Abstract:
A storage unit for storing a number of items in an elevated space saving and easily accessible manner is provided that includes a cover slidably mounted to a storage container containing a number of storage chambers therein. The cover includes a number of adhesive securing means attached thereto that enable the cover to be fixedly secured to the underside of an elevated support structure, such as a cabinet in a kitchen. The storage container is slidably mounted to the cover such that the container can be moved from a closed position to an open position with regard to the cover in order for an individual to gain access to items contained within the storage container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to storage devices and more specifically to space saving, elevated storage devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In interior environments within a home or commercial location, such as kitchen environments, numerous items are required for preparing, serving and consuming food items therein. For this purpose, a number of different types of storage units and cabinets have been developed for placement in interior areas such as a kitchen to effectively store these implements in an easily accessible manner. 
         [0003]    However, the majority of these storage units require large amounts of space on the floor of the interior area, on a food preparation surface or counter in the area, or on the ceiling or wall of the area if the storage unit is suspended above the floor. In addition, many storage units are large in size in order to accommodate a large number of items, while the storage need may require a much smaller space for storage of much fewer items. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it is desirable to develop a storage unit that can be positioned in an unobtrusive but easily accessible manner for storage of a small and potentially replaceable number of items within the storage unit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, a storage unit is provided that includes a cover to which is attached a storage container. The cover has an upper surface that is securely mounted to the underside of an elevated supporting object, such as an existing cabinet structure. The upper surface of the cover also includes a number of storage compartments in which certain item complementary to those located in the storage container can be positioned. Because the cover is secured to a supporting surface, these compartments can be accessed through openings formed in the lower surface of the cover. The lower storage container is slidably mounted to a lower surface of the cover, such that the container can be selectively moved away from the cover. When the storage container is slid outwardly away from the cover, a number of storage compartments therein are exposed in which various items can be positioned. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the storage unit is formed of a relatively lightweight and thermo-formable plastic material. The lightweight material enables the cover and storage container to be formed into the desired configuration in a conventional plastic molding process to allow the openings in the storage container to be shaped as desired to hold specific items therein, and to configure the cover and storage container to be slidably mounted to one another. The lightweight construction of the cover and container also greatly reduces the overall weight of the unit and the contents of the unit, such that it can be reliably held in the elevated position with a minimum of securing devices. 
         [0007]    Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated as practicing the present invention. 
           [0009]    In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a storage unit constructed according to the present invention in an open configuration; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the unit of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the storage container of the unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the storage container of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a right side elevation view of the storage container of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the cover of the unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the cover of  FIG. 6 ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a first embodiment of the storage unit constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The storage unit  10  includes a storage container  12  slidably mounted to a cover  14 . Both the container  12  and cover  14  are formed of thermoplastic material that can be utilized in any conventional molding process to form both the cover  14  and container  12 . A preferred plastic material for forming both the container  12  and cover  14  is any suitable lightweight and blow-moldable or thermo-formable plastic material, such as a polyethylene. Additionally, the storage container  12  and the cover  14  can be formed of different suitable lightweight and blow-moldable or thermo-formable materials that may also have different colors associated therewith to improve the aesthetic appearance of the unit  10 . 
         [0018]    Looking now at  FIGS. 2-5 , the container  12  can have any desired shape, but in a preferred embodiment is formed to have a generally rectangular shape, with a front wall  16 , a pair of opposed side walls  18 , and a rear wall  20 . The container  12  also includes a number of storage areas  22  formed therein that extend downwardly from an upper surface  24  of the container  12  towards a lower surface  26 . The container  12  can have any number of storage areas  22  formed therein, and the individual storage areas  22  can have any desired shape depending upon the particular items to be positioned within the storage areas  22  due to the ability to form the container  12  in a suitable plastic molding process. In the preferred, illustrated embodiment, the container  12  includes two storage areas  22   a  disposed on opposite sides of the container  12  that extend across the full width of the container  12  between the front wall  18  and the rear wall  20 . Two additional storage areas  22   b  are disposed between the outermost storage areas  22   a  and extend only partially along the length of the container  12 . Adjacent the front wall  16  of the container  12 , these storage areas  22   b  terminate at a pair of reduced-height sections  28  of the front wall  16  of the container  12 . 
         [0019]    The storage areas  22   a  and  22   b  are each formed to have a depth sufficient to retain the desired items therein, but without having the lower end of each area  22   a  or  22   b  protruding past the lower surface  26  of the container  12 . This maintains the low profile of the container  12  and the overall unit  10 , such that the unit  10  can be secured in an unobtrusive manner beneath a suitable suspended mounting surface. 
