US20200000229A1

US20200000229A1 - Low Profile Cabinet Organizer

Info

Publication number: US20200000229A1
Application number: US16/457,921
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeremy Suelflow
Original assignee: Summit Product Development LLC
Current assignee: Summit Product Development LLC
Priority date: 2018-06-28
Filing date: 2019-06-28
Publication date: 2020-01-02
Also published as: US20210212465A1; WO2022159335A1; US11166551B2; EP4280913A1

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a low profile organizer that attaches to the interior surface of a cabinet door. In some embodiments, the low profile organizer includes a main body, at least one backing plate, and connection means of the organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door. In other embodiments, the low profile organizer may include a main body and connection means of the organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door. The main body has specified, predetermined dimensional ranges. With the overall construction and predetermined dimensional ranges, the low profile organizer is slender enough as to not protrude, or not substantially protrude, into the shelving storage space of a cabinet, yet provide adequate storage room to accommodate a variety of articles of interest within a cabinet, optimizing cabinet storage space.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to cabinet organizers, and more particularly, to cabinet organizers that are mounted to the interior surface of the cabinet door.
Cabinets have long been used for storing a multitude of articles, yet have a finite amount storage space available. To help utilize this finite space as much as possible, there have typically been two methods used: various initial designs have been built into cabinets, and various independent organizer accessories. As an example, initial designs include shelves built into the initial design of the cabinet to help with storage utilization in a cabinet. Independent organizer accessories are typically developed and manufactured separately from the cabinet. These independent organizers are generally made to be compatible with a variety of cabinets. As well, independent organizers come in a variety of designs, materials, and methods for storage based on what particular type of article the organizer is intended to store, or by what space the organizer plans to utilize in the cabinet. With regards to an organizer designed for a particular type of article, one such example would be the Spicy Shelf® spice rack available from Edgy Shelf Products (Mapleton, Utah), designed for storing spice containers. With regards to targeting a particular space, one space of consideration would be the space in-between the original shelves of cabinet itself, referred to as shelving storage space. One such example of an organizer targeting this particular area would be the Idesign® cabinet shelf available from InterDesign (Solon, Ohio), designed to utilize more of the shelving storage space.
One group of independent organizers focuses on using the interior surface of the cabinet door to increase the available storage space, while typically improving ease of accessibility to the articles contained therein. These organizers come in a variety of shapes and methods of attachment. One method of attachment commonly referred to as “over-the-door” or “over-door” racks are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 20040007549 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,001, typically hanging on the door using hanger brackets of some sort. These types of organizers allow for storage using the interior surface of a cabinet door, among other areas utilized for storage, such as a closet. These organizers generally prevent marring of the cabinet door as found with some other methods described further in the ensuing disclosure. However, these over-door racks typically allow for part of the hanging brackets to be exposed on the exterior surface of the cabinet door, being visible when the cabinet is closed. This can be aesthetically undesirable. As well, many of these organizers are fixed with limited adjustability, such as with the distance of the hangers to the storage components of the organizer. This can prevent adjustability for arrangement such as that potentially desired to complement the shelving within the cabinet. For example, if an over-door storage system was used in a cabinet with shelves, an adjustable storage receptacle (e.g., basket, caddy, etc.) of the over-door organizer may be positioned at the same level as a shelf in the cabinet, and may come in contact with that shelf. This could ultimately hinder the cabinet form completely closing when the organizer is mounted.
Other organizers that use the interior face of the cabinet door utilize a direct method of connection to the interior cabinet face itself. This direct attachment allows for a variety of placement options of the organizer on the cabinet door, contributing to the versatility of the organizer placement. This can help avoid any potential issues arising, such as the organizer coming in contact with the shelves in the cabinet. This method of attachment also allows for the arrangement of multiple direct-attachment organizers based on the available space on the interior face of the cabinet, and ultimately contribute to more space being utilized on the interior surface of the cabinet door. One method of direct-attachment typically uses mechanical fasteners (e.g., nails or screws) as taught, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,122,336. While providing a permanent fixture of the organizer into the cabinet door, this method of attachment leaves permanent holes in the cabinet door, and may be aesthetically undesirable if the organizer was to be removed or adjusted. However, this direct attachment method does provide security of organizer from detaching from the door, such as potentially can occur with the second option typically used for direct attachment.
The second direct-attachment method involves using double-sided adhesive to directly attach the organizer to the cabinet wall, such as the Command® line of caddies available from 3M Company (St. Paul, Minn.), or the Affixx® line of caddies available from InterDesign (Solon, Ohio), and are widely known in the art. This method of direct attachment typically provides a damage-free method of attaching the organizer versus mechanical fixation. Typically these adhesive-mounted organizers can be easily attached or removed from the cabinet door as well. Based on these properties, adhesively-mounted organizers provide an option for temporary use. This can be beneficial if using in a temporary residence, such as an apartment. However, in some instances, the adhesive may wear over time and lose the ability to hold the organizer to the cabinet door. The organizer hold's effectiveness and longevity using double-sided adhesive can be influenced by the quality of the adhesive strip used. In many instances, more than one strip may be applied, or a longer piece of adhesive may be used, to help with the adherence effectiveness and longevity. This effectiveness can also depend on the size, dimensions, and weight of the adhesively-mounted organizer, in combination with the overall weight of articles being stored in the organizer itself. For example, an organizer that is relatively long having a dimensional length, wherein the organizer is formatted to mounted such that the length is substantially horizontal, may use a longer piece of adhesive in a parallel orientation to the length of the organizer. This adhesive strip may span the length of the organizer. Another example, the previously-mentioned, longer organizer may use a plurality of independent double-sided adhesive strips in perpendicular orientation to the length of the organizer. These two examples of adhesive application may help with adherence effectiveness.
A variety of direct-attachment organizers may use mechanical fixation or double-sided adhesive strips in combination with a coupling mechanism of attachment using a separate mounting plate, as taught for example in U.S. Pat. No. 8,979,054. The mounting plate serves as an intermediate structure between the storage device component of the organizer and the cabinet door. With these types of organizers, the mounting plate has a complimentary bracket to a bracket on the storage portion of the organizer configured to releasably engage from one-another, with some mechanisms utilizing a snap fit engagement feature. The mounting plate portion of the organizer attaches to the cabinet door typically via the mechanical fasteners or the double-sided adhesive. One such example is the door storage trays available from Rev-A-Shelf (Jeffersontown, Ky.) using mechanical fixation of the mounting plate to the cabinet door. Other mounting plate mechanisms may comprise of a “hook” provided on one side of the mounting plate, with the storage device configured to receive or “hang” on the hooks provided by multiple mounting plates. With the hook provided on one side of the mounting plate, the other side of the mounting plate is adapted to use double-sided adhesive to connect entire assembly to the cabinet door.
