Hanging office organizers

Abstract

An improved organizer is provided that may be hung on a CPU, cubicle partition, file cabinet or other structure commonly found in an office or work place. The organizer may include a single backing member connected to a variety of organizing elements or may be of a saddle-type where two backing members are connected together by one or more overhang straps thereby providing organizing elements on either side of the structure, such as a CPU. The organizing elements include pockets, trays, baskets, bulletin boards, dry erase boards and other types of display surfaces.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure is generally directed to organizational accessories, and more particularly to a hanging organizer such as a storage tray or a display board for use within an office and for hanging from a piece of office furniture, a drawer, a computer or an available and unused object.

2. Description of Related Art

In most office environments, whether at work or at home, desktop space is almost always at a premium. People often also desire critical files and other information to be readily available, visible, or within arms reach when sitting at their computer in such an office environment. Often, it is desirable to have files and important items with a clear view of where the worker normally sits.

Also, it is often desirable to store arts and crafts materials where they can be easily seen and reached without consuming valuable desktop or drawing table surface area. There is also a need for an easy way to store such materials quickly and easily to avoid a cluttered and disorganized appearance in the work area.

Drawers are generally not preferred because they become full of various materials and require the user to rummage though large quantities of materials to find what he or she wants. However, one solution is to make drawers from a clear material or see through mesh or grating. This solution is unsightly as the cluttered items held in the drawer are clearly visible and this solution still requires a substantial amount of unwanted rummaging when the drawer becomes full.

Other solutions have been developed, with varying degrees of success. For example, file holders are sometimes hung from walls, doors, drawers, or the like. These solutions are very often not easily accessible. Also, trays and dividers have been developed for placement on a desktop for holding files or documents. These solutions take up excess desk or drawing table space, which is already at a premium and therefore these solutions are not desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In satisfaction of aforenoted needs, an improved hanging organizer is provided which comprises a first backing connected to at least one overhang strap. The first backing is connected to at least one organizing element selected from the group consisting of a bulletin board, one or more pockets of various sizes and configurations, clips for holding notes or memos and combinations thereof.

In a first series of embodiments, the overhang strap holds the backing and organizing elements against a vertical wall of a central processing unit (CPU) of a personal computer. The overhang strap may be detachably connected to a top horizontal surface of the CPU or may extend over to a vertical wall opposite the CPU from the first backing and organizing elements. The overhang strap may be secured to the CPU using a variety of methods including magnets, one or more counter-weights, an adhesive or tacky material, one or more VELCRO® fasteners or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the overhang strap may be fabricated from a relatively stiff material such as a bendable mesh so that it can be folded over the top vertical surface of the CPU and bent around to abuttingly engage the vertical wall of the CPU opposite the vertical wall that abuttingly engages the backing member and organizing elements.

According, a hanging organizer for a CPU can be provided with one or more pockets for holding files, art materials, paper or other office or arts and craft items. Further, a hanging organizer for a CPU is provided that can provide a bulletin board disposed along a vertical of a CPU. Still further, a hanging organizer is provided that can provide a combination of one or more pockets and a bulletin board.

The bulletin board may be of the cork-type, a dry erase chalkboard, a wire mesh board or other types of bulletin boards known in the art so that notes may either be written on or removably posted on the bulletin board.

Another embodiment involves a saddle-back configuration where two backings are connected by one or more straps. The strap may then be hung over a CPU to provide backings with organizing elements on either side of the CPU or the straps may be hung over a cubicle divider, door, drawer, file cabinet or other structure found in the office or work place.

Preferably, the one or more straps or length-adjustable. A preferred embodiment includes two spaced apart, length-adjustable straps. The backing members may be connected to organizing elements of different configurations, preferably a plurality of different sized pockets.

Other features, advantages and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments are described below in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a hanging file holder for a CPU constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIGS. 1B-1E are partial side views illustrating various means for retaining or holding the overhang strap of the hanging organizer shown in FIG. 1A in place on a CPU.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of a hanging display or pin-up board for a CPU constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a combination hanging file holder and pin-up or bulletin board device for a CPU constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 3B is an inset to FIG. 4 showing the combination hanging file holder and pin-up or bulletin board device for a CPU in a work environment.

