CA2357061A1 - Multi-purpose utility organizer for a travel van - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-purpose utility organizer for the cargo area of a van, designed to provide a plurality of compartments to accommodate travel convenience accessories including a sink and waste water holding tank, portable fresh water toilet, portable 12 volt electric cooler, and other accessories and supplies carried in the vehicle. It also provides a storage compartment to carry a pet kennel, additional space for storage buckets, and an upper planar surface that provides a sleeping area for one adult or two small children. The utility organizer can be easily installed into or removed from a van without tools or modification of the van. When equipped with the aforementioned accessories, it converts an ordinary van into a self contained travel van affording more enjoyment and independence to the occupants of the van when on daily outings or extended motor trips. It is configured to be economically manufactured and packaged.

Description

MULTI-PURPOSE UTILITY ORGANIZER FOR A TRAVEL VAN
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a multi-purpose organizer for a passenger or cargo van, including what is commonly referred to as a mini-van or extended mini-van. In particular, the present invention (described hereinafter as a "utility organizer") has the multiple purpose of accommodating a sink and portable waste water holding tank, and user-supplied travel accessories including a portable fresh water toilet (for example, those commercially available under the trade mark "Thetford Porta-Potti"), a 12 volt electric cooler (for example, those commercially available under the trade mark "Koolatron"), a 12 volt auxiliary power pack and assorted 12 volt appliances such as a kettle, fan and air compressor. As well, the utility organizer provides a storage compartment for a pet kennel, additional storage space for removable buckets for carrying personal items and supplies, and an upper planar surface area that can be fitted with a cushion to provide a temporary bed for one adult or two small children.
The utility organizer can be installed into the rear cargo area of a van without tools or modifications to the van, and occupies the area where the third-row seat is normally positioned in a passenger van. When the aforementioned accessories are used in conjunction with the utility organizer, it converts an ordinary van into a self contained travel van affording more enjoyment and independence to the occupants of the van when on daily outings or extended motor trips.
The preferred embodiment described herein is just one of several configurations that could be used depending on the wishes of the end user and the size of the van or mini-van. The utility organizer is meant to carry equipment which provides additional independence, convenience, security and enjoyment while traveling. Most passenger vans manufactured in recent years are equipped with standard dark privacy glass on all windows to the rear of the front seats, thereby making practical the use of the on-board sanitation facilities. The present invention is not intended to convert a van into what is commonly referred to as a "camper van" although it could be used at a campsite in conjunction with other facilities such as a tent or travel trailer. It is particularly suited to families travelling with small children and pets.
Although the preferred embodiment of the invention shown herein has been designed for General Motors Corporation vans sold under the trade name "Chevrolet Astro"
and "GMC Safari", it should be noted that the concept is just one of several configurations that could be used for other vans of different size, make and description. For example, the utility organizer can be configured for the popular but smaller DaimlerChrysler AG minivan sold under the trade name "Dodge Grand Caravan" by making minor adjustments to the size of the various compartments so as to accommodate the major travel convenience accessories of the preferred embodiment. The basic concepts of the utility organizer remain the same no matter the size of the van.

