Tubular organizer   

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to organizers, and more particularly to organizers comprising a plurality of individual receptacles secured to one another in such a way as to form a stable, free-standing structure, whereas no one individual receptacle would stand freely on its own.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Organizers used to hold various items in a plurality of separate receptacles are well known in the art. For example, organizers are often used on desks for holding pens, pencils, scissors, and the like. Organizers are also found in bathrooms for the purpose of holding toothbrushes, hairbrushes, toothpaste, and other items. Such organizers generally include a planar bottom surface, from which the plurality of receptacles extend upwardly.

One problem with these prior organizers is that they tend to be unhygienic when used in proximity of liquid, for example, on the counter top next to a sink in a bathroom or kitchen. Since a planar bottom surface provides little to no space between the organizer and the underlying surface, moisture is prevented from evaporating, which leads to its accumulation beneath the organizer. The combination of trapped moisture and an anaerobic environment provides many pathogenic microbes ideal conditions for growth. Consequently, organizers with planar bottom surfaces are generally unsuitable for use near sinks and the like.

Another problem with prior organizers is that the growth of microbes and accumulation of residue can go undetected by the user, especially when the receptacles are tall, deep, and narrow, as is generally the case for receptacles arranged to hold toothbrushes. The problem is exacerbated when the inner surface of a receptacle comprises corners or crevices, which facilitate such growth and accumulation.

Still another problem with prior organizers is that their receptacles generally have the same dimensions, i.e., height, width, diameter, etc. This poses a predicament when the user of the organizer wishes to store items of varying dimensions. For example, the optimal dimensions for a receptacle arranged to hold a short, wide item, such as, a makeup brush, would not be optimal for a receptacle arranged to hold a long, slender item, such as a toothbrush.

Thus, there is a longfelt need for an organizer which minimizes the potential for trapping moisture underneath its bottom surface, provides a means for detecting and minimizing unhygienic growth and/or accumulations within its receptacles, and includes receptacles of various dimensions.

SUMMARY

The present invention generally comprises an organizer for storing items, having at least three receptacles, each of the three receptacles comprising an upper section and a lower base section, each base section having a non-planar bottom surface such that each of the receptacles is incapable of standing on its own when resting on a flat surface, wherein each of the at least three receptacles is fixedly secured to at least one other of the at least three receptacles, such that the at least three receptacles function to support one another in a standing orientation when placed on the flat surface.

The general object of the invention is to provide an organizer which minimizes the potential for trapping moisture underneath its bottom surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an organizer with a means for detecting and minimizing unhygienic growth and/or accumulations within its receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an organizer which includes receptacles of various dimensions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a useful yet aesthetically pleasing organizer.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims in view of the several views of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention organizer shown holding a plurality of items;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the organizer alone;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the organizer;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the organizer;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of Area 10 shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of Area 11 shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the organizer;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the organizer;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a receptacle of the organizer;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the receptacle;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the receptacle; and,

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices and materials are now described.

The following description is best understood in view of FIGS. 1-9. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention organizer, hereinafter referred to as organizer 10, shown holding a plurality of items. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of organizer 10 alone. FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of organizer 10. FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of organizer 10. FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of organizer 10. FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of organizer 10.

In the embodiment shown in these figures, organizer 10 comprises seven tubular receptacles, namely, receptacles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18. In FIG. 1, receptacle 11 is shown holding toothpaste tube, 19, receptacle 14 is shown holding make-up brush 21, receptacle 12 is shown holding razor 20, and receptacle 15 is shown holding toothbrush 23. Each of the receptacles comprises a non-planar bottom surface, as illustrated with the rounded bottom outer surfaces of the receptacles. Preferably, the non-planar bottom surface of each receptacle is adapted to provide minimal contact with an underlying surface upon which organizer 10 is intended to rest, such as a bathroom sink, in order to minimize the potential for trapping liquid between organizer 10. Such a non-planar bottom surface renders its respective receptacle incapable of standing on its own when resting on a flat surface. Accordingly, organizer 10 comprises at least three receptacles fixedly secured to at least one other, and arranged to support one another in a standing orientation when placed on said flat surface.

Each of receptacles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 may include an upper section and a lower base section, namely, upper sections 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 16a, and 18a, respectively, and lower base sections 11b, 12b, 13b, 14b, 15b, 16b, and 18b, respectively. However, it should be appreciated that one or more of the receptacles may be of integral construction.

Organizer 10 may comprise any suitable material, for example, plastic, glass, metal, etc. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, each of the receptacles comprises a substantially transparent material, such as, glass or polyethylene terephthalate. For the sake of clarity, the figures show only the general outer contours of the portions of the receptacles that are obscured by those in the foreground, as illustrated with hatched lines. A substantially transparent material is preferred, because it enables a user to detect the presence of unhygienic growth or accumulation within the receptacle.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the organizer 10, and FIG. 8 is a top plan view of organizer 10. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of Area 11 shown in FIG. 7. As illustrated in these figures, each of receptacles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 is fixedly secured to at least one other receptacle by means of at least one connector 30. Connecter 30 may be any means suitable for fixedly securing one receptacle to another, but preferably comprises a bridge of rigid material extending between and fixedly secured to the outer surfaces of the two receptacles. Alternatively, each receptacle may be fixedly secured to at least one other receptacle by directly bonding the outer surfaces of the two receptacles.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of Area 10 shown in FIG. 9. The means for attaching each of upper sections 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 16a, and 18a, to its respective lower base section, 11b, 12b, 13b, 14b, 15b, 16b, or 18b, may be any means suitable in the art. Preferably, as shown in the figures, such means generally comprises interlocking flanges. In particular, each upper section comprises a first flange, each lower base section comprises second flange complimentary to the first flange, and the first flange is operatively arranged to interlock with the second flange, such that the upper section is securely attached to, and supported by, its respective lower base section. For example, FIG. 10 shows first flange 11c of upper section 11a in interlockingly engaged with second flange 11d of lower base section 11b.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention organizer, hereinafter referred to as organizer 100. Organizer 100 comprises five receptacles, namely, receptacles 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105. Receptacles 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 comprise upper sections 101a, 102a, 103a, 104a and 105a, respectively, and lower base sections 101b, 102b, 103b, 104b (not fully shown), and 105b, respectively. Preferably, receptacles 101, 102, and 103 are substantially tubular and of various heights and diameters, as shown in this figure.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention organizer, hereinafter referred to as organizer 150. Organizer 150 comprises three receptacles, namely, receptacles 151, 152, and 153. Receptacles 151, 152, and 153 comprise upper sections 151a, 152a, and 153a, respectively, and lower base sections 151b, 152b, and 153b (not fully shown), respectively. Preferably, receptacles 151, 152, and 153 are substantially tubular and of various heights and diameters, as shown in this figure.

While FIGS. 1-13 show the organizer comprising substantially cylindrical tubular receptacles, it should be appreciated that the particular shape of the upper and lower base sections may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of second embodiment receptacle 200 comprising upper section 200a, having a generally rectangular cross-section, and rounded lower base section 200b. FIG. 15 a perspective view of third embodiment receptacle 250 comprising upper section 250a, having a generally triangular cross-section, and three-sided pyramidal lower base section 250b. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of fourth embodiment receptacle 300 comprising upper section 300a, having a generally hexagonal cross-section, and six-sided pyramidal lower base section 300b. Lastly, FIG. 17 is a perspective view of fifth embodiment receptacle 350 comprising upper section 350a, having a generally octagonal cross-section, and eight-sided pyramidal lower base section 350b.

Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which changes would not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.