With regards to these variations of organizer accessories that utilize the interior face of the cabinet doors using a direct-attachment method, it can be of interest to produce a cabinet organizer that is slender enough as to not protrude on the space utilized for storing articles on the shelves within the cabinet (hereinafter referred to as shelving space). For example, a direct-attachment organizer using double-sided adhesive such as the Command® line of caddies available from 3M Company (St. Paul, Minn), or a direct-attachment organizer using mechanical fixation such as the door storage trays available from Rev-A-Shelf (Jeffersontown, Ky.) mentioned previously, are well known in the art, and can provide adequate storage room for a variety of articles typically found within a cabinet (e.g., spice containers, plastic food and drink storage lids, etc.). However, while these direct-attachment organizers provide more storage space by using the interior surface of the cabinet door, these organizers have a rather bulky design which can markedly protrude on the shelf space, and in turn can reduce the shelving storage space available in a cabinet. As well, with cabinets fully-utilizing the shelving storage space (such as a shelf completely filled with drinking cups), a bulky organizer encroaching on the shelving space may come in contact with the articles stored within that shelving storage space. This would ultimately inhibit the cabinet door from fully closing as typically desired.
This slender point of emphasis to specifically utilize a defined unused space along the interior surface of the cabinet door while not protruding on shelf space, is known, but not prevalent within the art. To note for clarity, the aforementioned “slender” attribute of an organizer relates to the “low profile” attribute, wherein a more slender organizer equates to a lower profile organizer, further wherein slender refers to the “depth” dimension of the organizer, further wherein the depth is substantially perpendicular to the cabinet door. Thus, it can be reasoned that a lower profile organizer has less depth, and protrudes less from the interior surface of the cabinet door to which the organizer is attached to. Returning to the “unused portion” of space within the cabinet, this unused portion of space in the cabinet is typically defined as the space between the cabinet door, the cabinet face frame, and the shelves contained therein. It is taught, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 2014/0183079, and U.S. Pat. No. 9,345,321. However, these organizers have to be adequate in size as to adequately accommodate whatever article the organizer is intended to store. U.S. Patent No. 2014/0183079 teaches a markedly low profile spice organizer system that uses special containers with magnets that stick to a corresponding magnetic backboard, or a polymeric attachment surface holding spice containers to the cabinet door with a complimentary snap-fit connection mechanism. Unfortunately, this system is limited to a specific spice container design either having a metal backing plate complementary to the magnetic backboard, or the shape of the spice container specifically having the complementary snap fit connection to the polymeric attachment surface. While the system teaches an organizer using the interior surface of a cabinet door that does not protrude on shelf space, this system is not only limited to spice containers, but to a specific class of spice containers as well, and does not provide adequate storage room for a variety of other articles typically found within a cabinet (e.g., other spice containers, plastic food and drink storage lids, etc.). Some organizers known in the art inadvertently have this desired low profile such as the designated small size caddy and phone caddy in the Command® line of caddies available from 3M Company (St. Paul, Minn.). However, the overall dimensions of the caddy are incapable of storing a substantial amount of articles (e.g., other spice containers, plastic food and drink storage lids, etc.) typically found within a kitchen cabinet. For example, the small caddy mentioned previously has a desirable depth range. However, this caddy has a length dimension (in which the caddy has a “length” dimension and is formatted to be mounted such that the length is substantially horizontal) that is substantially small, not providing adequate storage space for items typically found within a kitchen cabinet such as solid spice containers, plastic food storage container lids, or drinkware lids, etcetera. As well, the smart phone caddy mentioned previously designed for storing smart phones, suffers from having a minimum depth too narrow, or length too short, for storage of the aforementioned articles of interest.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,345,321 teaches a low profile rack designed to hold food packets. While this low profile rack teaches an organizer using the interior surface of a cabinet door that does not protrude on shelf space, this rack system suffers from a multitude of limiting factors making it not suitable for storing and organizing a variety of articles in an efficient, tenable manner. For example, the disclosure teaches of a rack storage system with a limiting ledge depth range of approximately 0.5 inches to 0.75 inches used for storage and supporting articles of interest. While this may be appropriate for the desirous effects of storing food packets as described in the disclosure, unfortunately, this desired depth range significantly limits itself in depth for other articles such as previously-mentioned articles of interest typically found within a cabinet. These articles of interests typically have a depth range larger than the aforementioned range of this prior art rack system. As well, this low profile rack system teaches of a system with a plurality of ledges where the ledges are approximately between 3.25 inches and 4 inches apart. This range would ultimately limit it to articles with a height substantially less than this range, and not provide adequate room needed for storing and accessing larger articles such as food container lids that can typically have a minimum dimension larger than four inches, whether it be the length, width, or diameter depending on the shape and orientation of the lid. This system also teaches of a relatively large organizer in terms of the surface area it takes up on the interior surface of the cabinet door. While this may be beneficial for providing more storage room, this broader size of attachment space needed on the cabinet door limits the versatility of placement of the rack system, versus a single caddy organizer, such as the Command™ line of caddies available from 3M Company (St. Paul, Minn.). This larger surface area of attachment may increase the chances of this rack system coming in contact with the shelves within the cabinet if the depth of the rack is even slightly larger than the absolute, smaller depth needed to fit in-between the outer shelf edge facing the cabinet door and interior face of the cabinet door when the cabinet is closed. While a larger depth single caddy organizer may protrude into the cabinet space and take away from the shelving storage space, the organizer would still be able to fit in the cabinet and be able store a variety of articles on the interior face of the cabinet door nonetheless. Ultimately, while this rack system provides a system that does not protrude on shelf space, the rack system is limited in its design, not accommodating for a variety of articles found within a cabinet, and limited to its placement within the cabinet by the amount of surface area taken up on the cabinet door. For these reasons, a balance in the dimensions should be utilized for an efficient, versatile cabinet organizer.