FIG. 4 illustrates the combination device of FIGS. 3A and 3B being used in an office environment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of saddle-bag type hanging folder made in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the saddle-bag type hanging folder of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of one of the saddle folders of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Organizers for hanging accessories and materials are disclosed that can be used in conjunction with a CPU, cubicle partition, door, file cabinet, drawer or other structure. The disclosed hanging accessories can generally be referred to as a CPU saddle or CPU sling. The disclosed organizers attach to and hang from an object within an office, such as a CPU, and can be adapted for storing and/or displaying office supplies, file folders, documents, CDs, computer diskettes, and the like. etc. The disclosed accessories are designed to free up space within an office environment, and particularly on a desktop within such an environment or work space.

The saddle or sling is adapted to fit over and hang from any office furniture or object and converts previously unused space to storage space. Such objects can include, but are certainly not limited to a cubicle wall, a chair back, file cabinet, a CPU, a computer monitor, open drawer or other objects found in a work area. Consumers would benefit greatly by using an organizational accessory as disclosed herein because it would clear off desktop space, create storage space that is easily accessible, and utilize previously unused space.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a storage device 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure can have one or more storage receptacles 11, 12 such as baskets, bins, vertically oriented trays. The receptacles 11, 12 can be suspended from a hanging section or backing 13 that is connected to an overhang strap 14 which serves as a sling or saddle that is adapted to drape over or hook onto an object in an office environment. In one example, the overhang strap section 14 can have a tacky backing to assist in holding the device in place. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B a distal end 17 of the overhang section 14 can have one or more magnets 18 to hold the device in place if installed on a metal object, so long as it does not interfere with operation of the object such as a CPU 16 housing, such as the CPU 16. In another alternative as shown in FIG. 1C, the overhang section 14 can have one or more weights 18 or weighted objects in the distal end 17 to hold the device 10 in place once installed.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the overhang section 14 may be coated with an adhesive or tacky material 21 on the interior side 22 of the overhang section 14 so as to secure the overhang section 14 and the organizing device 10 to the CPU or other structure to which the device 10 is installed. As shown in FIG. 1E, the overhang section 14 may also be secured to the CPU 16 or other structure by use of a VELCRO® fastening system shown generally at 23.

As a still further alternative, the device 10 can be instructed as a true saddle and, thus, have a central hanging section 14 for resting on an object such as a CPU. One or more receptacles can be carried on separate backings 13 that are connected by the central overhang section 14, thus providing storage space on either side of the object or CPU on which the storage device 10 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 2, a display surface 25 can be provided as the storage receptacle for the organizing device 10a. Information can be written on, tacked on, pinned to, or otherwise displayed on the surface 25. In one example, the display surface 25 can be a pin-up cork board as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the display surface 25 can be an erasable marker or dry erase surface, a chalk board, or the like. In the true saddle construction described above, one or more storage receptacles such as baskets or bins can hang from one end of the central overhang section, and one or more display surfaces can hang from the other end of the central hanging section 14a. Alternatively, both ends of the central overhang section 14a can include a display surface 25a.

As shown in FIG. 3, a combination display surface 25b and storage bin or basket 11b can be utilized. Such a construction permits each facing side or backing 13b of the device 10b to accommodate both types of storage. This combination can be incorporated into a true saddle construction as well, either alone, or in conjunction with the other types or receptacles or surfaces described above.

FIG. 4 illustrates one exemplary use of the disclosed storage devices. A desktop CPU 16 is utilized for the storage and information display device 106 that is readily accessible.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate another saddle bag-type device 10c with two backings shown at 13c, 13d that are connected together by a pair of overhang straps shown at 14c, 14d. Preferably, the overhang straps 14c, 14d are length-adjustable as shown by the length adjusting buckles shown at 31c, 31d. Each backing 13c, 13d may be connected to a variety of different organizing elements and, in the embodiment 10c shown in FIGS. 5-7, the backing 13c is connected to four different pockets 34 (see FIG. 5) and, the backing member 13d is connected to seven different pockets 35 (see FIGS. 5 and 7).

