COLLAPSIBLE ORGANIZER

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims the benefit of, and priority to, CN Application No. 202420835085.4, entitled “A Collapsible Organizer”, filed on Apr. 22, 2024 and CN Application No. 202420843382.3, entitled “An Organizer”, filed on Apr. 22, 2024, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a collapsible organizer, and more particularly to a collapsible organizer having an improved hinge and/or an improved latch.

BACKGROUND

Molded plastic collapsible organizers are known. Each side panel of the collapsible organizer is attached to a bottom panel by a hinge, and the side panel is selectively movable around the hinge between a use position substantially vertical to the bottom panel and a collapsed position parallel to the bottom panel. Adjacent side panels are attached at corners using any of a variety of methods to selectively lock the organizer in the use position. When not in use, the side panels are moved to the collapsed position to save space. However, existing collapsible organizers have a tendency for the side panels to detach from the bottom panel when in the collapsed position, which increases the possibility of collision damage during transportation.

Additionally, existing collapsible organizers generally adopt a top opening and a top lid to realize the access function. However, when a plurality of collapsible organizers are stored in a stacked state, the top lid cannot be opened directly due to the blockage of the bottom of an upper collapsible organizer, resulting in difficulties in access operations. In order to overcome this defect, the existing improvement plan adds a side opening to the collapsible organizer and a side door which can be opened or closed by a rotational movement to selectively open or close the side opening of the collapsible organizer. However, the side door of the existing collapsible organizer is generally locked by a simple locking structure with insufficient locking force, so that the side door can not be closed stably, the side door is easily opened under slight external force, which has the technical defects of poor locking reliability and low safety protection performance.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible organizer having many advantages over the prior art. In order to provide a basic understanding of the present invention, a simplified overview of some embodiments of the present invention is given below. The overview is not a general overview of the present invention, nor is it intended to identify key elements of the present invention or describe the scope of the present invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form.

In a first aspect, a collapsible organizer includes: a) a bottom panel; b) a side panel pivotally engaged to the bottom panel via a hinge and configured to pivot about the hinge between a use position perpendicular to the bottom panel and a collapsed position parallel to the bottom panel; c) wherein the hinge comprising: i) a hinge member fixedly engaged with the side panel; and ii) a hinge receiver fixedly engaged with the bottom panel and configured to receive a hinge pin body of the hinge member; wherein the hinge pin body comprises a non-cylindrical portion which is a columnar configuration with non-uniform thickness and comprises a plurality of thicknesses including a first thickness defining a minimum thickness; wherein the hinge pin body is permitted to detach from the hinge receiver only when a direction of the first thickness is substantially parallel to the bottom panel, and when the direction of the first thickness is substantially parallel to the bottom panel, the side panel is positioned between the use position and the collapsed position.

In a second aspect, a collapsible organizer includes: a) a bottom panel; b) a side panel pivotally engaged to the bottom panel via a hinge and configured to pivot about the hinge between a use position perpendicular to the bottom panel and a collapsed position parallel to the bottom panel; c) wherein the hinge comprising: ii) a hinge member fixedly engaged with the side panel; and ii) a hinge receiver fixedly engaged with the bottom panel and configured to receive a hinge pin body of the hinge member; wherein the hinge pin body comprises a non-cylindrical portion, and a peripheral surface of the non-cylindrical portion comprises two first sides oppositely arranged as parallel planar surfaces and two second sides oppositely arranged as arcuate surfaces; wherein a perpendicular distance between the two first sides defines a minimum dimension of a thickness of the non-cylindrical portion; wherein the hinge pin body is permitted to detach from the hinge receiver only when the two first sides are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, and when the two first sides are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, the side panel is positioned between the use position and the collapsed position.

