WO2016144837A2

WO2016144837A2 - A modular, stackable storage device

Info

Publication number: WO2016144837A2
Application number: PCT/US2016/021098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bonnie BONADUCE
Original assignee: Bonaduce Bonnie
Priority date: 2015-03-06
Filing date: 2016-03-06
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Also published as: WO2016144837A3; US20160255953A1

Abstract

A modular, stackable shoe storage device comprising a rotating interior shelving design with adjustable and removable shelves and an exterior cabinet enclosure. An interior frame comprises an upper disc and lower disc mounted on a central support pole. Support pole may be configured to fit into receiving holes in lower disc and upper disc. The lower disc may be attached to a swivel mechanism that may enable the interior frame to rotate 360 degrees. Vertical dividers are mounted to upper disc and lower disc around support pole in a spoke pattern to divide the space between upper disc and lower disc and to support shelves. Removable wedge-shaped shelves comprising "keyhole" slots that may be placed over pegs on vertical dividers so that shelves form horizontal platforms on which shoes may be stored. The exterior cabinet surrounds the rotating interior frame.

Description

Docket No. BONDCB01WO

PATENT COOPERATION TREATY APPLICATION

A MODULAR, STACKABLE STORAGE DEVICE

INVENTORS :

Bonnie Bonaduce

ASSIGNEE: 9 Prospect Street, Apt. 1

Houlton, ME 04730

US Citizen

A Modular, Stackable Storage Device

by Bonnie Bonaduce

CROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present PCT patent application claims priority benefit of the U.S. Utility patent application number 14/640,199 filed 06-MAR-2015 entitled "A MODULAR, STACKABLE STORAGE DEVICE" under 35 USC 111(a). The contents of this related Utility application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent that such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith or limiting hereof.

RELATED CO-PENDING U.S. PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0002] Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0003] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX [0004] Not applicable. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0005] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0006] One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to storage devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a customizable shoe storage device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. It is believed that many people own several pairs of shoes and that finding storage space for all of these shoes may be a problem. Most people do not have immense walk-in closets, and the usual shoe storage available in small walk-in closets or non-walk-in closets typically involves using open shelves or cubbies that may take up a lot of space. Moreover, open shelves and racks may not be attractive, and typically do not prevent the shoes from collecting dust. In some cases people may stack shoe boxes on an upper shelf of the closet, which may be hard to reach and may make it difficult to view the shoes and retrieve a selection. Other shoe storage methods may include bags, pouches, crates, or other receptacles that may be hung on closet rods or hooks.

However, these devices for hanging shoe storage may occupy space that may be needed for clothing storage. Furthermore, boots, high heels, and shoes of larger sizes may not fit in these hanging devices.

[0008] By way of educational background, an aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that there are some enclosed storage devices currently available for shoes and other wardrobe accessories. One specific example provides an "Enclosed storage cylinder with adjustable shelves". Although the height of the shelves in this device can be adjusted in some configurations, the unit inhibits shelf repositioning during normal operation. In addition, this device is not intended solely for the storage of shoes, and comprises both square and wedge shaped compartments. Other examples may provide a rotational system with fixed shelves, which do not allow for customization. Yet other examples may be made of heavy, bulky materials such as, but not limited to, parti cleboard.

[0009] In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

[0011] Figures 1 A through IE illustrate an exemplary rotating interior frame for a

customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 A is an exploded view of the interior frame. Figure IB is a front perspective view of the interior frame. Figure 1C is a diagrammatic top view of the interior frame. FigurelD is a diagrammatic top view of an adjustable shelf, and Figure IE is a diagrammatic side view of a vertical divider placed in a groove of a lower disc;

[0012] Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary exterior cabinet for a customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A is a front perspective view of the cabinet, and Figure 2B is a cross sectional view of a support leg for the cabinet;

[0013] Figure 3 is a front perspective view of an exemplary exterior cabinet for a customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 4 is a diagrammatic top view of exemplary customizable shoe storage devices in use in a closet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0015] Figures 5 A through 5E illustrate an exemplary shelf design for a customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5A is a diagrammatic top view of a shelf. Figure 5B is a diagrammatic side view of the shelf. Figure 5C is a diagrammatic top view of a shelf extender. Figure 5D is a diagrammatic top view of the shelf with the shelf extender attached, and Figure 5A is a diagrammatic top view of shelves and shelf extenders attached to vertical dividers.

[0016] Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.