The organizational accessories 10a, 10b, 10c disclosed herein can be fabricated from virtually any suitable materials such as plastic, metal, wood, fabric, non-woven material, or variations and combinations of these well known materials. Further, the processes used to fabricate the disclosed accessories 10a, 10b, 10c can vary, depending on the suitability for the particular materials selected. If a display surface 25, 25b is to be provided, it can be fabricated from any suitable material as well, such as cork, erasable marker surfaces, chalk board slate, or the like.

In one example, hanging storage trays 11, 12, 11b can be injection molded from a plastic or thermoplastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or the like. A surface portion of the trays or baskets 11, 12, 11b, or some other exposed surface can include a display surface 25, 25b formed thereon. Information to be displayed can be written, pinned, tacked, or otherwise displayed on the display surface. Plastic storage trays or baskets 11, 12, 11b can alternatively be made and then combined with or attached to a flexible and bendable material that can be reconfigured to fit and hang over a particularly selected object within the office.

The disclosed accessories 10a, 10b, 10c can have one or more hanger sections 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d either molded in a fixed size, shape, and orientation or formed from a bendable and re-shapeable material. The hanger sections or slings 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d can be design or formed to fit over and hang from a particular object, such as a vertically arranged CPU, a cubicle wall top, or the like. The sling material can be such that it conforms to the object from which it is suspended, and yet securely holds the display surface, basket, and/or tray in place once mounted.

As described above, the disclosed accessories 10a-10c should be able to fit over any piece of office furniture, a cubicle wall, a chair back, a CPU 16, a monitor, a drawer or the like. The slings can be configured to wrap completely around an object, such as a CPU 16, or to hang over an object, such as a cubicle wall or a chair back.

Past solutions consisted of file holders hanging on cubical walls attached with hooks, or sitting on the desktop. The disclosed organizers 10a-10c would be able to fit over most office furniture or CPU's without the use of hooks with the benefit of converting unused space to storage space.

Although particular examples of organizer accessories have been disclosed and described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the invention that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.

Claims

1. A hanging organizer comprising:

a first backing connected to at least one overhang strap,

the first backing being connected to at least one organizing element selected from the group consisting of a bulletin board, a pocket, a plurality of pockets and a combination thereof.

2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the overhang strap is connected to a second backing.

3. The organizer of claim 3 wherein the second backing comprises a retaining element to hold the strap and first backing in a stable position.

4. The organizer of claim 4 wherein the retaining element is selected from the group consisting of a weight, a magnet, an adhesive, a VELCRO® fastener and combinations thereof.

5. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the strap comprises a retaining element to hold the strap and first backing in a stable position.

6. The organizer of claim 5 wherein the retaining element is selected from the group consisting of a weight, a magnet, an adhesive, a VELCRO® fastener and combinations thereof.

7. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the at least one strap comprises two spaced apart straps that connect the first backing to a second backing and wherein the straps are length adjustable.

8. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the first and second backing are each connected to a plurality of pockets.

9. An organizer for hanging on a CPU, the organizer comprising:

a first backing connected to at least one overhang strap,

the first backing being connected to at least one organizing element selected from the group consisting of a bulletin board, a pocket, a plurality of pockets and a combination thereof.

10. The organizer of claim 9 wherein the overhang strap is connected to a retaining element to hold the strap and first backing in a stable position.

11. The organizer of claim 10 wherein the retaining element is selected from the group consisting of a weight, a magnet, an adhesive, a VELCRO® fastener and combinations thereof.

12. The organizer of claim 9 wherein the strap comprises a retaining element to hold the strap and first backing in a stable position.

13. The organizer of claim 12 wherein the retaining element is selected from the group consisting of a weight, a magnet, an adhesive, a VELCRO® fastener and combinations thereof.

14. A hanging organizer comprising:

a first backing connected to at least one overhang strap that connects the first backing to a second backing,

the first backing and second backings each being connected to at least one organizing element selected from the group consisting of a bulletin board, a pocket, a plurality of pockets and a combination thereof.

15. The organizer of claim 14 wherein the at least one strap comprises two spaced apart straps that connect the first backing to the second backing.

16. The organizer of claim 15 wherein the straps are adjustable in length.