US20180148221A1

US20180148221A1 - Container Dividing System

Info

Publication number: US20180148221A1
Application number: US15/823,849
Authority: US
Inventors: Vandy Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-11-28
Filing date: 2017-11-28
Publication date: 2018-05-31

Abstract

A container dividing system partitions a storage container to allow a user to separate the contents of the storage container during storage, transport, or freight. The container dividing system includes a storage container, a divider, a divider receiving base, and at least two divider-retaining mounts. The divider partitions a storage volume of the storage container into a plurality of storage volumes, which the contents can be discretely placed. The divider-receiving base secures the divider to a container base of the storage container. The at least two divider-retaining mounts secure the divider to a lateral wall of the storage container. The divider is positioned within the divider-receiving base and the at least two divider-retaining mounts.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/426,740 filed on Nov. 28, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a container divider. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable dividing system to partition a storage container in order to designate each partition for a particular purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage containers are very useful for containing personal, food, or freight items for extended storage, security, or transportation. Storage containers often include a single storage volume that maximizes the total possible storage volume within the storage container. However, the single storage volume may cause some complications when transporting loose items as the items would become mixed amongst the others. The contents would then need to be sorted when the container is received at the intended destination. Other storage containers include at least one permanent partition to allow the contents to be discretely placed in the segmented volume in order to separate the contents during transportation or storage; however, permanent partitions do not allow the user to use the full storage volume when needed.
The present invention is a container dividing system. The present invention allows a user to partition a storage container, while allowing the full storage volume to be utilized at a later time. By implementing a removable divider, the user is able to partition the storage volume as deemed necessary. The divider is secured within the storage container using a divider receiving base and at least two divider-retaining mounts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the divider-receiving base is seen through the lateral wall.

FIG. 2 is top view of the present invention, wherein the at least two divider-retaining mounts each include a clip arm.

FIG. 3 is cross-sectional front view of the present invention along the line A-A from FIG. 2, wherein the at least two divider-retaining mounts each include a clip arm.

FIG. 4 is top view of the present invention, wherein the at least two divider-retaining mounts is secured to the lateral wall by a retainer adhesive layer.

FIG. 5 is cross-sectional front view of the present invention along the line B-B from FIG. 4, wherein the at least two divider-retaining mounts is secured to the lateral wall by a retainer adhesive layer and wherein the divider-receiving base is secured to the container base by a base adhesive layer.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention, wherein the base channel is a plurality of base channels.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a container dividing system. The present invention partitions a storage vessel in order to store or transport personal, food, or freight items. By partitioning the storage vessel, the user is able to discretely place loose items into each partition such that the loose items do not become mixed or randomized during travel or through settling effects.
In accordance to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a storage container 1, a divider 2, a divider-receiving base 3, and at least two divider-retaining mounts 4. The storage container 1 is a vessel to secure, protect, or transport personal, food, or freight items. The storage container 1 comprises a container base 7 and a lateral wall 8. The lateral wall 8 is perimetrically connected to the container base 7 in order to define a storage volume. The divider 2 is preferred to be a removable single panel barrier that partitions the storage volume. The divider-receiving base 3 secures the divider 2 to the storage container 1. The divider-receiving base 3 comprises a base channel 9 and a mounting base 10. The base channel 9 receives the divider 2 to prevent the divider 2 from translating across the mounting base 10. The base channel 9 is centrally integrated into the mounting base 10 to receive the divider 2 and to distribute forces exerted on the base channel 9 by the divider 2 evenly along the mounting base 10. The mounting base 10 is adjacently connected to the container base 7 in order to secure the divider-receiving base 3 to the container base 7. The mounting base 10 is positioned within the lateral wall 8, such that the base channel 9 is able to receive the divider 2. The at least two divider-retaining mounts 4 secure the divider 2 to the lateral wall 8. Each of the at least two divider-retaining mounts 4 comprises a retaining channel 11 and a retainer base 12. The retaining channel 11 prevents the divider 2 form translating perpendicularly to the retaining channel 11. The retaining channel 11 is centrally integrated into the retainer base 12 to receive the divider 2 and to distribute forces exerted on the retaining channel 11 by the divider 2 evenly along the retainer base 12. Each retainer base 12 is adjacently connected to the lateral wall 8 in order to secure the divider 2 to the lateral wall 8. Each retainer base 12 is perimetrically distributed about the lateral wall 8 in order to maximize the dimensions for each partition. The divider 2 is positioned within the base channel 9 and each retaining channel 11, such that the partitioned volumes are delineated by the storage container 1 and the divider 2.
In accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each retaining channel 11 is oriented coplanar to the base channel 9. This orientation prevents the divider 2 from bending, flexing, or otherwise deforming as the divider 2 is positioned into each retaining channel 11 and the base channel 9.
For a more specific embodiment of the present invention, each of the at least two divider-retaining mounts 4 further comprises a clip arm 13, shown in FIG. 3. The clip arm 13 secures the divider 2-retaining mount to a lip 17 of the lateral wall 8. The lip 17 is positioned opposite to the container base 7. The clip arm 13 is adjacently connected to the retainer base 12. The clip arm 13 is oppositely positioned to the retaining channel 11 about the retainer base 12. More specifically, the clip arm 13 comprises a clip support 15 and a container support 16. The clip support 15 supports the weight of the clip arm 13 on the lip 17. The clip support 15 is perpendicularly connected to the retainer base 12. The container support 16 mounts the clip arm 13 onto the lip 17. The container support 16 is perpendicularly connected to the clip support 15 such that the container support 16 interfaces with the exterior of the lateral wall 8. The lip 17 is positioned between the retainer base 12 and the container support 16. This configuration prevents the clip arm 13 from being dislodged from the lip 17. Some embodiments of the clip arm 13 provide a clamping force on lateral wall 8 between the retainer base 12 and the container support 16, while other embodiments of the clip arm 13 rest loosely on the lateral wall.
The base channel 9, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, comprises a plurality of separation channels 14 and the divider 2 comprises a plurality of dividing panels 18 and a dividing support 19. Shown in FIG. 6. The plurality of separation channels 14 allows the divider 2 to delineate a plurality of partitions within the storage container 1. The plurality of separation channels 14 is circumferentially distributed about the retainer base 12. Each of the plurality of dividing panels 18 is terminally connected to the dividing support 19. Each of the plurality of dividing panels 18 is offset from another around the dividing support 19. Each of the plurality of dividing panels 18 is positioned within a corresponding base channel of the plurality separation base channels 14 in order to partition the storage volume. Further, each retaining channel 11 is oriented coplanar to a corresponding separation channel of the plurality of separation channels 14. This orientation prevents the each of the plurality of dividing panels 18 from bending, flexing, or otherwise deforming when positioned into the corresponding separation channel of the plurality of separation channels 14.
For an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further comprises a base adhesive layer 5, in accordance to FIG. 5. The base adhesive layer 5 affixes the mounting base 10 to the container base 7. The base adhesive layer 5 is superimposed onto the mounting base 10, opposite to the base channel 9. The mounting base 10 is adhered to the container base 7 through the base adhesive layer 5 to secure the mounting base 10 to the container base 7 and orient the base channel 9 to receive the divider 2.
Similarly, another alternate embodiment of the present invention comprises a retainer adhesive layer 6 superimposed onto the retainer base 12, opposite to the base channel 9, for each of the at least two divider-retaining mounts 4, shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The retainer adhesive layer 6 affixes the retainer base 12 onto the lateral wall 8 without interfering with a lid engaging the lip 17 of the lateral wall 8. The retainer base 12 is adhered to the lateral wall 8, through the retainer adhesive layer 6, to secure the retainer base 12 onto the interior of the lateral wall 8 and to orient the base channel 9 away from the lateral wall 8 to receive the divider 2.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A container dividing system comprises:

