Customizable modular storage unit organizer apparatus, system and method of using same

Abstract

A customizable modular storage unit organizer apparatus with a pair of slides, a pair of slide covers, a pair of hollow cross bars, a pair of retainer clips, and a container for storing articles within the apparatus. The cross bars extend between, are affixed to the slide covers, and have two distal ends, top, bottom, first and second side portions, a slot extending longitudinally along the length of the exterior surface of cross bars for accommodating attachments. The retainer clips allow the slide covers to be selectively, repeatedly, and releasably retained to the slides. The size of the enclosure formed between the slide covers and hollow cross bars may be modified by adjusting the positions of the cross bars on the slide covers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a customizable storage unit organizer apparatus having a plurality of slides, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of slide covers disposed on top of the plurality of slides, each of the plurality of slide covers comprising
 first and second distal ends, 
 exterior and interior surfaces, 
 first and second side portions, 
 a top portion, 
 a bottom portion, and 
 a slide cover divider extending between the first and second side portions, 
   a plurality of cross bars extending between and affixed to the plurality of slide covers, each of the cross bars comprising first and second distal ends,   an enclosure formed between the plurality of slide covers and plurality of hollow cross bars,   at least one cabinet component for storing articles within the enclosure,   wherein the cross bars are horizontally adjustable along the length of the slide covers.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a plurality of retainer clips for selectively, repeatedly, and releasably retaining the plurality of slide covers to the plurality of slides,   wherein each slide comprises a recess, each of the plurality of slide covers further comprises a slide cover slot, and the recess of the slide is configured to interact with the retainer clip.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slide covers are affixed to the plurality of slides. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an end cap with a substantially similar cross sectional shape of the slide covers abuts said distal end of said slide cover. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a face plate is attached to a first distal end of each slide cover and is adapted to receive a fascia board along the length of the cross bar between the first distal ends of the slide covers. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising channel sections disposed on the first and second portions of the slide covers, the channel sections being sized to accommodate fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a track extending longitudinally along the length of the exterior surface of each of the cross bars for accommodating attachments. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cross bar divider extending between the interior surfaces of the first and second side portions within the hollow cross bars thereby forming lower and upper chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the lower chamber comprises
 a cross sectional area having a C-shape, and   a second slot extending longitudinally along the length of the bottom portion of the cross bars adapted to receive the cabinet component for storing articles.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the upper chamber comprises a cross sectional area having an L-shape. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet component is selected from the group consisting of a container, a basket, a bin, a tray, a shelf, space dividers, and planar surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each retainer clip of the plurality of retainer clips comprises
 a head portion comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and an I-shape,   at least one prong projecting downward from the bottom portion, each prong comprising a wedge-shaped flange at a distal end of the prong, and   a peg,   wherein
 the neck is configured to fit within the slide cover slot, and 
 the at least one prong and the peg are configured to fit within the slide. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow cross bars are affixed to the plurality of slide covers through a connector selected from the group consisting of a fastener, a weld, or an epoxy. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising face plates configured to be affixed to the distal ends of the slide covers. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a support member extending longitudinally along the length of the cross bars for supporting the cabinet component, wherein the cabinet component comprises a flange, and the support member is adapted to receive the flange of a cabinet component for supporting the cabinet component. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the support member comprises a lip extending longitudinally along the length of bottom portion of the exterior surface of the cross bars for supporting the cabinet component. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the support member comprises an indentation extending longitudinally along the length of top portion of the cross bars for supporting the cabinet component. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a flange affixed to the top portion of the cross bar and extending over the indentation. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising aluminum. 
     
     
         20 . A kit for a customizable storage unit organizer apparatus, the kit comprising:
 at least one slide cover comprising   first and second distal ends,   exterior and interior surfaces,   first and second side portions,   a top portion,   a bottom portion,   a slide cover divider extending between the first and second side portions, the slide cover comprising a slide cover slot,   a hollow cross bar comprising first and second distal ends, and   a cabinet component for storing articles on the apparatus.   
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20 , further comprising a retainer clip for selectively, repeatedly, and releasably retaining the at least one slide cover to at least one slide. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 20 , further comprising end caps. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 20 , further comprising face plates. 
     
     
         24 . A method of assembling a customizable storage unit organizer apparatus, the method comprising
 Providing a customizable storage unit organizer apparatus kit comprising
 a pair of slides, 
 a slide cover comprising
 first and second distal ends, 
 exterior and interior surfaces, 
 first and second side portions, 
 a curvilinear top portion, 
 a bottom portion, 
 a plurality of flanges disposed on and extending longitudinally along the interior surface, 
 a slide cover divider extending between the first and second side portions, 
 a chamber formed between the top portion, the second portion, and the slide cover divider, 
 
 a hollow cross bar comprising
 first and second distal ends, 
 top, bottom, first and second side portions, 
 a first slot extending longitudinally along the length of the exterior surface of cross bars for accommodating attachments, 
 
 a retainer clip for selectively, repeatedly, and releasably retaining the plurality of slide covers to the plurality of slides, and 
 a cabinet component for storing articles on the apparatus, 
   Manufacturing a pair sub-slide covers from the slide cover, each sub-slide cover comprising equal lengths as one another,   Manufacturing a pair of sub-cross bars from the hollow cross bar, each sub-cross bar comprising equal lengths as one another,   Punching through holes in the bottom portion of slide cover along the length of the bottom portion of the slide cover, the holes being sized to accommodate a fastener,   Arranging the pair of sub-cross bars in a parallel configuration,   Arranging the position of one of pair of the sub-slide covers on one end of the parallel configuration such that the pair of sub-cross bars intersect the sub-slide cover at a right angle,   Arranging the position of the other sub-slide cover of the pair of sub-slide covers  30  at another end of the parallel configuration such that the pair of sub-cross bars intersect the other sub-slide cover at a right angle,   Fastening the pair of sub-cross bars to the pair of sub-slide covers, forming an enclosure between the pair of sub-cross bars and the pair of sub-slide covers,   Placing a retainer clip into the slot on the divider of each of the slide covers,   Snapping the pair of sub-slide covers into the pair of slides, and   Customizing the size of the enclosure by changing the positions of the pair of sub-cross bars along the length of the slide members.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of re-customizing the storage unit organizer apparatus by re-adjusting the positions of the cross bars along the longitudinal length of the slide members. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 ,
 wherein the cabinet component is selected from the group consisting of a container, a basket, a bin, a tray, a shelf, space dividers, and planar surface, and   further comprising the step of re-customizing the storage unit by replacing the cabinet component with a second cabinet component selected from the group consisting of a second container, a second basket, a second bin, a second tray, a second shelf, second space dividers, and second planar surface.