Chest Freezer Organizer

Abstract

Organizers for chest freezers are disclosed that provide increased access to items in chest freezers. The organizers include a base and at least one storage member, which can move vertically and rotate horizontally relative to the base. Vertical and horizontal movement of the storage member relative to the base is provided in some embodiments by a vertical member that forms a hinge between the base and the storage member and is provided in some embodiments by a coupling of the storage member to a vertical member extending vertically from the base. Also disclosed is a corresponding method for accessing items in a chest freezer. Moving a storage member of a disclosed organizer up relative to the organizer's base and/or rotating the storage member horizontally relative to the base provides greater access to frozen items in the storage member and frozen items located below the storage member's original position.

1 . An organizer for a chest freezer having an interior space sized to receive frozen items, the organizer including:
 a base;   at least one storage member sized to receive frozen items; and   at least one vertical member that forms a hinge between the base and at least one storage member to rotatably support the at least one storage member to allow the at least one storage member to slide up relative to the base and rotate relative to the base to increase access to frozen food positionable under the at least one storage member.   
     
     
         2 . The organizer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least vertical member is a support pole and the hinge includes the at least one support pole and an aperture sized to receive the at least one support pole. 
     
     
         3 . The organizer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one storage member is adjustable in size to allow for configuration for use in a wide variety of chest freezers. 
     
     
         4 . The organizer of  claim 1 , further including adjustable legs coupled to and extending downward from the base to allow an organizer height to be adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The organizer of  claim 1 , wherein one storage member includes an upper-most portion and the at least one vertical member extends upward from the base to a height less than a height of the a chest freezer lid so that the chest freezer lid clears the at least vertical member during closing and allows the at least one storage member to rest on an upper ledge of the chest freezer when rotated relative to the base. 
     
     
         6 . The organizer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical member includes at least one key-stock configured to allow the at least one storage member to be locked in place on the at least one vertical member when raised vertically relative to the base and rotated relative to the base. 
     
     
         7 . The organizer of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one storage member further includes a slot aligned with the at least one key-stock of the at least one vertical member to allow the storage member to lock in place on the at least one vertical member when raised vertically relative to the base and rotated relative to the base. 
     
     
         8 . An organizer for a container having an interior space sized to receive items, the organizer including:
 a base;   a vertical member extending vertically from the base; and   a storage member configured to store items, the storage member being coupled to the vertical member such that the storage member can slide vertically relative to the base and rotate horizontally relative to the base.   
     
     
         9 . The organizer of  claim 8 , wherein the base is polygon-shaped and the storage member is polygon-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The organizer of  claim 9 , wherein the vertical member extends from a corner of the base and a corner of the storage member is coupled to the vertical member. 
     
     
         11 . The organizer of  claim 8 , further including a spacer configured to provide a space between the storage member and the base when the storage member is at a lowest vertical position relative to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The organizer of  claim 8 , further including a support member configured to maintain the storage member at a vertical height above the base. 
     
     
         13 . The organizer of  claim 8 , wherein the storage member includes a floor and at least one wall to define an interior space to store items. 
     
     
         14 . The organizer of  claim 8 , wherein the base includes a floor and at least one wall to define an interior space to store items. 
     
     
         15 . The organizer of  claim 8 , wherein the storage member is a first storage member, the organizer further including a second storage member configured to store frozen items, the second storage member being coupled to the vertical member such that the second storage member can slide vertically relative to the base and rotate horizontally relative to the base. 
     
     
         16 . The organizer of  claim 8 , wherein the storage member is a first storage member and the vertical member is a first vertical member, the organizer further including a second vertical member extending vertically from the base and a second storage member configured to store frozen items, the second storage member being coupled to the second vertical member such that the second storage member can slide vertically relative to the base and rotate horizontally relative to the base. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating an organizer for a container having an interior space sized to receive items, the method including the steps of:
 providing a container;   providing an organizer including a base, a vertical member extending vertically from the base, and a storage member configured to items, the storage member being coupled to the vertical member;   positioning the organizer in the container;   sliding the storage member vertically relative to the base; and   rotating the storage member horizontally relative to the base.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including a step of resting the storage member on an upper ledge of the container after rotating the storage member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including a step of resting the storage member on items positioned within the container after rotating the storage member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further including locking the storage member in place on the vertical member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the container is a top-opening chest freezer.