Reconfigurable container partitions and their assembly

Abstract

A reconfigurable partition set for use in containers retains multiple objects, having a first and a second periphery. Multiple first lateral panels and second lateral panels, each having slits, form a wall for the first periphery of the object. The second lateral panels have more slits than the first lateral panels. Multiple longitudinal panels having slots provide the second wall for the second periphery of the object. The partition set being formed by sliding multiple slots of the longitudinal panel into slits of first lateral panel, the second lateral panel or a combination of both. The selection of slits determine the dimensions the first wall and the second wall of receiving areas to receive first periphery and second periphery of the object. Using two or three panels enables the partition set to handle different objects, such as glasses and plates, in the same container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reconfigurable partition, set to retain at least one object, each of said at least one object having an object first periphery and an object second periphery, for use in a container, said partition set comprising:
 multiple first lateral panels, each of said multiple first lateral panels having:
 a width, said width having a width first edge and a width second edge, 
 a first height, said first height having a first base and a first top, 
 a number of first predetermined slits, said first predetermined slits extending from said base a portion of said first height toward said first top and spaced to create a first wall for receiving areas dimensioned to receive said first periphery of each of said at least one object, multiple second lateral panels, each of said multiple second lateral panels having: 
 a second width, said second width having a second width first edge and a second width second edge, 
 a second height, said second height having a second base and a second top, 
 a number of second predetermined slits, said number of said second predetermined slits being greater than said number of first predetermined slits and extending from said second base a portion of said second height and spaced to create a first wall for receiving areas dimensioned to receive said first periphery of each said at least one object, 
 multiple longitudinal panels, each of said multiple longitudinal panels having: 
 a length, said length having a length first edge and a length second edge, 
 a third height, said third height having a third base and a third top, 
 multiple slots, said multiple slots extending a portion of said third height, said multiple slots spaced to create a second wall for said receiving areas dimensioned to receive said second periphery of each of said at least one object, 
   said partition set being formed by sliding said multiple slots of said longitudinal panel into said predetermined slits of said first lateral panel, said predetermined slits of said second lateral panel or a combination of said first lateral panel and said second lateral panel, selection of said slits for insertion being determined to dimension said first wall and said second wall of said receiving areas to receive said first periphery and said second periphery of said at least one object, thereby forming four sided receiving areas dimensioned to receive each of said at least one object.   
     
     
         2 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein a first of said at least one object has a different periphery from another of said at least one object and said slots of said multiple longitudinal panels are inserted into slits of said first lateral panels to provide receiving area for said first of said at least one object and said slots of said multiple longitudinal panels are inserted into slits of said second, lateral panels to provide receiving area for said another of said at least one object. 
     
     
         3 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said width of each of said first lateral panels and said second width of said second lateral panels is less than said length of each of said multiple longitudinal panels. 
     
     
         4 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said width of at least one of said first lateral panels or at least one of said second width of said second lateral panels is less than said length of other of said first lateral panels or said second lateral panels. 
     
     
         5 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said width of at least one of said multiple first lateral panels or said second width of said multiple second lateral panels is equal to said length of each of said multiple longitudinal panels. 
     
     
         6 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein each of said number of first predetermined slits extend from said first base a predetermined distance and each of said number of second predetermined slits extend from said second base said predetermined distance and each of said multiple slots extend from said third base said predetermined distance to permit said first top and/or said second top to be on the same plane as said third base. 
     
     
         7 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said first lateral panels have proximal slits a predetermined distance from said width first edge and distal slits a predetermined distance from said width second edge and said second lateral panels each panels have proximal slits a predetermined distance from said second width first edge and said second width second edge and distal slits a predetermined distance from said second width second edge and said second width second edge and said longitudinal panels have a distal slot a predetermine distance from a length first edge of and a proximal slot a predetermined distance from a length second edge. 
     
     
         8 . The partition set of  claim 6  wherein said predetermine distance is consistent. 
     
     
         9 . The partition set of claim wherein at least one of said predetermined distance is greater than the other of said predetermined distance. 
     
     
         10 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein further comprising a notch in said fiat top and/or said second top. 
     
     
         11 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein each of said first lateral panels contain taro slits and each of said second lateral panels contain four slits and each of said longitudinal panels contain at least six slots, and a first number of said multiple lateral first panels, forming a first first object periphery, are positioned within said six slots forming a first second object periphery and a second number of said multiple second lateral panels, forming a second first object periphery, are spaced with said twelve slots remaining forming a second second periphery. 
     
