Efficient belt storage unit

Abstract

A single vertical housing or column of belt storage units or a plurality of similar belt storage units are integrally connected and stackable to allow a user to customize the footprint as well as the height of the storage unit or units to accommodate a desired number of rolled up belts for a given amount of support surface area. Each vertical column includes a plurality of belt receiving compartments each having a substantially uniform circular cross section. Each compartment is formed of a bottom wall, a generally circular peripheral wall and an open top and mounted for independent pivoting to move a selected compartment off the axis of the unit to provide substantially unfettered access to the compartment interior from the top opening. Each compartment is dimensioned to receive a rolled up belt that receives conventional belts and belt buckles.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A belt storage unit comprising at least one vertical generally cylindrical housing defining a generally vertical housing axis; a plurality of belt-receiving compartments or bins having top openings and arranged along said housing axis, said belt receiving compartments each having a generally circular cross-section and a compartment axis through a center of a bottom wall; hinge means defining a generally vertical hinge axis horizontally spaced or offset a predetermined distance from said vertical housing axis and secured to each said belt-receiving compartment for selectively moving each compartment between a retracted position in which said compartment axis is coextensive with said housing axis and an extended position in which said compartment axis is offset from said housing axis to provide access to the compartment through said opening, said housing supporting said hinge means and having a base and top cover that generally conform to the shape and dimensions of said storage compartments to minimize a footprint of said housing when placed on a support surface while sufficient to store rolled up belts within said storage compartments. 
     
     
         2 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein two generally vertical cylindrical housings are secured to each other by a connecting support portion joining said two housings to form a single integral unit. 
     
     
         3 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said support portion generally defines a plane of symmetry and said two cylindrical housings are generally configured to be mirror images in relation to said plane of symmetry. 
     
     
         4 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each hinge means associated with each housing is generally diametrically positioned in relation to said connecting support. 
     
     
         5 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said hinge means for said two housings are generally arranged along a vertical plane extending through said housing axes of said two housings. 
     
     
         6 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said housing defines a front direction generally facing a user seeking access to said unit, said hinge means of each compartment being offset laterally to one of a right or left direction in relation to said front direction. 
     
     
         7 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said offset is approximately 90°. 
     
     
         8 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein five storage compartments are provided in each vertical housing or column. 
     
     
         9 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said base has a predetermined perimeter configuration and said top cover has a configuration that generally conforms to said predetermined perimeter configuration to facilitate stacking of like housings on top of each other. 
     
     
         10 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising retaining means for preventing stacked units from shifting horizontally relative to each other. 
     
     
         11 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said retaining means comprises an upwardly projecting lip or wall to form a recess or cavity dimensioned and configured to receive a base of an associated storage unit to be stacked. 
     
     
         12 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each compartment has an axial height along a compartment axis selected within the range of 1-1.5″. 
     
     
         13 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said compartments have a diameter selected within the range of 3-5″. 
     
     
         14 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said range is within 3.5-4.5″. 
     
     
         15 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least portions of said compartments are transparent to allow a user to see the content of each compartment. 
     
     
         16 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising means for hanging said housing or housings on a vertical support surface. 
     
     
         17 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising handgrips on each compartment to facilitate the gripping of a compartment and moving it between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         18 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising retaining means for retaining compartments in their retracted positions with a predetermined force to prevent inadvertent movement from a retracted position to an extended position, a compartment being movable from a retracted to an extended position by application of a manual force in excess of said predetermined force. 
     
     
         19 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said retaining means comprises juxtoposed magnets on said housing and on each individual compartment. 
     
     
         20 . A belt storage unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hinge means comprises an elongate vertical rod extending along said housing and passing through aligned channels in said housing and associated compartments.