Background to the Invention Drawer inserts, for example drawer liners, drawer or office organisers and cutlery containers generally have a width, length and height significantly less than the proprietary drawers fitted to factory made home and office furniture. Consequently, such drawer inserts do not make efficient use of the space available in the drawer or in the carcass of the item of furniture. Articles and utensils may be placed or may locate within the space around the drawer inserts. In addition, articles and utensils may also move and therefore locate underneath the drawer insert. Accordingly, such drawer inserts do not store the articles or utensils efficiently and may result in articles or utensils being concealed or even hidden.

The drawer in the furniture carcass also produces lost storage space. For example, there will be lost storage space between the side of the drawer and the side of the carcass side since this space houses the runner apparatus for the drawer. In addition, there is a significant space between the top of the drawer and the internal upper surface of the carcass.

Accordingly, known drawers and drawer inserts do not make efficient use of the space provided by the carcass of the item of furniture.

Furthermore in order for the manufacture of drawer inserts to be economically efficient, drawer inserts need to be mass produced. It is, therefore, beneficial if such drawer inserts are able to fit a wide range of different sized drawers. Accordingly, prior art drawer inserts are made small to fit within a number of different drawers but this introduces the disadvantages associated with concealing or hiding utensils or articles as previously described above.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least one problem associated with the prior art whether referred to herein or otherwise.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a drawer insert, the drawer insert having at least one recess defined therein, the drawer insert being arranged in use, to be supported on the base of the drawer and wherein the depth of the drawer insert is greater than the depth of the drawer.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a rim projecting outwardly from the upper periphery thereof.

Preferably the rim extends around the complete periphery of the drawer insert. Preferably the rim projects substantially horizontally from the drawer insert.. The rim may project outwardly by a distance r. The drawer

insert may be suitable for use with differing sized drawers having a width variation substantially in the range of 2r.

The width of the drawer insert may be substantially equal to the width of the drawer front of the drawer minus 100mm plus 2r.

Preferably the rim is arranged in use, to conceal any gap located between the sides of the drawer insert and the sides of the drawer. The rim may be arranged, in use, to conceal any gap located between the front and back of the drawer insert and the front and side walls of the drawer.

The rim may be arranged, in use, to at least partially locate over upper edges of the side walls of the drawer.

The rim may be arranged, in use, to at least partially locate over upper edges of the front and back walls of the drawer.

The side walls of the drawer insert may taper outwardly from the base upwards. The front and back walls of the drawer insert may taper outwardly from the base upwards.

The walls of the or each recess may taper outwardly from the or each respective base upwards.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a plurality of recesses.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a drawer organiser, a desk tidy or a kitchen utensil container.

The width of the base of the drawer insert may be greater than 75% of the width of the base of the drawer and preferably is greater than 80% of the width of the drawer and more preferably is greater than 85% of the width of the drawer.

The area of the base of the drawer insert may be greater than 70% of the area of the base of the drawer and preferably is greater than 80% and more preferably is greater than 85% of the area of the base of the drawer.

At least one of the recesses may have a depth equal to the depth of the drawer insert.

At least one of the recesses may have a depth less than the depth of the drawer insert. The or each recess may have a support member to support the or each respective recess on the base of the drawer.

The depth of the drawer insert is such that, in use, the drawer insert does not abut or interfere with the upper internal surface of the carcass of the item of furniture.

The drawer insert may be suitable for drawers of differing sizes in which the width of the drawer is less than the width of the drawer front and may be 100mm less than the width of the drawer front.

Preferably, in use, there is no visual gap when viewed from above (i. e. plan view) between the rim of the drawer insert and the side walls of the drawer. There may be a

small visual gap when viewed from above (i. e. plan view) between the rim of the drawer and the side walls of the drawer, for example the gap may be less than 20mm.

The base of the drawer insert may cover approximately more than 80% of the base of the drawer.

Preferably the drawer insert provides. a storage space or volume located above the height of the walls of the drawer.

The drawer insert preferably comprises a plastics.

The depth of the drawer insert may be greater than 30mm, and preferably is greater than 75mm and more preferably is greater than 85mm.

The depth of the drawer insert may be less than 200mm and preferably is less than 150mm and more preferably is less than 120mm.

Preferably the depth of the drawer insert is substantially in the region of 90mm to 100mm.

The length of the drawer insert may be in the region of 300mm to 600mm.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a rim extending around the periphery thereof wherein the rim projects outwardly from the drawer insert in order to conceal, in use, at least an upper part of the drawer side walls, in use, the drawer insert being arranged to be supported by the base of the drawer.

The rim may project outwardly by greater than 3mm and preferably by greater than 5mm and more preferably by greater than 8mm. The rim may project outwardly by less than. 20mm and preferably by less than 15mm and more preferably by less than 12mm.