[0018] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures.

However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

[0019] It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to "an element" is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to "a step" or "a means" is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word "or" should be understood as having the definition of a logical "or" rather than that of a logical "exclusive or" unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. [0020] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0021] From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

[0022] Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.

[0023] Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.

[0024] References to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "example embodiment," "various embodiments," etc., may indicate that the embodiment s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one embodiment," or "in an exemplary embodiment," do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. [0025] Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0026] The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0027] The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0028] Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

[0029] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and

compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

[0031] It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or particular

construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation details. [0032] One embodiment of the present invention may provide a modular, stackable shoe storage device comprising a rotating interior shelving design with adjustable and removable shelves and a cabinet enclosure. Some embodiments may provide an affordable, customizable, and space- saving shoe storage solution. It is contemplated that some embodiments may be made of various different materials such as, but not limited to, molded plastic, wood, metal, etc. Some embodiments may be implemented for use on a closet floor, which is often unused or inefficiently used space.

[0033] Figures 1 A through IE illustrate an exemplary rotating interior frame for a

customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 A is an exploded view of the interior frame. Figure IB is a front perspective view of the interior frame. Figure 1C is a diagrammatic top view of the interior frame. FigurelD is a diagrammatic top view of an adjustable shelf 105, and Figure IE is a diagrammatic side view of a vertical divider 110 placed in a groove 115 of a lower disc 120. In the present embodiment, the interior frame comprises an upper disc 125 and lower disc 120 mounted on a central support pole 130. Support pole 130 may be configured to fit into receiving holes in lower disc 120 and upper disc 125. It is contemplated that the upper and lower discs may be attached to the support pole using various different means in some alternate embodiments such as, but not limited to, flanges, adhesives, threaded connectors, etc. In the present embodiment, referring to Figure 1 A, lower disc 120 may be attached to a swivel mechanism 135 that may enable the interior frame to rotate 360 degrees. A multiplicity of suitable devices may be used for swivel mechanism 135 including, without limitation, swivel plates with bearings, a rod or sphere rotating within a support structure, concentric cylinders, a guide rail system, a pivot point at the end of the central pole, etc. Some alternate embodiments may be implemented without a swivel mechanism.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 A, IB, and 1C, vertical dividers 110 may be mounted to upper disc 125 and lower disc 120 around support pole 130 in a spoke pattern to divide the space between upper disc 125 and lower disc 120 and to support shelves 105. Five vertical dividers 110 are shown by way of example in the present embodiment; however, it is contemplated that more or fewer vertical dividers may be used in some embodiments. Referring to Figures 1 A and IE, in the present embodiment, upper disc 125 and lower disc 120 comprise multiple grooves 115 into which vertical dividers 110 may be positioned and held in place. Vertical dividers in some alternate embodiments may be attached to the upper and lower discs using various different means such as, but not limited to, raised channels into which the dividers may be slid, pegs and holes, screws, adhesive, etc. Referring to Figures 1 A and IB, in the present embodiment, vertical dividers 110 comprise multiple pegs 140 that may act as shelf supports placed approximately every 2 inches along the inner and outer edges. In some alternate embodiments the support pegs for the adjustable shelves may be placed at smaller or larger intervals than 2 inches. Referring to Figures 1C and ID, in the present embodiment, removable wedge-shaped shelves 105 comprise "keyhole" slots 145 that may be placed over pegs 140 on vertical dividers 110 so that shelves 105 may form horizontal platforms on which shoes 150 may be stored. Pegs 140 and slots 145 may enable shelves 105 to be easily moved to virtually any height on vertical dividers 110 or removed from the storage device altogether, which may allow for storage of practically any size or style of shoe or boot. The adjustability of shelves 105 may enable a user to easily customize the height and number of shelves 105 to accommodate their personal shoe collection. For example, without limitation, in one configuration one vertical section may contain ten shelves placed close together to house sandals or flats, while another vertical section may have all of the shelves removed for storage of tall boots. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that a multiplicity of suitable means may be used to attach adjustable and removable shelves to the vertical dividers including, but not limited to, removable shelf clips, pins on which the shelves rest, or molded integral shelf mounts such as, but not limited to, integral grooves, slots, or channels, etc. Other embodiments may be implemented with non-adjustable shelves preset at various differing heights or with a combination of adjustable and non-adjustable shelves.

