FIELD OF USE

The present disclosure relates generally to modular and customizable dividers for storage compartments such as drawers, and more particularly, to various dividers, couplers, and accessory holders that form one or more sub-compartments spaces for organization.

BACKGROUND

People have generally desired to find ways to organize various personal possessions and household items, especially as a way to physically de-clutter their lives. Many individuals, for instance, use physical folders to sort, organize, and file important documents while others may utilize racks such as clothing racks and shoe racks to help assort various clothing, shoes, and accessories. The primary reasons for organizing such items may include: increasing efficiency of a limited space, boosting productivity, and creating more room and space.

One of the most common devices that is used to organize personal items is storage compartments. Storage compartments may include drawers, shelves, trays, tool boxes, and the like. Organizational products directed to these storage compartments are typically drawer dividers and storage trays, both of which may create smaller sub-compartments for these spaces.

Unfortunately, these organizational products are designed to accommodate a certain type of item, space, or compartment. Storage dividers, for instance, tend to be sized to a particular length, whereas trays tend to hold certain items of specific dimensions. Some of these proposed devices also offer a small degree of adjustability (e.g., to handle items of different sizes). The steps required to make the adjustments, however, typically can be quite cumbersome or unsatisfying.

Therefore, there is a need for a new and improved compartment divider assembly that is customizable to a user's preference. Preferably, the new compartment divider assembly is modular and robust, such that the compartment divider assembly may divide and help organize compartments of various sizes and shapes.

SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

To minimize the limitations in the cited references, and to minimize other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the illustrative embodiments, the present disclosure teaches a new and useful compartment divider assembly.

One embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising two or more dividers and at least one corner coupler. The two or more dividers may comprise at least a first divider and a second divider. The at least one corner coupler may comprise at least one support coupler and four prongs, a first prong set and a second prong set. Each of the first prong set and the second prong set may comprise a top protrusion and a bottom protrusion. Each of the two dividers may further comprise at least one dovetail groove traversing along a longitudinal axis. The top protrusion and the bottom protrusion of the first prong set may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider, such that the at least one corner coupler may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the first divider. The engagement might be through the prongs or the protrusions deforming. The top protrusion and the bottom protrusion of the second prong set may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the second divider, such that the at least one corner coupler may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the second divider. Each of the first prong set and the second prong set may be one unitary prong that may have a base, the top protrusion, and the bottom protrusion. Each of the first prong set and the second prong set may comprise two vertically spaced prongs, a top prong and a bottom prong, wherein the top prong may comprise a base and the top protrusion, and wherein the bottom prong may comprise a base and the bottom protrusion. The two dividers may be positioned in a substantially vertical manner relative to a compartment in which the assembly rests. The first prong set and the second prong set may be positioned substantially perpendicular to each other on the at least one support coupler, such that the first divider may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the second divider. The first prong set and the second prong set may be positioned at less than 90° to each other on the at least one support coupler, such that the first divider may be positioned at less than 90° to the second divider. The first prong set and the second prong set may be positioned at greater than 90° to each other on the at least one support coupler, such that the first divider may be positioned at greater than 90° to the second divider. The four prongs may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider by deforming into the at least one dovetail groove.