Preferably the rim projects outwardly by approximately lamm.

The drawer insert may provide a recess for. storing A4 paper. The drawer insert may provide a recess for storing A5 paper.

Preferably the drawer insert is formed by an injection moulding process. The drawer insert may be thermo-formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a drawer and a drawer insert, the drawer insert having at least one recess defined therein, the drawer insert being supported on the base of the drawer and wherein the depth of the drawer insert is greater than the depth of the drawer.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a rim projecting outwardly from the upper periphery thereof.

Preferably the rim extends around the complete periphery of the drawer insert. Preferably the rim projects substantially horizontally from the drawer insert. The rim may project outwardly by a distance r. The drawer insert may be suitable for use with differing sized drawers having a width substantially in the range of 2r.

The width of the drawer insert may be substantially equal to the width of the drawer front of the drawer minus 100mm plus 2r.

Preferably the rim is arranged in use, to conceal any gap located between the sides of the drawer insert and the sides of the drawer. The rim may be arranged, in use, to conceal any gap located between the front and back of the drawer insert and the front and side walls of the drawer.

The rim may be arranged, in use, to at least partially locate over upper edges of the side walls of the drawer.

The rim may be arranged, in use, to at least partially locate over upper edges of the front and back walls of the drawer.

The side walls of the drawer insert may taper outwardly from the base upwards. The front and back walls of the drawer insert may taper outwardly from the base upwards.

The walls of the or each recess may taper outwardly from the or each respective base upwards.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a plurality of recesses.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a drawer organiser, a desk tidy or a kitchen utensil container.

The width of the base of the drawer insert may be greater than 75% of the width of the base of the drawer and preferably is greater than 80% of the width of the

drawer and more preferably is greater than 85% of the width of the drawer.

The area of the base of the drawer insert may be greater than 70% of the area of the base of the drawer and preferably is greater than 80% and more preferably is greater than 85% of the area of the base of the drawer.

At least one of the recesses may have a depth equal to the depth of the drawer insert.

At least one of the recesses may have a depth less than the depth of the drawer insert. The or each recess may have a support member to support the or each respective recess on the base of the drawer.

The depth of the drawer insert is such that, in use, the drawer insert does not abut or interfere with the upper internal surface of the carcass of the item of furniture.

The drawer insert may be suitable for drawers of differing sizes in which the width of the drawer is less than the width of the drawer front and may be less than 100mm the width of the drawer front.

Preferably, in use, there is no visual gap when viewed from above (i. e. plan view) between the rim of the drawer insert and the side walls of the drawer. There may be a small visual gap when viewed from above (i. e. plan view) between the rim of the drawer and the side walls of the drawer, for example the gap may be less than 20mm.

The base of the drawer insert may cover approximately more than 80% of the base of the drawer.

Preferably the drawer insert provides a storage space or volume located above the height of the walls of the drawer.

The drawer insert preferably comprises a plastics.

The depth of the drawer insert may be greater than 30mm, and preferably is greater than 75mm and more preferably is greater than 85mm.

The depth of the drawer insert may be less than 200mm and preferably is less than 150mm and more preferably is less than 120mm.

Preferably the depth of the drawer insert is substantially in the region of 90mm to 100mm.

The length of the drawer insert may be in the region of 300mm to 600mm.

Preferably the drawer insert comprises a rim extending around the periphery thereof wherein the rim projects outwardly from the drawer insert in order to conceal, in use, at least an upper part of the drawer side walls, in use, the drawer insert being arranged to be supported by the base of the drawer.

The rim may project outwardly by greater than 3mm and preferably by greater than 5mm and more preferably by greater than 8mm. The rim may project outwardly by less

than 20mm and preferably by less than 15mm and more preferably by less than 12mm.

Preferably the rim projects outwardly by approximately lamm.

The drawer insert may provide a recess for storing A4 paper. The drawer insert may provide a recess for storing A5 paper.

Preferably the drawer insert is formed by an injection moulding process. The drawer insert may be formed by a thermo-forming method.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing storage for articles comprising supporting a drawer insert on the base of a drawer, the drawer insert providing at least one recess and wherein the depth of the drawer insert is greater than the depth of the drawer.

Preferably the method comprises providing storage space within the drawer insert at a location above the height of the walls of the drawer.

The method may comprise visually concealing any gaps located between the drawer insert and the walls of the drawer. Preferably the method comprising visually concealing the gaps when viewed from above (i. e. in plan view).

Preferably the method comprises forming the drawer insert using an injection moulding method. The method may

comprise forming the drawer insert using a thermo-forming method.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings that follow, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a drawer insert located within a drawer.

Figure 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of a drawer insert located within a drawer.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a drawer insert located within a drawer.

