WO2000006005A1

WO2000006005A1 - Organizer

Info

Publication number: WO2000006005A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/001886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lori Greiner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-28
Filing date: 1999-01-28
Publication date: 2000-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2001-01-28
Also published as: AU2480299A

Abstract

An organizer (10) for storing items, such as makeup brushes, utensils, cases and compacts. The organizer (10) includes a container (20). The container (20) includes annular tiers, which contain storage areas. The walls of the storage areas, including side walls (24, 28), divider walls and bottom walls, vary in position and size from tier to tier, as well as within each tier, to accommodate different sizes and shapes of items. The organizer (10) may also be rotatable and thus includes a base upon which the container is supported for rotation.

Description

ORGANIZER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an organizer for organizing cosmetics, makeup compacts, tools, and brushes to eliminate any disorder and clutter associated with having these materials laying around loose and, more particularly, to such an organizer which has numerous storage compartments of varying depths and sizes to accommodate the varying shapes and sizes of makeup compacts, tools, and brushes and which is rotatable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, organizers, such as makeup organizers, cabinet organizers, desk organizers and the like, are used to eliminate the disorder, clutter and disarray of having various items laying around loose With respect to a makeup organizer, the makeup user can conveniently store his or her makeup materials in the various storage compartments in the organizer Generally, these organizers include tiers of storage compartments that are not specifically tailored to a varying wide range of products that the organizer is intended to hold

In addition, these organizers are intended to remain stationary on a countertop, in a cabinet, on a desk surface or other flat surface This is disadvantageous when one needs to remove an item from the back of the organizer, particularly when the organizer is located in a cabinet or closet or in an area where the back portion of the organizer is hard to reach and/or difficult to see

Accordingly, there is a need for a rotatable organizer which includes compartments of varying depths, shapes and sizes to accommodate a wide variety of shapes and sizes of items to be placed in the organizer

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention provides an organizer which includes a container including a substantially circular, substantially flat bottom The container includes a plurality of concentric juxtaposed tiers of different major diameters, wherein each tier has a storage depth that is different from the storage depth of an adjacent tier The tiers are separated by side walls Each tier is separated into individual smaller storage compartments by a plurality of partitions extending in the radial direction between the opposing side walls of the tiers At least one of the side walls varies in height around its circumference to vary the storage depths of the compartments in a tier Preferably, each tier has a bottom wall which may vary in position relative to the substantially flat bottom for another way to vary the storage depths of the compartments in that tier Preferably, the organizer also includes a base which is fixed to and located substantially centrally on the substantially flat bottom, and the container is rotatably supported on the base

Another aspect of the present invention provides an organizer which includes a substantially circular container including a substantially flat bottom, an inner cylindrical compartment, a circumferential outer side wall secured at the outer periphery of the substantially flat bottom, a plurality of circumferential inner side walls positioned outward of the inner cylindrical compartment and inward of the outer side wall, and a plurality of divider walls extending radially outward from the inner cylindrical compartment The inner side walls and the outer wall form a plurality of tiers Also, the inner side walls, the outer wall and the divider walls form a plurality of compartments bounded by these walls To accommodate different sizes and shapes of makeup containers, tools and brushes, the inner side walls vary in height to provide compartments with varying depths in a tier

The plurality of inner side walls are preferably a first inner side wall, a second inner side wall, and a third inner side wall To have tiers of compartments, the first inner side wall generally extends above the second inner side wall, the second inner side wall generally extends above the third inner side wall and the third inner side wall generally extends above the outer side wall

Moreover, one of the inner side walls preferably has a first height around one section of its circumference that is greater than a second height around a second section of its circumference This side wall also preferably has a third height around a third section of its circumference, wherein the second height is greater than the third height. Additionally, a second of the inner side walls preferably extends only partway around a section of its circumference to form a partial inner side wall.

The divider walls vary in distance from each other to provide compartments of varying sizes. Preferably, in one of the tiers, the divider walls are placed close together in a first section of the tier and are placed farther apart in a second section of the tier to form varying sizes of compartments.