2. Description of the Prior Art A search of the Canada and United States of America patent data base reveals many inventions relating to organizers for vans, sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks, and various proposals for converting an ordinary van into a "camper van".
The patents for organizers are primarily for the purpose of holding cargo in place while the vehicle is in motion and to provide orderly divider compartments for cargo and supplies. Typical is Canadian Pat. No. CA 2170482, issued to Richard K. Frazier and Barry V. Davis, that shows a space organizer designed for use in the rear of pickup trucks, station wagons, mini-vans and the trunk of automobiles so as to partition the storage area of such a vehicle whereby cargo and the like can be secured. The organizer has an arrangement of wing-like partition members, either fixed or hinged, which allow the storage are to be separated into spaces suitable for restraining, protecting and keeping cargo in a neat, orderly and accessible manner. United States Pat, No. 5,979,725, issued to Mark A. Lehrman, shows a mufti-compartment organizer for a minivan consisting of hinged panels and drawers. The organizer fits behind the rear seat of a minivan or sport utility vehicle and is designed primarily to carry bags, packages and small items, and includes an insulated, removeable container and an extendable support panel. Variations on this theme can be found in, for example, Canadian Pat. No. CA 2137634 issued to Leo Malinowski and Terrance R.
Evans; United States Pat. No. 5,603,439 issued to Adrian R. Pineda; and United States Pat. No.
5,568,890 issued to Jack C. Magee and George Thompson. The aforementioned organizers have numerous moving parts, hinged panels, foldable partitions and the like which, in some cases, allow them to fold flat when not in use. None of the identified organizers have as their purpose the provision of a mufti-purpose organizer designed to specifically accommodate the commercially available travel convenience accessories described above under Field of the Invention. None are designed to have other utility functions such as provision for accommodating in one structure sanitation, refrigeration and storage facilities, a pet kennel and a temporary bed.
Patents relating to camper vans are generally directed to a different purpose than that of the present invention. The patents for camper vans provide for the conversion of an ordinary van so as to provide meal preparation facilities, overnight sleeping arrangements for two or more persons, and sometimes self contained sanitation facilities. The present invention is only intended to provide convenience facilities for day trips and long distance highway travel.
An example of a camper van conversion can be found in Canadian Pat. No. CA 1076624, issued to Thomas V.
Johnstone on April 29, 19$0, that shows a modular utility unit which is intended to replace a door on a van-type vehicle. The modular unit contains utility appliances such as a stove, refrigerator, furnace, water heater and the like, and a clamping arrangement which holds the surrogate door panel in place when the door of the vehicle is removed, whereby the surrogate door panel can be interchanged with the original door of the van. Another example is Canadian Pat. No. CA 2001702, issued to Reginald B. Harder and Jack Lange, that shows a cooking and storage module with a sink element and refrigeration compartment behind the rear seat of a mini-van, which module can pivot outwardly around a vertical axis of the mini-van so as to project through the rear door of the van. It further shows a fold out upper cover panel on an offset hinge arrangement to form a tent and bedding area. The patented arrangement of module and cover panel of the Harder and Lange patent requires extensive modifications to a van, which modifications become a permanent part of the van.
By contrast to all of the aforementioned patents, the present invention is much simplier: it is a rigid non-collapsible structure; has few moving parts; does not require modifications to the van; is interchangeable with the normal seating arrangements or cargo space of the van without the use of tools; can be easily and safely secured inside the van; and is much more than a mere organizer.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure that, when used in conjunction with other readily available accessories, affords great utility and convenience to the vehicle operator and his or her passengers travelling in a standard passenger or cargo van. Using the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an ordinary van can be easily converted into a self contained travel van that carries basic accessories to make travel more enjoyable and independent.
Most passenger vans that are equipped by the manufacturer of the van with a third-row bench seat have a means for easy removal of the seat by quick-release levers or, alternatively in some vans, the third-row seat folds flat into the cargo floor. Some passengers vans, and what is commonly referred to as cargo vans, do not have a seat in the rear-most portion of the van. In all of the aforementioned cases, when this rear-most portion of the van is clear and presents a flat floor, the present invention can occupy that space, extending from between the rear wheel-wells of the van to the rear panel doors or liftgate of the van.
It is a further object to provide a utility organizer that is simple in construction consisting of a single rigid structure with a minimum of moving parts.
It is a further object to provide a utility organizer that can be easily and quickly installed into or removed from the rear cargo area of a van. The present invention achieves this objective in that it does not require tools for installation or removal and can be quickly interchanged with a third-row bench seat if the van is so equipped. Installation of the preferred embodiment of the utility organizer does not require modification of the van - no holes need to be drilled, fasteners mounted, or trim pieces removed from the van in order to install the utility organizer.