In light of the above, a need exists for a new low profile cabinet organizer that directly attaches to the interior surface of the cabinet door, designed to efficiently utilize the space typically unused for storage within a cabinet. A new organizer with a balance in dimensions integral to the functionality of the organizer. A new low profile organizer slender enough as to not protrude, or substantially protrude, into the shelving storage space, yet provide adequate storage room for various articles of interest that may be desired to be stored within a cabinet, and ultimately optimize cabinet storage space.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a low profile cabinet organizer. In some embodiments, the low profile cabinet organizer includes at least one main body, at least one backing plate, and connection means of the organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door. The main body may encompass any conceivable shape or construction. In some embodiments, the main body may have a variety of forms such as, but not limited to, a caddy. With dimensions of the main body being integral to the functionality of the organizer, in some embodiments the main body has a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side, and a bottom side. The main body includes the front side the rear side, with a depth dimension defining the distance from the rear side to the front side. The main body includes a left side and a right side, with a length dimension defining the distance from the left side to the right side. The front side extends in a substantially perpendicular orientation between, and is connected to, the right side and the left side, and the rear side extends in a general perpendicular orientation between, and is connected to, the right side and the left side. The rear side is comprised of an interior surface facing the front side, and an exterior surface facing an opposing direction of the interior surface of the rear panel, as to not face the front side. The main body includes a bottom side, wherein the bottom side provides a primary shelf for supporting and storing various articles of interest (e.g., spice containers, plastic food and drink storage lids, etc.).
The main body has a predetermined depth dimension range of approximately 0.95 inches to 2.0 inches. As well, the main body has a predetermined length dimension of at least approximately 2.75 inches. In some aspects, with this construction and predetermined dimensional ranges the low profile cabiner organizer can utilize the typically unused storage space in a cabinet along the interior surface of the cabinet door, generally defined by the cabinet door, the cabinet face frame, and the shelving contained therein. In one or more aspects, the organizer can provide adequate storage room for various articles of interest typically found within a cabinet, yet is slender enough as to not protrude, or not substantially protrude, into the shelving storage space, optimizing cabinet storage space.
The backing plate is attached in any arrangement to the exterior surface of the main body's rear side, configured to confront the interior surface of a cabinet door, while serving as an intermediary between the main body and the interior surface of the cabinet door, and constructed to be used in conjunction with the attachment means to secure the organizer to the cabinet door. In some embodiments, more than one backing plate may be arranged in any orientation and/or configuration.
In one or more aspects, the attachment means of the organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door may include an attachment construction utilizing double-sided adhesive, wherein at least one backing plate is adapted to receive at least one double-sided adhesive. The double-sided adhesive may be configured to be arranged between the backing plate and the cabinet door for securing the storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door. In other embodiments, the backing plate may contain at least one hole for means of attachment of the organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door using mechanical fixation (e.g., nails, screws, etc.).
In other embodiments the organizer may utilize a coupling mechanism of attachment in combination with at least one double-sided adhesive. The construction of attachment utilizes a separate mounting plate with the mounting plate serving as an intermediary structure between the backing plate attached to the main body and the interior surface of the cabinet door. At least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture is provided on the backing plate with the backing plate coupling bracket forming a first engagement feature. At least one mounting plate forms a bonding face and a second engagement feature, with the bonding face adapted to receive a double-sided adhesive, and further wherein the second engagement feature is formed opposite the bonding face. The first and second engagement features have a complimentary, coupling construction, configured to releasably engage the backing plate coupling bracket from the complimentary bracket of the mounting plate. Last, a double-sided adhesive is configured to be arranged between the bonding face of the mounting plate and the cabinet door for securing the storage organizer to the cabinet door.
In other embodiments the organizer may utilize a coupling mechanism of attachment in combination with a mechanical fixation mechanism of attachment (e.g., nails, screws, etc.). The construction of attachment utilizes a separate mounting plate with the mounting plate serving as an intermediary structure between the backing plate attached to the main body and the interior surface of the cabinet door. At least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture is provided on the backing plate with the backing plate coupling bracket forming a first engagement feature. At least one mounting plate provides the second engagement feature and has at least one hole. The first and second engagement features have a complimentary, coupling construction, configured to releasably engage the backing plate coupling bracket from the complimentary bracket of the mounting plate. The hole(s) on the mounting plate may be used for mechanically fixating (using nails, screws, etc.) the storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.
In other embodiments the storage organizer may not include a backing plate attached to the main body serving as an intermediate structure between the main body and the interior surface of the cabinet door. Such embodiments may utilize similar means of attachment to interior surface of the cabinet door as mentioned previously, with some minor differences.
The rear surface may have the exterior surface of the rear panel adapted to directly receive at least one double-sided adhesive wherein the means of attachment of the storage organizer to the cabinet door may include using at least one double-sided adhesive configured to be arranged between the rear panel of the storage device and the cabinet door for securing the storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door. In other embodiments, the rear panel of the main body may contain at least one hole for means of attachment of the organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door using mechanical fixation (e.g., nails, screws, etc.). In other embodiments, the organizer may utilize a coupling mechanism of attachment in combination with at least one double-sided adhesive. The construction of attachment utilizes a separate mounting plate with the mounting plate serving as an intermediary structure between the main body, and the interior surface of the cabinet door. At least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture is provided on the exterior surface of the rear side of the main body (referred to as the main body coupling bracket) with the main body coupling bracket forming a first engagement feature. At least one mounting plate forms a bonding face and a second engagement feature, with the bonding face adapted to receive a double-sided adhesive, and further wherein the second engagement feature is formed opposite the bonding face. The first and second engagement features have a complimentary, coupling construction, configured to releasably engage the main body coupling bracket or fixture from the complimentary bracket of the mounting plate. Last, a double-sided adhesive is configured to be arranged between the bonding face of the mounting plate and the cabinet door for securing the storage organizer to the cabinet door. In other similar embodiments of the main body, the organizer may utilize a coupling mechanism of attachment in combination with a mechanical fixation mechanism of attachment (e.g., nails, screws, etc.). The construction of attachment utilizes a separate mounting plate with the mounting plate serving as an intermediary structure between the main body, and the interior surface of the cabinet door. At least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture is provided on the exterior surface of the rear panel (referred to as the main body coupling bracket) with the main body coupling bracket forming a first engagement feature. At least one mounting plate provides the second engagement feature and has at least one hole. The first and second engagement features have a complimentary, coupling construction to each other, configured to releasably engage the main body's coupling bracket or fixture from the complimentary bracket of the mounting plate. The hole(s) on the mounting plate may be used for mechanically fixating (using nails, screws, etc.) the storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front, perspective view of a low profile cabinet organizer in accordance with principles of the present disclosure, an embodiment with a main body comprised of a metal mesh framework, and backing plates adapted for using double-sided adhesive as attachment means;

FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the same embodiment of the low profile cabinet organizer of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the storage organizer embodiment of FIG. 1A, with means of attachment using double-sided adhesive for securing the organizer to an interior surface of a cabinet door;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cabinet illustrating the defined storage space along the interior surface of the cabinet door used by the organizer, illustrating a profile of where the organizer would be positioned when the cabinet is closed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of another embodiment of the low profile organizer in accordance with principles of the present disclosure, with a main body comprised of a wire rod framework, the organizer having holes in the backing plates for using mechanical fixation of the organizer to the cabinet door as means of attachment;

FIG. 5A is left side perspective view of another embodiment of the organizer with means of attachment using a coupling mechanism, intermediate mounting plates, and double-sided adhesive strips for securing the organizer to the cabinet door;

FIG. 5B a front perspective view of the mounting plates that may be utilized for means of attachment of the organizer embodiment of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a perspective, exploded view of the organizer embodiment of FIG. 5A attaching to the interior surface of the cabinet door;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of multiple organizers in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 5A attached to the interior surface of the cabinet door, intended to hold a variety and/or a multitude of articles of interest;

FIG. 7 is a perspective, exploded view of another embodiment of the organizer with means of attachment using a coupling mechanism, intermediate mounting plates, and mechanical fixation of the mounting plates to the cabinet door, ultimately securing the organizer to the cabinet door;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an example spice container that may be stored in the organizer;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of an example food storage lid that may be stored in the organizer;

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of another example food storage lid example that may be stored in the organizer;

FIG. 8D is a perspective view of an example drinkware lid that may be stored in the organizer;

