Multimedia storage tray and method of making the same

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved multimedia storage tray including at least two support rails that are independent or separate, i.e. not directly connected. The support rails advantageously are identical in shape with each generally including a top surface having a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge and a plurality of divider walls. The support rails are adapted to be attached to a furniture surface by a securing means in parallel, spaced apart, physically non-contacting relationship to each other. The divider walls are spaced apart substantially along the length of each support rail and cooperate with the top surface to provide storage spaces that accommodate different sized multimedia. The storage tray may be sold to the public already assembled in a furniture piece or sold directly to the do-it-your consumer as an after-market kit.

1 . A multimedia storage tray, comprising: 
 at least two independent support rails adapted to be attached to a furniture surface in spaced, parallel, physically non-contacting relationship to each other, the at least two support rails including:    an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;    a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and    a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.    
   
   
       2 . The storage tray of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least two support rails include at least one aperture adapted to receive a means for securing the at least two support rails to the furniture surface.  
   
   
       3 . The storage tray of  claim 1  wherein the at least two support rails are identical.  
   
   
       4 . The storage tray of  claim 1  wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.  
   
   
       5 . The storage tray of  claim 4  wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.  
   
   
       6 . The storage tray of  claim 1  wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.  
   
   
       7 . The storage tray of  claim 1  wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.  
   
   
       8 . The storage tray of  claim 1  wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.  
   
   
       9 . The storage tray of  claim 1  wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.  
   
   
       10 . A method of making a multimedia storage tray, comprising; 
 providing a first support rail;    providing a second support rail, each of the first and second rails adapted to be attached to a furniture surface and including: 
 an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;  
 a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges;  
 a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes; and  
   mounting the first and second support rails in spaced, parallel, physically non-contacting relation to each other on the furniture surface.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein providing the first and second support rails includes plastic mold injecting the first and second support rails.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first and second support rails include at least one aperture adapted to receive a means for securing the first and second support rails to the furniture surface.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first and second support rails are identical.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.  
   
   
       20 . A multimedia storage tray assembly, comprising: 
 a furniture piece including an upper surface; and    a multimedia storage tray including at least two support rails being equally spaced apart in opposing parallel relation and attached to the upper surface of the furniture piece at one of a plurality of desired widths wherein the at least two support rails are devoid of an interconnecting framework which connects the at least two support rails in direct physical contact with each other and are adapted to support and store a plurality of multimedia having different sizes.    
   
   
       21 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 20  wherein the at least two support rails are removably attached to the upper surface.  
   
   
       22 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 20  wherein the upper surface includes a drawer or shelf surface.  
   
   
       23 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 20  wherein the storage tray is moveably secured from a first storage position to a second position.  
   
   
       24 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 20  wherein the upper surface is flat.  
   
   
       25 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 20  further including a means for securing each of the at least two support rails to the upper surface.  
   
   
       26 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 25  wherein the means for securing includes a nail, screw, tack, staple, adhesive, or combination thereof.  
   
   
       27 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 20  wherein each of the at least two support rails include at least one aperture therein, and further including a means for securing each of the at least two support rails to the upper surface, the means for securing being received within the at least one aperture of each of the at least two support rails and cooperating with the upper surface such that each of the at least two support rails are attached thereto.  
   
   
       28 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 20  wherein the at least two support rails includes: 
 an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;    a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and    a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.    
   
   
       29 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 28  wherein the at least two support rails are identical.  
   
   
       30 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.  
   
   
       31 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 30  wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.  
   
   
       32 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 28  wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.  
   
   
       33 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 28  wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.  
   
   
       34 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 28  wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.  
   
   
       35 . The storage tray assembly of  claim 28  wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.  
   
   
       36 . A method of assembling a multimedia storage tray assembly, comprising: 
 providing a multimedia support tray including at least two independent support rails;    providing a furniture piece having an upper surface; and    attaching the at least two support rails to the upper surface of the furniture piece, the at least two support rails being equally spaced apart in opposing parallel relation at one of a plurality of desired widths and devoid of an interconnecting framework which directly physically contacts the at least two rails to each other, whereby multimedia having different sizes may be supported and stored therebetween.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the at least two support rails are removably attached to the upper surface.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the upper surface includes a drawer or shelf surface.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the storage tray is moveable from a first storage position to a second position.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the upper surface is flat.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 36  further including providing a means for securing the at least two support rails to the upper surface and attaching the at least two support rails to the upper surface with the means for securing.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the means for securing includes a nail, screw, tack, staple, adhesive, or combination thereof.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41  wherein each of the at least two support rails include at least one aperture, and wherein the means for securing are received within the at least one aperture of the at least two support rails and cooperate with the upper surface such that each of the at least two support rails are attached thereto.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 36  wherein providing the at least two support rails includes plastic mold injecting the at least two support rails.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the at least two support rails include: 
 an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;    a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and    a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the at least two support rails are identical.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45  wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.  
   
   
       53 . A multimedia storage tray kit, comprising: 
 at least two independent support rails adapted to be attached to a furniture surface, the at least two support rails including: 
 an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;  
 a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and  
 a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes; and  
   a means for securing the at least two support rails to the furniture surface in space apart, parallel, physically non-contacting relationship to each other.    
   
   
       54 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein the means for securing includes a nail, screw, tack, staple, adhesive, or combination thereof.  
   
   
       55 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein each of the at least two support rails includes at least one aperture therein adapted to receive the means for securing.  
   
   
       56 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein the at least two support rails are identical.  
   
   
       57 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.  
   
   
       58 . The storage tray kit of  claim 57  wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.  
   
   
       59 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.  
   
   
       60 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.  
   
   
       61 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.  
   
   
       62 . The storage tray kit of  claim 53  wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.  
   
   
       63 . A multimedia support rail adapted for use in a multimedia storage tray, comprising: 
 an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;    a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and    a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.    
   
   
       64 . The rail of  claim 63  wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.  
   
   
       65 . The rail of  claim 64  wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.  
   
   
       66 . The rail of  claim 63  wherein the support rail is adapted for use with an identical second support rail as a multimedia storage tray.  
   
   
       67 . The rail of  claim 63  wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.  
   
   
       68 . The rail of  claim 63  wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.  
   
   
       69 . The rail of  claim 63  wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.  
   
   
       70 . The rail of  claim 63  wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.  
   
   
       71 . The rail of  claim 63  wherein the support rail includes at least one aperture adapted to receive a means for securing the support rail to a furniture surface.