WALL-MOUNTED ORGANIZER
An organizer having a front wall including a first recess and a first hook arranged to pivot into and out of the first recess, a back wall having a means for mounting the organizer to a substantially vertical surface, a left wall, a right wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the back wall, the left wall, the right wall, and the bottom wall define an inner chamber adapted to hold items therein.
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The invention broadly relates to devices for organizing items, such as eyeglasses, envelopes, electronic devices, and the like, more particularly to such devices adapted to be mounted upon a wall, and even more particularly to such devices having retractable hooks for hanging clothing thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOrganizers are well known devices used for storing and organizing items, such as keys, mail, eyeglasses, handheld electronic devices, etc. Generally an organizer comprises an open or closed top compartment, which is subdivided into a plurality of sub-compartments, in which a user stores and organizes items. One problem with prior organizers is that they are generally designed only for tabletop use, and thus require another structure, such as a table, desk, or shelf, to operate, which is not always feasible in the location desired for the organizer. For example, if a user desires to have an organizer in a hallway next to the entrance of his house for holding sunglasses, keys, and other items generally used while traveling, having a table in the hallway may not be feasible in many circumstances.
Coat hooks are well known articles of manufacture used for hanging coats, jackets, scarves, umbrellas, and the like on walls, often proximate to the entrance to a house or dwelling. Generally, a coat hook comprises a hook portion coupled to a means for securely mounting the hook portion to a wall. One problem with prior coat hooks is that the hook portion permanently extends out from the wall, where it has a tendency to snag the clothes or skin of passers by.
Thus, there is a longfelt need for an organizer which does not require a tabletop to operate effectively. There is also a longfelt need for a coat hook which does not snag passers by.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBroadly, the present invention is an organizer comprising: a front wall including a first recess and a first hook arranged to pivot into and out of the first recess; a back wall having a means for mounting the organizer to a substantially vertical surface; a left wall; a right wall, and, a bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the back wall, the left wall, the right wall, and the bottom wall define an inner chamber adapted to hold items therein.
In a preferred embodiment, the organizer includes a first groove arranged in the inner chamber, a second groove arranged in the inner, and a divider wall, wherein the divider wall is adapted to be slidingly received in the first groove and the second groove, and the divider wall divides the inner chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment when slidingly received within the first groove and the second groove.
A general object of the present invention is to provide an organizer which can be mounted on a substantially vertical surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wall-mounted organizer having at least one retractable coat hook.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.
The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures of an exemplary embodiment thereof, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated the terms “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right”, when used herein, are relative terms meant to refer to the viewing perspective shown in the figures.
Although many methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Adverting now to the figures,
The present invention organizer includes a means for mounting it on a substantially vertical surface, such as a wall. For example, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, as shown most clearly in
While the inner chamber of the present invention is well-adapted for holding a plurality of items therein, in a preferred embodiment, the organizer includes at least one dividing wall arranged to divide the inner chamber into compartments, in order to facilitate the organization of such items. For example, as shown in the figures, organizer 100 includes dividing wall 170 arranged to divide inner chamber 160 into front compartment 160a and back compartment 160b. Dividing wall 170 is secured within inner chamber 160 by sliding it into first groove 111, provided in left wall 110, and second groove 121, provided in right wall 120, as illustrated with the double-headed arrows proximate dividing wall 170 in
This particular arrangement, wherein the dividing wall is removably insertable into the inner chamber, is particularly advantageous as a user may, at times, not wish to compartmentalize the inner chamber. For example, if the size of the items he wishes to hold within the organizer requires the entirety of the inner chamber, it is advantageous to be able to remove the dividing wall. It should be appreciated that the particular arrangement of the dividing wall shown in the figures is meant to be exemplary, and that the organizer may be designed such that the dividing wall is arranged to divide the inner chamber into compartments of different shapes, sizes and/or positions.
For example, the dividing wall may be arranged to divide the inner chamber into left and right compartments, which may easily be accomplished by providing grooves comparable to the first and second grooves, 111 and 121, in front and back walls, 140 and 130. It should also be appreciated that the present invention organizer may include a plurality of dividing walls to further compartmentalize the inner chamber. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the dividing wall may be secured within the inner chamber may any suitable means other than the aforementioned grooves, for example, by means of clasps, or compression fit.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
The front wall of the present invention includes at least a first hook adapted to hang items, such as clothes, jackets, scarves, umbrellas, and the like thereon. However, while hooks are generally well-suited for such purposes, a user may not always need one, and having a hook permanently sticking out of the organizer can lead to passers by snagging their clothes or skin on it. Thus, the at least first of the present invention is arranged to pivot into and out of a first recess provided in the front surface of the front wall, so that the hook may be closed when not in use. Additionally, the front surface of each of the hooks is preferably substantially flush with the front surface of the front wall, thereby reducing the likelihood of the aforementioned snagging.
For example, as shown in
The present invention hooks may be pivotably coupled to front wall 140 by any suitable means known in the art. For example, as shown in
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An organizer comprising:
- a front wall including a first recess and a first hook arranged to pivot into and out of the first recess;
- a back wall having a means for mounting the organizer to a substantially vertical surface;
- a left wall;
- a right wall, and,
- a bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the back wall, the left wall, the right wall, and the bottom wall define an inner chamber adapted to hold items therein.
2. The organizer recited in claim 1 including a first groove arranged in the inner chamber, a second groove arranged in the inner, and a divider wall, wherein the divider wall is adapted to be slidingly received in the first groove and the second groove, and the divider wall divides the inner chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment when slidingly received within the first groove and the second groove.
3. The organizer recited in claim 2 wherein the first groove is arranged in the left wall, the second groove is arranged in the right wall.
4. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the bottom wall has a top surface which is pitched downwardly as it extends from the back wall to the front wall.
5. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall further includes a second recess and a second hook arranged to pivot into and out of the second recess.
6. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall has a front surface, the first hook has a front surface, and the front surface of the first hook is substantially flush with the front surface of the front wall when the first hook is arranged within first recess.
7. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall has a top edge, the first hook has a top edge, and the top edge of the first hook is substantially flush with the top edge of the front wall when the first hook is arranged within first recess.
8. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall has a top edge, the back wall has a top edge, and the top edge of the front wall is elevationally lower than the top edge of the back wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 29, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 4, 2010
Applicant: UMBRA LLC (Buffalo, NY)
Inventor: Chi Hang MAK (Scarborough)
Application Number: 12/431,957