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment wherein no backing plate is attached to the main body, with the main body directly adapted to receive double-sided adhesive, using double-sided adhesive as attachment means of the organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment wherein the main body is comprised of multiple caddies using the same backing plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, the present disclosure provides a low profile cabinet organizer 10. Referring to FIGS. 1A-7, some embodiments of the organizer 10 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, include at least one main body 12, at least one backing plate 14, and means of attachment 16, 18, 20, 22 of the backing plate 14 to an interior surface 24 of a cabinet door 26.
The main body 12 may encompass any conceivable shape or construction, and can be made out of any desired material or combination of materials, so long as it is configured to provide the desired storage and/or organizational attributes according to the principles made clear below. For example, with reference to shapes and construction, the main body 12 may be configured generally in the shape of a caddy as in FIGS. 1A-7, shaped to store and/or organize various articles typically found within a cabinet 28 such as articles depicted in FIGS. 8A-D (e.g., spice containers 30, plastic food 32, 34 and drink storage lids 36, etc.). With regards to any desired material or combination of materials, as an example, the main body 12 may comprise of a generally solid construction such as plastic 38, as shown in another embodiment made clear below (shown in FIG. 9). Optionally, a solid structure main body may have one or more perforations (e.g. for residual water drainage and substantially more air flow if the organizer 10 is used for storing articles that may have been washed, such as lids). As another example, the main body may comprise a metal mesh framework 40 as depicted in FIGS. 1A-3, FIG. 5A, FIGS. 6A-B, FIG. 10. In yet other embodiments and as other examples, the main body 12 may comprise a wire-rod structure 42 such as that depicted in FIG. 4, or a wire basket structure. As mentioned previously, in some embodiments the organizer 10 may comprise of multiple main bodies 12 as depicted in FIG. 10.
With dimensions of the main body 12 being integral to the principles of the present disclosure, while the main body 12 may have any conceivable shape or construction, references are made towards a general shape of an embodiment for purposes of clarifying certain dimensions and orientation. In some embodiments, the main body 12 may substantially have a front side 44, a rear side 46, a left side 48, a right side 50, and a bottom side 52 as best shown in FIGS. 1A-B. The main body 12 front side 44 and rear side 46, has a main body depth dimension 54 defining the distance from the rear side 46 to the front side 44. The main body 12 left side 48 and right side 50 has a main body length dimension 56 defining the distance from the left side 48 to the right side 50. The front side 44 extends in a substantially perpendicular orientation between, and is connected to, the right side 50 and the left side 48. The rear side 46 extends in a general perpendicular orientation between, and is connected to, the right side 50 and the left side 48. The front side 44 and rear side 46 are generally parallel to the length dimension 56 of the main body 12. The rear side 46 is comprised of an interior surface 58 facing the front side 44, and an exterior surface 60 facing an opposing direction of the interior surface 58 of the rear side 46, as to not face the front side 44. The main body 12 bottom side 52 provides as primary shelf for supporting and storing various articles of interest (e.g., spice containers 30, plastic food 32, 34 and drink storage lids 36, etc.). While the main body 12 has been described with the aforementioned sides for purposes of orientation and defining dimensions, it will be understood that the main body 12, or sides of the main body 12, may not be limited to a specific shape, curvature, orientation, etcetera, as to limit the shape or construction of the main body 12 in its entirety so long as the main body 12 is configured to provide the desired storage and/or organizational attributes according to the aforementioned principles, and principles made clear below.
With regards to the dimensions of the organizer 10, consideration of the defined storage space available within the cabinet including the shelving storage space and underutilized storage space used by the organizer 10, and the organizer storage size needed to accommodate for a variety and/or a multitude of articles of interest can be an attribute to the principles of the present disclosure. To note for clarity purposes, shelving storage space may be generally defined as the space made available for storage by the shelving construction 62 within a cabinet, and generally has a depth 64 extending from the rear of the shelf 66 to the outer edge 68 of the shelf 66. As well, shelving storage space may be defined as any space within a cabinet not defined by boundaries of the underutilized storage space made clear below. These boundaries are subject to approximations and are used as guidelines for clarity of the principles of the present disclosure. As best shown in FIG. 3, the substantially underutilized storage space generally used by the organizer 10 is typically defined by the cabinet door 26, the cabinet face frame 70, and the shelving 66 contained therein. In particular, this space size can be defined by the surface area of the interior face of the cabinet door (generally defined by the height 72 and width 74 of the cabinet door), the distance 80 from the outer edge of the shelving facing the cabinet door 26 to the interior face 24 of the cabinet door 26 when the cabinet door 26 is closed. This underutilized storage space distance 80, or “depth” 80, can be further clarified as the distance from the outer edge of the shelving 68 to the cabinet face frame 70, combined with the cabinet face frame 70 width from the front edge of the cabinet face frame 70 (edge which confronts cabinet door 26) to the rear edge of the cabinet face frame 70 (edge facing shelving 62,66 of cabinet). Together, these boundaries produce the empty space, a relative “empty gap”, in the cabinet 28 when the cabinet door 26 is closed. This area of relative underutilized space can vary based on the dimensions of these three key components defining the space. For example, this area of space can vary depending on the surface area available along the interior face 24 of the cabinet door 26, with larger cabinets 28, in terms of the door 26 size, having more interior door surface area than cabinets 28 with a smaller surface area along the interior of a cabinet door 24. This would generally equate to more area of the defined space available with more surface area along the door 26. As well, this underutilized area of space's depth 80 may be impacted by the relative depth 64 of the interior shelving 66 of the cabinet, wherein shelving that protrudes further towards the cabinet face frame 70 generally equates to less distance from the shelving face 68 to the cabinet face frame 70. This can ultimately provide less depth 80 of the defined storage space. As another example, the width of the face frame 70 may positively impact the depth 80 of the defined storage space, wherein a face frame 70 that has a larger width generally provides for more depth 80 of the storage space. The organizer 10 with principles in accordance with the present disclosure takes into consideration these dimensions to utilize this typically unused space in an efficient manner. While the size of the underutilized storage space may vary considerably, I have found that the space depth 80 generally does not exceed 2.0 inches in cabinets 10 wherein the shelving edges 68 are relatively close (approximately within 0.5 inches) to the cabinet face frame 70. To account for as well, some cabinet doors 26 may have a small recess within the door 26 itself which may add to the underutilized space depth 80, and has been factored into this determined space depth 80 as well; typically being less than 0.375 inches. However, this can be variable depending on cabinet construction. While these considerations have been noted, it is understood that some cabinets may have variable aforementioned dimensions outside of the given values, such as space depth 80 over 2.0 inches. It is to be understood that these prior considerations have been made for the present disclosure to be efficiently applicable to a majority of cabinets 10 with the defined construction mentioned previously.
