Organizer

Abstract

An adjustable organizer that includes a plurality of spaced apart vertically oriented dividers and a plurality of selectively stackable platforms extending from the dividers. The platforms increase in height from a foremost platform to a rearmost platform. Adjacent dividers together with a platform extending between the adjacent dividers define a compartment. A connector assembly is operatively associated with one of the dividers and platforms. The connector assembly is configured to allow for independent adjustment of spacing between adjacent dividers to selectively adjust a size of a compartment and to allow a forward platform to slide beneath a platform rearward of the forward platform.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable organizer comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart vertically oriented dividers;   a plurality of selectively stackable platforms extending from the dividers, the platforms increasing in height from a foremost platform to a rearmost platform, adjacent dividers together with a platform extending between the adjacent dividers defining a compartment; and   a connector assembly operatively associated with at least one of the dividers and platforms, the connector assembly configured to allow for independent adjustment of a spacing between adjacent dividers to selectively adjust a size of a compartment and to allow a forward platform to slide beneath a platform rearward of the forward platform.   
     
     
         2 . The organizer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dividers and the plurality of platforms define a plurality of free-standing racks, each rack having base for engaging an associated common support surface, the plurality of racks including a foremost rack and a rearmost rack, each rack including a divider and a platform, wherein the connector assembly is configured to slidably interconnect the racks. 
     
     
         3 . The organizer of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of racks further includes an intermediate rack. 
     
     
         4 . The organizer of  claim 3 , wherein the connector assembly includes a plurality of slots and a plurality of engagement members, each engagement member being slidably received in one of the slots. 
     
     
         5 . The organizer of  claim 4 , wherein each rack of the plurality of racks includes a base having a pair of spaced side walls, at least one of the side walls of the foremost rack and at least one of the side walls of the intermediate rack including a slot of the connector assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The organizer or  claim 5 , wherein each slot has a first end adjacent a rear wall of the rack and a second end extending past the divider. 
     
     
         7 . The organizer of  claim 5 , wherein each of the intermediate rack and the rearmost rack includes an engagement member, the engagement member of the intermediate rack being slidably received in the slot of the foremost rack and the engagement member of the rearmost rack being slidably received in the slot of the intermediate rack. 
     
     
         8 . The organizer of  claim 5 , wherein the engagement member of the intermediate rack is provided on an inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the intermediate rack, and the engagement member of the rearmost rack is provided on an inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the rearmost rack. 
     
     
         9 . The organizer of  claim 7 , wherein each engagement member is an elongated tab positioned beneath the divider. 
     
     
         10 . The organizer of  claim 2 , wherein each rack includes at least one strengthening member provided beneath the platform, the at least one strengthening member configured to provide strength and rigidity to the rack, the at least one strengthening member of each rack including at least one longitudinal support spanning between spaced apart side walls of the rack, and the at least one strengthening member of both the intermediate rack and the rearmost rack further including at least one transverse support intersecting the at least one longitudinal support. 
     
     
         11 . The organizer of  claim 2 , wherein each rack includes a first height measured from a bottom surface of a base to a top surface of the platform and a second height measured from the top surface of the platform to a top surface of the divider, the first height increasing from the foremost rack to the rearmost rack, the incremental height difference between platforms of adjacent racks being constant for the organizer, the second height of the racks being approximately equal to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The organizer of  claim 2 , wherein the foremost rack includes a handle portion. 
     
     
         13 . The organizer of  claim 12 , wherein the foremost rack includes a base having a front wall spaced from the divider, the front wall together with the divider defining the handle portion. 
     
     
         14 . The organizer of  claim 1 , wherein each intermediate divider located between the foremost divider and rearmost divider includes a pocket, the pocket of each intermediate divider being sized to at least partially receive an adjacent forward divider. 
     
     
         15 . The organizer of  claim 14 , wherein each intermediate divider includes a vertical wall having a front surface and a rear surface and a flange extending forwardly from the front surface, the flange together with the vertical wall defining the pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The organizer of  claim 15 , wherein the vertical wall includes an upper transverse member that in combination with an upper portion of the flange has a curved shape. 
     
     
         17 . An adjustable organizer comprising:
 a plurality of free-standing racks including a foremost rack, a first intermediate rack, a second intermediate rack, and a rearmost rack, each rack having base for engaging an associated common support surface, the racks increasing in height from the foremost rack to the rearmost rack, adjacent racks defining a compartment for receiving associated articles; and   a connector assembly slidably interconnecting the plurality of racks, the connector assembly allowing a platform of a forward rack to at least partially slide beneath a platform of a rearward rack to independently adjust a size of each compartment.   
     
     
         18 . The organizer of  claim 17 , wherein the connector assembly includes a plurality of elongated slots and a plurality of engagement members, each engagement member being slidably received in one of the elongated slots. 
     
     
         19 . The organizer of  claim 18 , wherein the elongated slots are provided on side walls of a base of the foremost rack, side walls of a base of the first intermediate rack and side walls of a base of the second intermediate rack. 
     
     
         20 . The organizer of  claim 19 , wherein the engagement members are elongated tabs provided on the side walls of the first intermediate rack, the side walls of the second intermediate rack and side walls of the rearmost rack. 
     
     
         21 . The organizer of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first intermediate rack, the second intermediate rack and the rearmost rack includes a pocket, the pocket of the rearmost rack sized to at least partially receive the divider of the second intermediate rack, the pocket of the second intermediate rack sized to at least partially receive the divider of the first intermediate rack, and the pocket of the first intermediate rack sized to at least partially receive the divider of the foremost rack. 
     
     
         22 . An adjustable organizer comprising:
 a plurality of free-standing racks including a foremost rack, a first intermediate rack, a second intermediate rack, and a rearmost rack, each rack including a vertical divider and a platform, the racks increasing in height from the foremost rack to the rearmost rack, adjacent racks defining a compartment for receiving associated articles; and   a connector assembly interconnecting the plurality of racks, the connector assembly includes a plurality of elongated slots provided on the foremost rack, the first intermediate rack and the second intermediate rack and a plurality of engagement members provided on the first intermediate rack, the second intermediate rack and the rearmost rack, each engagement member being slidably received in one of the elongated slots, the connector assembly allowing a platform of a forward rack to at least partially slide beneath a platform of a rearward rack to independently adjust a size of each compartment.