Another embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising a first divider having at least one dovetail groove traversing along a longitudinal axis, a divider support groove assembly, and a corner coupler. The divider support groove may comprise a first support groove and a second support groove. The first support groove may comprise a first groove portion and a first dovetail portion. The second support groove may comprise a second groove portion and a second dovetail portion. The first dovetail portion may have a first planar face sloping outwardly at a first dovetail angle and a second planar face sloping at a sliding angle away from the first planar face. The second dovetail portion may have a third planar face sloping outwardly at a second dovetail angle and a fourth planar face sloping at said sliding angle away from the third planar face. The first dovetail portion and the second dovetail portion may form a first male dovetail when the second planar face contacts the fourth planar face. The first male dovetail may be adapted to slidably engage with the at least one dovetail groove. The second planar face of the first dovetail portion may be adapted to contact and slide with the fourth planar face of the second dovetail portion at the sliding angle in a back and forth manner, such that the divider support groove assembly may comprise at least two configurations: a lock configuration and a release configuration. The lock configuration may occur when the first planar face of the first dovetail portion contacts and engages a first inner side of the at least one dovetail groove and when the second third planar face of the second dovetail portion contacts and engages with a second inner side of the at least one dovetail groove while the second planar face and the fourth planar face are in contact with each other. The release configuration may occur when the first groove portion and the second groove portion are slid proximally towards each other and the second planar face and the fourth planar face are in contact with each other, such that the first planar face of the first dovetail portion is no longer in contact with the first inner side of the at least one dovetail groove and when the third planar face of the second dovetail portion is no longer in contact with the second inner side of the at least one dovetail groove. The lock configuration may create a gap between the first groove portion and the second groove portion. The gap may be fitted to engage with an end of a second divider. When the divider support groove assembly is in the release configuration, the divider support groove assembly may be removed from the at least one dovetail groove. The corner coupler may comprise at least a second male dovetail and a third male dovetail. The second male dovetail and the third male dovetail may be adapted to slidably engage with the at least one dovetail groove. The second male dovetail may be disposed at an angle substantially perpendicular to the third male dovetail. The second male dovetail and the third male dovetail may be positioned at an angle greater than 90° to each other. The second male dovetail and the third male dovetail may be positioned at an angle less than 90° to each other.

Another embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising at least two dividers, comprising at least a first divider and a second divider, and at least two couplers, comprising at least a first coupler and a second coupler. Each of the at least two couplers may comprise at least one support coupler and at least one prong. The first divider may comprise at least one dovetail groove traversing along a longitudinal axis. Each of the at least one prong may comprise a top protrusion and a bottom protrusion. The top protrusion and the bottom protrusion of the first prong may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider, such that the first coupler may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the first divider. The top protrusion and the bottom protrusion of the second prong may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider, such that the second coupler may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the first divider. The first and second couplers may be positioned along the dovetail groove of the first divider such that a gap may be created, wherein the gap may be fitted to engage with an end of the second divider. When the gap receives the end of the second divider, the second divider may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the first divider. The second divider may be in a vertical configuration relative to a compartment that contains the compartment divider assembly.

Another embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising at least two dividers, comprising at least a first divider and a second divider, and at least two twist couplers, comprising at least a first twist coupler and a second twist coupler. Each of the at least two twist couplers may comprise at least one support coupler and a twist prong. The first divider may comprise at least one dovetail groove traversing along a longitudinal axis. The first twist prong and the second twist prong may have a height that is greater than a width such that when the first and second twist couplers are rotated to a substantially horizontal position the first and second twist prongs may pass into the at least one dovetail groove, and when the first and second twist couplers are rotated to a substantially vertical position when engaged with at least one dovetail groove, the first and second twist prongs may be prevented from being pulled out of the at least one dovetail groove. The first and second twist couplers may engage with the at least one dovetail groove and may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the first divider. The first and second twist couplers may be positioned along the dovetail groove of the first divider such that a gap is created, wherein the gap is fitted to engage with an end of the second divider. When the gap receives the end of the second divider, the second divider may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the first divider. The second divider may be in a vertical configuration relative to a compartment that contains the compartment divider assembly.

Another embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising at least two dividers, comprising at least a first divider and a second divider, and one or more couplers. Each of the one or more couplers may comprise at least one support coupler, at least one prong, and a male connector. Each of the at least two dividers may comprise at least one dovetail groove traversing along a longitudinal axis. The at least one prong may comprise a top protrusion and a bottom protrusion. The top protrusion and the bottom protrusion may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider, such that the first coupler may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the first divider. The male connector may slidably engage with the dovetail groove of the second divider. When the male connector slidably engages with the second divider, the second divider may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the first divider. The second divider and the male connector may each be in a horizontal configuration relative to a compartment that contains the compartment divider assembly. The one or more couplers may be one coupler. The one coupler may comprise two prongs, a top prong and a bottom prong. The top prong may comprise the top protrusion and the bottom prong may comprise the bottom protrusion. The two prongs may engage with at least one dovetail groove of the first divider by deforming into the at least one dovetail groove.