     
         12 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein each of said second lateral panels contain four slits, and each of said longitudinal panels each contain at least six slots and said slits in said multiple first panels is positioned within every third slot to form receiving areas. 
     
     
         13 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said receiving area configuration is determined by the placement of said slits in said first lateral panels or said slits in said second lateral panels or a combination thereof into said slots of said multiple longitudinal panels. 
     
     
         14 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein a ratio of said slits to said slits is about 0.15 to 10. 
     
     
         15 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said first predetermined slits are spaced about 2 to about 5 inches from subsequent slits. 
     
     
         16 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said first predetermined slits are spaced about 8 to about 14 inches from subsequent slits. 
     
     
         17 . The partition set of  claim 1  wherein said multiple slots are spaced about 1 to about 4 inches apart from subsequent slots. 
     
     
         18 . The partition sets of  claim 1  wherein unused slots are positioned adjacent a base of said container. 
     
     
         19 . A reconfigurable partition set to retain at least one object, each of said at least one object having an object first periphery and an object second periphery, for use in containers, said partition set comprising:
 multiple first lateral panels, each of said multiple first lateral panels having:
 a width, said width having a width first edge and a width second edge, 
 a first height, said first height having a first base and a first top, said first top containing a notch, 
 a number of first predetermined slits, said first predetermined slits being space from one another from about 8 to about 14 inches, extending from said first base a portion of said first height toward said first top to create a first wall of receiving areas dimensioned to receive said first periphery of said at least one object, 
   multiple second lateral panels, each of said multiple second lateral panels having:
 a second width, said second width having a second width first edge and a second width second edge, 
 a second height, said second height having a second base and a second top, 
 a number of second predetermined slits, said second predetermined slits being spaced from one another about 2 to about 5 inches and being greater in number than said first predetermined slits and extending from said second base a portion of said second height to create a first wall of receiving areas dimensioned to receive said first periphery of each said at least one object, 
   multiple longitudinal panels, each of said multiple longitudinal panels having:
 a length, said length having a length first edge and a length second edge, 
 a third height, said third height having a third base and a third top, 
 multiple slots, said multiple slots spaced about 1 to about 4 inches from subsequent slots and extending a portion of said third height, said multiple slots spaced to create a second wall of said receiving areas dimensioned to receive said second periphery of each of said at least one object, 
   said partition set being formed by sliding said multiple slots of said longitudinal panels into said predetermined slits of said first lateral panels, said predetermined slits of said second lateral panel or a combination of said first lateral panel and said second lateral panel, selection of said predetermined slits for insertion being determined to dimension said first wall and said second wall of said receiving areas to receive said first periphery and said second periphery of said at least one object, thereby forming four sided receiving areas dimensioned to receive each of said at least one object.   
     
     
         20 . The partition set of  claim 16  wherein said width of said first lateral panels and said second lateral panels are each selected from at least one from the group comprising: less than said length of each of said multiple second panels; equal to said length of each of said multiple second panels; at least one of said multiple first panel is less than said length of other of said multiple second panels. 
     
     
         21 . The partition set of  claim 16  wherein a ratio of said slits to said slits is about 0.15 to 10. 
     
     
         22 . The partition set of  claim 16  wherein each of said number of first predetermined slits extend from said first base a predetermined distance and each of said number of second predetermined slits extend from said second base said predetermined distance and each of said multiple slots extend from said third base said predetermined distance to permit said first top and/or said second top to be on the same plane as said third base. 
     
     
         23 . The method of forming a reconfigurable partition set to retain at least one object, each of said at least one object having an object first periphery and, an object second periphery, for use in containers, comprising the steps of:
 determining a first periphery and a second periphery of said at least one object,   selecting lateral panels having a width, a height, and at least two slits extending from a base a portion of said height and spaced to create a first wall of receiving areas dimensioned to receive said first periphery of each of said at least one object,   selecting longitudinal panels having a length, a height, and multiple slots, said multiple slots being greater in number than said at least two slits and extending a portion of said second height, and spaced to create a second wall of said receiving areas dimensioned to receive said second periphery of each of said at least one object,   selecting said at least two slots for insertion into said at least two slits to dimension said second wall of said receiving areas to receive said second periphery of said at least one object,   selecting said at least two slits for insertion into said at least two slots to dimension said first wall of said receiving areas to receive said first periphery of said at least one object,   sliding each of said at least two slits selected of a predetermined number of said multiple first panels into at least two slots selected of each of a predetermined number of said multiple second panels,   forming four sided receiving areas dimensioned to receive each of said at least one object,   positioning said partition set to place open slots adjacent a base of said container;   placing said partition set into said container.