Portable pocket organizer
Provided herein is an article organizer which is adapted to be hung on the exterior surfaces of various appliances, motor vehicles or other structures. An organizer according to the invention comprises a panel which is equipped with various pocket means and organizing provisions, to enable persons to stow a wide variety of items. In addition, an organizer of the invention is readily detachable from the surfaces to which it is adhered.
The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/746,683 filed on Dec. 29, 2003, currently still pending, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated fully by reference thereto.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates to a device useful in organizing personal items. More particularly, it relates to an organizer for various and sundry personal items useful by members of a household during their normal interactions.
BACKGROUNDHousehold settings typically contain many surfaces, such as wall surfaces, door surfaces, cabinet surfaces, ceilings, etc. Appliances within the kitchen have for quite some time been recognized as having surfaces onto which various items may be posted. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the appliances in this regard is the refrigerator, as the exterior and top surfaces of a refrigerator are quite well known to be a popular repository for such diverse items as include books, photographs, children's artwork, grocery lists, pens, pencils, note boards, paper stock, mini-calculators, toys, mirrors, etc. Often being constructed from sheet metal, it is convenient for many of the aforesaid items to be attached to the refrigerator by magnetic means.
The prior art is devoid of any teaching or suggestion of a system to keep small articles or items separated or sorted on an exterior surface of a kitchen appliance, such as a refrigerator. It would thus be advantageous if a organizer system could be provided for a refrigerator that allows various and sundry articles or items to be stored in a neat and organized fashion which enables the rapid retrieval and access to the items stored. It would also be advantageous if such an organizer system would be readily attachable to and removable from a refrigerator.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an organizer system to enable storing various and sundry items on the exterior surface of an appliance, such as a refrigerator, in an organized fashion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an organizer system to enable storing various and sundry items on the exterior surface of an appliance, such as a refrigerator, which is readily attachable to and detachable from the exterior surface of the appliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a device useful for organizing various and sundry items used by members of a household, which is capable of being readily attached and detached from the exterior walls of an appliance such as a refrigerator. In one preferred embodiment, a device according to the invention comprises a panel having a front face, a rear face, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top end portion, and a bottom end portion. There is also at least one, and preferably a plurality of pockets disposed on the front face of the device. There is also a means for attachment of the entire construct to a surface of an appliance.
Thus, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a device useful for organizing various and sundry items used by members of a household, which device is capable of being readily attached and detached from the exterior walls of an appliance. The device comprises a panel portion having a front face, a rear face, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top end portion, and a bottom end portion. There is at least one pocket disposed on the front face of the panel. There is also a means for attachment of the panel to a flat surface.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a device useful for organizing various and sundry items which device comprises a construct comprising a first panel portion having a front face, a rear face, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top end portion, and a bottom end portion. The front face of the first panel portion includes at least one pocket disposed thereon. There is a second panel portion having a front face, a rear face, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top end portion, and a bottom end portion. The left side portion of the second panel portion is hingedly attached to the right side portion of the first panel portion, There is also a means for attachment of the construct to a flat surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the annexed drawings,
Referring to the drawings, and initially to
According to an alternative form of this embodiment, the panels 27 and 29 are both comprised of the same single sheet of material set forth above, and the organizer as a whole is foldable at the location corresponding to the junctions of the right side portion 71 of the first panel 27 and the left side portion 73 of the second panel 29. By such folding, the right and left panel portions are defined, and it is intended that the fold corresponds to the corner in a locker whose walls on which the inventive organizer is located.