It is a further object to provide a utility organizer that is designed so that a van can be equipped to carry, and users have convenient access to, basic sanitation and refrigeration conveniences while on day trips and during long distance highway travel.
It is a further object to provide a utility organizer that can accommodate and securely retain in place a pet kennel.
It is a further object to provide a utility organizer that is configured so that it provides a planar area of sufficient size to accommodate a flat horizontal cushion that forms a bed which can be used by one adult or two small children for temporary rest breaks.
It is a further object to provide a utility organizer that can be economically built in small or large quantities using readily available materials with minimal waste and, when manufactured, can be shipped in a compact shipping container of minimal height for easy assembly by the end user.
In brief, the aforementioned objects are achieved by a utility organizer that can be manufactured primarily from particle board, finished on both sides, which particle board is commonly referred to as "Melamine", or a similar material by whatever name, and other minor pieces. The coated surface of particle board, which is available in a variety of colours, is durable against wear and eliminates the requirement for extensive finishing and painting. Alternatively, for manufacture in large quantities, one or more of the various components could be manufactured as injection molded plastic components by persons skilled in the art.
Finished pieces can be packaged in a flat cardboard shipping container that has dimensions of minimal height. When assembled, the preferred embodiment of the utility organizer consists of a single box-like structure of appropriate dimension subdivided into a plurality of compartments of sufficient height to accommodate owner-supplied accessories. Two compartments are open on one side only and two compartments are open on two sides affording these compartments with a clear pass through along the longitudinal axis of the van. A flat horizontal piece of particle board or plywood forms the base to which the major vertical walls are attached. The compartments are segregated from one another by vertical divider walls and similar vertical walls form the two ends of the structure. The structure achieves rigidity through the use of a vertical divider wall located at right-angles between an end wall and divider wall. This wall arrangement results in a rigid perpendicular structure in the foam of an "H". Connected to this "H"-like structure are two horizontal longitudinal "rails" (as they will be referred to throughout the specification) running parallel to one another and across the width of the utility organizer from the road-side end wall to the curb-side end wall. To these rails are attached the second divider wall and end wall. A
horizontal top made from a light weight material of minimal thickness, with dimensions corresponding to the depth and width of the utility organizer, provides an upper planar surface to support a cushion of appropriate dimension.
Two of the compartments are fitted with a sliding tray of appropriate dimension that moves horizontally on drawer rails to make accessible the sink and cooler respectively. The middle compartment that houses the sink is configured such that the sink may be mounted towards the front of the utility organizer making it accessible from inside the van or, alternatively, mounted at the rear of the utility organizer making it accessible from outside the van.
Remaining compartment space not otherwise occupied by utility accessories may be fitted with one or more adjustable shelves to hold appropriately sized plastic buckets or individual items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the view and in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a utility organizer 100 for a van embodying the present invention looking from the rear;
FIGURE lA is a perspective view of the utility organizer shown in Figure 1 with top 9 and cushion 24 removed for clarity of details, and with major travel convenience accessories shown in phantom lines;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the utility organizer as shown in Figure lA, with shelving 14, 15 and 16 removed for clarity of detail;
FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the utility organizer as shown in Figure l;
FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation view of the utility organizer installed in a van;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged plan view of the safety device in circle A-A of Figure 1.
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevation view of the retainer lever in circle B-B of Figure 1.
All references in this specification to "front" mean that portion of the utility organizer which faces towards the front of the van opposite the seats; all references to "rear" mean that portion of the utility organizer which faces outward to the rear of the van.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 6.
This arrangement features a utility organizer structure 100 of dimensions approximately 130 centimeters in width by approximately 75 centimeters in depth by approximately SO
centimeters in height which is composed of the following basic elements: the base 2; end walls 3 and 4;
divider walls 5, 6 and 7;
rails 8; top 9; retainer board 10; sink element 17; waste water holding tank 20; moveable tray 11;
cushon 24; and safety device 34.
