Portable Modular Closet Insert And Method Of Using The Same

Abstract

A closet insert structured to fit in a closet enclosure in its entirety—includes at least one insert module including back, top and floor panels, and two end panels. Mounting structure is provided on at least one of the panels to which a coupling device is mountable for coupling another insert module to the at least one insert module.

1 .- 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  further including closet organizer hardware affixed to an inner surface of at least one of said panels of each of said left and right insert modules. 
     
     
         6 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 5  wherein said closet organizer hardware includes a hanger bar. 
     
     
         7 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  wherein each back, top and floor panel of each of said left and right closet insert modules is a discrete member, and wherein said top and floor panels are connected to said back panel. 
     
     
         8 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 7  wherein each of said back, top and floor panels of each of said left and right closet insert modules is substantially rectangular in shape, and wherein each of said top and floor panels are connected to each respective back panel at respective edge regions thereof. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  further including wheels or casters provided on a bottom surface of a floor panel of at least one of said left and right closet insert modules. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  wherein each of said mounting structures is situated at an edge region of a respective top, bottom and back panel. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  further including a frame for receiving a safe situated in at least one of said left and right closet insert modules. 
     
     
         16 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  further including at least two parallel channel members connected to an outer surface of at least one floor panel of at least one of said left and right closet insert modules for facilitating the lifting of the closet insert by a fork lift apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  further including a door panel structured and arranged to connect to said top and floor panels of a respective closet insert module of said left and right insert modules. 
     
     
         18 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 17  wherein said door panel includes a lock for locking said door panel to said respective closet insert module of said left and right insert modules. 
     
     
         19 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  wherein the depth of each said top and floor panel does not exceed about 27 inches. 
     
     
         20 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 19  wherein the length of each said back panel is in the range of between about 1 foot to 3 feet. 
     
     
         21 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 19  wherein the height of each said back panel is in the range of between about 70 inches to 78 inches. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of using a closet insert for the temporary storage of clothing and the like at a remote location, comprising the steps of:
 transporting a closet insert to a first location, the closet insert including closet organizer hardware structured and arranged to enable clothing and the like to be hung and stored within the closet insert;   inserting the closet insert into a closet enclosure at the first location so that the closet insert is situated in the closet enclosure in its entirety;   hanging and storing clothing and the like in said closet insert while the closet insert is situated in said closet enclosure until it is desired to temporarily store the clothing and the like at a remote location;   when it is desired to temporarily store the clothing and the like at a remote location, removing the closet insert from the closet enclosure and closing the closet unit, with the clothing and the like which has been hung therein still hanging and stored therein;   transporting the closet insert, with the clothes and the like which have been hung and stored therein still hanging and stored therein, to the remote location;   storing the closet insert at the remote location until the clothing and the like hung and stored in the closet insert is needed at the first location;   when the clothing and the like in the closet insert is needed at the first location, transporting the closet insert, with the clothing and the like which has been hung and stored therein still hanging therein, to the first location, and opening the closet insert; and   inserting the closet insert, with the clothing and the like which has been hung and stored therein still hanging and stored therein, into a closet enclosure so that the closet insert is situated in the closet enclosure in its entirety, with the clothing and the like which has been hung and stored therein still hanging and stored therein.   
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 23  wherein said closet insert comprises a modular construction including at least one closet insert module, each module including back, top and floor panels and structures for mounting coupling devices to at least one of said panels. 
     
     
         25 . A method of installing and using a closet insert structured and arranged to be received within a closet enclosure in its entirety, comprising the steps of:
 selecting at least one closet insert module, each module including a back panel and top and floor panels extending therefrom, based upon the length of the closet enclosure into which the closet insert is to be inserted, the length of each closet module and the size of the closet entrance;   connecting end panels to the back panels of the left and right insert modules, or in the case where only a single module is used, to left and right edge regions of the back panel of the single module;   inserting each of the closet insert modules into the closet enclosure; and   in the case where more than one insert module is selected and inserted into said closet enclosure, coupling said insert modules to each other.   inserting each of said closet insert modules into said closet enclosure;   coupling said closet insert modules to each other while situated in said closet enclosure; and   situating clothing and the like in said closet insert.   
     
     
         26 . A method as recited in  claim 25  further including, when it is desired to remove the closet insert from the closet enclosure, decoupling said closet insert modules with the clothing and the like situated therein still situated therein; and removing each module from the closet enclosure with the clothing and the like situated therein still situated therein. 
     
     
         27 . A method of using closet inserts for maintaining a set of clothing and the like at a location remote from a first location, comprising the steps of:
 transporting a closet insert to a first location;   hanging clothing and the like in the closet insert;   transporting the closet insert with the clothing and the like which has been hung therein still hanging and stored therein to the remote location; and   inserting the closet insert with the clothing and the like which has been hung and stored therein still hanging and stored therein in it's entirety into a closet enclosure at the remote location.   
     
     
         28 . A method as recited in  claim 27  wherein the remote location is a hotel room. 
     
     
         29 . A method as recited in  claim 27  wherein the remote location is a dormitory. 
     
     
         30 . A method as recited in  claim 27  wherein the remote location is a residence. 
     
     
         31 . A method as recited in  claim 27  wherein the remote location is a storage facility. 
     
     
         32 . A closet insert for containing items of clothing and the like comprising a left insert module, a right insert module and left and right end panels, wherein
 said left and right insert modules each comprise a back panel situated in a substantially vertical back plane, a top panel extending from said back panel in a substantially horizontal top plane, a floor panel extending from said back panel and situated in a substantially horizontal floor plane;   said left insert module situated laterally and to the left of said right insert module;   said back panels of said left and right insert modules situated in substantially coplanar vertical planes, said top panels of said left and right insert modules situated in substantially coplanar horizontal planes, and said floor panels of said left and right insert modules situated in substantially coplanar horizontal planes;   said closet insert further includes coupling devices comprising interlocking cam members mounted on mounting structures provided on each back panel, top panel and floor panel of said left and right insert modules, wherein the coupling devices on said top, back and floor panels of said left insert module matingly engage respective coupling devices on laterally adjacent top, back and floor panels of the said right insert module for coupling said top, back and floor panels of said left and right insert modules to each other, said coupling devices thereby coupling said left and right insert modules to each other;   said left and right end panels are situated in spaced substantially vertical planes substantially perpendicular to said horizontal and vertical planes in which said back, top and floor panels of said of said left and right insert modules are situated extending from said back panels of said left and right insert modules, respectively, and wherein said left end panel extends from left edges of said back, top and floor panels of said left insert module and said right end panel extends from right edges of said back, top and floor panels of said right insert module.   
     
     
         33 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  wherein said coupling devices are structured to urge said mating edges of said back, top and floor panels against each other to provide water-resistant seams between the coupled insert modules. 
     
     
         34 . A closet insert as recited in  claim 32  wherein said top, back and floor panels of said left and right insert modules are coupled to each other along mating edges and wherein said closet insert is devoid of any panel extending from said mating edges of said left and right insert modules that is in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to said vertical and horizontal planes in which said back, top and floor panels of said left and right insert modules are situated, such that an unobstructed closet space is formed between said right and left end panels.