US20190241319A1

US20190241319A1 - Container Separation System

Info

Publication number: US20190241319A1
Application number: US16/387,881
Authority: US
Inventors: Kieran Connor Drexler; Garrett Christopher Lloyd; Nathaniel James Toney; Matthew Adrian McDonald; Payton Leslie Pierce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-04-18
Filing date: 2019-04-18
Publication date: 2019-08-08

Abstract

A container comprising of four dividers configured to selectively sub-divide the bottom side into a plurality of zones. The container comprises of recessed grooves located on the bottom side of the container such that when a respective divider of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers each divider will move into a position to couple with at least one of the plurality of grooves. The container also comprises a divider lock groove where at an intersection of the divider grooves will be recessed into the bottom side of the container at a central location. The container comprises of a divider lock when at least one of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers the divider lock can be coupled first, to the divider then secondly, to the divider lock groove.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the cooling of portable and stationary electronic devices, and in particular, to a method of externally cooling these devices in an intelligent and efficient automated way.

BACKGROUND

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, these statements are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is or is not prior art.
Previous methods of container dividers are molded and not easily customizable. For example, a container may have dividers but does not allow for the dividers to be moved. In order to easily separate food and divide solid and liquids, a possible previous solution would have been multiple containers of different sizes. However, multiple containers of molded dividers is not sufficient as it creates the need for multiple containers to carry different foods.
Therefore, there is an unmet need for a novel approach to

SUMMARY

The intent of this invention is to create a way to conveniently divide solid or liquid food items in a container. According to the present invention, dividers are attached to the container, and fold out, slide into a groove and are locked in place using a separate piece that slides into the grooves. These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container divider system showing the dividers in the closed or locked positions, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container divider system showing the dividers in the open positions, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a divider lock, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a divider lock and divider subsystem showing the dividers in the closed or locked positions, according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.
In the present disclosure, the term “about” can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, or within 1% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.
In the present disclosure, the term “substantially” can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 90%, within 95%, or within 99% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container divider system 7 showing the divider lock and divider subsystem 4 in the locked position. The divider lock and divider subsystem 4 is comprised of four dividers 2, and one divider lock 3. The entire container divider system is comprised of one divider lock and divider subsystem 4, and one container 1. The dividers 2 are rectangular in shape, with a single shorter end fixedly attached to an interior container 1 surface that is oriented perpendicular to the container 1 bottom surface. Each divider 2 is oriented perpendicular to the container 1 bottom surface. The dividers 2 are designed to move rotationally about each respective short end that is fixedly attached to an interior container 1 side surface that is oriented perpendicular to the container 1 bottom surface. The attachment is designed in a way to allow for easy rotation of each respective divider 2. The dividers 2 can be rotated independently. Each divider 2 must be rotated to be perpendicular to the respective fixed end to lock into place utilizing the divider lock 3. The divider lock 3 is located centrally in the interior of the container 1, the divider lock 3 has 4 equal sized sides. Each respective side of the divider lock 3 has grooves to accept the end of each divider 2. When the divider lock and divider subsystem 4 is in the locked or closed position, each respective side of the divider lock 3 is oriented parallel to the four outer sides of the container 1. In the locked or closed position, the dividers 2 create four equal sized compartments in the interior of the container 1. However, it should be appreciated that other configurations are within the scope of the present disclosure, including but not limited to dividers 2 making subdivided zones such that cross-sections of these subdivided zones can have a variety of different geometrical shapes includes triangles, rectangles, squares, pentagons (where at least two dividers 2 are coupled to one side of the container 1), hexagons, 7-sided polygon, 8-sided polygon, and other geometrical shapes known to a person having ordinary skill in the art of container design.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container divider system 7 showing the dividers 2 in their respective open positions. The figure shows the four dividers 2, the four divider groves 5, a container 1, and the divider lock groove 6. The dividers 2 are shown to be in the open position, leaving the entirety of the box to be open. The dividers 2 are rectangular in shape, with a single shorter end fixedly attached to an interior container 1 surface that is oriented perpendicular to the container 1 bottom surface. Each divider 2 is oriented perpendicular to the container 1 bottom surface. The dividers 2 are designed to move rotationally about each respective short end that is fixedly attached to an interior container 1 side surface that is oriented perpendicular to the container 1 bottom surface. The attachment is designed in a way to allow for easy rotation of each respective divider 2. The dividers 2 can be rotated independently. In the open position, each divider 2 is rotated to be parallel with the interior container 1 side wall. The four divider grooves 5 are recessed into the bottom container 1 surface. Each of the four divider grooves starts at each of the four outer walls of the container 1, each of the four grooves 5 are oriented perpendicular to each of the interior container 1 side walls. The four grooves 5 intersect at the center of the container 1, the four grooves 5 are orientated equally from each other at the point of intersection. The width of the four grooves 5 are at least as wide as the thickness of the four dividers 2.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the divider lock 3. The divider lock 3 is of rectangular prism shape, the divider lock 3 has four vertically orientated rectangular sides. Each of the four rectangular sides has a groove that spans the height of the dividers 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a divider lock and divider subsystem 4 in the locked position. The divider lock 3 slides onto the dividers 2 and into the divider lock grooves 6 while the dividers 2 are oriented into the divider grooves 5. The dividers 2 are designed to be locked in place once in the divider grooves 5 with the divider lock 3 in the divider lock grooves 6. When the divider lock and divider subsystem 4 is in the locked or closed position, each respective side of the divider lock 3 is oriented parallel to the four outer sides of the container 1.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the specific implementations described above. The implementations should not be limited to the particular limitations described. Other implementations may be possible.