Figure 8 is a cross-section of a part of a carcass of an item of furniture having an embodiment of a drawer insert located with a drawer.

Figure 9 is a cross-section of part of an embodiment of a drawer insert located within a relatively large drawer.

Figure 10 is a cross-section of part of an embodiment of a drawer insert located within a relatively small drawer.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 12 is a front view of another embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 13 is a side view of another embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 14 is a plan view of another embodiment of a drawer insert.

Figure 15 is a side view of another embodiment of a drawer insert located within a drawer.

Figure 16 is a front view of another embodiment of a drawer insert located within a drawer.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments As shown in Figures 1 to 4, a drawer insert 10 comprises at least one recess 12 but preferably has a number of recesses 12,14, 16,18, 20,22 defined therein.

Each recess is shaped in order to store and contain

articles of particular forms, sizes and shapes. For example, the drawer insert 10 may be a kitchen utensil holder with knives, forks, spoons, teaspoons etc. being stored and contained within the different recesses.

The recesses are defined downwardly from the upper extent of the drawer insert and may provide the drawer insert with a depth, d. The recesses have surrounding walls in order to contain articles within the selected recess.

One or more of the recesses 20 may have a depth less than the depth, d, of the drawer insert, for example for storing small articles which may be difficult to grasp if located within a relatively deep recess.

As shown in Figures 1 to 6 the drawer insert 10 has a rim 40 extending around the upper periphery thereof. The rim 40 projects outwardly from the drawer insert 10 by a predetermined amount, r. The rim 40 is arranged, in use, to at least partially extend over the top edges of the walls 28 of the drawer 24. Accordingly, the rim 40 prevents objects and articles from being placed, whether intentionally or unintentionally, down the sides of the drawer insert 10. As previously explained, such objects and articles are not stored efficiently and may subsequently be lost. In prior art drawer inserts which are not deeper than the depth of the drawer, the inclusion of a rim would result in lost storage space within the drawer.

The rim 40 also enables the drawer insert 10 to be used with drawers of differing sizes and in particular of

differing widths since the rim 40 may extend over all of the top edges 30 of the walls 28 of a small drawer as shown in Figure 9 and may also extend over a small proportion of the top edges 30 of the walls 28 of a larger drawer as shown in Figure 10.

The drawer insert is primarily designed for use with drawers having differing widths rather than differing lengths, since it is more important that the drawer insert covers the full width of the drawer rather than the full length of the drawer since articles and utensils are more likely to be misplaced down the sides of the drawer insert than down the rear or front of the drawer insert.

However, due to the presence of the rim the drawer insert may be used in drawers having differing lengths.

The rim 40 may extend outwardly by a distance, r, which may be approximately 10mm. Since the rim 40 extends on both sides (or front and back walls) of the drawer insert 10, the drawer insert 10 will completely cover any gap for drawers having widths (or lengths) within 2r or a 20mm range. For example, a drawer insert having an internal width of 300mm will completely cover any gap for drawers having a width in the range of 300 mm to 320 mm.

However, the gap may not be totally covered but it preferably is completely covered.

As shown in Figure 9, the rim 40 completely conceals the gap if the rim 40 is equal to the size of the gap and this may be the largest drawer for which the drawer insert 10 is able to conceal the gap. However, the drawer insert may still be used in larger drawers although the gap will

not be covered but the extra storage space above the height of the walls of the drawer provided by the depth of the drawer insert will still be provided. In addition, Figure 10 shows the location of the rim 40 in the smallest sized drawer for which the drawer insert 10 is suitable.

The gap is visually concealed when viewed in plan from above. The gap is therefore defined accordingly since it is appreciated there will. be a vertical gap between the rim and the walls of the drawer since the drawer insert is deeper than the drawer.

It is commonplace for standard drawers 24 to vary in width. As shown in Figure 8, the width of the drawer depends upon the runner system 60 used. The carcass 70 of the item of furniture and drawer front are generally of industrial standard sizes but the actual width of the drawer 24 will vary depending upon the space taken up by the runner system 60 of the particular manufacturer. In addition, the thickness of the material used for the side walls of the drawer may also vary and therefore alter the available width inside the drawer. For example, for a drawer front having a standard width of 400mm, the drawer insert 10 has a width of 320mm, length 430mm, and a depth of 90mm. Accordingly, the drawer insert 10 can be used with drawers 24 having a width of 300mm upwards and will conceal the aforementioned gap for drawers having a width in the range of 300mm to 320mm since the rim is lOmm.

Similarly, for a drawer front of 500mm the drawer insert 10 has a width of 420mm, length of 430mm and a depth of 90mm and for a drawer front of 600mm the drawer insert 10 has a width of 520mm, length of 430mm and a depth of 90mm.