The end walls 3 and 4 and the divider walls 5 and 6 mate with the base 2 by means of a groove or dadoe that has been milled into base 2. The width of base 2 at the front of the utility organizer is that of the distance between the rear wheel wells 38 of the van while towards the rear the base is marginally wider to provide a partial groove with two vertical edges into which the end walls 3 and 4 will mate. The end wall 4 and divider wall 6 each have a groove on their interior face running the vertical height of each wall such that divider wall 7, which is fractionally shorter in vertical height than the two aforementioned walls, fits in each of those grooves as shown in Figure I A and abuts against base 2. It is the arrangement of end wall 4 and divider walls 6 and 7, forming an "H" pattern when looking from above, that gives the utility organizer its structural rigidity. End walls 3 and 4 are milled an appropriate depth at each top inside corner to accommodate the cross-sectional shape of rails 8. Divider walls 5 and 6 are cut out at each top corner to accommodate the cross-sectional shape of rails 8. The rails 8 attach to end walls 3 and 4 and divider walls 5 and 6 such that end wall 3 and divider wall 5 are held securely in place and perpendicular to base 2. Top 9 is affixed to the top edge of the end walls 3 and 4, divider walls 5 and 6 and rails 8. The foregoing arrangement allows the use of a top 9 of minimal thickness, thereby reducing overall weight of the utility organizer while at the same time having sufficient load carrying capacity to support the weight of an adult person lying on cushion 24. All of the aforementioned walls are secured in place with wood screws or equivalent of appropriate length. It is to be noted that the aforementioned description is just one method by which the basic structure may be crafted by those skilled in the art. Other methods could be used to form the basic structure including the use of injection moulded plastics and other plastic processes.
A further embodiment of the utility organizer 100 is the use of a retainer board 10 which is affixed to the front rail 8 in those instances where a cushion 24 of sufficient dimension is used to cover top 9. The cushion 24 is of a length and shape such that it extends beyond the utility organizer at each end, and abuts against retainer board 10 at the front and the van's interior pillar trim at the rear. The preferred embodiment of utility organizer 100 is of a height such that the cushion 24 is supported at each end by the interior window trim of the van above the wheel wells 38 as shown in Figure 4. This arrangement affords additional length to the temporary bed, and retainer board 10 keeps cushion 24 in place if the van experiences sudden braking.
The sink element 17 is formed of plastic or metal and is fitted to horizontal tray 18 that is of a rectangular shape of sufficient width to occupy the middle compartment of the utility organizer.
A pair of conventional drawer slider rails 19 of sufficient length are attached to each side of tray 18 and to divider walls 5 and 6 respectively, whereby sink element 17 can move outwardly in a horizontal direction from a storage position within utility organizer 100, thereby affording access to the sink. A drain, stopper, flexible bilge hose 25 and suitable hardware connect sink element 17 to a commercially available portable water container of approximately 10 litre capacity which serves as a waste water holding tank 20. Figure 2 shows in broken lines sink element 17 in a service position, partially extended outward from the front of the utility organizer.
The holding tank 20 is held snuggly in place against divider wall 6 by three "L" brackets 30 of minimal height arranged about the circumference of the tank. The holding tank can then be easily lifted over the brackets to remove it for emptying. This arrangement of sink and holding tank may be installed at the front or rear of the utility organizer depending on preferences for inside or exterior access. It is to be noted that sink element 17 and waste water holding tank 20, along with shelf 15, can be easily removed when not required for their intended purpose so as to afford a clear storage space in the middle compartment.
The moveable tray 11 which carries portable cooler 22 is formed from a flat piece of particle board or other suitable material and has outside dimensions of a rectangular shape of sufficient width to occupy the rear road-side compartment of the utility organizer. A pair of conventional drawer slider rails 12 of sufficient length are attached to each side of moveable tray 11 and to end wall 4 and divider wall 6 respectively, whereby moveable tray 11 can move outwardly in a horizontal direction from a storage position within utility organizer 100, thereby affording access to the portable cooler 22. Figure 2 shows in broken lines portable cooler 22 in a service position, partially extended outward from the rear of the utility organizer. A
convenience pull handle 13 is attached to moveable tray 11. It is to be noted in Figure lA that divider wall 6 has an appropriately sized cutout adjacent to base 2 to facilitate proper ventilation when a 12 volt electric cooler is used.
The location of this vent is a function of the brand and model of electric cooler to be utilized.
The front road-side compartment is of sufficient dimension to allow for the storage of portible toilet 21 with its long side parallel to divider wall 7 such that, when required for use, it can be slid out horizontally from its storage position to a service position occupying the space available between the front of the utility organizer 100 and the back of the second-row seat 37 of a passenger van. Figure 2 shows in broken lines portable toilet 21 partially extended outward from the front of the utility organizer.
A portable pet kennel 23, which occupies the curb-side compartment of the utility organizer, is shown in Figure lA. It is held securely in place by means of an appropriately sized screw eye 29 or equivalent fitting located inside the pet kennel that passes through a hole in the bottom of the pet kennel and screws into base Z. In this manner the pet kennel can be secured in place without tools.