[0035] Referring to Figure 1 A, in the present embodiment, the rotating interior frame may be mounted onto a solid base 155 with swivel mechanism 135. Swivel mechanism 135 typically enables the interior frame to rotate 360 degrees for easy and complete access to all shoes stored within the storage device. A top piece 160 may also be placed on top of the interior frame, which may enable storage devices to be stacked and may help prevent dust and dirt from collecting on shoes being stored on shelves 105. It is contemplated that the interior frame of the shoe storage device may be constructed of molded plastic with the exception of swivel mechanism 135, which may be made of metal or another suitably strong material. In some embodiments the components may be made of various different materials or a combination of materials including, without limitation, cardboard, wood, metal, etc. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that some alternate embodiments may be comprise a multiplicity of suitable configurations and additional or alternate components. For example, without limitation, some embodiments may be implemented without a central support pole. In some alternate embodiments, the space between the discs may be divided into four spaces into which square or rectangular shelves may be attached. Some embodiments may be implemented without a base or a top portion. Other embodiments may be implemented with an exterior cabinet which may or may not incorporate the base and top portion of the rotating interior frame, such as, but not limited to, the cabinets illustrated by way of example in Figures 2A and 3.

[0036] Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary exterior cabinet for a customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A is a front perspective view of the cabinet, and Figure 2B is a cross sectional view of a support leg 205 for the cabinet. In the present embodiment, the exterior cabinet comprises a door 210 that may provide easy access to an interior frame, as illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 A through 1C. Some embodiments may be implemented with multiple doors. The cabinet may comprise a square or rectangular solid base 215, which may or may not be attached to the internal frame by a swivel mechanism, and four support legs 205, one at each corner of the cabinet. Support legs 205 may be inserted into holes or indentations in base 215 and snap-fit into place. Referring to Figure 1A, non- limiting examples of indentations for attaching support legs in a base and top portion of a cabinet for a shoe storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention are illustrated by way of example. Alternatively the support legs may be attached using various different means such as, but not limited to, threaded fasteners, adhesives, pegs, etc. In the present embodiment, side panels 220 may then slide into slots 225 located in support legs 205 to form the walls of the cabinet. It is contemplated that a multiplicity of suitable attachment means may be used to attach the side panels to the support legs in some embodiments including, without limitation, pegs and holes, threaded fasteners, adhesives, biscuits, etc. Some alternate embodiments may be implemented without support legs in which the side panels are directly attached to each other at the corners of the cabinet and the base and top portion are connected directly to the side panels. In the present embodiment, one of side panels 220 comprises door 210 to provide access to the interior of the cabinet. Then, holes or indentations on a top portion 230 may snap-fit onto support legs 205 to enclose the cabinet. As described in the foregoing referring to base 215, various different attachment means may be used to connect top portion 230 to support legs 205.

[0037] In the present embodiment, non-skid feet 235 may be incorporated into base 215, which may fit into corresponding holes or indentations 240 molded or cut into top portion 230, which may allow for easy and safe stacking of two or more cabinets. It is contemplated that the options for the exterior design of the cabinet may be unlimited, including, without limitation, various different prints and patterns such as animal prints, florals, stripes, or a faux wood grain finish, and various different solid colors such as, plain white, wood tones, black, bright colors, etc. In some embodiments, the cabinet may be an optional component of the shoe storage device, and the interior shelving frame may be configured to be used without the cabinet for shoe storage.

[0038] In typical use of a customizable shoe storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 A through 2B, a user may open door 210 to gain access to the rotating interior frame and any shoes 150 stored within. Since the interior frame may be able to rotate, the user typically has easy and complete access to all of the stored shoes 150. The cabinet may be designed to be stackable and lightweight, and shelves 105 on the interior frame may be fully adjustable and removable to typically allow the user to adjust each storage section to suit his or her shoes. To remove a shelf 105 from the interior frame, a user may slide keyhole slots 145 off of pegs 140 on a vertical divider 110. The user may then leave this shelf 105 out of the interior frame or may slide keyhole slots 145 onto another set of pegs on a vertical divider to create a more appropriate space for the shoes being stored. The design of the shoe organizing device typically enables more shoes to be stored per cubic foot of space than traditional shoe storage methods.

Moreover, the adjustable qualities of the interior frame may offer customization for virtually any type, size, and style of shoe, and the stackable, lightweight cabinet may enable the user to incorporate additional modular units to expand storage capacity. The cabinet may also allow for an attractive, neat, and tidy closet and may protect shoes from dust and dirt. In some implementations, the shoe storage device may ship in a manageable flat box for ease and economical shipping and may offer simple snap- together assembly by the consumer with no tools needed. Alternate implementations may be made available to consumers as fully assembled devices.