Additionally, each tier has a bottom wall which may be varied in position relative to the substantially flat bottom to vary the storage depths of the compartments in that tier.

Preferably, a section of the container has no inner side walls. In this section, the container further comprises a plurality of spaced dividers. The dividers extend in the radial direction from the inner cylinder and are centrally located between the cylinder and the outer wall. Preferably, the organizer is rotatable, and thus includes a base fixed to and located substantially centrally on the substantially flat bottom. The container is rotatably supported on the base. The container further includes a member which extends downward from the bottom of the container. The member has a first end and a second end, the first end of the member being attached with the bottom of the container and the second end of the member being adjacent the base. The second end of the member has a nub formed thereon, which extends downward toward the base. The base defines a hole which corresponds to the nub. The nub is inserted into the hole and secured via a fastener to secure the container to the base. For a rotatable organizer, the nub rotates in the hole to allow the container to rotate relative to the base.

Because of the varying shapes, sizes and depths of the compartments and the section of the container that has only the dividers, different compartments can better accommodate different shapes and sizes of makeup containers, tools, and brushes. Thus, items which are long and thin may be placed in storage compartments which have the greatest depth. Similarly, items which are medium in length may be placed in storage compartments which have medium depth. In addition, items which are short and thin may be placed in storage compartments which have the shortest depth. Last, items which are wide may be placed to lean up against the dividers.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be better understood upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the rotatable organizer of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a bottom, exploded perspective view illustrating the container and the base of the rotatable organizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the rotatable organizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the rotatable organizer of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 through 8 are side views of the rotatable organizer of FIG. 1; FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the rotatable organizer of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the rotatable organizer of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate perspective views of the rotatable organizer 10 of the present invention. The organizer 10 includes a container 20 and a base 50, about which the container 20 rotates, as explained in further detail below. The container 20 is generally circular in shape and includes a substantially circular, substantially flat bottom 22 and a circumferential outer side wall 24. The outer side wall 24 is secured at the outer periphery 26 of the substantially flat bottom 22.

A plurality of circumferential inner side walls 28 are located inward of the outer side wall 24 relative to the outer periphery 26 of the container 20. In addition, a plurality of partitions or divider walls 30 form, with the inner side walls 28, a plurality of compartments or storage areas 32. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-10, there are generally four concentric juxtaposed tiers 34, 36, 38 and 40 which have different major diameters and are shaped and sized such that each tier has a different depth than an adjacent tier. Each tier is generally bounded on its inner circumference by an inner side wall and its outer circumference by a second inner side wall, except that the innermost tier is bounded by a single inner wall 28a and the outermost tier is bounded on its outer circumference by the outer side wall 24. While four tiers are shown, the number of tiers may decrease or increase without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Generally, the heights of the tiers get smaller from the innermost tier to the outermost tier.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5-8, assuming that the container 20 includes four tiers, the four tiers are an inner tier 34, two middle tiers 36, 38 and an outer tier 40. The innermost tier 34 is basically a cylindrical component 33, which is bounded on its outer circumference by a first inner side wall 28a. The first middle tier 36 is bounded on its inner circumference by the first inner side wall 28a and on its outer circumference by a second inner side wall 28b. The second middle tier 38 is bounded on its inner circumference by the second inner side wall 28b and on its outer circumference by a third inner side wall 28c. The outer tier 40 is bounded on its inner circumference by the third inner wall 28c and its outer circumference by outer wall 24.

As stated above, the heights of the tiers is greatest at the innermost tier 34 and get progressively smaller from the innermost tier 34 to the outermost tier 40. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 5-8, 9 and 10, the inner side wall 28a generally extends above the inner side wall 28b, the inner side wall 28b generally extends above the inner side wall 28c and the inner side wall 28c generally extends above the outer side wall 24. Preferably, the inner side wall 28a generally extends above the inner side wall 28b by about 1/2 inches to about 1 inches, the inner side wall 28b generally extends above the inner side wall 28c by about 1-1/2 inches to about 2-1/2 inches, and the inner side wall 28c generally extends above the outer wall 24 by about 1 inches to about 2 inches. Additionally, preferably, the height of the outer side wall 24 is generally about 1 inches to about 2-1/2 inches above the bottom 22 of the container 20.

