Hanging ornament storage container

Abstract

A storage container for storing ornaments in a hanging orientation is provided. The container is comprised of a box and a plurality of ornament supportable cross-members which extend across the opening defined by the box. In use, a person hangs ornaments from the cross-members by placing a portion of the ornament's hook in a hole formed within the cross-members.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a storage container having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a cross-member, wherein the peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse, wherein the cross-member has a plurality of ornament hanging locations, wherein the cross-member extends across at least a portion of the open expanse of the container and wherein the cross-member is adapted to support ornaments hung thereon; and    placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of the cross-member, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ornament hanging locations of the cross-member are formed in the cross-member.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of apertures in the cross-member which are adapted to receive said free end of said hooks of said ornaments and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of the cross-member includes placing said free end of said hook in one of the apertures.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the apertures in the cross-member are in a vertical orientation.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cross-member is made of cardboard having corrugations and wherein the corrugations of the cardboard form the vertical apertures in the cross-member.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-member is removable.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of annular grooves formed in the cross-member and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of the cross-member includes placing a U-shaped portion of said hook in one of the grooves.  
     
     
         8 . A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a storage container having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a plurality of cross-members, wherein the peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse, wherein the cross-members have a plurality of ornament hanging locations formed therein, wherein the cross-members extend across at least a portion of the open expanse of the container and wherein the cross-members are supported by the peripheral wall; and    placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of vertical apertures in the cross-members which are adapted to receive said free end of said hooks of said ornaments and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members includes placing said free end of said hook in one of the apertures.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-members are made of cardboard having corrugations and wherein the corrugations of the cardboard form the vertical apertures in the cross-members.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the cross-members is spaced apart from and above the bottom of the container, whereby ornaments depending from the cross-members may depend freely therefrom and be positioned there between.  
     
     
         12 . A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a storage container having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a plurality of cross-members, wherein the peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse, wherein the cross-members have a plurality of vertical apertures therein, wherein a portion of the cross-members extend across a portion of the open expanse of the container and wherein a portion of the cross-members are spaced apart from the bottom of the container; and    placing said free end of one of said hooks of one of said ornaments in one of the apertures of one of the cross-members, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cross-members are made of cardboard having corrugations and wherein the corrugations of the cardboard form the vertical apertures in the cross-members.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cross-members have opposing ends and wherein the cross-members are supported above the bottom of the container by the opposing ends being coupled with the peripheral wall adjacent an upper edge thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cross-members are removably coupled with the peripheral wall.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cross-members are removable from the container.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the container is collapsible to a generally flat condition when not in use.  
     
     
         18 . A method of storing ornaments in a hanging orientation, said ornaments having a hook thereon from which they depend, said hook having a free end, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a storage container having a container peripheral wall and a bottom, wherein the container peripheral wall and the bottom define an open expanse;    obtaining an insert having an insert peripheral wall and a plurality of cross-members, wherein the cross-members have a plurality of ornament hanging locations, wherein the cross-members are supported by the insert peripheral wall adjacent an upper edge thereof and wherein the cross-members are adapted to support ornaments hung thereon;    placing the insert in the storage container, whereby a lower edge of the insert rests on the bottom of the storage container; and    placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member in a hanging orientation.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insert is collapsible when not in use.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cross-members are removable from the insert.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein in the ornament hanging locations are a plurality of vertical apertures in the cross-members which are adapted to receive said free end of said hooks of said ornaments and wherein the placing one of said hooks of one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members includes placing said free end of said hook in one of the apertures.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 obtaining a second insert, wherein the second insert is substantially identical to the other insert;    placing the second insert in the storage container, whereby a lower edge of the second insert rests on the upper edge of the other insert; and    placing one of said hooks of another one of said ornaments on one of the plurality of ornament hanging locations of one of the cross-members of the second insert, whereby said ornament depends from the cross-member of the second insert in a hanging orientation.