Partitioning structure

Abstract

A partitioning structure used with the supporting structures such as drawers so as to allow division of the drawer into organizing compartments. The partitioning structure includes panels secured together by securing components. Each panel is provided with a plurality of grooves used for facilitating the cutting of the panels at a customized length and allowing the releasable insertion thereinto of corresponding tongues extending from the securing components.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A partitioning structure for partitioning a volume of space contained within a receptacle, said partitioning structure comprising: 
 a panel, said panel defining a pair of opposed panel transversal edges, a pair of opposed panel longitudinal edges and a pair of opposed panel surfaces delimited by said panel transversal and longitudinal edges; one of said panel surfaces having a panel groove formed therein;    a securing component for securing said panel to a supporting structure, said securing component including a base leg and a pair of securing legs extending from said base leg so as to be in a substantially spaced relationship relative to each other; one of said securing legs having a tongue protruding therefrom, said tongue being configured, sized and positioned so as to be insertable into said panel groove when an insertable portion of said panel is inserted between said securing legs; said securing component being also provided with a securing means for securing said securing component to said supporting structure.    
     
     
         2 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein one of said panel surfaces has a plurality of panel grooves formed therein, said panel grooves being in a predetermined spaced relationship relative to each other.  
     
     
         3 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein both of said panel surfaces have a plurality of panel grooves formed therein, the panel grooves formed in one of said panel surfaces being substantially in register with the panel grooves formed on the other one of said panel surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein one of said panel grooves has a substantially V-shaped configuration defining an inwardly positioned groove apex and a pair of groove walls diverging from each other in a direction leading outwardly away from said groove apex.  
     
     
         5 . A partitioning structure as recited as recited in  claim 1  wherein one of said panel surfaces has a plurality of panel grooves formed therein, said panel grooves being in a predetermined spaced relationship relative to each other; said panel grooves extending in a substantially parallel relationship relative to said panel transversal edges.  
     
     
         6 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 5  wherein each of said panel grooves defines a pair of opposed groove longitudinal ends, one of said panel grooves having one of said groove longitudinal ends spaced from a corresponding one of said panel longitudinal edges by a groove-to-edge distance; said tongue being spaced from said base leg by a tongue-to-base leg distance, said groove-to-edge distance being substantially similar to said tongue-to-base leg distance.  
     
     
         7 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein one of said securing legs is pivotable relative to said base leg between a leg initial configuration wherein said securing legs are spaced by an initial spacing distance and a leg pivoted configuration wherein said securing legs are spaced by a pivoted distance from each other, said pivoted distance being greater then said initial distance, said partitioning structure being provided with a leg biasing means for biasing said securing legs towards said leg initial configuration.  
     
     
         8 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 7  wherein said leg biasing means includes said one of said securing legs extends from said base leg so as to define a hinge elbow therebetween, said hinge elbow being made out of a substantially resiliently deformable material.  
     
     
         9 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein said securing legs are pivotable relative to said base leg between a leg initial configuration wherein said securing legs are spaced by an initial spacing distance and a leg pivoted configuration wherein said securing legs are spaced by a pivoted distance from each other, said pivoted distance being greater then said initial distance, each of said securing legs extending integrally from said base leg so as to define a corresponding hinge elbow therebetween, said securing component being made out of a substantially resiliently deformable material.  
     
     
         10 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  both of said panel surfaces have a plurality of panel grooves formed therein, the panel grooves formed in one of said panel surfaces being substantially in register with the panel grooved formed on the other one of said panel surfaces; said panel grooves on each of said panel surfaces being in a predetermined spaced relationship relative to each other and extending in a substantially parallel relationship relative to said panel transversal edges; each of said panel grooves defining a pair of opposed groove longitudinal ends, each of said panel grooves having one of said groove longitudinal ends spaced from a corresponding one of said panel longitudinal edges by a groove-to edge distance; said tongue being spaced from said base leg by a tongue-to-base leg distance, said groove-to edge distance being substantially similar to said tongue-to-base leg distance.  
     
     
         11 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 10  wherein each of said panel grooves having both of said groove longitudinal ends spaced from a corresponding one of said panel longitudinal edges by said groove-to edge distance.  
     
