Storage containers and organizers for lazy susans

Abstract

A system is provided which is adapted for use with a Lazy Susan ( 10 ), having a number of shelves ( 14 ) rotatably mounted about a support ( 16 ). A series of fins ( 40 ) are mounted onto a fin holder ( 42 ). Storage containers ( 44 ) are located within sector-shaped areas defined by the fins ( 40 ). The containers ( 44 ) include lids ( 48 ) and handle portions ( 110 ).

1 . A system adapted for use with an article having Lazy Susan-like properties, said article having a support and at least one shelf for removable storage of materials, said system comprising segregating means removably coupled to said article and projecting radially outward above said shelf for segregating a surface of said shelf into a plurality of sectors.  
     
     
         2 . A system in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said segregating means comprises a plurality of radially projecting fins.  
     
     
         3 . A system in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that said projecting fins are of a height sufficient so as to resist tipping of storage containers located on said plurality of sectors.  
     
     
         4 . A system in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that said system further comprises a fin holder located adjacent said support for securing said plurality of fins at one end thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A system in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized in that said fin holder comprises means for releasing said plurality of fins from said fin holder.  
     
     
         6 . A system in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized in that said fin holder further comprises: 
 a central body;    a series of vertical receivers located at spaced intervals along a length of said body;    a receiver rib located on an interior side of each of said vertical receivers; and    a series of web portions located between said vertical receivers, said web portions collectively connected to said vertical receivers and forming said body of said fin holder.    
     
     
         7 . A system in accordance with  claim 6 , characterized in that said fin holder further comprises; 
 at least one latch, said latch comprising first and second latch components, said latch components comprising projections emanating from respective ones of said vertical receivers; and    at least one lock having means for affirmative engagement in combination with said first and said second latch components, with said lock and said first and said second latch components all located at a web end.    
     
     
         8 . A system in accordance with  claim 7 , characterized in that: 
 when said fin holder is in an open position, said web ends can be brought together so that said first and said second latch components engage, with said lock serving to retain said first and said second latch components in said engaged condition; and    with the resultant configuration, said fin holder is in a closed tubular construction formed with a center; and    said center comprises a through hole of a diameter which is compatible with installation onto said support of said article.    
     
     
         9 . A system in accordance with  claim 7 , characterized in that angles along said shelf defined by said plurality of fins, when installed in said fin holder, are set by the spacing of said vertical receivers on said fin holder.  
     
     
         10 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , characterized in that each of said fins comprises a fin mount, and said fin holder is adapted to receive said fin mounts of said fins.  
     
     
         11 . A system in accordance with  claim 10 , characterized in that outer ends of each of said plurality of fins engage lips located along the perimeter of said shelf.  
     
     
         12 . A system in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized in that said fins and said fin holder are constructed from plastic resins, utilizing an injection molding process.  
     
     
         13 . A system adapted for use with an article having Lazy Susan-like properties, said article having a support and at least one shelf for removable storage of materials, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of sector-shaped containers adapted for storage of materials therein and for placement on said shelf; and    handle means associated with each of said sector-shaped containers and adapted to be grasped by a user to facilitate accessibility of material contents of said containers and of handling of said containers.    
     
     
         14 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , characterized in that at least a subset of said plurality of sector-shaped containers comprise lid means for substantially enclosing said material contents within said containers, said lid means located at the top portion of said containers and having spout means for facilitating dispensing of said material contents within said containers.  
     
     
         15 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , characterized in that each of said containers comprises: 
 a container top;    container bottom;    container side walls;    container front; and    a handle portion oriented toward said container rear.    
     
     
         16 . A system in accordance with  claim 15 , characterized in that said handle portion comprises: 
 a handle recess duplicated upon either side of said handle portion;    a handle recess top and handle recess bottom, said top and said bottom collectively transitioning areas between said handle portion and a main construction of said container.    
     
     
         17 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , characterized in that said system further comprises a lid associated with at least one of said containers, said lid having a spout for dispensing material components from said container.  
     
     
         18 . A system in accordance with  claim 17 , characterized in that said spout further comprises: 
 a pouring edge oriented toward a front of said lid;    a flange portion extending along two equal legs of a triangular shape of said spout opening; and    an access portion formed by a recessed area within said lid, which facilitates access for a user's fingertips.    
     
     
         19 . A system in accordance with  claim 18 , characterized in that said lid includes flap anchor holes and a flap anchor flange.  
     
     
         20 . A system in accordance with  claim 19 , characterized in that said lid further comprises a flap anchor recess.  
     
     
         21 . A system in accordance with  claim 20 , characterized in that a spout flap is installable on said lid and, in combination, forms a completed lid embodiment, said spout flap comprising a spout flap front, spout flap rear, spout flap edge and spout flap top.  
     
     
         22 . A system in accordance with  claim 21 , characterized in that: 
 said spout flap is inserted onto a top of said lid by press fitting said flap anchors into said flap anchor holes; and    said flap seal is engagable with said spout flange, so as to provide a seal around a perimeter of said spout opening.    
     
     
         23 . A system in accordance with  claim 22 , characterized in that said user, when addressing said lid as installed on said storage container, uses said access portion to insert fingers under said spout flap edge located at a front of said spout, so as to disengage said spout flap from said spout flange.  
     
     
         24 . A system in accordance with  claim 23 , characterized in that said spout hinge is a living hinge and allows said spout flap to be transitioned upwardly and toward an outer edge of said storage container, whereby said spout flap rests in said flap anchor recess.  
     
     
         25 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , characterized in that said system further comprises: 
 a lid installed on said storage container, said lid having an integrally provided spout; and    means for permitting said storage container to be used as a vessel that is not only compatible with storage of goods on said shelf, but which also may be withdrawn through use of a handle portion, and to provide a function as a serving vessel.    
     
     
         26 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , characterized in that said storage container comprises means for manipulating said storage container into a pouring function.  
     
     
         27 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , characterized in that said system further comprises a plurality of stackable storage containers.  
     
     
         28 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , characterized in that said storage container is constructed from plastic resins, utilizing an injection molding process.  
     
     
         29 . A system adapted for use with an article having Lazy Susan-like properties, said article having a support and at least one shelf for removable storage of materials, said system comprising: 
 segregating means removably coupled to said article and projecting radially outward above said shelf for segregating a surface of said shelf into a plurality of sectors; and    a plurality of sector-shaped containers having means for storage of material contents therein, handle means for manual grasping of and manipulation of said storage container by a user, lid means for providing a top to said storage container, and spout means associated with said lid means for facilitating pouring of said material contents from said container; and    said storage container is of a shape and size so as to fit between elements of said segregating means when said storage container is placed on said shelf.