[0039] Figure 3 is a front perspective view of an exemplary exterior cabinet for a customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the cabinet housing a rotating interior frame comprises a cylindrical shape. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that a multiplicity of suitable shapes and sizes of cabinets may be used in some embodiments such as, but not limited to, corner cabinets, narrow, rectangular cabinets for tight spaces, octagonal cabinets, etc. In some alternate embodiments one cabinet may be designed to hold two or more internal frames. [0040] Figure 4 is a diagrammatical top view of exemplary customizable shoe storage devices in use in a closet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Customizable shoe storage devices may be available in several sizes and configurations, which may allow for various different uses including, without limitation, use in both single-depth and walk-in closets, use on a straight wall and use in a corner, storage of both women's and men's size footwear, etc. For example, without limitation, a standard size unit may be 30 inches in height by 30 inches wide by 30 inches deep, which it is believed will fit practically any size shoe, including men's shoes. In another non-limiting example, a slim unit may be available that is 30 inches in height by 24 inches wide by 24 inches deep, which may be used in standard, single depth closets and may fit up to a women's size 10, depending on the style of shoe. Moreover, the modular design of some embodiments may enable multiple units to be safely stacked and/or placed side by side to create a customized configuration. For example, without limitation, in some embodiments two units may be stacked and still fit under a standard height closet pole, thereby typically removing the need to do a costly closet remodel. Referring to Figure 4, in the present example, a corner unit 405 is placed in the corner of a walk-in closet, and a rectangular unit 410 is placed along a wall of the closet. In some embodiments customizable shoe storage devices may be manufactured and sold as a standalone product, while in other embodiments customizable shoe storage devices may be incorporated into larger closet organization systems.

[0041] Figures 5 A through 5E illustrate an exemplary shelf design for a customizable shoe storage device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5A is a diagrammatic top view of a shelf 505. Figure 5B is a diagrammatic side view of shelf 505. Figure 5C is a diagrammatic top view of a shelf extender 507. Figure 5D is a diagrammatic top view of shelf 505 with shelf extender 507 attached, and Figure 5A is a diagrammatic top view of shelves 505 and shelf extenders 507 attached to vertical dividers 510. In the present embodiment, the upper and lower discs of the rotating interior frame may comprise grooves in both a four section pattern and a five section pattern. This may enable a user to insert vertical panels in various different

configurations to create a customized storage space and to change this configuration if desired for varying shoe styles or sizes. Referring to Figures 5A and 5B, shelf 505 is sized to fit a five section pattern section and comprises a slot 515 into which optional extender 507 may be inserted.

Referring to Figure 5C shelf extender 507 comprises a flange 520 that may be inserted into slot 515 on shelf 505 to form a shelf that is sized to fit a four section pattern as illustrated by way of example in Figure 5D. Referring to Figure 5E, multiple shelves 505 and shelf extenders 507 are shown connected and arranged on vertical dividers 510 in a four section pattern. It is contemplated that some alternate embodiments may be implemented with various different options for the number of sections created by the vertical divider pattern. For example, without limitation, some embodiments may comprise a pattern for four sections only and shelves that are sized to fit this pattern. Other embodiments may incorporate patterns for more than five vertical dividers or for less than four vertical dividers. Yet other embodiments may enable a user to create sections that are unevenly sized so that shelves of different sizes may be placed in the same frame.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that various additional or alternate features may be incorporated into some embodiments including, without limitation, internal lighting, hooks, textured shelves to help prevent the shoes from sliding, a motorized mechanism to automatically rotate the internal frame, etc. Furthermore, some alternate embodiments may be implemented for storing clothing accessories other than or in addition to shoes such as, but not limited to, handbags, jewelry boxes, belts, gloves, etc. Other alternate embodiments may be implemented for use in other areas of the house, for example, without limitation, to hold pots and pans in the kitchen, to hold canned food items in a pantry, to hold tools in a garage or shed, to hold cleaning supplies in a linen closet, etc.

