US20120223629A1

US20120223629A1 - Cabinet organizing unit

Info

Publication number: US20120223629A1
Application number: US12/930,513
Authority: US
Inventors: Mary Ann Episcopo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-03
Filing date: 2011-03-03
Publication date: 2012-09-06

Abstract

One apparatus that has additional functionality in multi-use basket with slide out capabilities, trash can dispenser and ease of installation and removal. This unit can aid the average person with offerings of additional, multiple level space or can aid a person with disabilities or health issues store their needed items in an easily attainable location.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Federally Sponsered Reasearch

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field
This application relates to cabinet organizing unit(s), specifically to such storage units which are used to provide additional storage in kitchen or bathroom cabinets. This new application allows for ease of obtaining items stored traditionally in kitchen or bathroom cabinets and utilizes unused cabinet space.
2. Prior Art
Cabinets provide a block of storage with one flat area to place items on and a large amount of open space. If custom cabinets are purchases, they may offer a limited selection of various slide out storage units that are connected directly into the cabinets with screws and bolts and are sometimes non-removable. These units allow only limited slide out capabilities and limited items that can be stored.
Aftermarket cabinet organizing units come in either free standing units or units that require direct attachment to the wood or main frame of the cabinet. The free standing units are unstable and continue to waste the limited space that is provided in the cabinets and only allow for flat surface storage. The units that attach directly to the cabinet can destroy the integrity of the cabinet, crack the wood or figures of the cabinet, and make the warranties on the cabinetry null and void.
Although these types of storage units are functional they do not provide secure storage and flexibility.
In addition, the cabinet organizers that are currently on the market are not necessarily geared toward aiding in people with back problems, knee problems or other health issues that would obstruct the full range of motion of the average consumer to obtain/store their items.

SUMMARY

The under cabinet storage unit comprises of a mesh or plastic basket for storage, a cylinder plastic unit with a slot for easy dispensement of garbage bags, sliding brackets to slide the storage basket back and forth easily and a locking mechanism that allows the unit to be locked into place with no nuts, bolts, screws or any kind. It is locked into place completely by tension. The unit installs in an area that would otherwise be unusable space between inside cabinet and sink.

DRAWINGS Figures

In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIGS. 1A-1C show the complete main patentable component.

FIGS. 2A-2C show the locking mechanism with (3) sliding blocks, (2) outside blocks are sliding blocks, the center is the main and lock down block.

FIGS. 3A-3B show the scissor type locking system which is optional. This would be used for smaller sinks.

FIG. 4 show the 10×9 standard shelving brackets. (right and left bracket)

FIG. 5 shows the support bar 16¾×1×¼ inch thick.

FIG. 6 shows the main support bar 16¾×1×¼ inch thick.

FIG. 7 shows the aluminum L bracket 8½×1×⅛ inch thick (right bracket and left bracket).

FIG. 8 shows the drawer slide 8½ inch (right slide, left slide). That mounts to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9A-9F show the trash can slide and lock assembly.

- FIG. 9A—1×1 angle bracket, 9¼ long×⅛ thick.
- FIG. 9B—Front locking block—2¼×½ with two ⅛ holes for assembly.
- FIG. 9C—Back slide block—¾×¾ wih a ¼ inch×⅛ deep undercut with two mounting holes ⅛ inch (stationary)—spring loaded block which allows item to be put in, item slides forward and locks into position.
- FIG. 9D—spring ¼×½—Items 2 and 4 go into the main slide block (FIG. 9C).
- FIG. 9E—Stationary block which goes into FIG. 9C.
- FIG. 9F—retainer plate—contains spring and slide block from slipping out ¼″ allowing for trashcan holder to be held in place.

FIG. 10 shows the trash can liner dispenser 14½×7″×6″ deep with 6″ radius, includes ¼″×10″ cut out slot for dispensing trash can liners.

FIG. 11 shows the metal insert basket that is 14″×8″×4″ deep which can be comprised of metal wiring or plastic.

FIG. 12 shows the plastic divider 7¼″×13¼″×3″ which can be used in FIG. 11 as a way of customizing the storage space.

