Compact storage unit

Abstract

The compact storage unit includes a case having front, rear, top, bottom and opposing side walls made of hard plastic, preferably by injection molding. The case has a substantially rectangular or substantially square cross section. The front wall folds up and snaps shut on the top wall. The case houses a plurality of plastic slide trays. The trays are also made of hard plastic. Each tray supports a plurality of storage containers, each storage container having a plurality of bins, each bin having an individual snap lid. The trays slide out revealing the containers for easy access. A lip extends upward from the rear edge of the tray to engage the containers so that the containers are drawn out of the case when the tray is pulled out.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 045,096, filed Apr. 15, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to storage cases, and particularly to a compact storage unit for small items, such as arts and crafts items, hobby kit items, sewing notions, hardware (nuts, bolts, etc.), and the like.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Craft keepers are organizers that arts and craft people use to organize and store their craft items. Many arts and craft people have felt that there must be a better way to keep their arts and craft items, since most of the time, numerous craft keepers must be utilized to put away the many items that the arts and craft person may wish to store. For example, a typical craft keeper may have seventeen large compartments that are generally too large for the storage of small items. It may take forty-seven craft k...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The compact storage unit is a hard plastic case that has a rectangular or square shape and is made by injection molding. The case contains multiple plastic slide trays that can hold storage containers with bins and snap lids. The trays can be pulled out to access the containers easily. The case has a lip on the back that engages with the containers to pull them out of the case when the tray is pulled out. The technical effect of this invention is a convenient and efficient storage solution that allows for easy access to a variety of containers and storage options."

Problems solved by technology

Due to the large size of craft keepers, a considerable dedicated space is required to accommodate forty-seven craft keepers.

Moreover, forty-seven craft keepers may be very expensive at approximately three dollars per unit.

While it is possible to store such small items in individual tins or other containers, typically such containers become separated, lost, or misplaced so that one can never lay one's hand on the desired component quickly.

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