[0043] All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0044] It is noted that according to USA law 35 USC §112 (1), all claims must be supported by sufficient disclosure in the present patent specification, and any material known to those skilled in the art need not be explicitly disclosed. However, 35 USC §112 (6) requires that structures corresponding to functional limitations interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) must be explicitly disclosed in the patent specification. Moreover, the USPTO's Examination policy of initially treating and searching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a "mean for" claim limitation implies that the broadest initial search on 112(6) functional limitation would have to be conducted to support a legally valid Examination on that USPTO policy for broadest interpretation of "mean for" claims. Accordingly, the USPTO will have discovered a multiplicity of prior art documents including disclosure of specific structures and elements which are suitable to act as corresponding structures to satisfy all functional limitations in the below claims that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) when such corresponding structures are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification. Therefore, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, yet do exist in the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of USPTO searching, Applicant(s) incorporate all such functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material herein by reference for the purpose of providing explicit structures that implement the functional means claimed. Applicant(s) request(s) that fact finders during any claims construction proceedings and/or examination of patent allowability properly identify and incorporate only the portions of each of these documents discovered during the broadest interpretation search of 35 USC §112 (6) limitation, which exist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of normal USPTO searching and or supplied to the USPTO during prosecution. Applicant(s) also incorporate by reference the bibliographic citation information to identify all such documents comprising functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material as listed in any PTO Form-892 or likewise any information disclosure statements (IDS) entered into the present patent application by the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3^rd parties. Applicant(s) also reserve its right to later amend the present application to explicitly include citations to such documents and/or explicitly include the functionally corresponding structures which were incorporate by reference above.

[0045] Thus, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims, that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, Applicant(s) have explicitly prescribed which documents and material to include the otherwise missing disclosure, and have prescribed exactly which portions of such patent and/or non-patent documents should be incorporated by such reference for the purpose of satisfying the disclosure requirements of 35 USC §112 (6).

Applicant(s) note that all the identified documents above which are incorporated by reference to satisfy 35 USC §112 (6) necessarily have a filing and/or publication date prior to that of the instant application, and thus are valid prior documents to incorporated by reference in the instant application.

[0046] Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing a customizable shoe storage device according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the shoe storage device may vary depending upon the particular context or application. By way of example, and not limitation, the shoe storage devices described in the foregoing were principally directed to implementations with round internal frames; however, similar techniques may instead be applied to internal frames in various different sizes such as, but not limited to, rectangular frames, octagonal frames, triangular frames, etc., which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.

[0047] Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

[0048] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

[0049] The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

s claimed is:

CLAIMS A device comprising: an interior frame, said interior frame comprising;

an upper disc portion, said upper disc comprising receiving holes for receiving at least one pole; a lower disc portion, said lower disc comprising receiving holes for receiving said at least one pole; a support pole section, said support pole is configured to generally fit into said receiving holes in said lower and upper disc portions; a swivel mechanism, said lower disc is configured to be coupled to said swivel mechanism being operable to enable said interior frame to rotate approximately 360 degrees; a vertical divider segment, said vertical divider comprising at least two or more vertical dividers configured to be mounted to said upper and lower disc around said support pole in a generally spoke pattern being operable to divide a space between said upper and lower disc, said vertical divider further comprising at least a plurality of pegs for receiving at least a plurality of keyhole slots; a shelf segment for holding items, said shelf comprising at least two or more removable wedge-shaped shelves configured to be adjusted or moved to a height position on said at least two or more vertical dividers, in which said at least two or more removable wedge-shaped shelves comprising at least a plurality of keyhole slots for placing over said pegs, and wherein said adjustability of said at least two or more removable wedge-shaped shelves is operable to enable a user to customize at least one or many height placement positions and number of shelves to use;

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an exterior cabinet, said exterior cabinet comprising; a base portion, said base comprising at least one or many holes or indentations for receiving at least one support leg; a top portion, said top portion comprising at least one or many holes or indentations is configured to cover an interior of said cabinet; a support leg section, said support leg comprising at least two or more support legs configured to be inserted into said holes or indentations in said base and top portions; and a side panel segment, said side panel comprising at least one or many side panels configured to substantially form walls of said exterior cabinet, in which at least one side panel comprising at least one door to provide access to an interior of said cabinet.

3. The device of claim 3, in which said base portion is a first base portion comprising non-skid feet configured to allow for generally easy and safe stacking of two or more cabinets.

4. The device of claim 3, in which said top portion is a first top portion further comprising

holes and indentations corresponding to said non-skid feet configured to allow for said generally easy and safe stacking of two or more cabinets.

5. The device of claim 1, in which said support leg portion further comprising slots configured to allow said side panel to slide into said slots.