	A Container	1
	Dividers	2
	Divider Lock	3
	Divider Lock and Divider Sub-system	4
	Divider Grooves	5
	Divider Lock Grooves	6
	Container Divider system	7
	Divider Lock slots	8

Claims

1. A container, comprising

a bottom side a container; and

a top side of the container movably attached to the bottom side along an edge;

the bottom side having a plurality of dividers configured to selectively sub-divide the bottom side into a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of dividers is coupled to the bottom side at least along a first portion of the associated divider and configured to lock in with i) another of the plurality of dividers, or ii) with the bottom side, such that articulation of each of the plurality of dividers with respect to other dividers results in a selectable configuration of the plurality of zones.

2. The container of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of divider grooves each having form of an elongated groove terminating at a central position of the bottom side, wherein each groove is recessed into the bottom side of the container such that when a respective divider of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers each divider moves into an associated groove.

3. The container of claim 2, further comprising:

a divider lock groove disposed at an intersection of the divider grooves recessed into the bottom side of the container at the central position of the bottom side.

4. The container of claim 3 comprising a divider lock configured to couple with and provide support to each of the plurality of dividers such that when at least one of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers, the divider lock provides cooperative rigidity with the associated grooves of the plurality of grooves to the associated dividers of the plurality of dividers.

5. A method of using a container, comprising:

opening the container, the container comprising:

a bottom side the container; and

a top side of the container movably attached to a bottom side along an edge, and

the bottom side having a plurality of dividers configured to selectively sub-divide the bottom side into a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of dividers is coupled to the bottom side at least along a first portion of the associated divider and configured to lock in with i) another of the plurality of dividers, or ii) with the bottom side, such that articulation of each of the plurality of dividers with respect to other dividers results in a selectable configuration of the plurality of zones;

articulating at least two of the plurality of dividers into the associated lock positions, thereby generating at least two zones of the plurality; and

closing the top side.

6. The method of claim 5, the articulating step further comprising:

moving at least two dividers of the plurality of dividers into corresponding divider grooves of a plurality of divider grooves, wherein each divider groove is recessed into the bottom side of the container such that when a respective divider of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers each divider moves into an associated groove.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least two dividers form angles selected from 90, and 270 degrees with respect to one-another, thereby generating at least one small zone and one large zone.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least two dividers are contiguous, thereby generating at least two substantially equally sized zones.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

placing a divider lock into a divider lock groove disposed at an intersection of the plurality of divider grooves, whereby the divider lock is configured to couple with and provide support to each of the plurality of dividers such that when at least one of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers, the divider lock provides cooperative rigidity with the associated grooves of the plurality of grooves to the associated dividers of the plurality of dividers.

10. The method of claim 5, the articulating step further comprising:

moving at least three dividers of the plurality of dividers into corresponding divider grooves of a plurality of divider grooves, wherein each divider groove is recessed into the bottom side of the container such that when a respective divider of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers each divider moves into an associated groove.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least three dividers form angles selected from 120 and 240 degrees to one-another, thereby generating at least three zones of substantially the same size.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

14. The method of claim 5, the articulating step further comprising:

moving at least four dividers of the plurality of dividers into corresponding divider grooves of a plurality of divider grooves, wherein each divider groove is recessed into the bottom side of the container such that when a respective divider of the plurality of dividers is articulated to lock with another of the plurality of dividers each divider moves into an associated groove.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least four dividers form 90 degree angles to one-another, thereby generating at least four zones of substantially the same size.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: