Expandable drawer inserts and organizers with hinged trays

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to various exemplary embodiments of drawer inserts or organizers. One particular exemplary embodiment includes an apparatus for use within a sliding drawer. The apparatus generally includes a base having at least one storage compartment and at least one tray including at least one storage compartment. At least one link couples the tray to the base such that the tray is pivotably moveable relative to the base between at least a stowed position and a deployed position with the tray remaining generally horizontal relative to the base. The apparatus is configured relative to the sliding drawer and structure supporting the sliding drawer so as to not interfere with the sliding operation of the drawer when the apparatus is positioned within the sliding drawer and the tray is in the stowed position.

1 . An apparatus for use within a sliding drawer, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base including at least one storage compartment;    at least one tray including at least one storage compartment; and    at least one link coupling the tray to the base such that the tray is pivotably moveable relative to the base between at least a stowed position and a deployed position with the tray remaining generally horizontal relative to the base;    the apparatus configured relative to the sliding drawer and structure supporting the sliding drawer so as to not interfere with the sliding operation of the drawer when the apparatus is positioned within the sliding drawer and the tray is in the stowed position.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the link is removably attached to the base and the tray.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the link includes resilient finger portions having protuberances configured to be engaged within corresponding openings of the base and the tray.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one link includes at least a first pair of links coupling a forward portion of the tray to the base, and a second pair of links coupling a rearward portion of the tray to the base.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes at least one slidably adjustable portion that allows selective adjustment to a size of the base.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the link couples the tray to the slidably adjustable portion.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the base includes at least two slidably adjustable side portions for allowing a width of the base to be selectively adjusted for frictionally engaging sidewalls of the drawer for inhibiting movement of the apparatus relative to the drawer independent of mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the base includes at least one slot along at least a portion thereof, and at least one sliding member configured to be slidably received within the at least one slot, whereby engagement of the at least one sliding member within the at least one slot helps guide the sliding movement of the at least one slidably adjustable portion.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one slot comprises at least one dovetail slot, and wherein the at least one sliding member comprises at least one dovetail.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the base includes a bottom surface, wherein the at least one sliding member is disposed along at least a portion of the bottom surface of the base, and wherein the at least one slot is disposed along at least a portion of the at least one slidably adjustable portion.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tray includes first and second trays coupled by links to the base such that each said tray is pivotably moveable relative to the base between at least a stowed position and a deployed position, and wherein the first and second trays are generally opposite one another and have generally opposite directions of pivotal rotation when moving between their respective stowed and deployed positions.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tray has a range of pivotal motion relative to the base greater than about ninety degrees.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of pivotal motion of the tray is generally parallel with a slide plane of the drawer.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tray in the stowed position is laterally disposed within a footprint of the base, and wherein at least a portion of the tray in the deployed position is at least partially disposed laterally outside the footprint of the base.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured relative to the sliding drawer and structure supporting such that, when the apparatus is positioned within the sliding drawer and the tray is deployed, at least a portion of the tray is laterally disposed outside a footprint of the drawer and vertically disposed at a height above a top edge portion of the drawer.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one partition removably attachable to at least one of the base and the tray.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mounting clip having at least one fastener hole and at least one protuberance removably engaged within at least one opening of the base.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for use within a sliding drawer, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base including first and second slidably adjustable side portions that allow selective adjustment to a width of the base;    a first tray coupled to the first slidably adjustable side portion for pivotal movement relative to the base between at least a stowed position and a deployed position;    a second tray coupled to the second slidably adjustable side portion for pivotal movement relative to the base between at least a stowed position and a deployed position;    the first and second trays being generally opposite one another and having generally opposite directions of pivotal rotation when moving between their respective stowed and deployed positions.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second slidably adjustable side portions allow the base's width to be selectively tailored for frictionally engaging sidewalls of the drawer for inhibiting movement of the apparatus relative to the drawer independent of mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the base and the first and second trays are configured relative to the sliding drawer and structure supporting the sliding drawer so as to not interfere with the normal sliding operation of the drawer when the apparatus is positioned within the sliding drawer and the first and second trays are in their respective stowed positions.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a first pair of links pivotably coupling a forward portion of the first tray to the first slidably adjustable side portion;    a second pair of links pivotably coupling a rearward portion of the first tray to the first slidably adjustable side portion;    a third pair of links pivotably coupling a forward portion of the second tray to the second slidably adjustable side portion; and    a fourth pair of links pivotably coupling a rearward portion of the second tray to the second slidably adjustable side portion.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second trays has a range of pivotal motion relative to the base greater than about ninety degrees, and wherein the axis of pivotal motion of each of the first and second trays is generally parallel with a slide plane of the drawer.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the base includes at least one slot along at least a portion thereof, and at least one sliding member configured to be slidably received within the at least one slot, whereby engagement of the at least one sliding member within the at least one slot helps guide the sliding movement of at least one of the first and second slidably adjustable portions.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one slot comprises at least one dovetail slot, and wherein the at least one sliding member comprises at least one dovetail.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the base includes a bottom surface, wherein the at least one sliding member is disposed along at least a portion of the bottom surface, and wherein the at least one slot includes a first slot disposed along at least a portion of the first slidably adjustable portion, and a second slot disposed along at least a portion of the second slidably adjustable portion, whereby engagement of the at least one sliding member within the first and second slot helps guide the sliding movement of the first and second slidably adjustable portions relative to the bottom surface of the base.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one mounting clip having at least one fastener hole and at least one protuberance removably engaged within at least one opening of the base.  
   
   
       27 . A method for improving organization within a drawer with an organizer having a plurality of compartments, the organizer including a base having at least one slidably adjustable portion, and at least one tray coupled to the base for pivotal movement relative to the base between at least a stowed position and a deployed position, the method comprising: 
 selectively adjusting the size of the organizer to more closely correspond with the drawer's size by sliding the at least one slidably adjustable portion relative to another portion of the base;    positioning the organizer within the opened drawer to thereby make the organizer's plurality of compartments available for storing items within the drawer; and    closing the drawer when the tray is in the stowed position.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the base includes at least one storage compartment at least partially concealed by the at least one tray when the at least one tray is in the stowed position, and wherein the method further includes moving the at least one tray to the deployed position to gain access to the storage compartment of the base.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method includes sliding the at least one slidably adjust portion to selective tailor the organizer's size for forming an interference fit between the organizer and at least two of the drawer's sidewalls when the organizer is positioned within the drawer, the interference fit inhibiting movement of the organizer relative to the drawer independent of mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the base includes at least one slot along at least a portion thereof, and at least one sliding member configured to be slidably received within the at least one slot, and wherein sliding of the at least one slidably adjustable portion relative to another portion of the base includes sliding the at least one sliding member within the at least one slot.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising attaching the organizer to the drawer using at least one mounting clip engaged to the organizer, and at least one fastener positioned through at least one fastener hole defined of the at least one mounting clip.