Each tier is further divided into individual smaller storage compartments by the partitions or divider walls 30, which extend in the radial direction between the opposing side walls of the tiers as illustrated.

To accommodate different sizes of makeup containers, tools and brushes, some of the inner walls 28 vary in height within a tier. In particular, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 5, the inner side wall 28b has a greater height around one section 42 of its circumference than around a second section 44 of its circumference, which in turn has a greater height than around a third section 46 of its circumference. Obviously, varying the height of the side walls is a matter of choice and there may be other variations in the height of the walls. The variation in the height of a side wall may include no height at all. Thus, as shown in FIGS.

1 and 5-8, the inner side wall 28c of middle tier 38 may extend only partway around a section 48 of its circumference and thus be only a partial circumferential inner side wall.

In the same manner, the location of the bottom walls 70 may be varied to increase or decrease the depth of the compartments 32. As shown in FIGS. 2, 9 and 10, the bottom walls are bottom wall 70a (for the inner tier 34), bottom wall 70b (for the first middle tier 36), bottom wall 70c (for the second middle tier 38) and bottom wall 70d (for the outer tier 40). Thus, as shown most clearly in FIG.

10, bottom wall 70b varies in depth from one section 72 to another section 74 of this wall.

Preferably, additional side walls can be incorporated in a tier that further divides the tier. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, there is an additional side wall 28d which divides one of the compartments of the first middle tier 36. Additionally, to accommodate the different sizes and shapes of make-up containers, tools, and brushes, in each tier, the distance between divider walls varies around each tier. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the outer tier 40 may have many divider walls 30 placed close together in one section 60 while also having fewer divider walls placed farther apart in a second section 62 of this tier. Preferably, the distance between the divider walls 30 varies from about 1 inches to about 3 inches. Moreover, the distance between the closely spaced divider walls is preferably from about 1/2 inches to about 1-1/2 inches, and the distance between the far apart spaced divider walls is about 1/2 inches to about 2-1/2 inches. Additionally, preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one section 64 of the container 20 has no inner side walls 28 but has a plurality of spaced dividers 66. While the dividers 66 extend in the radial direction from the inner cylinder 33, the dividers do not extend from the inner cylinder 33 to the outer wall 24. Instead, the dividers 66 are centrally located between the inner wall 28a and the outer wall 24, and thus do not contact either the inner wall 28a or the outer wall 24. Preferably, the length of each divider 66 is about 1/3 of the distance between the inner wall 28a and the outer wall 24. For example, then, if the distance between the inner wall 28a and the outer wall 24 is about 3 inches to about 4 inches, then the length of the dividers 66 are about 0.66 inches to about 1.2 inches. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 9, items which are long and thin, such as a make-up brush B, may be placed in storage compartment 32 of inner tier 34, which preferably has the greatest depth. Items which are of medium length, such as a cotton swap C, may be placed in a storage compartment 32 of middle tier 36. Also, items which are short and thin, such as lipsticks L, may be placed in the storage compartments 32 of the outer tiers 38 and 40, which preferably have the shortest depth. Items which are wide, such as a make-up compact C, may be placed in the section 64 of the container 20 to lean up against a divider 66.

Additionally, as noted above, the container 20 is preferably rotatably supported on the base 50. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the container 20 includes a member 80 which extends downward from the bottom wall 70a of the inner cylinder 33. In particular, one end 82 of the member 80 is coupled with the bottom wall 70a and the opposite end 84 of the member 80 is adjacent to the base 50. As shown in FIG. 10, the end 84 of the member 80 has a nub 86 formed thereon. The nub 86 extends downward from the bottom 22 of the container 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the nub 86 corresponds with a hole 52 defined in the base 52.