In a third aspect, a organizer includes: a) a door frame having an opening and a straight frame member; b) a door panel pivotally engaged in the opening, the door panel having a straight edge member configured to confront the frame member when the door panel is closed and move away from the frame member when the door panel is opened; c) a latch assembly comprising: i) an actuator disposed on the frame member; and ii) a pin engaged with the actuator and extending from the actuator into the opening along a direction perpendicular to the frame member; d) a slot disposed on the edge member and confronting the pin when the door panel is closed, the slot comprising: i) a first slot portion extending along a direction parallel to the edge member; ii) a second slot portion extending along a direction perpendicular to the first slot portion and in communication with the first slot portion, the second slot portion having a slot entrance configured to receive the pin; e) wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the pin to move selectively between a first position and a second position along a direction parallel to the frame member; f) wherein the pin is configured to enter or exit the slot along the second slot portion as the door panel rotates between open and closed when the pin is in the first position and move selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.

In a fourth aspect, a organizer includes: a) a door frame having an opening and a straight frame member; b) two door panels pivotally engaged in the opening, each of the two door panels having a straight edge member configured to confront the frame member when the door panel is closed and move away from the frame member when the door panel is opened; c) a latch assembly comprising: i) an actuator disposed on the frame member; and ii) two pins engaged with the actuator and extending from the actuator into the opening along a direction perpendicular to the frame member; d) two slots respectively disposed on the edge member and each of the two slots configured to confront the corresponding pin when the door panel is closed, the slot comprising: i) a first slot portion extending along a direction parallel to the edge member; and ii) a second slot portion extending along a direction perpendicular to the first slot portion and in communication with the first slot portion, the second slot portion having a slot entrance configured to receive the pin; e) wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the two pins to move selectively between a first position and a second position along a direction parallel to the frame member; and f) wherein the pin is configured to enter or exit the corresponding slot along the second slot portion as the door panel rotates between open and closed when the pin is in the first position and move selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible organizer.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an inside portion of a side panel of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an A-A sectional view of the side panel of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an interior portion of a bottom plate of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the side panel and the bottom panel of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1 in a pre-assembled position.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the side panel and the bottom panel of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1 in a pre-separated position.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the side panel and the bottom panel of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1 in a use position.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the side panel and the bottom panel of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1 in a collapsible position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the combination of two door panels and a door frame of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the door frame of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the door panel of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a top view of two door panels of the collapsible organizer of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, different embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, particular structures and details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, for those skilled in the art the present invention can be realized without the need for specific details. In addition, well-known features will be omitted or simplified for clarity of the described embodiments.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which the same markings denote the same components in several of the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an organizer 10, and FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded schematic view of the organizer 10. The organizer 10 may include a bottom panel 12, a side panel 14, a side panel 16, a side panel 18, a door frame 20, a top panel 22, and two door panels 24. The side panels 14, 16, 18 and the door frame 20 are pivotally connected to the bottom panel 12 by a plurality of hinges and are capable of pivoting around the hinges between a use position and a collapsed position. Specifically, in the use position, the side panels 14, 16, 18 and the door frame 20 are perpendicular to the bottom panel 12; and in the collapsed position, the side panels 14, 16, 18 and the door frame 20 are parallel to the bottom panel 12.

Each hinge comprises a hinge member 30 and a hinge receiver 32. The hinge member 30 is integrally moulded with and extends downwardly from lower edges of the side panels 14, 16, 18 and the door frame 20. And the hinge receiver 32 is integrally moulded with and extends upwardly from the bottom panel 12 for pivotally receiving the hinge member 30.

In a transportation or storage state, the side panel 18 and door frame 20 may be folded onto the bottom panel 12, followed by folding the side panel 14 and side panel 16 over the side panel 18 and door frame 20. Optionally, the side panel 14 and the side panel 16 may be folded preferentially onto the bottom panel 12, followed by folding the side panel 18 and the door frame 20 over the side panel 14 and the side panel 16.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the hinge member 30 on the side panel 14 when viewed from an interior surface of the side panel 14. The remaining hinge members 30 are structurally and functionally identical or substantially equivalent thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the hinge member 30 includes a hinge pin body 36 secured to the lower edge of the side panel 14 via a base. An opening 38 is formed substantially in the center of the base of the hinge member 30 such that the base forms a pair of support members 40 that attach the hinge pin body 36 to the lower edge of the side panel 14. The hinge pin body 36 includes two cylindrical end portions 42 disposed on the outer side of the two support members 40 and a non-cylindrical portion 44 disposed between the two support members 40.