a storage container;

a divider;

a divider-receiving base;

at least two divider-retaining mounts;

the storage container comprises a container base and a lateral wall;

the divider-receiving base comprises a base channel and a mounting base;

each of the at least two divider-retaining mounts comprises a retaining channel and a retainer base;

the lateral wall being perimetrically connected about the container base;

the mounting base being adjacently connected to the container base;

the mounting base being positioned within the lateral wall;

the base channel being centrally integrated into the mounting base;

the retaining channel being centrally integrated into the retainer base;

each retainer base being adjacently connected to the lateral wall;

each retainer base being perimetrically distributed about the lateral wall; and

the divider being positioned within the base channel and each retaining channel.

2. The container dividing system, as claimed in claim 1, comprises:

the at least two divider-retaining mounts each further comprises a clip arm;

the clip arm being adjacently connected to the retainer base; and

the clip arm being oppositely positioned to the retaining channel about the retainer base.

3. The container dividing system, as claimed in claim 2, comprises:

the lateral wall comprises a lip;

the clip arm comprises a clip support and a container support;

the lip being oppositely positioned to the container base along the lateral wall;

the clip support being perpendicularly connected to the retainer base;

the container support being perpendicularly connected to the clip support;

the container support being oppositely positioned to the retainer base along the clip support; and

the lip being positioned between the retainer base and the container support.

4. The container dividing system, as claimed in claim 1, comprises:

each retaining channel being oriented coplanar to the base channel.

5. The container dividing system, as claimed in claim 1, comprises:

the divider comprises a plurality of dividing panels and a dividing support;

the base channel comprises a plurality of separation channels;

each of the plurality of dividing panels being terminally connected to the dividing support;

each of the plurality of dividing panels being offset from another around the dividing support;

each of the plurality of dividing panels being positioned within a corresponding base channel of the plurality separation base channels; and

the plurality of separation channels being circumferentially distributed about the retainer base.

6. The container dividing system, as claimed in claim 5, comprises:

each retaining channel being oriented coplanar to a corresponding separation channel of the plurality of base channels.

7. The container dividing system, as claimed in claim 1, comprises:

a base adhesive layer;

the base adhesive layer being superimposed onto the mounting base, opposite to the base channel; and

the mounting base being adhered to the container base, through the base adhesive layer.

8. The container dividing system, as claimed in claim 1, comprises:

a retainer adhesive layer being superimposed onto the retainer base, opposite to the base channel for each of the at least two divider-retaining mounts; and

the retainer base being adhered to the lateral wall, through the retainer adhesive layer.