To couple the container 20 to the base 50, the nub 86 is inserted into the hole 52, and secured to the base 50 with a fastener 54. In use, then, the nub 52 rotates in the hole 52 to allow the container 20 to rotate relative to the base 50. Of course other fastening devices can be used. In addition, the base 50 may be eliminated, and, in such a case, the member 80 may be eliminated. Additionally, the base 50 is substantially circular in shape with a radial dimension slightly smaller than the radial dimension of the bottom 22 of the container 20. Thus, the outer side wall 24 of the container 20 extends outward of the outer wall 56 of the base 50. Preferably, the radius of the bottom 22 of the container 20 is about 8 inches to about 12 inches and the radius of the base 50 is about 6 inches to about 8 inches.

In a preferred embodiment the container 20 and the base 50 are molded of a plastic or LUCITE™ material. In addition, preferably container 20 is molded as an integral one piece unit.

Of course, it should be understood that a wide range of changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described above. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description illustrates rather than limits this invention, and that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define this invention.

Claims

1. An organizer comprising: a container including a substantially circular, substantially flat bottom, said container comprising a plurality of concentric juxtaposed tiers of different major diameters, wherein each tier has a storage depth that is different from the storage depth of an adjacent tier, wherein said tiers are separated by side walls and wherein each tier is separated into individual smaller storage compartments by a plurality of partitions extending in the radial direction between opposing side walls of the tiers, and wherein at least one of said side walls varies in height around its circumference to vary the storage depths of said compartments in one of said tiers.

2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein each tier has a bottom wall and wherein, for a section of at least one of said tiers, said bottom wall varies in position relative to said substantially flat bottom to vary the storage depths of said compartments in that tier.

3. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the container is made of a plastic material.

4. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a base fixed to and located substantially centrally on said substantially flat bottom, said container being rotatably supported on said base.

5. The organizer of claim 4 wherein said container and said base are both made of a plastic material.

6. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the individual smaller storage compartments are specifically tailored to hold an item to be stored therein.

7 An organizer comprising a substantially circular container including a substantially flat bottom, an inner cylindrical compartment, a circumferential outer side wall secured at the outer periphery of said substantially flat bottom, a plurality of circumferential inner side walls positioned outward of said inner cylindrical compartment and inward of said outer side wall, said inner side walls and said outer wall forming a plurality of tiers, a plurality of divider walls extending radially outward from said inner cylindrical compartment, said inner side walls, said outer wall and said divider walls forming a plurality of compartments, said inner side walls varying in height to provide compartments with varying depths in at least one of said tiers

8 The organizer of claim 7 wherein said plurality of inner side walls are a first inner side wall, a second inner side wall, and a third inner side wall, and wherein said first inner side wall generally extends above said second inner side wall, said second inner side wall generally extends above said third inner side wall and said third inner side wall generally extends above said outer side wall

9 The organizer of claim 8 wherein said first inner side wall generally extends above said second inner side wall by about 1/2 inches to about 1 inches, said second inner side wall generally extends above said third inner side wall by about 1-1/2 inches to about 2-1/2 inches, and said third inner side wall generally extends above said outer wall by about 1 inches to about 2 inches

10 The organizer of claim 7 wherein said divider walls vary in distance from each other to provide compartments of varying sizes

1 1 The organizer of claim 10 wherein the compartments are specifically tailored to hold an item to be stored there

12 The organizer of claim 10 wherein in at least one of said tiers, said divider walls are placed close together in a first section of said tier and said divider walls are placed farther apart in a second section of said tier

13. The organizer of claim 12 wherein the distance between the closely spaced divider walls is from about 1/2 inches to about 1-1/2 inches, and the distance between the far apart spaced divider walls is about 1/2 inches to about 2-1/2 inches.

14. The organizer of claim 7 wherein each tier has a bottom wall and wherein, for a section of at least one of said tiers, said bottom wall varies in position relative to said substantially flat bottom to vary the storage depths of said compartments in that tier.

15. The organizer of claim 7 wherein at least one of said inner side walls has a first height around one section of its circumference that is greater than a second height around a second section of its circumference.

16. The organizer of claim 15 wherein said at least one of said inner side walls has a third height around a third section of its circumference, wherein said second height is greater than said third height.

17. The organizer of claim 7 wherein at least one of said inner side walls extends only partway around a section of its circumference to form a partial circumferential inner side wall.