A peripheral surface of the non-cylindrical portion 44 is constructed with a first side 46, a second side 48, a third side 50, a fourth side 52, a fifth side 54, and a sixth side 56 sequentially connected, wherein the sixth side 56 is arranged adjacent to the first side 46, forming a circumferentially continuous distribution of the structure. The first side 46 and the fourth side 52 are arcuate surfaces arranged opposite each other, that the second side 48 and the fifth side 54 are parallel planar surfaces arranged opposite each other, and the third side 50 and the sixth side 56 are parallel planar surfaces arranged opposite each other. Wherein the first side 46 and the fourth side 52 are provided as circumferential surfaces is to increase the rotational flexibility of the non-cylindrical portion 44 in the hinge receiver 32, it is also possible to provide at least one of the first side 46 and the fourth side 52 as a planar surface in the case of reduced flexibility.

The cross-sectional configuration of the non-cylindrical portion 44 is defined in such a way that a width W2 of the second side 48 and a width W5 of the fifth side 54, which are distributed along the periphery of its cross-section, are greater than a width W3 of the third side 50 and a width W6 of the sixth side 56, respectively. The dimensions of the paired opposite sides of the non-cylindrical portion 44 (e.g., the second side 48 versus the fifth side 54, the third side 50 versus the sixth side 56 may be set asymmetrically, i.e., allowing for a difference in the width of the two sides.

The improvement of the present invention for hinges further comprises that the non-cylindrical portion 44 is a columnar configuration with non-uniform thickness, wherein in the cross-section of the non-cylindrical portion 44, the perpendicular distance between the second side 48 and the fifth side 54 is defined as a minimum dimension Wmin of the thickness of the non-cylindrical portion 44, which will be further described below. Wherein the perpendicular distance between the circumferential surfaces of the first side 46 and the fourth side 52 is defined by a spacing between two straight lines tangent to the circumferential surfaces and parallel to each other.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the interior of the bottom panel 12, showing the hinge receiver 32. The hinge receiver 32 includes a pair of brackets 58 which are disposed opposite each other, and each of which is generally U-shaped. Between the pair of brackets 58 is a pair of lugs 64, which are disposed opposite each other, wherein at least one of the lugs 64 is constructed to be slightly deformable. And wherein each of the lugs 64 includes an inclined surface 66 disposed at the upper end thereof and facing toward the other thereby forming a downward-contracting guide opening between the two lugs 64. Each of the lugs 64 also includes a curved surface 68 that engages the lower edge of the inclined surface 66. Optionally, the hinge receiver 32 has a hollow bottom 70. Optionally, one of the lugs 64 may be replaced by a wall of the bottom panel 12 such that the hinge receiver 32 has only one lug.

As shown in FIG. 6, the side panel 14 and the bottom panel 12 are in a pre-assembled position, which is between the use position and the collapsed position, wherein the angle between the side panel 14 and the bottom panel 12 in this position is greater than that in the collapsed position, and is less than that in the use position, that is, more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, preferably close to 45 degrees, such as 30-60 degrees, and most preferably 45 degrees.