Another embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising at least two dividers, comprising at least a first divider and a second divider, and one or more twist couplers. Each of the one or more twist couplers may comprise at least one support coupler, at least one twist prong, and a male connector. Each of the at least two dividers may comprise at least one dovetail groove traversing along a longitudinal axis. The at least one twist prong may have a height that is greater than a width such that when the one or more twist couplers are rotated to a substantially horizontal position the at least one twist prong may pass into the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider, and when the one or more twist couplers are rotated to a substantially vertical position when engaged with at least one dovetail groove, the one or more twist prongs may be prevented from being pulled out of the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider. The one or more twist couplers may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider and may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the first divider. The male connector may slidably engage with the dovetail groove of the second divider. When the male connector slidably engages with the second divider, the second divider may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the first divider. The second divider and the male connector may be each in a horizontal configuration relative to a compartment that contains the compartment divider assembly.

Another embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising at least two dividers, comprising at least a first divider and a second divider, and at least one coupler. Each of the at least one coupler may comprise at least two coupler supports, a first coupler support and a second coupler support, and at least one prong. The first and second support couplers may be substantially parallel to each other and may be spaced apart from each other to form a gap. The first divider may comprise at least one groove traversing along a longitudinal axis. The at least one prong may be configured to matingly engage with the at least one groove of the first divider and the gap may be configured to engage with an end of the second divider. When the gap receives the end of the second divider, the second divider may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the first divider and such that the at least one coupler may be held in place in the first divider by the second divider. The first and second support couplers may be vertically disposed and substantially perpendicular to the prong, such that the second divider may be in a vertical configuration relative to a compartment that contains the compartment divider assembly. When the prong engages with the groove of the first divider, the coupler may be held removably in place by friction. The at least one coupler may be one coupler. The one coupler may comprise one prong. The one prong may engage with the at least one groove of the first divider by deforming into the at least one groove.

Another embodiment may be a compartment divider assembly, comprising two or more dividers, comprising at least a first divider and a second divider, and one or more couplers. Each of the one or more couplers may comprise at least one support coupler and at least one prong. Each of the at least two dividers may comprise at least one dovetail groove traversing along a longitudinal axis. At least one of the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider may longitudinally align with at least one of the at least one dovetail groove of the second divider when the two dividers are positioned side by side longitudinally. The at least one prong may comprise a top protrusion and a bottom protrusion. The top protrusion and the bottom protrusion may engage with both the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider and the at least one dovetail groove of the second divider such that the first coupler may be held substantially in place by tension or friction relative to the first divider and the second divider, and wherein the first and second divider may be held in place next to each other in an end to end manner. Each of at least one prong may be one unitary prong that may have a base, the top protrusion, and the bottom protrusion. At least one prong may comprise two vertically spaced prongs, a top prong and a bottom prong, wherein the top prong may comprise a base and the top protrusion, and wherein the bottom prong may comprise a base and the bottom protrusion. The two dividers may be positioned in a substantially vertical manner relative to a compartment in which the assembly rests. The two dividers may be positioned in a substantially horizontal manner relative to a compartment in which the assembly rests. The one or more couplers may be one coupler. The one coupler may comprise two prongs, a top prong and a bottom prong. The top prong may comprise the top protrusion and the bottom prong may comprise the bottom protrusion. The two prongs may engage with the at least one dovetail groove of the first divider by deforming into the at least one dovetail groove.

The compartment divider assembly may be customizable and readily adaptable to a wide variety of different applications without structural modification.

The compartment divider assembly may be an assembly that utilizes a variety of dividers, couplers, and accessory receiving devices when customizing according to the user's preferences.

The compartment divider assembly may be an assembly that is versatile, powerful, cost-effective to manufacture, and effortlessly easy to use.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the compartment divider assembly claimed and disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

