X-Y-Z drawer organizer

Abstract

An organizer for a drawer or other rectangular or non rectangular space. The organizer has a plurality of individual elements that are mutually nested together and can be moved both in the width direction and in the length direction to expand or contract the organizer so as to conform to the dimensions of the drawer or other rectangular or non rectangular space. Each element has a bottom surface that combines to provide a contiguous bottom surface of the organizer in the expanded and contracted positions. There is also a peripheral continuous raised edge that surrounds the perimeter of the organizer when in the contracted or expanded positions.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An organizer for use within a rectangular space having a width and a length dimension to create compartmentalized areas for objects placed in the rectangular space, said organizer comprising a plurality of individual elements, each of said individual elements having a general planar bottom surface, said elements adapted to be slidingly nested together to form a contiguous bottom surface, at least one of the elements being movable in the width direction, at least one of said elements being movable in the length direction and at least one of said elements being movable in both the length and width directions of the rectangular space to expand or contract the organizer to conform to the rectangular space while maintaining a contiguous bottom surface.  
     
     
         2 . The organizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein there are at least four elements.  
     
     
         3 . The organizer as defined in  claim 2  wherein there are four individual elements and each of said elements has a raised exterior edge and wherein said raised exterior edges of said elements form a continuous raised exterior outer edge of the organizer when the organizer is expanded or contracted to conform to the rectangular space.  
     
     
         4 . The organizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein one of said elements has a bottom surface having raised dividers formed therein to provide a plurality of compartments for objects placed on the organizer.  
     
     
         5 . The organizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the rectangle space is a drawer.  
     
     
         6 . The organizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein said organizer has receptacles to enable another organizer to be affixed atop of said organizer.  
     
     
         7 . The organizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein at least two adjacent elements have raised edges that are releasable engaged with each other.  
     
     
         8 . The organizer as defined in  claim 7  wherein one of said adjacent raised edges comprises a guide slot and the other of said adjacent raised edges comprises a guide rib.  
     
     
         9 . The organizer as defined in  claim 7  wherein one of said two adjacent elements has a raised serrated edge that releasably engages the other of said adjacent elements.  
     
     
         10 . An organizer for use within a rectangular space having a width and a length direction to create compartmentalized areas for objects placed in the rectangular space, said organizer comprising a plurality of individual elements including a first element having a bottom surface and having compartment dividers formed therein, at least one second element nested with said first element and having a bottom surface contiguous with said bottom surface of said first element, said at least one second element being movable in the length direction of the rectangular space, a third element nested with said first element and said at least one second element and having a bottom surface contiguous with said bottom surfaces of said first element and said at least one second elements, said third element being movable in the width direction of the rectangular space, and a fourth element nested with at least said second and third elements, said fourth element being movable in both the length and width directions and having a bottom surface contiguous with at least said second and third elements, wherein said organizer is dimensionally adjustable in both the width and length directions while maintaining a contiguous bottom surface comprised of the bottom surfaces of said first, second and third elements.  
     
     
         11 . The organizer as defined in  claim 10  wherein said at least one second element comprises two second elements and said third element is nested with only one of said two second elements.  
     
     
         12 . The organizer as defined in  claim 10  wherein said first element, at least one second element, said third element and said fourth element each have at least one raised peripheral edge peripheral edge, forming a continuous peripheral raised edge of the organizer.  
     
     
         13 . The organizer as defined in  claim 10  wherein said at least one second element is nested by interfitting the bottom surface of said at least one second element underneath the bottom surface of said first element.  
     
     
         14 . The organizer as defined in  claim 10  wherein said fourth element has a bottom surface contiguous with the bottom surfaces of said first, said at least one second and said third elements.  
     
     
         15 . The organizer as defined in  claim 14  wherein said fourth element is nested with said first, said at least one second and said third elements.  
     
     
         16 . The organizer as defined in  claim 10  wherein said bottom surface of said fourth element is nested with said at least one second element by said bottom surface of said fourth element being slidingly located underneath the bottom surface of said at least one second element.  
     
     
         17 . The organizer as defined in  claim 10  wherein the first element has a peripheral raised edge surrounding said first element  
     
     
         18 . The organizer as defined in  claim 10  wherein said at least one second element has three raised edges and one flat edge that is in a sliding relationship underlying said first element.  
     
     
         19 . An organizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein a first fixed rectangular structure having a floor and 4 walls. The first structure rests on the floor of a second structure having 3 walls. The first and second structure rests on the floor of a third and fourth structure having at least 2 walls each, one walls of each connected by a slide. Structures may be connected by slides, slots, or other means such that the combined structure does not separate when any part of the structure is picked up. The sliding movement of structure  2  away from structure  1  produces a perpendicular elongated movement of structure  3  and  4 . The resulting sliding movements of structures  2 ,  3 , and  4  with respect to structure  1  act to change the contiguous floor area of all  4  structures such that the outer walls of the floor area of all said structures fit up against the walls of an object such as a drawer.  
     
     
         20 . The organizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the outer walls, are of a non linear shape, are curved to fit curved outer boundaries.