Accordingly, these three sizes of drawer insert 10 will fit into the drawers of a wide range of manufacturers.

The drawer insert 10 has a depth, d, a width w and a length 1. These dimensions include the dimension of the rim 40. Since the rim 40 is effectively horizontally extending from the drawer insert 10 the rim 40 does not effectively contribute to defining the volume of the drawer insert 10 or the effective storage space. The storage volume of the drawer insert 10 is generally defined by the internal width W, internal length L and depth d. The side walls 42 of the drawer insert extend inwardly as they project down and the base of the drawer insert defines a smaller area than the upper extent of the drawer insert. In addition, storage space within the drawer insert will be taken up by the partitioning for defining the recesses. Accordingly the actual storage volume provided by the drawer insert will be slightly less than the internal width W, multiplied by the internal length L and depth d depending upon the degree of taper and the number and angles of the partitioning of the recesses.

The side walls, front and back walls project upwards at an angle of approximately 93° or 95° from the base of the drawer insert.

As compared to prior art drawer inserts which have depths less than the depth of the drawer 24, the drawer insert 10 provides an additional volume 50 approximately defined by the extra depth (d-D) multiplied by the internal length L and internal width W, as shown in Figure 7. Again, due to the tapered walls and partitioning this only provides an approximation but could be easily

calculated by taking the degree of taper and the number of partitioning into account.

For example, a standard 500mm drawer front drawer may only be 60mm deep. The drawer insert 10 may be 90mm deep and would thereby provide an approximate 50% increase in storage capacity or volume.

As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, the drawer insert 10 is arranged to be located within a drawer 24 and to be supported on the base 26 of the drawer 24. The depth, d, of the drawer insert 10 is greater than the depth, D, of the drawer 24. Accordingly, the drawer insert 10 projects upwardly with respect to the top edges 30 of the drawer walls 28. The drawer insert 10 thereby provides extra storage space located between the upper edges of the drawer walls 28 and the internal upper surface 72 of the carcass 70 of the item of furniture. This storage space 50 is not provided in prior art drawer and drawer inserts since they have a depth less than that of the drawer.

Accordingly, this extra storage space is essentially the volume as defined by the extra depth (d-D) multiplied by the internal width W and length L. However, the depth, d, of the drawer insert 10 must not be too great or the drawer insert 10 may abut or interfere with the internal upper surface 72 of the carcass 70 of the item of furniture.

The width Wb of the base of the drawer insert 10 preferably is equal to approximately 80% of the width Wd of the base 26 of the drawer 24. The width Wb of the base of the drawer insert 10 may be in the range of 75% to 95% of the width Wd of the base 26 of the drawer 24.

Similarly, the base of the drawer insert may be approximately equal to 80% of the base of the drawer. The base of the drawer insert is calculated by including the area of the drawer insert even if it is not in contact with the base of the drawer, for example if one or more recesses are not full depth or where the portioning is located, that is the area of base of a drawer insert is deemed to be that of the drawer insert if it had a single recess and extended downwardly from the rim with the particular degree of taper of the side and front and back walls. Accordingly, for this calculation the area of the base of the drawer insert will generally be greater than the area of the bases of the recesses.

Another embodiment of a drawer insert comprises a desk organiser 110 as shown in Figures 11 to 16. The desk organiser comprises a plurality of recesses 112,114, 116, 118,120, 122 for storage and containing desk equipment therein. For example, one recess 112 may be shaped to store A4 paper therein and another recess 114 may be shaped to store A5 paper therein. Other recesses may store pens, paperclips etc.

Some of the recesses may not extend dimensionally by the full depth of the drawer insert, for example the front recesses, 118,120 and 122 may store smaller articles, for example paper clips, which may be difficult to grasp in relatively deep recesses. These recesses 118, 120 and 122 may be provided with support portion 119,121 and 123 in order for the recesses to be supported by the base of the drawer.

As shown in Figure 15 and 16, again the drawer insert 110 provides extra storage space by having a depth greater than the depth of the drawer whilst not interfering with the upper internal surface 172 of the carcass 170 of the item of furniture.

As shown in Figures 11 to 16 the drawer insert 110 has a rim 140 extending around the upper periphery thereof.

The rim 140 projects outwardly from the drawer insert 110 by a predetermined amount, r. The rim 140 is arranged, in use, to at least partially extend over the top edges of the walls 128 of the drawer 124. Accordingly, the rim 140 prevents objects and articles from being placed, whether intentionally or unintentionally, down the sides of the drawer insert 110.

The rim 140 also enables the drawer insert 110 to be used with drawers of differing sizes and in particular differing width since the rim 140 may extend over all of the top edges 130 of the walls 128 of a small drawer and may also extend over a small proportion of the top edges 130 of the walls 128 of a larger drawer The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or

process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.