While it may be of interest to understand and make clear this defined space 80, it may also be of interest to consider the size of various articles of interest that the organizer 10 may generally accommodate from a practical manner, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 8A-D (e.g., spice containers 30, plastic food 32, 34 and drink storage lids 36, etc.). For example, a typical, rectangular prism-shaped spice container 30 found at a grocery store such as that show in FIG. 8A, may vary considerably in terms of depth 82 and length 84. However, it may be understood from a relative sample size, generally many rectangular prims-shaped spice containers 30 typically have a depth 82 from 1.25 inches to 2.0 inches, and generally have a length 84 of at least 2.25 inches. As other examples, while food storage container lids 32,34 (shown in FIGS. 8B-C) and drink container lids 36 (shown in FIG. 8D) may vary considerably, the diameter 86 of circular food container lid 32 and the diameter 88 of a drink container lid 36 generally are more than 2.75 inches in majority of circumstances, while many drink container lids 36 generally have a minimum depth 90 of at least 0.70 inches such as those similar in shape to the 20 ounce tumbler drinkware lid available from Yeti Coolers (Austin, Tex.), which has a lid 36 diameter depth 90 of approximately 0.80 inches to about 0.95 inches. While these considerations have been noted, it is understood that these are more so conditional guidelines for the purposes of designating specified dimensional ranges to accommodate a substantial variety of the articles mentioned in accordance with the present disclosure, and potential other articles of interest as well. Differing size articles mentioned previously (spice containers 30, food container lids 32,34, and drink container lids 36) may fall out of ranges mentioned previously, and it is understood that the present disclosure is intended to accommodate a majority of articles of potential interest, while efficiently accounting for the spatial limitations of the designated, substantially underutilized, space used by the organizer.
With these considerations mentioned previously, the main body 12 has a predetermined depth dimension 54 range of approximately 0.95 inches to 2.0 inches, wherein the main body 12 depth dimension 54 may be as short as 0.95 inches in some embodiments, but in other embodiments the depth 54 may be longer, up to 2.0 inches. As well, in embodiments where the depth 54 of the main body 12 may vary throughout the construction or shape of the main body 12, it is of interest to utilize the given ranges, in one or more aspects, in accordance with the integral principles of the present disclosure mentioned previously. With regards to the main body 12 length dimension 56, the main body 12 has a predetermined length dimension 54 of at least approximately 2.75 inches. With this construction, in one or more aspects, a balance in the dimensions may be utilized for a space-efficient cabinet organizer 10 that is slender enough with regards to main body depth 54 as to utilize the typically unused storage space in a cabinet 28 along the interior surface of the cabinet door 24 while not substantially protruding, or protruding as least as possible, on shelving storage space; yet being large enough with regards to depth 54 and length 56 as to accommodate various of articles of interest of interest typically found within a cabinet (e.g., spice containers 30, plastic food 32,34 and drink storage lids 36, etc.). In embodiments where multiple main bodies 12 may be used (best shown in FIG. 10), the distance 92 from the bottom 94 of the top main body 12 to the top 96 of the bottom main body 12 may be at least 4.0 inches to accommodate for the height 98 of some relatively larger food storage containers being at least 4.0 inches, providing adequate access to articles stored in the bottom main body.
As best shown in FIG. 1B the low profile organizer 10 further includes at least one backing plate 14. While two of the backing plates 14 are illustrated, in other embodiments a greater or lesser number can be provided. The backing plate(s) may be attached in any arrangement and/or configuration to the exterior surface 60 of the main body rear side 46. The backing plates are configured to confront the interior surface 24 of a cabinet door 26 while serving as an intermediary structure between the main body 12 and the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26. The backing plates 14 are constructed to be used in conjunction with the attachment means to connect the organizer 10 to the cabinet door 26. To note, while the thickness of the backing plates 14 may be of any desired thickness, in some embodiments the backing plate thickness may be desired to be as slender as possible such that the overall profile 100 of the organizer 10 does not take up more space than needed to efficiently store articles of interest when the cabinet door 26 is closed. For example, in some embodiments, the thickness of the backing plates 14 may be up to 0.125 inches which can provide less impact on the overall profile 100 potentially protruding into the shelving space. In other embodiments, the backing plate 14 may exceed a thickness of 0.125 inches depending on the strength and rigidity of the material used for the backing plates 14 to maintain adequate connection of the organizer 10 to the cabinet door.
It will be understood that the construction of the low profile organizer 10 attachment means to the cabinet door is not of particular importance to the principles of the present disclosure further than mentioned with considerations in the prior art. Rather complete attachment means are primarily for purposes of complete construction of the organizer 10 in its entirety. In some embodiments, the attachment means 16 of the organizer 10 to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26 may include an attachment construction utilizing double-sided adhesive 102 (FIG. 2), wherein at least one backing plate 14 is adapted to receive double-sided adhesive on the backing plate bonding face 104. The double-sided adhesive 102 is configured to be arranged between the backing plate 14 and the cabinet door 26 for securing the organizer 10 to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26. The double-sided adhesives 102 can be identical and can comprise any suitable sheet, film, layer, etcetera that comprises pressure-sensitive adhesive functionality on oppositely-facing surfaces. The double-sided adhesive 102 can comprise any suitable adhesive that is available in the form of a sheet, tape, roll, etcetera, from which a discrete piece of adhesive can be obtained that is suitable for being contacted with and bonded to the backing plate 14 bonding face 104. Suitable adhesives thus include double-stick tapes, laminating adhesives, double-sided foam tapes, and the like, as are commonly known in the art. In some embodiments, the double-sided adhesive 102 may have properties that can allow the adhesive to be securely attached to a surface, and to be later removed from the surface without visual disfigurement of, or leaving adhesive residue on, the surface. For example, the double-sided adhesive strips 102 under the Command® trade designation available from 3M Company (St. Paul, Minn.) provide a suitable double-sided adhesive 102 with the aforementioned properties. As best shown in FIG. 4, in other embodiments, instead of utilizing double-sided adhesive 102 and the backing plate 14 adapted to receive double-sided adhesive 102, the backing plate 14 may contain at least one hole 106 for means of attachment 18 of the organizer to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26 using mechanical fixation (e.g., nails, screws 108, etc.) for securing the organizer 10 to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door. 26
In other embodiments, the organizer may utilize a coupling mechanism of attachment in combination with at least one double-sided adhesive 102 as attachment means 20 of the organizer 10 to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26 (best shown in FIGS. 5A-6B). The construction utilizes a separate mounting plate 110 with the mounting plate 110 serving as an intermediary structure between the backing plate 14 attached to the main body 12 and the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26. A coupling bracket 112 is attached to, or formed by, each backing plate 14, with the backing plate 14 coupling bracket providing a first engagement feature 112. The corresponding mounting plate 110 to the backing plate 14 forms a bonding face 114 configured to confront the interior face 24 of the cabinet door 26, and a second engagement feature 116 configured to interface the first engagement feature 112 on the backing plate 14. The first and second engagement features 112,116 have a complimentary, coupling construction, configured to releasably engage the backing plate 14 coupling bracket 112 from the complimentary bracket 116 of the mounting plate 110. For example, the first engagement feature 112 on the backing plate 14 may comprise of a bracket in the shape of a hook 118 or finger, with the second engagement feature 116 on the mounting plate 110 providing a relatively hollow space 120 meant to selectively receive the corresponding hook 118 or finger on the backing plate 14. The first and second engagement features 112,116 may have any complimentary, coupling construction, so long as the engagement features are configured to releasably engage one-another. Optionally the hook 118 may have a subtle protrusion 122 to help establish a snap fit connection mechanism of attachment. As mentioned previously, it will be understood that these attachment means (including the coupling construction) are not of particular importance to principles of the present disclosure, and are specified for purposes of complete construction of the organizer 10 in its entirety. With regards to the bonding face 114 provided on the mounting plate 110, the bonding face is adapted to receive a double-sided adhesive 102, with the double-sided adhesive 102 configured to be arranged between the bonding face 114 of the mounting plate and the interior face 24 of the cabinet door 26 for securing the storage organizer 10 to the cabinet door 26. The double-sided adhesive 102 utilized is the same as the double-sided adhesive 102 mentioned in the previous embodiments, having the same construction and in accordance with the same principles as the aforementioned double-sided adhesive 102.