In the pre-assembled position, the direction of the minimum dimension Wmin of the non-cylindrical portion 44 is substantially parallel to the bottom panel 12. In this position, the two cylindrical end portions 42 of the hinge member 30 are aligned with the two brackets 58 of the hinge receiver 32, and the hinge member 30 is inserted into the hinge receiver 32 in a downward direction, with the third side 50 and the fifth side 54 of the hinge member 30 contacting the inclined surfaces 66 of the two lugs 64, respectively. Under the application of appropriate force, the slightly deformable lugs 64 are thus deflected outward to allow the hinge pin body 36 to be completely inserted into the hinge receiver 32 from the guide opening, at which point the two cylindrical end portions 42 of the hinge member 30 are received in the two brackets 58 of the hinge receiver 32, and the non-cylindrical portion 44 of the hinge member 30 is disposed between the two lugs 64 of the hinge receiver 32.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7, the side panel 14 and the bottom panel 12 are in a pre-separated position, which is at the same angle as the pre-assembled position, except that the hinge member 30 of the side panel 14 has been inserted into the hinge receiver 32 of the bottom panel 12. In this position, the hinge member 30 inserted into the hinge receiver 32 can be detached from the hinge receiver 32 in an upward direction. When detached, the second side 48 and the sixth side 56 of the hinge member 30 contact the curved surfaces 68 of the two lugs 64, respectively. Under the application of appropriate force, the slightly deformable lugs 64 are thus deflected outward to allow the hinge pin body 36 to detach from the guide opening from the hinge receiver 32.

As can be seen from the above, it is the key that the non-cylindrical portion 44 of the hinge member 30 is aligned with the guide opening of the hinge receiver 32 with its minimum dimension Wmin, and therefore the second side 48 and the fifth side 54, which define the minimum dimension Wmin, are the key sides. While the third side 50 and the sixth side 56 are equivalent to guide surfaces, which are only used to guide the non-cylindrical portion 44 to align with the guide opening with the minimum dimension Wmin. Thus the non-cylindrical portion 44 may also be without the third side 50 and the sixth side 56, so that the second side 48 is adjacent to the fourth side 52 and the fifth side 54 is adjacent to the first side 46.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the use position, the first side 46 and the fourth side 52 of the hinge member 30 contact the curved surfaces 68 of the two lugs 64. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, in the collapsed position, the first side 46 and the fourth side 48 of the hinge member 30 contact the curved surfaces 68 of the two lugs 64. Since the non-cylindrical portion 44 is not aligned with the guide opening of the hinge receiver 32 with the minimum dimension Wmin in both positions and the hinge member 30 cannot be detached from the hinge receiver 32 even if the lugs 64 is deflected outward, each hinge member 30 is confined within the hinge receiver 32.

The above structural configuration ensures that the hinge member 30 cannot be detached from the hinge receiver 32 when the organizer 10 is in the use position and the collapsed position, which ensures enhanced user's experience while preventing mechanical wear caused by structural interference, as it effectively blocks the hinge component 30 from disengaging from the hinge receptacle 32 during transportation due to vibration-induced displacement.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the stopper 69 is fixed to the lower edge of the side panel 14 and located in the opening 38. When the side panel 14 rotates to the use position, the stopper 69 abuts against the inner surface of the bottom panel 12, thereby forming a rotation stopper constraint in the outward rotation direction of the side panel 14. The side panels 16, 18 and the door frame 20 have the same or similar stoppers 69.

As shown in FIGS. 10-12, the door frame 20 includes two side straight frame members 71, and further includes an upper straight frame member 74 and a lower straight frame member 76 disposed between the two side straight frame members 71. Each of the two door panels 24 includes a pivot side 78 and a free side 80 opposite to the pivot side 78, with the pivot side 78 adjacent and parallel to the side straight frame member 71 and engaged between the upper straight frame member 74 and the lower straight frame member 76. The two door panels 24 are rotatable about a rotation axis defined by their respective pivot sides 78.

The door panel frame 20 defines an opening 82, which is closed by the two door panels 24 when the two door panels 24 rotate so that the two free sides 80 confront each other and are located in the opening 82. The upper straight frame member 74 of the door frame 20 includes a blocking member 88, which extends downwardly from the upper straight frame member 74 and thus is disposed within the opening 82. The blocking member 88 may block the two door panels 24 from rotating further into the organizer 10. The two door panels 24 have an avoidance recess 90 at a location corresponding to the blocking member 88 such that when the door panels 24 close the opening 82, the door panels 24 remain flush with the surface of the door panel frame 20.