Furthermore, if the door of the pet kennel is secured with a lock, access to screw eye 29 is prevented and the pet kennel, and its precious cargo, cannot be easily removed from the van.
A cushion 24, consisting of a flat sheet of foam material of appropriate thickness and covered with a slip cover made from suitable upholstery material, is sized and cut so that the front of the cushion is a straight edge, the rear of the cushion is a straight edge which is notched out at each corner, said notch to take the size and shape of the interior pillar of the van where the rear door of the van meets the rear side window of the van, said cushion being of a length which extends beyond end walls 3 and 4 reaching approximately to the rear side windows of the van, and said cushion being held firmly in place by the front edge which abuts against retainer board 10 and the corner notches of the cushion abutting against the rear pillars of the van.
Shelves 14, 15 and 16, made of particle board or other suitable material, are sized to fit loosely between the adjacent end walls and divider walls. These horizontal shelves, which are partially milled or contoured on the underside at each end to prevent sliding, are supported by shelf pins or equivalent inserted into appropriately placed holes in the respective end walls and divider walls. User supplied plastic bucket 26 is typical of the buckets that may be carried on one or more of the shelves. Each shelf can be lifted out when not required so as to provide additional clear space within a compartment. It is to be noted that the placement of shelves in Figures lA and 3 is for illustration purposes only; other configurations can be easily used depending on the user supplied accessories and other supplies that are carned in the utility organizer.
The various compartments are equipped at the front and rear, as necessary, with an elastic stretchable bungee type cord 31 fitted over projecting screw heads 32 which attach to the edge of the respective end walls and divider walls. Bungee cord 31 in Figures lA and 3 are typical for illustrative purposes. This arrangement is required to keep cargo and accessories such as a portable power pack 33, portable toilet 21, bucket 26, electric kettle 27 and water container 28 in place when the vehicle accelerates or decelerates.
The sink element 17 and moveable tray 11 are each prevented from moving horizontally on their respective rails when the vehicle accelerates or decelerates by the use of a plastic or metal retainer lever 39, said lever being attached to the edge of divider wall 6 by means of screw 40 and prevented from falling from a horizontal position by pin 41. Lever 39 may be rotated 90 degrees to a vertical position so as to allow the sink or moveable tray, as the case may be, to clear the lever and move outwardly in a horizontal direction. Figure 6 is illustrative of this arrangement when used in conjunction with moveable tray 11.
In order to provide a convenient point at which 12 volt DC power may be accessed to operate the various user supplied convenience accessories, a commercially available 12 volt female outlet receptacle 42 consisting of two or three outlets is affixed to end wall 4 at the front of utility organizer 100. This outlet receptacle accepts a commercially available 12 volt DC extension power cord 43 with a male plug such that one end plugs into outlet receptacle 42 and the other end plugs into the nearest 12 volt DC outlet receptacle supplied by the van manufacturer or, alternatively, into power pack 33 which is carried in utility organizer.
Although the utility organizer 100 is of sufficient weight to remain in place without anchors and is prevented from sliding forward by the extension of the base 2 on each side which contacts the protruding wheel wells 38 of the van, a means of safely securing the utility organizer is required in the event that the van is involved in a collision or rollover. This objective is achieved for the preferred embodiment of the utility organizer by the use of a screw eye 34 or equivalent fitting in combination with quick link 35 and the van cargo anchor 36, all as illustrated in Figure 5. Screw eyes 34 project from the rear edge of base 2, one on each side at an appropriate distance from each corner of base 2, such that they are adjacent to cargo hooks 36. The cargo hooks 36, which are permanently bolted to the floor of the van, are standard equipment on some passenger vans and normally used in conjunction with a manufacturer supplied cargo net. If cargo hooks 36 are not provided by the manufacturer of a particular van, they could be easily installed as an after-market accessory. The positioning of screw eye 34 and cargo hook 36 is such that a readily available chain link, or what is commonly referred to as a quick link 35, when in an open configuration, can be fitted between screw eye 34 and cargo hook 36 so as to link them together.
Upon manually threading quick link 35 into a closed position, the utility organizer 100 is physically connected on each side to the floor of the van.