6. The device of claim 1, in which said swivel mechanism comprising swivel plates with

bearings, a rod or sphere rotating within a support structure, concentric cylinders, a guide rail system or a pivot point at the end of the support pole.

7. The device of claim 1, in which said upper and lower discs further comprising at least a plurality of grooves into which said vertical dividers are generally positioned and substantially held in place.

8. The device of claim 1, in which said upper and lower discs further comprising at least a plurality of raised channels into which said dividers are generally slid.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said vertical dividers further comprising multiple pegs as shelf supports placed approximately along the inner and outer edges of said dividers.

10. The device of claim 1, in which said cabinet further comprising approximately square or rectangular base portion.

11. The device of claim 1, in which said support legs further comprising slots for said side

panels to generally slide into and substantially form the walls of said cabinet.

12. The device of claim 7, in which said upper and lower discs further comprising at least a plurality of grooves in a four section pattern and a five section pattern operable to enable a user to insert said vertical dividers in different configurations and to create a customized storage space.

13. The device of claim 1, in which said shelf segment further comprising an extender slot into which a shelf extender may be inserted.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a shelf extender, wherein said shelf extender comprising a flange configured to be inserted into said extender slot operable to form a shelf that is sized to fit an approximately four section pattern.

15. A device comprising: an interior frame, said interior frame comprising; means for receiving at least one pole at an upper portion of said interior frame; means for receiving said at least one pole at a lower portion of said interior frame; means, configured to be coupled with said receiving means, for supporting said interior frame; means, coupled to said means for receiving at a lower portion of said interior frame, for rotating said interior frame at approximately 360 degrees; means, comprising at least a plurality of pegs for receiving at least a plurality of keyhole slots, for dividing a space between said means for receiving; means, comprising keyhole slots for placing over said pegs, for holding items; an exterior cabinet, said exterior cabinet comprising;

means for receiving at least one support leg at a bottom portion of said cabinet; means for covering an interior of said cabinet at a top portion of said cabinet; means for forming walls of said exterior cabinet; and means for providing access to an interior of said cabinet.

16. The device of claim 15, in which said means for receiving at least one support leg at a bottom portion of said cabinet comprising means for generally safe stacking of two or more cabinets.

17. The device of claim 13, further comprising a means for extending said means for holding items and means for creating a customized storage space.

18. A device comprising: an upper disc portion, said upper disc comprising receiving holes for receiving at least one pole; a lower disc portion, said lower disc comprising receiving holes for receiving said at least one pole; a support pole section, said support pole is configured to generally fit into said receiving holes in said lower and upper disc portions; a swivel mechanism, said lower disc is configured to be coupled to said swivel mechanism being operable to enable said interior frame to rotate approximately 360 degrees; a vertical divider segment, said vertical divider comprising at least two or more vertical dividers configured to be mounted to said upper and lower disc around said support pole in a generally spoke pattern being operable to divide a space between said upper and lower disc, in which said vertical divider further comprising at least a plurality of pegs for receiving at least a plurality of keyhole slots, wherein said upper and lower discs further comprising at least a plurality of grooves into which said vertical dividers are generally positioned and substantially held in place. a shelf segment, said shelf comprising at least two or more removable wedge-shaped shelves configured to be adjusted or moved to a height position on said at least two or more vertical dividers, in which said at least two or more removable wedge-shaped shelves comprising at least a plurality of keyhole slots for placing over said pegs, and wherein said adjustability of said at least two or more removable wedge-shaped shelves is operable to enable a user to customize at least one or many height placement positions and number of shelves to use.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a shelf extender, wherein said shelf extender comprising a flange configured to be inserted into said extender slot operable to form a shelf that is sized to fit an approximately four section pattern, in which said upper and lower discs further comprising at least a plurality of grooves in a four section pattern and a five section pattern operable to enable a user to insert said vertical dividers in different configurations and to create a customized storage space.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising;

an exterior cabinet, said exterior cabinet comprising;

a base portion, said base comprising at least one or many holes or indentations for receiving at least one support leg; a top portion, said top portion comprising at least one or many holes or indentations is configured to cover an interior of said cabinet; a support leg section, said support leg comprising at least two or more support legs configured to be inserted into said holes or indentations in said base and top portions; and a side panel segment, said side panel comprising at least one or many side panels configured to substantially form walls of said exterior cabinet, in which at least one side panel comprising at least one door to provide access to an interior of said cabinet.