Article organizer system
An article organizer providing a plurality of hanger elements coupled to one or more hanger supports each rotatably coupled to a corresponding one or more members one of which mounts in fixed relation to a support surface.
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Generally, an article organizer for organizing a plurality of articles. Specifically, a plurality of hanger elements coupled to one or more hanger supports each rotatably coupled to a corresponding one or more support members one of such members mounted in fixed relation to a support surface.
Various conventional article organizers exist to which articles such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings or the like can be attached for storage or display. However, certain substantial problems remain unresolved with respect to these conventional article organizers.
One substantial problem with conventional article organizers may be that surfaces which engage the article (also referred to as “hanger elements”) to be organized may not be suitable for organizing certain types of articles. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,390,099 and 5,848,710 each describe rotatable tubular ring members that would not be practical for organizing a plurality of articles in the form of substantially planar sheet materials such as cutting templates or cutting guides such as those used for cutting materials for the production of quilts. Even in the case of the '710 patent the radial spokes do not provide any manner for organizing material cutting templates of substantially planar configuration such that the edge of such cutting templates can face radially outward.
Another substantial problem with conventional article organizers can be the lack of removeably coupled hanger elements. Fixedly coupled hanger elements do not allow for adjustment of the space between article hanger elements to accommodate for a wide variety of articles to be organized on the same article organizer whether in the same or different periods of time.
Another substantial problem with conventional article organizers can be that the hanger supports from which the hanger elements extend do not rotate or the members to which the hanger support couples do not rotate. Accordingly, a user of the article organizer must travel about the article organizer in order to place or remove articles on the hanger elements.
Another substantial problem with conventional article organizers can be a lack of multiple tiers of hanger supports which allow multiple tiers of hanger elements on which to organize articles. Another aspect of this problem can be that those conventional article organizers which provide multiple tiers do not allow adjustment of the number or distance between multiple tiers.
Another substantial problem with conventional article organizers can be the lack of a mount which allows the article organizer to be fixed to a variety of support surfaces such as the ceilings and walls of the interior of a building. Accordingly, conventional article organizers are supported by a floor or the elevated surface of a table, desk, display case, or the like. Locating an article organizer on the floor or on a desk or table surface reduces the open area on the table, desk or display case and introduces an object that must be traveled around in using the remaining open space of the top of the table or desk.
Another substantial problem with convention article organizers can be that components of the article organizer do not disassemble and reassemble to allow the article organizer to be mounted to a floor in a first utility and a ceiling or wall in a second utility. As an example, conventional article organizers cannot be disassembled and reassembled to operate in the inverted configuration.
The inventive article organizer and inventive methods of using the inventive article organizer address each of the foregoing problems associated with conventional devices and methods of organizing articles.
II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, a broad object of the invention can be to provide an article organizer configured to provide a plurality of hanger elements coupled to one or more hanger supports each rotatably coupled to a corresponding one or more support members to provide a plurality of tiers of hanger elements with a first end of one support member mounted in fixed relation to a support surface.
Another broad object of the invention can be to provide an article organizer configured to provide hanger elements which removably couple to one or more hanger supports rotatably coupled to a corresponding one or more support members.
Another broad object of the invention can be to provide hanger elements configured to provide a first portion which removably couples into a hanger support and a second portion configured to correspondingly engage a part of the circumferential edge of the hanger support which provides the advantage of limiting rotation of the hanger about the first portion and transmits the load of articles engaged with the hanger element to the circumferential edge of the hanger support and in part away from the first portion of the hanger element.
Another broad object of the invention can be to provide an article organizer which mounts to the ceiling or wall of the inside of a building to avoid placement on the top of a desk, table or display case or disassembles and reassembles to provide a floor supported utility and to provide a ceiling or wall supported utility.
Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.
Generally, an article organizer for organizing one or more articles. Specifically, a plurality of hanger elements coupled to one or more hanger supports each rotatably coupled to a corresponding one or more support members one of such members mounted in fixed relation to a support surface.
