Elastomeric foam for object storage

Abstract

An object storage device with at least one first section made of elastomeric foam and including a first side surface, and at least one second section made of elastomeric foam and including a second side surface is provided. The second side surface of the second section is positioned adjacent to the first side surface of the first section to define a slit region between the sections for object storage. In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes a slit indicator that indicates the position of the slit region.

1 . An object storage device, comprising:
 a first section made of elastomeric foam and including a first side surface; and   a second section made of elastomeric foam and including a second side surface;   wherein the second side surface of the second section is positioned adjacent to the first side surface of the first section to define a slit region between the sections.   
   
   
       2 . The object storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper surface with a generally flat shape. 
   
   
       3 . The object storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper surface with a contoured shape. 
   
   
       4 . The object storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction. 
   
   
       5 . The object storage device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a plurality of fingers with side surfaces, wherein the plurality of fingers of the first section are interdigitated with the plurality of fingers of the second section thereby defining slit regions between adjacent fingers. 
   
   
       6 . The object storage device of  claim 5 , further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction. 
   
   
       7 . The object storage device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a base portion to which the respective plurality of fingers connect and each finger tapers from an end connected to the base portion to an opposite end. 
   
   
       8 . The object storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the first section is a different color than the second section. 
   
   
       9 . The object storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first sections and a plurality of section sections. 
   
   
       10 . An object storage device, comprising:
 a first section made of elastomeric foam and including a first side surface;   a second section made of elastomeric foam and including a second side surface positioned adjacent to the first side surface of the first section to define a slit region there between; and   a slit indicator that indicates the position of the slit region;   wherein the slit indicator is selected from a group of the first section having a color that is different than a color of the second section; the first section having a height that is different than a height of the second section, and at least one of the first and second side surfaces having a chamfered portion.   
   
   
       11 . The object storage device of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second sections has an upper surface with a contoured shape. 
   
   
       12 . The object storage device of  claim 10 , further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction. 
   
   
       13 . The object storage device of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a plurality of fingers with side surfaces, wherein the plurality of fingers of the first section are interdigitated with the plurality of fingers of the second section thereby defining slit regions between adjacent fingers. 
   
   
       14 . The object storage device of  claim 13 , further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction. 
   
   
       15 . The object storage device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a base portion to which the respective plurality of fingers connect and each finger tapers from an end connected to the base portion to an opposite end. 
   
   
       16 . The object storage device of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of first sections and a plurality of second sections. 
   
   
       17 . A method of creating an object storage device, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of separate sections, each section including at least one side surface and being made of an elastomeric foam; and   arranging the sections adjacent to one another such that at least one pair of side surfaces of adjacent sections forms a slit region.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of forming the plurality of separate sections using a die-cutting process. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of subjecting the plurality of separate sections to a compression molding operation. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the compression molding process forms a contoured surface on the plurality of separate sections.