FIG. 13 shows the plastic 7¼″×13¼″ surface plate which can be used on its own in FIG. 11 to adapt the functionality of FIG. 11 for smaller storage pieces or can also be used in conjunction with FIG. 12 to also accommodate for the storage of smaller pieces so that nothing will fall through the mess of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG. 1—COMPLETED UNIT

The completed unit is comprised of FIGS. 2-13.
FIG. 10 is the trash can line which is made of a hard plastic or can also be made of sheet metal. This unit slides underneath FIG. 9A, the wire storage unit, which will have 2 L-brackets attached to it, both a right slider (FIG. 8) and a left slider (FIG. 8). The FIG. 10 will stay in place by the molded in 1 inch lip around the entire top of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 (2 brackets) will be bolted onto FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 4 will also have FIG. 7 (L brackets) attached to provide the FIG. 8 (left and right) a place to slide and lock into completing the sliding mobility of FIG. 3.
FIG. 11 is the mesh wired storage unit which can be manufactured from plastic or metal. This unit has adaptability by implementing either FIG. 12 or FIG. 13 or a combination of the both to allow for additional storage capabilities. By allowing for FIG. 13 to be placed into FIG. 11 it allows the user to not only have a solid base to store items in that may normally be unstable or tilt easily (i.e. aerosol cans, candles, small plastic bottles, ect), it also allows for small pieces to be easily stored without falling through the mess container (i.e. rubber bands, pins, jewelry, screws, bolts). By adding the feature of FIG. 12 the user is now given the use of 9 storage areas which can organize the user and help keep items untangled and apart for easy find and use (i.e. bobby pins, nail polish, jewelry, sponges, soaps, medicine,
FIG. 3A is the option scissor locking system that can be used for small sinks. The locking mechanism in its entirety allows tension to secure the unit into place under the cabinet by placing tension on the back of the cabinet or a solid flat fixture and placing tension on the sink basin or other flat surface. Please note that this is not recommended for stainless steel sink basin as it may cause it to bow into the sink basin.
FIG. 3B is a breakdown of all of the individual parts to comprise the scissor locking mechanism.

- a. 6½ inch threaded rod
- b. rubber piece that goes on the clamping plate
- c. block that connects to the main block allowing it to slide and adjust to proper area
- d. Main adjustment block (side view)
- e. Main adjustment block (front view)
- f. Clip that holds swivel clamp plate and the adjustment arms together
- g. Front metal plate that FIG. 12B is adhered to
- h. Upper adjustment arm
- i. Lower adjustment arm
- j. Top bushing that holds upper arm
- k. Bushing which slides in main component track
- l. Threaded block which allows upper and lower arm to adjust and clamp to the sink.

FIG. 2C breaks down the following parts to comprise FIG. 2A:

- a. Threaded swivel mount ⅛, Rubber pad on front swivel mount assembly allows unit to be tighten against cabinet and sink
- b. Slide and set adjustment blocks
- c. 4 inch×1 inch deep slot for back plate which joins with main front plate
- d. Main component 6 inches×1¼ 3/16×1⅞ slot with a ½×¼ inch channel
- e. Knurled wheel ⅛×½ wheel
- f. Slide and set adjustment blocks

ADVANTAGES

From the description above, there are a number of advantages of such apparatus:

- (a) Anyone can install this unit, there are no wrenches, screw drivers or hammers that are needed to install, just strictly manpower.
- (b) This unit will not jeopardize the warranty of your existing cabinetry.
- (c) This is a stable unit.
- (d) The unit can assist people with knee or back problems that would normal have to bend to get things out of their under counter cabinets. This will allow them to continue to use that space.
- (e) The unit offers variability with different basket offerings.
- (f) The unit utilizes otherwise wasted space
- (g) The unit can be removed easily from the cabinet for if the consumer would move.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

As it can be seen, this under cabinet unit provides much more than is offered in the market today. This unit offers additional advantages of:

- No assembly required
- No drilling into any cabinetry
- Ease of installation
- Multiple locations of use (kitchen, bathroom, ect.)
- Multiple storage space provided
- Eliminates the waste of empty space in cabinets

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope or operation of the apparatus, but as merely providing illustration of some of the functionality of the apparatus. For example, the unit can be used in hospitals or nursing homes to provide additional storage.
Thus the scope of the apparatus should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. An under cabinet organizing unit comprising:

a. a main component consisting of two adjustable slide blocks. One right and one left said block in the center which all slide on a ¼″×1″ plate, allowing user to install unit and avoid obstacles such as wood angle plates and staples. Said unit rest between sink and cabinet frame, directly behind faceplate on a 33″ standard sink base cabinet

b. Unit consist of same sliding block said unit above such that component extends out twice as far for smaller sinks.