     
         12 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 10  wherein said panel defines a panel thickness between said panel surfaces, each of said panel grooves defining a groove depth between said groove apex and a corresponding one of said panel surfaces, said groove depth having a value of about one quarter that of said panel thickness.  
     
     
         13 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 10  wherein said panel defines a panel height between said panel longitudinal edges, said groove-to-edge distance having a value of about {fraction (1/20)} that of said panel height.  
     
     
         14 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein said securing means includes a means for securing to said securing component another panel so that said panels extend in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to each other with one of said panel transversal edges in a substantially proximal relationship with one of said panel surfaces of the other one of said panels.  
     
     
         15 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 14  wherein said securing structure has a substantially “T”-shaped configuration, each of said securing legs defining a leg free edge located opposite said base leg; each of said securing legs also defining a leg first spacing edge and a leg second spacing edge both extending between said base leg and a corresponding leg free edge respectively on opposite sides of a corresponding securing legs; said securing structure defining an attachment section, said attachment section including an attachment channel extending from said leg first spacing edge, said attachment channel extending in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to said securing legs and having a substantially “U”-shaped cross-sectional configuration.  
     
     
         16 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 15  wherein said attachment channel includes a pair of first attachment legs extending from said leg first spacing edges in a direction substantially opposite to each other; said attachment channel also including a second attachment leg extending in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship relative to said pair of first attachment legs; said attachment channel further including an attachment base extending between said pair of first attachment leg and said second attachment leg in a substantially coplanar relationship relative to said base leg.  
     
     
         17 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 16  wherein either one of said first or second attachment legs is provided with an attachment tongue protruding outwardly from one of its interior surface.  
     
     
         18 . A securing component for securing together a pair of panels, each of said panels defining a pair of opposed panel transversal edges, a pair of opposed panel longitudinal edges and a pair of opposed panel surfaces delimited by said panel transversal and longitudinal edges; one of said panel surfaces having a panel groove formed therein, said securing component allowing said panels to be secured in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to each other with one of said panel transversal edges in a substantially proximal relationship with one of said panel surfaces of the other one of said panels, said securing component comprising: 
 a substantially “T”-shaped main base leg, said main base leg defining a main base leg peripheral edge;    a main securing leg extending substantially perpendicularly from said main base leg peripheral edge;    said main securing leg having a tongue protruding therefrom, said tongue being configured, sized and positioned so as to be insertable into said groove when an insertable portion of said panel is inserted between opposite sections of said main securing leg.    
     
     
         19 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein said securing means includes a means for securing to said securing component other panels so that said panels extend in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to each other so as to form a substantially “cross”-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         20 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 19  wherein said securing structure has a substantially “cross”-shaped configuration, each of said securing legs defining a leg free edge located opposite said base leg; each of said securing legs also defining a leg first spacing edge and a leg second spacing edge both extending between said base leg and a corresponding leg free edge respectively on opposite sides of a corresponding securing legs; said securing structure defining an attachment section, said attachment section including a substantially “T”-shaped attachment channel extending from said leg first spacing edges, said attachment channel having a substantially “U”-shaped cross-sectional configuration.  
     
     
         21 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 20  wherein said attachment channel includes a pair of first attachment legs extending from said leg first spacing edges in a direction substantially opposite to each other; said attachment channel also including a second pair of attachment legs extending in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship relative to said pair of first attachment legs; said attachment channel further including a third pair of attachment legs extending from said second pair of attachment legs in a substantially coplanar relationship relative to said securing legs; said attachment channel further including an attachment base extending between said first, second and third pairs of attachment legs in a substantially coplanar relationship relative to said base leg.  
     
     
         22 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 21  wherein either one of said first, second or third pairs of attachment legs is provided with an attachment tongue protruding outwardly from one of its interior surface.  
     
     
         23 . A securing component for securing together a pair of panels, each of said panels defining a pair of opposed panel transversal edges, a pair of opposed panel longitudinal edges and a pair of opposed panel surfaces delimited by said panel transversal and longitudinal edges; one of said panel surfaces having a panel groove formed therein, said securing component allowing said panels to be secured in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to each other with one of said panel transversal edges in a substantially proximal relationship with one of said panel surfaces of the other one of said panels, said securing component comprising: 
 a substantially “cross”-shaped main base leg, said base main leg defining a main base leg peripheral edge;    a main securing leg extending substantially perpendicularly from said main base leg peripheral edge;    said main securing leg having a tongue protruding therefrom, said tongue being configured, sized and positioned so as to be insertable into said groove when an insertable portion of said panel is inserted between opposite sections of said main securing leg.    
     