Claims (16)

1. A multi-purpose utility organizer for the rear cargo area of a van, said utility organizer comprising a single structure having the general shape of a box, and having a base which rests horizontally on the floor of the van, a vertical side wall parallel and adjacent to the road side wheel well at the rear of the van, a vertical side wall parallel and adjacent to the curb side wheel well at the rear of the van, one or more vertical divider walls parallel to or at right angles to the side walls, the said side walls and divider walls being one-half the height of the cargo compartment of the van, and connected by two parallel and horizontal rails, all of the aforesaid which form a rigid and square box-like structure closed at the top with a panel or panels of minimal thickness which are affixed to the rails and side walls so as to form a planar surface, the entire arrangement which provides a plurality of compartments consisting of a compartment open on one side at the front of the utility organizer, a compartment open on one side at the rear of the utility organizer, and one or more compartments open at both the front and rear of the utility organizer, whereby the utility organizer may be loaded into a van through the open panel doors or liftgate of the van so as to occupy the rear portion of the van and rest upon the flat floor of the van, and whereby travel convenience accessories may be loaded into and secured in the storage compartments formed by the aforesaid structure, and whereby a flat cushion of appropriate shape may occupy the top surface of the aforesaid structure.

2. The utility organizer of claim 1, wherein there is one vertical end wall and one vertical divider wall parallel to that end wall, both of which are connected by a second vertical divider wall at right angles to the aforementioned end wall and divider wall so as to form a rigid structure in the shape of an "H" when viewed from above, which structure is perpendicular to the base.

3. The utility organizer of claim 1, wherein two parallel vertical end walls and the two parallel vertical divider walls are connected to one another by a horizontal rail across the front at the top, and across the rear at the top, of the utility organizer, such that the structure in claim 2 keeps the end wall and divider wall which do not form a part of claim 2 perpendicular to the base of the utility organizer.

4. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising a moveable sink element mounted on drawer rails affixed to two vertical divider walls which form a compartment of the utility organizer such that the sink element is capable of moving in a horizontal direction along the longitudinal axis of the van;

5. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising a portable waste water holding tank, said waste water holding tank held in place on one side by one vertical divider wall and on three sides by "L" brackets of minimal height attached to the base of the utility organizer, and connected to the moveable sink element of claim 4 by means of a flexible hose and associated fittings;

6. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising a compartment that is open to the rear of the utility organizer and in which a moveable tray is mounted on drawer rails affixed to a vertical end wall and a vertical divider wall such that the tray may carry an electric cooler or other container that can be moved in a horizontal direction along the longitudinal axis of the van;

7. The utility organizer of claim 1, wherein the sink element of claim 4 and the moveable tray of claim 6 are prevented from inadvertently moving outwardly from the utility organizer by means of a retainer lever which is attached to the utility organizer and held in a horizontal position until such time as, by the rotation of said retainer lever 90 degrees into a vertical position, said sink element or moveable tray is free move outwardly from the utility organizer;

8. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising a compartment that is open to the front of the utility organizer and in which a portable fresh water toilet may be carried and secured;

9. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising a compartment that is open at both ends and in which a portable pet kennel may be carried;

10. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of a screw eye or equivalent fitting that may be passed through a hole in the bottom of a portable pet kennel and manually threaded into the base of the utility organizer so as to secure said pet kennel in place within the compartment of claim 9;

11. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising a cushion of sufficient thickness and shape to provide a temporary bed for one adult or two small children so that the cushion lies horizontally on, and extends at each end beyond, the planar surface formed by the top panel of the structure;

12. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising a retainer board across the front of the utility organizer and located at a height sufficient to hold the cushion of claim 11 in place when the vehicle decelerates;

13. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of one or more moveable and removable horizontal shelves located between a vertical end wall and vertical divider wall, or between two vertical divider walls, which shelves are supported by shelf pins or equivalent, said shelves being suitable for carrying plastic buckets and supplies;

14. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of elastic stretchable bungee type cords held taughtly in place by projecting screw heads or equivalent, said screw heads affixed at appropriate locations to the front or rear edge formed by thickness of the vertical end walls and vertical divider walls, so as to secure in place the convenience accessories, buckets and supplies carried in the utility organizer;

15. The utility organizer of claim 1, further comprising an arrangement which consists of a screw eye or equivalent fitting projecting from the rear edge of the base of said utility organizer, one screw eye located on each side in proximity to a pair of cargo hooks which are permanently attached to and form a part of the van, such that by means of a quick link chain connector which passes through both the screw eye and the cargo hook the utility organizer is physically connected to the floor of the van;

16. The utility organizer of claim 1, wherein a multiple 12 volt DC outlet receptacle is attached to one side at the front or rear of utility organizer such that. by means of a 12 volt DC extension power cord, a convenient source of power may be provided for electrically operated convenience accessories carried in the utility organizer.