         [0020]    On the upper surface  24  of the container  12 , a number of upwardly extending ribs  30  are formed between the storage areas  22   a  and  22   b  to separate the storage areas  22   a  and  22   b  from one another. Additionally, on opposite sides of the container  12 , the upper surface  24  includes a pair of upwardly extending ridges  32  disposed along each side wall  18 . Each ridge  32  includes an inwardly extending flange  34  disposed on the ridge  32  opposite the upper surface  24  that defines a gap  36  between the flange  34  and the upper surface  24 . The ridges  32  and flanges  34  are preferably integrally formed with the upper surface  24  of the container  12 , but can be formed separately from the container  12  as well. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6  and  7 , the cover  14  is correspondingly shaped to the container  12  and, in the illustrated preferred embodiment is generally rectangular in shape. The cover  14  is also formed with a front wall  38 , a rear wall  40 , a pair of side walls  42 , and upper surface  46  and a lower surface  48 . Each side wall  42  includes a recessed upper edge  50  that forms a tab  54  along each side of the cover  14 . The tabs  54  are dimensioned such that they can slide along the gap  36  formed on the container  12  between the flange  34  and the upper surface  24 . In this manner, the container  12  is slidably secured to the cover  14 . 
         [0022]    To secure the cover  14  to a suitable support surface (not shown), the cover  14  also includes a number of securing members  56  disposed on the upper surface  46  of the cover  14 . The securing members  56  can be any suitable member capable of fixedly attaching the upper surface  46  of the cover  14  to the support surface, such as a mechanical or adhesive member, with an adhesive member or adhesive pad utilizing a contact adhesive being especially preferred. The securing members  56  are disposed at each corner of the upper surface  46  of the cover  14 , such that the entire area of the cover  14  is securely held to the support surface. Once the cover  14  is attached to the support surface, the flanges  34  formed on the container  12  are slid over the tabs  54  on the cover  14 , such that the lower surface  48  of the cover  14  contacts and moves along the ribs  30 , such that the container  12  is slidably secured to the cover  14 . The container  12  may additionally include a pair of locking members (not shown) that are disposed between the flanges  34  and the adjacent portion of the upper surface  24  near the rear wall  20  of the container  12 . These locking members function to engage the side walls  42  of the cover  14  when the container  12  is slid away from the cover  14  to a certain location, such that the container  12  is not easily disengagable from the cover  14 . 
         [0023]    Similarly to the container  12 , the cover  14  also includes a number of recessed storage areas  58  disposed adjacent a front wall  48  of the cover  14 . Each storage area  58  includes an opening  60  formed through the cover  14  at a front end thereof. When the container  12  is in the closed position with regard to the cover  14 , the openings  60  positioned in alignment with the reduced-height sections  28  of the front wall  16  of the container  12 . This allows and individual to insert an object or a finger (not shown) over the reduced-height portion  28  and into the opening  60  to push an object (not shown) disposed in the storage area  58  upwardly and out of the storage area  58  without disengaging the cover  14  from the support surface. This allows sharp or otherwise dangerous objects (not shown) that are employed along with the items positioned within the storage areas  22   a - 22   b  in the container  12  to be placed in the storage areas  58  such that the objects are not easily seen or accessible by children. 
         [0024]    To provide additional strength to the cover  14 , the upper surface  46  of the cover  14  is formed with a number of stiffening ribs  62  disposed along the upper surface  46  between the storage areas  58 . The ribs  62  are integrally formed with the cover  14  and provide added resistance to bending or flexing by the cover  14 . 
         [0025]    In an alternative embodiment of the unit  10 , the cover  14  can be formed without the storage areas  58 . Instead, a separate and similar storage area (not shown) can be formed in the container  12  along the front wall  16  in place of the reduced-height portions  28 , which are omitted. 
         [0026]    In operation, when the unit  10  is secured to a suitable surface, such as the underside of a cabinet, in order to access any items positioned within the container  12 , or to place additional items in the storage areas  22   a  and/or  22   b , the container  12  is slid outwardly with regard to the cover  14  to expose the storage areas  22   a - 22   b  formed therein ( FIG. 1 ). In addition, to access any items positioned within the storage areas  58  disposed on the cover  14 , the container  12  is moved to the closed position ( FIG. 2 ), such that and individual can engage and remove the items from the storage areas  58  utilizing the openings  60  in the respective storage areas  58  to urge the items out of the storage areas  58 , as discussed previously. 
         [0027]    With regard to the types and numbers of items that can be positioned within the unit  10 , any materials or items that are utilized in the particular environment that are also relatively lightweight and that have a configuration suitable for placement within the respective storage areas  22   a ,  22   b  and  58  can be utilized. For example, one suitable item that can be positioned or stored within the unit  10  is a bag resealing device (not shown) and the associated cutting device (not shown) disclosed in co-pending and co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/736,921 filed Apr. 18, 2007. 
         [0028]    Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.