Organizer

Abstract

A configurable organizer is described having releasably securable dividers or partitions for defining areas or compartments within the organizer for receiving items therein. The dividers are secured via retainers having retainer portions that are resiliently shiftable to permit insertion or removal of the retainer portions within openings in the organizer and to permit shifting to a natural outwardly biased position for retaining the dividers with the organizer. Support structures may also be provided to retard or prevent tilting or deflecting of the secured dividers. Additionally, the organizer may include a pair of trays having the openings for receiving the retainers and supports, and the trays may be adjustably and selectively moved relative to each other to expand or contract the organizer as desired, such as to conform to interior dimensions of a drawer.

1 . An organizer defining an area for receipt of items therewithin, the organizer comprising:
 a tray having a base positionable within the drawer, the base including at least one opening; and   a divider releasably securable with the tray and having a wall at least partially defining portions of the area, the divider having securing structure for securing the divider with the base, the securing structure including a first retainer cooperable with a first base opening to secure the divider with the tray, the first retainer including at least a first retaining portion extending from a first portion of the wall, the first wall portion being resiliently shiftable to and between a clearance position and an interference position, the clearance position permitting receipt and removal of the first retaining portion relative to the first base opening and the interference position generally preventing passage of the first retaining portion through the first base opening to secure the divider with the tray.   
   
   
       2 . The organizer of  claim 1  wherein the first retainer includes a second retaining portion receivable within the first base opening. 
   
   
       3 . The organizer of  claim 2  further including a second wall portion from which a second retaining portion extends, the second wall portion shiftable to shift the second retaining portion between a clearance position and an interference position with respect to the first base opening. 
   
   
       4 . The organizer of  claim 3  wherein the first and second shiftable wall portions and the first and second retaining portions extending therefrom are positioned in an opposed relationship, and the first and second wall portions are compressible toward each other to shift the first and second retaining portions to the clearance position. 
   
   
       5 . The organizer of  claim 1  wherein at least the first retaining portion includes a foot portion positioned below and in interference with a bottom side of the base when the divider is in the interference position and secured with the tray. 
   
   
       6 . The organizer of  claim 5  wherein at least the first retaining portion includes an extending portion secured with the wall and extendable through the opening from a top side of the base to the bottom side of the base, the foot portion extending generally laterally from the extending portion. 
   
   
       7 . The organizer of  claim 5  wherein the foot includes a leading end for insertion within the opening, the leading end include a bevel portion for contacting an edge of the opening during insertion to shift the shiftable wall portion and to permit receipt of the first retaining portion within the opening. 
   
   
       8 . The organizer of  claim 1  wherein the base has a plurality of openings and the securing structure includes a plurality of retainers respectively cooperable with the plurality of base openings for securing the divider with the tray. 
   
   
       9 . The organizer of  claim 8  wherein the first retaining portion includes a foot portion positioned below a bottom side in an interference position when the divider is secured with the tray. 
   
   
       10 . The organizer of  claim 8  wherein the wall includes a plurality of resiliently shiftable portions having respective retaining portions extending therefrom, the retaining portions being receivable within the base openings for securing the divider with the tray. 
   
   
       11 . A configurable organizer for a drawer defining an area for receipt of items therewithin, the organizer comprising:
 a tray system adapted for receipt within the drawer, the tray system including at least a first tray including a base having a plurality of openings formed therein;   a divider system adapted for defining portions of the area and including at least a first divider having a wall at least partially defining portions of the area and having securing structure for securing the first divider with the tray system, the securing structure including at least a first retainer selectively cooperable with the base openings, the first retainer including at least a first retaining portion extending from a first portion of the wall, the first wall portion being resiliently shiftable to and between a clearance position and an interference position, the clearance position permitting receipt and removal of the first retaining portion relative to the first base opening and the interference position generally preventing passage of the first retaining portion through the first base opening to secure the divider with the tray.   
   
   
       12 . The configurable organizer of  claim 11  wherein the securing structure includes a plurality of retainers selectively cooperable with the base openings, at least two of the retainers including retaining portions extending from respective shiftable wall portions. 
   
   
       13 . The configurable organizer of  claim 11  wherein the first retainer includes a second retaining portion receivable within the base openings. 
   
   
       14 . The configurable organizer of  claim 13  including shiftable wall portions from which the first and second retaining portions respectively extend, the shiftable wall portions in an opposed relationship. 
   
   
       15 . The configurable organizer of  claim 13  wherein the first and second retaining portions are configured to be received within respective base openings. 
   
   
       16 . The configurable organizer of  claim 13  wherein the first and second retaining portions are configured to be received within a single base opening. 
   
   
       17 . The configurable organizer of  claim 11  wherein the divider system includes a plurality of dividers, each having a wall at least partially defining portions of the area and having securing structure for securing the dividers with the tray system. 
   
   
       18 . The configurable organizer of  claim 11  wherein the tray system includes a second tray selectively positionable relative to the first tray to selectively provide the tray area. 
   
   
       19 . A method of configuring an organizer defining an area for receipt of items therein, the method comprising:
 providing a tray system having at least a first tray with a base including a plurality of openings formed therein;   providing a divider system including at least a first divider having a wall with a resiliently shiftable portion;   providing retaining structure including a first retaining portion extending from the resiliently shiftable portion of the wall;   aligning the retaining structure with the openings;   shifting the first retaining portion relative to the divider;   and inserting the securing structure within at least a first opening.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the method further includes permitting the first retaining portion to resiliently shift to an interference position relative to the opening after insertion therethrough. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the method further includes providing the first retaining portion with a bevel, the step of aligning the retaining structure includes positioning the bevel against an edge of the opening, and the step of shifting the first retaining portion includes forcing the bevel against the opening edge. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of providing a tray system includes providing a second tray selectively positionable relative to the first tray. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of providing a divider system includes providing a plurality of dividers selectively securable with the openings for defining portions of the area. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of providing retaining structure includes providing a plurality of retaining portions extending from the wall. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of shifting includes shifting a portion of the plurality of retaining portions relative to the divider. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of providing retaining structure includes providing a second retaining portion extending from a wall portion and opposed to the first retaining portion, and the step of shifting the first retaining portion includes shifting towards the second retaining portion. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of shifting includes resiliently compressing wall portions from which the first and second retaining portions respectively extend.