In an alternate form of this embodiment of the invention, each of the panel portions 27 and 29 are each individual discrete sheets of material as set forth above, and are connected to one another by stitching or other conventional fastening means disposed along the junction of the right and left side portions of the panels. Thus, in this embodiment each of the panel portions 27 and 29 each have their own front face portion and rear face portion. Being attached to one another as described above and as shown in
In an alternate form of this embodiment of the invention, the panel portions 27 and 29 of the organizing device 10 are each composed of two layers (two-ply) of a fabric or other planar material selected, without limitation, from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, denim, and plastic vinyl. According to one embodiment of the invention 10, the panels 27 and 29 are each simultaneously comprised of the same two continuous sheets of a material set forth above, and the organizer as a whole is foldable at the location corresponding to the junction of the right side portion 71 of the first panel 27 and the left side portion 73 of the second panel 29. In this way each of the panels are two-ply and the entire organizer is thus seen to be built from two sheets of material, which is foldable at the location specified as being the junction point of the first panel portion 27 and the second panel portion 29. As shown in
In an alternate form of this embodiment, each of the panel portions 27 and 29 are each individual discrete two-ply sheet constructs of material as set forth above, and are connected to one another by stitching or other conventional fastening means disposed along the junction of the right and left side portion of each of the panels. Thus, in such embodiment each of the panel portions 27 and 29 are discrete and each have a front face portion and a rear face portion. Being attached to one another as described above and as shown in
In an alternate form of this embodiment of the invention, each of the panel portions 3, 5, and 7 of the organizing device 10 are each composed of two layers (two-ply) of a fabric or other planar material selected, without limitation, from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, denim, and plastic vinyl. According to such embodiment, the panels 3, 5, and 7 are each simultaneously comprised of the same two continuous sheets of a material set forth above, and the organizer as a whole is foldable at locations corresponding to the junctions of the right side portion 41 of the first panel 3 and the left side portion 47 of the second panel 5, and the right side portion 39 of the second panel 5 and the left side portion 49 of the third panel 7. In this way each of the panels are two-ply, and the entire organizer is thus seen to be built from two sheets of material, which is foldable at the locations specified as being the junction points of the first panel portion 3 with the second panel portion 5, and the second panel portion 5 with the third panel portion 7.
When the panel elements of the present invention according to this embodiment are each two-ply constructs, the invention lends itself well to having a reinforcing material disposed between the two sheets of fabric or other planar material set forth above. In such embodiment, it is possible to use a very delicate or low-cost fabric which by itself would have caused the organizer of the invention to be somewhat flimsy, but by having a sheet of reinforcing material disposed between the layers in the two-ply construct for each panel portion, the strength of the organizer is greatly increased. Suitable reinforcing materials include, without limitation, cardboard, wood, polypropylene, and polyethylene. In addition, a strip of magnetic material may also be contained inside the interstices between the plies when the panels are of two-ply construction, to assist in adhering the organizer of the invention to a metallic wall, such as is commonly found on the interior surfaces of student lockers.
Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. The present invention includes all possible combinations of the features recited in any one of the various embodiments described in this specification with any number or permutation of the features disclosed in reference to any other embodiment. The present invention further includes all possible combinations of the features recited in any one of the various claims appended hereto with the features recited in any one or more of each of the remaining claims. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications, alterations, and combinations.
Claims
1) A device useful for organizing various and sundry items used by members of a household, which device is capable of being readily attached and detached from the exterior walls of an appliance, said device comprising:
- a) a panel portion having a front face, a rear face, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top end portion, and a bottom end portion;
- b) at least one pocket disposed on said front face of said panel; and
- c) means for attachment of said panel to a flat surface.
2) A device according to claim 1 wherein said panel portion is constructed of a fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
3) A device according to claim 1 wherein said front face of said panel comprises a single sheet of a fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
4) A device according to claim 1 wherein said rear face of said panel comprises a single sheet of a fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
5) A device according to claim 1 wherein said front face of said panel and said rear face of said panel comprise the same single sheet of fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
6) A device according to claim 1 wherein said panel is of a multi-ply construction, comprising at least a first ply and a second ply, said first ply corresponding to said front face portion and said second ply corresponding to said rear face portion, wherein said front face of said panel and said rear face of said panel each independently comprise a sheet of fabric selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films, which are held together by a fastening means selected from the group consisting of: stitching, welding, rivets, and an adhesive substance.
7) A device according to claim 6 wherein said front face of said panel and said rear face of said panel are each made from sheets of fabric having different compositions.
8) A device according to claim 6 wherein said front face of said panel and said rear face of said panel are each made from sheets of fabric having the same composition.
9) A device according to claim 6 further comprising a reinforcing material disposed between said first ply and said second ply of each of said panel.
10) A device according to claim 9 wherein said reinforcing material comprises a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of: cardboard, wood, polypropylene, and polyethylene.
