction as represented by arrow A generally into the once empty space  150 , from the space  120 . It is understood that a user must typically removed any stored items from the space  150  before the apparatuses  200  can be moved into the space  150 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system  100  in a third position. Once again as described above, the system  100  includes the cabinet  105  having the counter top  110  and multiple cabinet doors  115 , and additional conventional exterior drawers  116 . The system  100  as illustrated includes the upper apparatus  200  and lower apparatus  200 , each apparatus  200  having a platform  205  onto which a tray  210  is connected. In turn, a drawer  215  is connected to the tray  210 . In this third position, each apparatus  200  is being directed along the direction as represented by arrow A generally into the once empty space  150 , from the space  120 . It is understood that a user must typically removed any stored items from the space  150  before the apparatuses  200  can be moved into the space  150 . In turn the lower apparatus is directed along the direction represented by arrow B from the space  150 , the direction represented by arrow B being the more conventional direction of a conventional drawer. The upper apparatus  200  is being directed further along the direction represented by arrow A. The relative positions of the upper and lower apparatuses are represented for illustrative purposes only. It is understood that the upper apparatus  200  can also be moved along the direction as represented by arrow B. It is now appreciated that the utility drawer system  100  allows a user to remotely store multiple drawers in normally difficult to access space such as the space  120 , and then be able to direct the drawers  215  in a multidirectional manner to access the drawers  215  via the platform  205  and tray  210 , which are now described in more detail with respect to  FIGS. 2-4  and further with respect to  FIGS. 5-7  below.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the constituent components of an embodiment of a utility drawer apparatus  200 . As described above, the apparatus  200  generally includes the platform  205 , the tray  210  and the drawer  215 , all of which are now described in greater detail. The platform  205  is a generally planar surface that includes elongated panels  204  connected generally perpendicular to the bottom of the platform  205 . The panels  204  include tracks  203  that are any conventional suitable tracks used in conventional drawers. The tracks  203  are coupled with mating tracks  206  that can be connected directly onto the inner walls of the cabinet  105 . The mating tracks  206  can also be connected to elongated track panels  207  that can be connected directly to the inner walls of the cabinet. These elongated track panels  207  are labeled in  FIGS. 2-4 . The platform  205  can further include any number of support panels  208  as shown connected generally perpendicular to the elongated track panels  207 . Suitable connectors such as L brackets  209  can be used to connect the platform  205  to the inner walls of the cabinet  105 . It is understood that suitable connection devices such as screws nails and the like are used to connect the L brackets  209  to the platform  205  and the inner walls of the cabinet  105 .  
         [0040]     As described above, the tray  210  is connected to the platform  205 . The platform  205  is a generally planar surface onto which the tray  210  is connected. The tray  210  generally includes elongated panels  211  connected to the upper planar surface of the platform  205 . Elongated track panels  212  are connected to the elongated panels  211 . Tracks  213  are connected to the track panels  212 . Mating tracks  214  are coupled to the tracks  213  and connected to the drawer  215 . The elongated panels  211  are shown connected generally perpendicular to the elongated track panels  212 . In another embodiment, the elongated panels  211  can be connected generally parallel to the elongated track panels  212 . Once again, the directional arrows A, B are shown to illustrate the directions in which the platform  205  and tray  210  travel during use.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a utility drawer apparatus  200 . The apparatus  200  is shown fully assembled as it would be positioned in a cabinet. It is generally understood that existing cabinets can be retrofitted with the apparatus  200 . In addition, new cabinets can be assembled with the apparatus  200  installed. As described above, the apparatus  200  includes the platform  205  including elongated track panels  207 , support panels  208  and brackets  209 . A portion of elongated panels  204  is also illustrated. The coupled tracks  203 ,  206  are not shown in this position. The platform  205  is connected to the tray  210  that includes elongated panels  211  that are shown in the alternate embodiment, connected and parallel to the elongated track panels  212 , having coupled tracks  213 ,  214 . The drawer  215  is connected to the tray  210  via the coupled tracks  213 ,  214 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  illustrates an internal side view of an embodiment of a utility drawer system  100 . The cabinet  105  includes an upper and lower apparatus  200 . This internal side view should be viewed in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , in which the relative positions of the upper and lower apparatuses are similar. In this orientation, both apparatuses  200  have been directed along arrow A, and the lower apparatus has been further directed along arrow B. As described above, both the upper and lower apparatus include the platform  205  having elongated panels  204 , elongated track panels  207 , coupled tracks  203 ,  206 , support panels  208  and brackets  209  connected to the inner walls  104  of the cabinet  105 . The tray  210  is connected to the platform  205 , the tray  210  including the elongated panels  211 , elongated track panels  212  and coupled tracks  213 ,  214 , one track  214  being illustrated on the lower apparatus  200 . It is now understood that the platform  205  moves along the direction a with respect to the track panels  207 , and that the drawers  215  moved along the direction B with respect to the tray  210 . In general, the platform  205  and the tray  210  stay fixed relative to one another. The fixed positioning of the platform  205  and the tray  210  allow the multi-directional feature of the apparatuses  200  to be enabled during use. In addition, the track pairs  203 , 206  and  213 , 214  remain orthogonally positioned relative to one another. It is further appreciated that the platform  205 , the tray  210  and the drawer  215  travel together as a unit along the direction A into a first open position. When this first open position is attained, the drawer is further opened along B into the second open position.  
         [0043]     In the embodiments described above, one drawer is illustrated for use in the utility drawer apparatus and system. It is understood that multiple drawers can be added to the tray and platform, typically side by side. Additional panels and tracks can be added to accommodate the additional added drawers.  
         [0044]     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, various modifications may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and which are set forth in the appended claims.