Storage divider

Abstract

A storage system in which a base is preferably molded of a lightweight polymeric material and includes a peripheral raised edge for hingedly receiving front, rear, and end walls. The end walls of one embodiment are foldable, such that they collapse integrally with the front and rear walls. Each of the front, rear and end walls can be folded flat for compact storage of the system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible storage divider for a vehicle comprising: 
 a molded polymeric base having a raised peripheral lip extending around the outer periphery thereof;    front and rear walls pivotally mounted to the base within opposite edges of the peripheral lip, the front and rear walls being movable from a stored position where the front and rear walls are folded toward one another in a flat position within the peripheral lip of the base to an open position where the front and rear walls are in a substantially vertical position, the front and rear walls including a slot; and    at least one wall for holding the front and rear walls in the open position, the wall being pivotally mounted to the base between the front and rear walls and having a pair of tabs respectively engaging the slots of the front and rear walls, a face of the wall being proximate a floor of the base in the stored position and perpendicular to the floor of the base in the open position.    
     
     
         2 . The storage divider of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall and rear walls include a first edge proximate the portion of the front and rear walls pivotally mounted to the base and a second edge distal the first edge including a recess defining a handle, wherein the recesses are proximate one another when the front and rear walls are in the stored position.  
     
     
         3 . The storage divider of  claim 2 , wherein the front wall and rear wall are pivotally mounted to the base with a snap fit.  
     
     
         4 . The storage divider of  claim 1 , wherein the tabs of the wall extend downward into a respective slot of the front and rear walls in an engaged position.  
     
     
         5 . The storage divider of  claim 4 , wherein the slots are located on an inner surface of the front and rear walls; the inner surface of the walls facing one another when the front and rear walls are in the open position.  
     
     
         6 . The storage divider of  claim 5 , wherein the front wall and rear wall include an outer surface opposite the inner surface; the outer surface being proximate an inner surface of the peripheral lip when the front and rear walls are in the open position.  
     
     
         7 . The storage divider of  claim 6 , wherein the inner surface of the peripheral lip prohibits the front and rear walls from pivoting substantially more than ninety degrees from the base prior to the wall being engaged with the front and rear walls.  
     
     
         8 . The storage divider of  claim 1 , wherein the raised periphery includes a top surface distal the floor of the base; an outer surface of the front and rear walls being substantially flush with at least a part of the top surface of the raised periphery.  
     
     
         9 . The storage divider of  claim 1 , wherein the outer periphery of the base includes a bottom edge having a recess formed therein.  
     
     
         10 . The storage divider of  claim 9 , wherein the handle recess is centrally located on one of the sides of the base.  
     
     
         11 . A collapsible storage divider for a vehicle comprising: 
 a molded polymeric base having a floor and a raised peripheral lip extending around the outer periphery thereof, the peripheral lip having an inner surface;    front and rear walls pivotally mounted to the base within opposite edges of the peripheral lip, the front and rear walls being movable from a stored position where the front and rear walls are folded toward one another in a flat position within the peripheral lip of the base to an open position where the front and rear walls are in a substantially vertical position, the front and rear walls including a slot, the front wall and rear wall each including a first edge proximate the peripheral lip and a second free edge distal the first edge; each second edge including a recess defining a handle, the recesses being aligned when the front and rear walls are in the stored position, wherein the front wall and rear wall include an outer surface being proximate the inner surface of the peripheral lip when the front wall and rear wall are in the open position, the outer surface of the front and rear walls being substantially flush with at least a part of the top surface of the raised periphery when the front and rear walls are in the stored position; and    at least one wall for holding the front and rear walls in the open position, the wall being pivotally mounted to the base between the front and rear walls and having a pair of tabs respectively engaging the slots of the front and rear walls, the wall being proximate a floor of the base in the stored position and perpendicular to the floor of the base in the open position wherein the inner surface of the peripheral lip prohibits the front and rear walls from pivoting substantially more than ninety degrees from the base prior to the wall being engaged with the front and rear walls.    
     
     
         12 . The storage divider of  claim 1   1 , wherein the slots are located on an inner surface of the front and rear walls; the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls facing one another when the front and rear walls are in the open position.  
     
     
         13 . The storage divider of  claim 12 , wherein the base includes an outer periphery having a bottom edge, a handle recess is formed in the outer periphery proximate the bottom edge.  
     
     
         14 . The storage divider of  claim 13 , wherein the handle recess is centrally located on one of the sides of the base.  
     
     
         15 . A collapsible storage divider for a vehicle comprising: 
 a molded polymeric base having a raised peripheral lip extending around the outer periphery thereof;    front and rear walls pivotally mounted to the base within opposite edges of the peripheral lip, the front and rear walls being movable from a stored position where the front and rear walls are folded toward one another in a flat position within the peripheral lip of the base to an open position where the front and rear walls are in a substantially vertical position, the front and rear walls including one of a pair of slots and a pair of tabs respectively engaging the pair of slots; and    at least one wall for holding the front and rear walls in the open position, the wall being pivotally mounted to the base between the front and rear walls and having the other one of the pair of slots and the pair of tabs respectively engaging the pair of slots, a face of the wall being proximate a floor of the base in the stored position and perpendicular to the floor of the base in the open position.    
     
     
         16 . The storage divider of  claim 15 , wherein the front and rear walls include the pair of slots and the at least one wall includes the pair of tabs respectively engaging the pair of slots.  
     
     
         17 . A collapsible storage divider for a vehicle comprising: 
 a base having a raised peripheral lip extending around the outer periphery thereof;    front and rear walls pivotally mounted to the base within opposite edges of the peripheral lip, the front and rear walls being movable from a stored position where the front and rear walls are folded toward one another in a flat position within the peripheral lip of the base to an open position where the front and rear walls are in a substantially vertical position; and    at least one wall for-holding the front and rear walls in the open position, the wall being pivotally mounted to the base between the front and rear walls, a face of the wall being proximate a floor of the base in the stored position and perpendicular to the floor of the base in the open position, the wall coupling to the front and rear walls in the open position.    
     
     
         18 . A collapsible storage divider for a vehicle comprising: 
 a base having a raised peripheral lip extending around the outer periphery thereof;    front and rear walls pivotally mounted to the base within opposite edges of the peripheral lip, the front and rear walls being movable from a stored position where the front and rear walls are folded toward one another in a flat position within the peripheral lip of the base to an open position where the front and rear walls are in a substantially vertical position; and    at least one wall for holding the front and rear walls in the open position, the wall being pivotally mounted to the base between the front and rear walls, a face of the wall being proximate a floor of the base in the stored position and perpendicular to the floor of the base in the open position, the wall coupling to the front and rear walls in the open position,    wherein the wall moves radially as it pivots from a horizontal position to a vertical position, the wall dropping vertically downwardly as the wall is coupled to the front and rear walls.