18. The organizer of claim 7 further comprising an additional side wall which divides one of said tiers.

19. The organizer of claim 7 wherein a section of said container has no inner side walls, wherein said container further comprises a plurality of spaced dividers in said section, said dividers extending in the radial direction from said inner cylinder, said dividers being centrally located between said cylinder and said outer wall.

20. The organizer of claim 7 wherein the container is made of a plastic material.

21. The organizer of claim 7 further comprising a base fixed to and located substantially centrally on said substantially flat bottom, said container being rotatably supported on said base.

22. The organizer of claim 21 wherein said container includes a member which extends downward from said bottom of said container, said member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said member being attached with said bottom of said container and said second end of said member being adjacent said base, wherein said second end has a nub formed thereon, said nub extending downward, and wherein said base defines a hole which corresponds to said nub, and wherein said nub is inserted into said hole and secured via a fastener, and wherein, for a rotatable organizer, said nub rotates in said hole to allow said container to rotate relative to said base.

23. The organizer of claim 22 wherein said base and said container are made of a plastic material.

24. A rotatable organizer, comprising: a substantially circular container including a substantially flat bottom, an inner cylinder, a circumferential outer side wall secured at the outer periphery of said substantially fiat bottom, a plurality of circumferential inner side walls positioned outward of said inner cylinder and inward of said outer side wall, said inner side walls and said outer wall forming a plurality of tiers, a plurality of divider walls extending radially outward from said inner cylinder, said inner side walls, said outer wall and said divider walls forming a plurality of compartments, said inner side walls varying in height to provide compartments with varying depths, wherein said plurality of inner side walls include a first inner side wall, a second inner side wall, and a third inner side wall, and wherein said first inner side wall generally extends above said second inner side wall, said second inner side wall generally extends above said third inner side wall and said third inner side wall generally extends above said outer side wall, wherein one of said first, second and third inner side walls has a first height around one section of its circumference that is greater than a second height around a second section of its circumference, said one of said inner side walls also having a third height around a third section of its circumference, wherein said second height is greater than said third height, and a second of said inner side walls extending only partway around a section of its circumference to form a partial circumferential inner side wall, wherein said divider walls vary in distance from each other to provide compartments with varying sizes, wherein in at least one of said tiers, said divider walls are placed close together in a first section of said tier and said divider walls are placed farther apart in a second section of said tier, wherein each tier has a bottom wall and wherein, for a section of at least one of said tiers, said bottom wall varies in position relative to said substantially flat bottom to vary the storage depths of said compartments in that tier, wherein a section of said container has no inner side walls, said container further comprising a plurality of spaced dividers in said section, said dividers extending in the radial direction from said inner cylinder, said dividers being centrally located between said cylinder and said outer wall, and a base fixed to and located substantially centrally on said substantially flat bottom, said container being rotatably supported on said base, whereby items which are long and thin may be placed in storage compartments which have the greatest depth, items which are medium in length may be placed in storage compartments which have medium depth, items which are short and thin may be placed in storage compartments which have the shortest depth, and items which are wide may be placed to lean up against a divider.

25. The rotatable organizer of claim 24 wherein said container includes a member which extends downward from said bottom of said container, said member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said member being attached with said bottom of said container and said second end of said member being adjacent said base, wherein said second end has a nub formed thereon, said nub extending downward.

26. The rotatable organizer of claim 25 wherein said base defines a hole which corresponds to said nub, and wherein said nub is inserted into said hole and secured via a fastener, and wherein, for a rotatable organizer, said nub rotates in said hole to allow said container to rotate relative to said base.

27. An organizer comprising: a first tier having a first depth wherein the first tier defines a cylindrical compartment, a second tier having a second depth which is less than the first depth, a third tier having a third depth which is less than the second depth, wherein the third tier defines an annular compartment around the first tier, and the second tier is located between the first and third tiers and extends only partially around the cylindrical compartment.

28. An organizer according to claim 27 further comprising a plurality of partition walls located in the second tier wherein the partition walls define a plurality of compartments in the second tier.