The door panel frame 20 also includes an upper latch assembly 92, which is disposed substantially in the middle of the upper straight frame member 74. The upper latch assembly 92 includes an actuator 94 and a sliding groove 96 extending in a lengthwise direction of the upper straight frame member 74, with the actuator 94 sliding in the sliding groove 96. Two pins 98 are integrally molded with the lower edge of the actuator 94 and extend downward so as to be disposed in the opening 82 such that the pins 98 can slide in the lengthwise direction of the upper straight frame member 74 by sliding the actuator 94.

Each door panel 24 has an upper straight edge member 100 which confronts the upper straight frame member 74 of the door frame 20 when the opening 82 is closed by the door panel 24. The top of the upper straight edge member 100 has an upper slot 102 with an open top in correspondence with the pin 98 of the upper latch assembly 92. The upper slot 102 comprises a first slot portion 104 extending in a lengthwise direction of the upper straight frame member 74 and a second slot portion 106 extending in a widthwise direction of the upper straight frame member 74. The first sections 104 of both upper slots 102 of the two door panels 24 extend from their respective second sections 106 in the same direction, therefore the upper slots 102 on the two door panels 24 are not mirror-symmetric.

Proximal ends of the first slot portion 104 and the second slot portion 106 are connected to form the upper slot 102 in a substantially L-shaped, such that the first slot portion 104 is in communication with the second slot. A distal end of the second slot portion 106 is oriented toward the interior of the organizer 10 with a slot entrance 108 that corresponds to the pin 98, while a distal end of the first slot portion 104 is a closed end. The pin 98 may enter the upper slot 102 from the slot entrance 108 when slid to align with the slot entrance 108.

The upper slot 102 and the pin 98 are constructed such that when the pin 98 is aligned with the slot entrance 108, the pin 98 enters the upper slot 102 from the slot entrance 108 as the door panel 24 rotates toward it and is located at the connection of the proximal ends of the first part 104 and the second part 106 when the door panel 24 is completely closed, and then the pin 98 can be moved toward the distal end of the first slot portion 104 along the first slot portion 104 by sliding the actuator 94. The door panel 24 will be prevented from opening when the pin 98 is located in the first slot portion 104 and is not aligned with the slot entrance 108.

When the door panel 24 is to be opened, the pin 98 is moved along the first slot portion 104 to the connection of the proximal ends of the first part 104 and the second part 106 by means of the slide actuator 94, and since the pin 98 is aligned with the slot entrance 108 there, the pin 98 will exit the upper slot 102 from the slot entrance 108 as the door panel 24 is rotated outwardly away from the pin 98.

A lower latch assembly 110 with the same structure as the upper latch assembly 92 can also be provided on the lower straight frame member 76 of the door frame 20, and lower slots 111 can be provided on the lower edge member of the door panel 24, accordingly. If necessary, only the upper latch assembly (corresponding to the upper slots) or the lower latch assembly (corresponding to the lower slots) can be set.

A blocking member 112 of the same construction as the blocking member 88 may also be provided in the lower straight frame member 76, and accordingly, an avoidance recess (not shown in the drawings) may be provided in the door panel 24 at a position corresponding to the blocking member 112, and the blocking member may be provided in the upper straight frame member 74 or the lower straight frame member 76 only, as desired.

It should be noted that the above specific embodiments are exemplary, and the person skilled in the art may come up with various solutions inspired by the disclosure of the present invention, and all of these solutions also fall within the scope of disclosure of the present invention and fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. The person skilled in the art should understand that the specification of the present invention and its accompanying drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation of the claims. The scope of protection of the present invention is limited by the claims and their equivalents. The specification of the present invention contains a number of inventive ideas, such as “preferably”, “alternative embodiments” or “optionally” means that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent idea, and the applicant The applicant reserves the right to file a separate application based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, the features guided by “preferably” are only optional and should not be construed as mandatory, so the applicant reserves the right to waive or delete the relevant preferred features at any time.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.