Adjustable Utensil Tray

Abstract

An adjustable storage tray has a first tray part that defines at least one first compartment therein. A second tray part of the storage tray defines at least one second compartment therein. The second tray part is slidably connected to the first tray part such that a length of the adjustable storage tray can be adjusted. The storage tray has a ratcheting mechanism to retain a selected adjusted length and has a retention mechanism that can inhibit vertical separation of the first and second tray parts.

1 . An adjustable storage tray comprising:
 a first tray part defining at least one first compartment therein; and   a second tray part defining at least one second compartment therein, the second tray part slidably connected to the first tray part such that a length of the adjustable storage tray can be adjusted,   wherein the storage tray has a ratcheting mechanism to retain a selected adjusted length and has a retention mechanism that can inhibit vertical separation of the first and second tray parts.   
   
   
       2 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first compartment and the at least one second compartment combine to form at least one continuous compartment defined in part by each of the first and second tray parts. 
   
   
       3 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tray part has a lengthwise oriented first partition and the second tray part has a lengthwise oriented second partition that nest with one another and divide the adjustable storage tray into two side-by-side lengthwise compartments extending the length of the adjustable storage tray. 
   
   
       4 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 one or more removable and replaceable dividers that can be selectively positioned within a portion of either of the two side-by side lengthwise compartments to further subdivide the adjustable storage tray.   
   
   
       5 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more removable and replaceable dividers that can be selectively positioned within one of the first and second tray parts to further subdivide the at least one first compartment.   
   
   
       6 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first bottom, a first pair of opposed side walls extending up from the first bottom, and at least one first end wall connected to and extending between the first pair of side walls along one edge of the first bottom of the first tray part;   a second bottom, a second pair of opposed side walls extending up from the second bottom, and at least one second end wall connected to and extending between the second pair of side walls along one edge of the second bottom of the second tray part; and   a plurality of ridges projecting from an underside of the first bottom that rest against a top side of the second bottom and create spacing between the underside of the first bottom and the top side of the second bottom.   
   
   
       7 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pair of opposed side walls extending up from a first bottom of the first tray part;   a second pair of opposed side walls extending up from a second bottom of the second tray part; and   a channel extending along and outward from each of the first pair of sidewalls and carried near at top edge of each of the first pair of side walls,   wherein a top edge of each of the second pair of side walls is captured within a corresponding one of the channels.   
   
   
       8 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 7 , wherein the ratcheting mechanism includes a plurality of teeth and mating ratchet teeth dispose within each of the channels. 
   
   
       9 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 7 , wherein the ratcheting mechanism comprises:
 a plurality of teeth projecting outward from and extending lengthwise near the top edge along each of the pair of second side walls; and   one or more ratchet teeth projecting inward from a channel surface within each channel and engaging the plurality of teeth.   
   
   
       10 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 7 , wherein the retention mechanism includes a pair laterally overlapping ribs within each of the channels. 
   
   
       11 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 10 , wherein one of the pair of ribs within each channel projects outward from the respective wall of the second pair of opposed side walls near the top edge and the other of the pair of ribs within each channel projects inward from a channel surface and laterally overlaps the corresponding one rib. 
   
   
       12 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 7 , wherein travel stop projections are provided within each of the channels to limit the extended length of the adjustable storage tray to a max length. 
   
   
       13 . An adjustable storage tray according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first bottom, a first pair of opposed side walls extending up from the first bottom, one first end wall connected to and extending between the first pair of side walls along one edge of the first bottom of the first tray part, and another first end wall connected to and extending between the first pair of side walls along an opposite edge of the first bottom; and   a second bottom, a second pair of opposed side walls extending up from the second bottom, and at least one second end wall connected to and extending between the second pair of side walls along one edge of the second bottom of the second tray part.   
   
   
       14 . A length adjustable drawer organizer tray comprising:
 a first tray part having a first bottom, first opposed side walls, at least one first end wall extending between and connected to the first side walls, and at least one first storage compartment defined within the first tray part;   a second tray part having a second bottom, second opposed side walls, and at least a second back wall extending between and connected to the second side walls, and at least one second storage compartment formed within the second tray part, wherein the first tray part is slidably connected to the second tray part so that a length of the drawer organizer tray can be selectively adjusted;   a downward facing channel carried on and extending outward from near a top edge of each of the first side walls; and   a top edge of each of the second side walls captured within a respective one of the channels and slidable along the channel,   wherein the storage tray has a ratcheting mechanism within each of the channels to retain a selected adjusted length of the two tray parts.   
   
   
       15 . A length adjustable drawer organizer according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a retention mechanism that can inhibit vertical separation of the first and second tray parts.   
   
   
       16 . A length adjustable drawer organizer according to  claim 14 , wherein the first tray part has another first end wall positioned opposite the one first end wall and extending between and connected to the first side walls. 
   
   
       17 . A length adjustable drawer organizer according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 one or more dividers that can be removably snapped between the two side walls within at least one of the first and second tray parts.   
   
   
       18 . A length adjustable drawer organizer according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a plurality of recesses formed spaced apart along on the inner surfaces of the two side walls; and   opposed ends on each of the one or more dividers, each of the opposed ends configured to snap into a selected one of the recesses on each of the side walls.   
   
   
       19 . A length adjustable drawer organizer according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the opposed ends has at least one nub projecting outward therefrom and configured to snap into a hole in a selected one of the recesses.