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Accordingly, the inventive article organizer (1) will further include an article organizer mount (6) (see for example
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The first hanger support (10) (as well as any additional hanger supports) can be rotatably coupled to the second end (5) of the first support member (2) by a rotation assembly (17). The rotation assembly (17) can take any constructional form which as to a particular configuration of first hanger support (10) allows the first hanger support (10) to rotate in relation to the second end (5) of the first support member (2). As a first non-limiting example, the second end (5) of the first support member (2) can further include a spirally threaded bore which rotatingly receives a mechanical fastener having a mateable spiral thread. The mechanical fastener can pass through a central bore which communicates with the opposed first side (13) and second side (14) of the disk element (11) and can be rotatingly received in the spirally threaded bore of the second end (5) of the first support member (2). The disk element (11) can rotate in relation to the second member end (5) about the mechanical fastener.
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Additionally, each of the plurality of hanger elements (28) can have a second hanger portion (36) connected to the first hanger portion (34). The second hanger portion (36) can be configured such that upon insertion of the first hanger portion (34) into a corresponding one of the plurality of hanger bores (28) the second hanger portion (36) locates against the circumferential edge (15) of the disk element (11) to limit travel of the first hanger portion (35) both axially and rotationally with respect to the corresponding one of the plurality of hanger bores (28). A non-limiting example, the second hanger portion (36) can be generally circular in cross section having an external diameter in the range of about one-eighth inch and one-quarter inch and a second hanger portion length (40) in a range of about five-eighths inch (or about the thickness (12) of the disk element (11)) and about two inches.
Additionally, each of the plurality of hanger elements (33) can have a third hanger portion (37) connected to the second hanger portion (36) which upon insertion of the first hanger portion (35) in the corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores (28) extends outwardly in relation to the disk element (11) of said first hanger support (10). The third hanger portion (37) while shown in the figures as being a substantially linear member can take any manner of configuration suitable for engaging a part of an article (38) to be organized. A non-limiting example the third hanger portion (37) can be generally circular in cross section having an external diameter in the range of about one-eighth inch and one-quarter inch and a third hanger portion length (41) in a range of about one and one-half inches and about four inches.
The manner of engaging the article (38) with respect to the third hanger portion (37) can typically take the form of hanging the article (38) on the third hanger portion (37) by insertion of a part of the third hanger portion (37) through an article opening (39) or aperture of the article (38), as shown for example in
Additionally, each of the plurality of hanger elements (33) can have a fourth hanger portion (43) connected to the third hanger portion (41) configured to resist travel of the article (38) engaged with the third hanger portion (37). As one non-limiting example as shown in
Additionally, each of the plurality of hanger elements (33) can have a fifth hanger portion (44) connected to said third hanger portion (37) in substantially perpendicular horizontal relation, said fifth hanger portion (44) configured to removably accept an article (38). The advantage conferred by the fifth hanger portion can be that generally planar articles (38) such as rulers, cutting templates or the like can be received by the fifth hanger portion (44) to position the edge of the rulers, cutting templates or the like radially outward as shown for example in
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As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention including the best mode may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of an article organizer and methods of making and using such article organizer.
As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.
It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of an “article organizer” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “organizing articles”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “organizing articles”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of an “article organizer” and even a “means for organizing an article.” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the article organizers disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The background section of this patent application provides a statement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This section may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United States patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of the claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.
The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
The claims set forth below are intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
Claims
1. An article organizer, comprising:
- a) a first support member having a length disposed between a first end and a second end, said first end;
- b) a first hanger support rotatably coupled to said second end of said first member; and
- c) a plurality of hangers each configured to removably couple with said first hanger support.
2. The article organizer of claim 1, wherein said first support member further comprises a rotation assembly coupled to said second end, and wherein said first hanger support comprises a hub element coupled to a disk element which radially extends from said hub element, said hub element configured to couple with said rotation assembly to allow rotation of said disk element.
3. The article organizer of claim 2, wherein said rotation assembly comprises a roller element bearing coupled to said first support member proximate said second end and having an inside race which defines a bore into which said hub element inserts to establish fixed relation of said disk to said first support member.