     
         24 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein said securing means includes a means for securing to said securing component another panel so that said panels extend in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to each other with one of said panel transversal edges in a substantially proximal relationship with one of said panel transversal edges of the other one of said panels.  
     
     
         25 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 24  wherein said securing structure has a substantially “L”-shaped configuration, each of said securing legs defining a leg free edge located opposite said base leg; each of said securing legs also defining a leg first spacing edge and a leg second spacing edge both extending between said base leg and a corresponding leg free edge respectively on opposite sides of a corresponding securing legs; said securing structure defining an attachment section, said attachment section including an attachment channel extending from said leg first spacing edges, said attachment channel extending in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to said securing legs and having a substantially “rectangular”-shaped cross-sectional configuration.  
     
     
         26 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 25  wherein said attachment channel includes a first attachment leg extending substantially perpendicularly from a leg first spacing edge; said attachment channel also including a second attachment leg extending in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship relative to said first attachment leg; said attachment channel further including a third attachment leg extending integrally from the other leg first spacing edges in a coplanar relationship relative to corresponding and adjacent securing legs; said attachment channel further including an attachment base extending between said first, second and third attachment legs in a substantially coplanar relationship relative to said base leg.  
     
     
         27 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 26  wherein either one of said first, second or third attachment legs is provided with an attachment tongue protruding outwardly from one of its interior surface.  
     
     
         28 . A securing component for securing together a pair of panels, each of said panels defining a pair of opposed panel transversal edges, a pair of opposed panel longitudinal edges and a pair of opposed panel surfaces delimited by said panel transversal and longitudinal edges; one of said panel surfaces having a panel groove formed therein, said securing component allowing said panels to be secured in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to each other with one of said panel transversal edges in a substantially proximal relationship with one of said panel surfaces of the other one of said panels, said securing component comprising: 
 a pair of substantially “L”-shaped main base legs, each of said main base legs defining a main base leg peripheral edge;    a main securing leg extending substantially perpendicularly between said main base leg peripheral edges;    said main securing leg having a tongue protruding therefrom, said tongue being configured, sized and positioned so as to be insertable into said groove when an insertable portion of said panel is inserted between opposite sections of said main securing leg.    
     
     
         29 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein said securing means includes a means for securing said securing component to a receptacle wall part of said receptacle so that said panel extends in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to said receptacle wall with one of said panel transversal edges in a substantially proximal relationship with said receptacle wall.  
     
     
         30 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 29  wherein each of said securing legs defines a leg free edge located opposite said base leg; each of said securing legs also defining a leg first spacing edge and a leg second spacing edge both extending between said base leg and a corresponding leg free edge respectively on opposite sides of a corresponding securing legs; said securing means defining an attachment section, said attachment section including an attachment flange extending from said leg first spacing edges, said attachment flange extending in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to said securing legs.  
     
     
         31 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 30  wherein said attachment section includes an attachment flange extending from leg first spacing edges, said attachment flange extending in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to said securing legs.  
     
     
         32 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 31  wherein at least one of said attachment flanges is provided with an adhesive substance positioned on at least an adhesive section thereof.  
     
     
         33 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 29  wherein base leg is movably attached to said securing legs for movement between a base open configuration wherein at least part of said base leg is spaced from said securing legs and a base close configuration wherein said base leg is in contact with said securing legs and in a substantially perpendicular relationship therewith.  
     
     
         34 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 29  wherein base leg defines a base leg first end edge and an opposed base leg second end edge, said base leg being pivotally attached to said securing legs for pivotal movement substantially about said base leg first end edge between a base open configuration wherein said base second end edge is spaced from said securing legs with said base leg is in a substantially angled relationship with said securing legs and a base close configuration wherein base second end edge is in contact with said securing legs and said base leg is in a substantially perpendicular relationship with said securing legs.  
     
     
         35 . A partitioning structure as recited in  claim 34  further including a base flange extending outwardly from said securing legs adjacent said base first end edge, said base flange being provided with a flange aperture extending therethrough for receiving said base leg when the latter is in said base open configuration.