In other embodiments utilizing a similar coupling mechanism with complimentary first and second engagement features 112, 116 on the backing plate(s) 14 and corresponding mounting plate(s) 110, instead of the mounting plate 110 having a bonding face 114 adapted to receive a double-sided adhesive 102, the mounting plate 110 may have at least one hole 106 wherein the hole 106 is utilized for mechanical fixation (e.g., nails, screws 108, etc.) of the mounting plate 110 to the interior face 24 of the cabinet door 26 (best shown in FIG. 7) as means of attachment 22. The complimentary engagement features are of the same principles as the engagement features specified in the aforementioned embodiments. For example, the engagement features may utilize the same hook 118 or finger, and hollow space 118 engagement features mentioned in the previous embodiment, or may have any complimentary, coupling construction, so long as the engagement features are configured to releasably engage one-another.
In other embodiments a storage organizer may not include at least one backing plate 14 attached to the main body 12 (as best shown in FIG. 8). Such embodiments may utilize similar means of attachment to interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26 in accordance with embodiments mentioned previously, with some minor differences. In some embodiments (FIG. 9), the rear side 46 may have the exterior surface 60 of the rear side 46 directly adapted to receive at least one double-sided adhesive 102 (versus a backing plate 14) wherein the means of attachment of the storage organizer 10 to the cabinet door 26 may include using at least one double-sided adhesive 102 configured to be arranged between the rear side 46 of the main body 12 and the cabinet door 26 for securing the storage organizer 10 to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26. As mentioned previously, the double-sided adhesive 102 utilized is in accordance with the same principles as the aforementioned double-sided adhesive 102. In other embodiments, the rear side 46 of the main body 12 may contain at least one hole 106 for means of attachment of the organizer 10 to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26 using mechanical fixation (e.g., nails, screws 108, etc.), versus having a backing plate 14 wherein the backing plate 14 contains the hole(s) 106 for mechanical fixation. In other embodiments, the organizer may utilize the same coupling mechanism of attachment in combination with at least one double-sided adhesive 102 as mentioned in the previous embodiment and illustrated in FIGS. 5A-B. The construction of attachment utilizes the same separate mounting plate 110 with the mounting plate 110 serving as an intermediary structure between the main body 12 and the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26. The complimentary engagement features 112, 116 are of the same principles as the engagement features 112,116 specified in the previously-mentioned embodiments. For example, the engagement features may utilize the same hook 118 or finger, and hollow space 120 engagement features mentioned in the previous embodiment, or may have any complimentary, coupling construction, so long as the engagement features are configured to releasably engage one-another. However, with the current embodiment having not having backing plates 14 attached to the main body 12, the first engagement feature(s)112 are formed directly on the main body 12 rear side 46 exterior surface 60 as a homogenous structure wherein the main body 12 and first engagement coupling bracket(s) 112 are integrally formed (e.g., the storage device 10 is an injection molded plastic article 38), versus the coupling brackets 112 being formed or attached on backing plates 14 (as with prior embodiments shown in FIG. 5A). Last, a double-sided adhesive 102 is configured to be arranged between the bonding face 114 of the mounting plate 110 and the cabinet door 26 for securing the organizer 10 to the cabinet door 26. The double-sided adhesive 102 utilized is the same as the double-sided adhesive 102 mentioned in the previous embodiments, having the same construction and in accordance with the same principles as the aforementioned double-sided adhesive. In other embodiments utilizing a similar coupling mechanism with complimentary first and second engagement features 112,116 as the previous embodiment (with first engagement features 112 provided directly on the rear side 46 of the main body 12, wherein the main body 12 and first engagement coupling brackets 112 are integrally formed into a homogenous structure), instead of the mounting plates 110 having a bonding face 114 adapted to receive a double-sided adhesive 102, the mounting plate(s) 110 may each have at least one hole 106 wherein the hole 106 is utilized for mechanical fixation (e.g., nails, screws 108, etc.) of the mounting plate 110 to the interior face 24 of the cabinet door 26. The complimentary engagement features 112,116 are of the same principles as the engagement features specified in the aforementioned embodiments. For example, the engagement features 112,116 may utilize the same hook 118 or finger, and hollow space 120 engagement features mentioned in the previous embodiment, or may have any complimentary, coupling construction, so long as the engagement features are configured to releasably engage one-another.
To note, while the present disclosure has been addressed primarily towards a particular cabinet storage space and articles of interest generally found within a kitchen cabinet, the present discloser may be applicable to other articles of interest elsewhere beyond the confines of a kitchen, and applicable towards any space that may be desired to be utilized for storage, yet may have spatial limitations to which the present disclosure can accommodate.
The low profile organizers 10 of the present disclosure present a marked improvement over previous designs. With the construction and predetermined dimensional ranges, the low profile organizer 10 can utilize the typically unused storage space in a cabinet along the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26, generally defined by the cabinet door 26, the cabinet face frame 70, and the shelving 62 contained therein. The organizer 10 is slender enough as to not protrude, or substantially protrude, into the shelving storage space, yet provide adequate storage room for various articles of interest that may be desired to be stored within a cabinet (e.g., spice containers 30, plastic food and drink storage lids 32,34,36, etc.), optimizing cabinet storage space.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the disclosed embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, as yet another means of attachment for securing the organizer to the interior surface of a cabinet door, in embodiments involving an intermediate mounting plate, instead of a coupling mechanism of attachment connecting the main body 12 or backing plates 14 to the mounting plate 110, hooks may be provided on each mounting plate 110 (in place of a coupling, second engagement feature 116) utilized by associated holes located on the main body 12 rear side 46 (or backing plates 14) of the main body 12. This would allow the main body 12 to hang by the mounting plate hooks via the holes located on the main body 12. Further wherein, the mounting plates 110 are attached to the interior surface 24 of the cabinet door 26 using double-sided adhesive 102 or mechanical fixation in accordance with the similar embodiments mentioned previously. While this construction provides other means of attachment, it is to be understood that these embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A low profile cabinet organizer comprising:

a. at least one main body comprising:

i. a front side and a rear side in a with a main body depth dimension extending from the rear side to the front side;

ii. a left side and a right side, with a main body length dimension extending from the left side to the right side;

iii. wherein said front side extends in a general perpendicular orientation between, and is connected to, said right side and the left side, and said rear panel extends in a general perpendicular orientation between and is connected to said right side and left side;

iv. wherein said rear panel is comprised of an interior surface facing said front panel, and an exterior surface facing an opposing direction of said interior surface of the rear panel, as to not face said front panel

v. wherein the main body includes at least one bottom side, said bottom side a primary shelf for supporting articles

vi. wherein said main body length dimension has a predetermined length of at least 2.75 inches

vii. wherein said main body depth dimension range is within a predetermined, range of approximately 0.95 inches to 2.0 inches

viii. wherein said sides of main body are not to be limited to a specific shape or curvature as to limit the shape of the main body in its entirety

b. at least one backing plate attached to the exterior surface of said rear side of the main body, configured to confront an interior surface of a cabinet door

c. means for attachment of said backing plate to said interior surface of the cabinet door.

2. The storage organizer of claim 1 wherein the main body is selected from the group consisting of least one caddy and shelf

3. The storage organizer of claim 1 wherein said backing plate is adapted to receive a double-sided adhesive, wherein said means of attachment of the storage organizer to the cabinet door may include using at least one double-sided adhesive configured to be arranged between the backing plate and the cabinet door for securing said storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.

4. The storage assembly of claim 3, wherein said double-sided adhesive comprises a double-sided, stretch-releasing adhesive strip.

5. The storage organizer of claim 1 wherein said backing plate may contain at least one hole for said means of attachment of at least one backing plate to the interior surface of the cabinet door using mechanical fixation, for securing said storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.

6. The storage organizer of claim lwherein said means of attachment is comprised of

a. at least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture provided on the backing plate, the backing plate coupling bracket providing a first engagement feature;

b. at least one mounting plate forming a bonding face and a second engagement feature, wherein the bonding face is adapted to receive a double-sided adhesive, and further wherein the second engagement feature is formed opposite the bonding face;

c. wherein the first and second engagement features have a complimentary, coupling construction, configured to releasably engage the backing plate coupling bracket or fixture from the complimentary bracket of the mounting plate;

d. a double-sided adhesive configured to be arranged between the bonding face of the mounting plate and the cabinet door for securing the storage organizer to the cabinet door.

7. The storage assembly of claim 6, wherein said double-sided adhesive comprises a double-sided, stretch-releasing adhesive strip.

8. The storage organizer of claim 1 wherein said means of attachment is comprised of

a. at least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture provided on the backing plate, the backing plate coupling bracket forming a first engagement feature;

b. at least one mounting plate including at least one hole and forming a second engagement feature;

c. wherein the first and second engagement features have a complimentary, coupling construction, configured to releasably engage the back panel coupling bracket or fixture from the complimentary bracket of the mounting plate;

d. said hole on the mounting plate used as means of attachment of the mounting plate to the interior surface of the cabinet door by mechanical fixation for securing said storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.

9. A low profile cabinet organizer comprising:

a. at least one main body comprising:

iv. wherein said rear side is comprised of an interior surface facing said front side, and an exterior surface facing an opposing direction of said interior surface as to not face said front side, further wherein said exterior surface of rear panel is adapted to receive at least one double faced adhesive;

vi. wherein said length dimension of the main body has a predetermined length of at least 2.75 inches

vii. wherein said depth dimension of the main body is within a predetermined range of approximately 0.95 inches to 2.0 inches

viii. wherein said sides of main body are not to be limited to a specific shape or curvature as to limit the shape of the main body in its entirety.

b. means for attachment of said rear side of main body to said interior surface of cabinet door.

10. The storage organizer of claim 9 wherein the main body or main bodies, is selected from the group consisting of least one caddy and shelf.

11. The storage organizer of claim 9 wherein said exterior surface of said rear side is adapted to receive at least one double-sided adhesive, wherein said means of attachment of the storage organizer to the cabinet door may include using at least one double-sided adhesive configured to be arranged between the rear side of the storage device and the cabinet door for securing said storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.

12. The storage assembly of claim 11, wherein said double-sided adhesive comprises a double-sided, stretch-releasing adhesive strip.

13. The storage organizer of claim 9 wherein said rear side may contain at least one hole for said means of attachment of storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door using mechanical fixation for securing said storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door.

14. The storage organizer of claim 9 wherein said means of attachment is comprised of:

a. at least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture provided on the exterior surface of the rear side of the main body, the coupling bracket forming a first engagement feature;

c. wherein the first and second engagement features have a complimentary, coupling construction, configured to releasably engage the rear panel coupling bracket or fixture from the complimentary bracket of the mounting plate;

d. a first double-faced adhesive configured to be arranged between the bonding face of the mounting plate and the cabinet door for securing the storage organizer to the cabinet door

15. The storage organizer of claim 9 wherein said means of attachment is comprised of:

a. at least one coupling bracket or mounting fixture provided on the rear panel of the main body, the coupling bracket forming a first engagement feature;

b. at least one mounting plate containing at least one hole and forming a second engagement feature;

d. said holes used as means of attachment of the mounting plate to the interior surface of the cabinet door by mechanical fixation, such as but not limited to screws, for securing said storage organizer to the interior surface of the cabinet door

16. The storage assembly of claim 15, wherein said double-sided adhesive comprises a double-sided, stretch-releasing adhesive strip.