4. The article organizer of claim 3, wherein said disk element of said first hanger support has a first side and a second side disposed in opposed relation and further comprises a plurality of hanger bores which communicate between said first side and said second side of said disk element, each of said plurality of hanger bores located a distance radially outward from a central axis of said hub and spaced a distance apart around said central axis.
5. The article organizer of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of hanger elements has first hanger portion configured to removably insert into a corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores of said disk element of said first hanger support.
6. The article organizer of claim 5, wherein said first hanger portion has a configuration which rotates within said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores.
7. The article organizer of claim 6, wherein said disk element of said first hanger support has a circumferential edge, and wherein each of said plurality of hanger elements has a second hanger portion connected to said first hanger portion which upon insertion of said first hanger portion into said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores of said disk element locates said second hanger portion against said circumferential edge of said disk element.
8. The article organizer of claim 7, wherein each one of said plurality of hanger elements has a third portion connected to said second hanger portion which upon insertion of said first hanger portion in said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores extends radially outward in relation to said central axis of said hub element of said first hanger support.
9. The article organizer of claim 8, wherein each one of said plurality of hanger elements has a fourth hanger portion connected to said third hanger portion, said fourth hanger portion configured to resist travel of an article slidely engaged with said third portion of said one of said plurality of hanger elements.
10. The article organizer of claim 9, further comprising a terminal cover coupled about said first hanger portion which inserts into said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores.
11. The article organizer of claim 10, wherein said terminal cover coupled about said first hanger portion has a configuration which increases resistance to travel of said first hanger portion in relation to said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores.
12. The article organizer of claim 11, where resistance to travel of said first hanger portion in relation to said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores comprises resistance to axial removable insertion of said first hanger portion in said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores.
13. The article organizer of claim 12, where resistance to travel of said first hanger portion in relation to said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores comprises resistance to rotation of said hanger portion in said corresponding one of said plurality of hanger bores.
14. The article organizer of claim 13, wherein each one of said plurality of hanger elements has a fifth hanger portion connected to said third hanger portion in substantially perpendicular horizontal relation, said fifth hanger portion configured to removably accept said article.
15. The article organizer of claim 14, wherein said a first hub element couples to said first side of said disk element, and further comprising a second hub element coupled to said second side of said disk element, wherein each of said first hub element and said second hub element have a configuration which allows rotation about said central axis.
16. The article organizer of claim 15, further comprising a second support member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second member rotatably coupled to said second hub of said first hanger support element.
17. The article organizer of claim 16, further comprising a second hanger support having a first hub element coupled to the first side of a second disk element, said second hanger support rotatably coupled to said second end of said second support member by insertion of said first hub element into the bore of a second roller element bearing coupled to said second end of said second support member.
18. The article organizer of claim 17, wherein said second hanger support further comprises a second hub element coupled to said second surface of said second disk element, and a third support member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said third support member rotatably coupled to said second hub element of said second disk element.
19. The article organizer of claim 18, further comprising a third hanger support having a first hub element coupled to the first side of a third disk element, said third hanger support rotatably coupled to said second end of said third support member by insertion of said first hub element into the bore of a third roller element bearing coupled to said second end of said third member.
20. The article organizer of claim 19, wherein said second disk element of said second hanger support and said third disk element of said third hanger support each have a first side and a second side disposed in opposed relation and each further comprises a plurality of hanger bores which communicate between said first side and said second side of said disk element, each of said plurality of hanger bores located a distance radially outward from a central axis of said hub and spaced a distance apart around said central axis, each of said plurality of hanger bores configured to receive said corresponding plurality of said first hanger portions.
21. The article organizer of claim 20, wherein said article organizer mount has a configuration which allows fixed engagement of said article organizer to a ceiling of a building.
22-53. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 16, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2011
Applicant:
Inventors: Janna Lee Thomas (Loveland, CO), Paul Roger Thomas (Loveland, CO)
Application Number: 12/589,057
International Classification: A47F 5/02 (20060101); A47F 5/00 (20060101);