11) A device according to claim 6 wherein said means for attachment of said panel to a flat surface comprises at least one magnet disposed between said first ply and said second ply.
12) A device according to claim 11 wherein said at least one magnet is held in a stationary position between said first ply and said second ply by a means selected from the group consisting of: stitching and an adhesive substance
13) A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for attachment of said device to a flat surface comprises a hook-and-loop fastener disposed on said rear face of said device.
14) A device according to claim 1 comprising at least two features selected from the group consisting of: an open pocket, a pocket with a closure means, a notepad, a writing instrument, a mirror, and a clip disposed on the front face of said panel.
15) A device useful for organizing various and sundry items which device comprises:
- a) a construct comprising: i) a first panel portion having a front face, a rear face, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top end portion, and a bottom end portion, wherein said front face of said first panel portion includes at least one pocket disposed thereon; ii) a second panel portion having a front face, a rear face, a left side portion, a right side portion, a top end portion, and a bottom end portion,
- wherein said left side portion of said second panel portion is hingedly attached to said right side portion of said first panel portion; and
- b) means for attachment of said construct to a flat surface.
16) A device according to claim 15 wherein said means for attachment is selected from the group consisting of: magnets, and hook and loop fasteners.
17) A device according to claim 15 wherein said front face portion of said first panel and said front face portion of said second panel comprise a sheet of a fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
18) A device according to claim 15 wherein said rear face portion of said first panel and said rear face portion of said second panel comprise a sheet of a fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
19) A device according to claim 15 wherein said front face and said rear face of at least one of said first panel and said second panel comprise the same single sheet of fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
20) A device according to claim 15 wherein said front face and said rear face of both of said first said second panels comprise the same single sheet of fabric material selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
21) A device according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said first panel and said second panel is of a multi-ply construction, comprising at least a first ply and a second ply, said first ply corresponding to the front face portion of, and said second ply corresponding to the rear face portion of, said at least one of said first panel and said second panel, wherein said front face and said rear face of said at least one panel each independently comprise a sheet of fabric selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films, which are held together by a fastening means selected from the group consisting of: stitching, welding, and an adhesive substance.
22) A device according to claim 21 wherein the front face and the rear face of at least one of said panels are each made from sheets of fabric having different compositions.
23) A device according to claim 21 wherein the front face and the rear face of at least one of said panels are each made from sheets of fabric having the same composition.
24) A device according to claim 21 further comprising a reinforcing material disposed between said first ply and said second ply.
25) A device according to claim 24 wherein said reinforcing material comprises a sheet of material selected from the group consisting of: cardboard, wood, polypropylene, and polyethylene.
26) A device according to claim 21 wherein said means for attachment of said panel to a flat surface comprises at least one magnet disposed between said first ply and said second ply.
27) A device according to claim 26 wherein said at least one magnet is held in a stationary position between said first ply and said second ply by a means selected from the group consisting of: stitching and an adhesive substance
28) A device according to claim 15 wherein said means for attachment of said device to a flat surface comprises a hook-and-loop fastener disposed on said rear face of at least one of said panels.
29) A device according to claim 15 comprising at least two features selected from the group consisting of: an open pocket, a pocket with a closure means, a notepad, a writing instrument, a mirror, and a clip disposed on the front face of at least one of said panels.
30) A device according to claim 15 wherein the left side portion of said second panel portion is hingedly attached to said right side portion of said first panel portion by means of stitching.
31) A device according to claim 15 wherein the left side portion of said second panel portion is hingedly attached to said right side portion of said first panel portion by virtue of said first panel and said second panel sharing in common at least one element selected from the group consisting of: the rear face portion and the front face portion.
32) A device according to claim 15 wherein the rear face portion of said first panel portion and said second panel portion comprise the same single sheet of fabric selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
33) A device according to claim 15 wherein the front face portion of said first panel portion and said second panel portion comprise the same single sheet of fabric selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
34) A device according to claim 33 wherein the rear face portion of said first panel portion and said second panel portion comprise the same single sheet of fabric selected from the group consisting of: woven cotton, woven nylon, non-woven fabrics, non-woven polymer webs, canvas, polymeric sheets, and polymeric films.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2005
Inventor: Christopher Kephart (Highland Village, TX)
Application Number: 10/784,650