Abstract:
A home owner information organizer for organizing information regarding the purchase and ownership of a home, including storing legal documents and providing a location for the recordation of important information and phone numbers. The system for organizing information is stored in a box-like container which includes a handle, and is compatible with shelf storage. The system includes a box for containing the information, and a folder on which information is printed or written, relating to local service providers, and community information such as schools and service organization information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to goods and apparatuses of storing and organizing documents, and more particularly relates to methods and apparatuses for organizing and storing documents associated with a home purchase.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    Upon purchasing a new home, oftentimes the buyer will be given a number of documents. These documents include, but are not limited to, mortgage information, title documents, title warranties, insurance information, information about the builder, information about the landscapers, information about the color of paint, information including the users guides and warranties of the appliances.  
           [0005]    Occasionally, some of the information that is provided to the homebuyer is deemed by the homebuyer to be less important or easy to determine later and for that reason will not be physically recorded by the homebuyer at that time. For the information that is physically provided, typically a new homebuyer will merely file these documents with the rest of their documents. Thus, when a problem arises and such documents are needed, the user is required to expend countless hours of time digging through their papers looking for documents relating to their home purchase. Typically, the loan documents themselves are grouped together in a large bundle or folder by the lender. This loan document bundle is typically too large to fit in a file drawer, and often is put in a large storage box, and may be misplaced over the years until it needs to be referred to again.  
           [0006]    There are prior art devices and systems for organizing papers relating to home ownership. These are 3 ring notebooks in which materials can be placed, and stored the notebook. The problem with these 3 ring notebooks is that many of the loan papers are legal length papers, and won&#39;t fit in the 3 ring notebook without folding. Other of the papers are given to the homebuyer already grouped in folders, which are not easily punched for storage. Also, when the large group of papers relating to home purchases or ownership is in a notebook, there is a tendency for papers to fall out. The notebook format has proven to be unworkable, although they are presently the only system of this type on the market.  
           [0007]    What is need is an apparatus and method for neatly, succinctly, and conveniently organizing and storing all the information relating to a home purchase and home ownership in an organized system for later retrieval. The present invention solves this need.  
           [0008]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
           [0009]    The present invention is a method and apparatus for storing information regarding the purchase and ownership of a home. While the term “purchase” is used, the information could likewise be used on leased or rented properties.  
           [0010]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a box capable of holding legal-sized paper, and a folder having preprinted information thereon which either includes the information the homebuyer needs or provides the proper prompts and spaces for the user to write in the information. Such information may include the builder&#39;s name, contact and address; information regarding the person or company responsible for follow-up, touch-up and repair of a newly constructed home; the name, address and phone number of the realtor; the name, address and phone number of the title company and/or escrow officer; the name, address and phone number of the utility companies; contact information for other relevant companies (phone company, cable company, school district, homeowner&#39;s association); construction materials information (i.e, the paint store where paint was bought, the names and remixing numbers for the paint used for the interior, exterior and accent colors); information regarding tile suppliers, carpet and flooring specialists, plumbing fixtures and plumbers; information regarding local nurseries, landscapers, lawn and yard care professionals, pest control professional, day care centers, veterinarians, house cleaning services, window cleaning services, athletic clubs, insurance agent, churches, and local service organizations such as Rotary, Lion&#39;s Club, Optimist, Quanta&#39;s, Soroptomist, Oddfellows, Garden Club, etc.  
           [0011]    It is preferred that this folder be two hole punched with appropriate binding tabs for holding thereon additional sheets of paper whereby the home buyer can make notes during the process, including individuals to follow up with regarding specific projects that need to be done. The home buyer could also fix other legal sized paper documents into the folder, such as a copy of the title insurance information, a copy of the mortgage papers, etc.  
           [0012]    It is envisioned that such a device is ideal for home buyers themselves to purchase as well as for real property attorneys, real estate agents, builders, and title companies to provide to new home owner&#39;s as a gift, as advertising or as a promotional item.  
           [0013]    Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown closed.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown open. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.  
         [0018]    The present invention is a method and apparatus for storing information regarding the purchase and ownership of a home. While the term “purchase” is used, the information could likewise be used on leased or rented properties.  
         [0019]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, the present invention  10 , both the method and apparatus, utilizes at least one pre-printed folder  20 . This folder  20  having printed thereon information  22  which is typically deemed relevant to a home purchaser. For instance, the builder&#39;s name, contact information and address; information regarding the person or company responsible for follow-up, touch-up and repair of the home; the name, address and phone number of the realtor; the name, address and phone number of the title company and/or escrow officer; the name, address and phone number of the utility companies; contact information for other relevant companies (phone company, cable company, school district, homeowner&#39;s association); construction materials information (i.e, the paint store where paint was bought, the names and remixing numbers for the paint used for the interior, exterior and accent colors); information regarding tile suppliers, carpet and flooring specialists, plumbing fixtures and plumbers; information regarding local nurseries, landscapers, lawn and yard care professionals, pest control professional, day care centers, veterinarians, house cleaning services, window cleaning services, athletic clubs, insurance agent, churches, and local service organization such as rotary, Lion&#39;s Club, Optimist, Quanta&#39;s, Soroptomist, Oddfellows, Garden Club, etc.  
         [0020]    Some, none or all of this information  22  can be provided in “fill-in-the-blank” format. Thus, the user himself/herself would type or write in the names of the individuals involved, as well as their contact information, etc., upon provided blanks  24  or space. With such a format, the exact same folder could be used in different communities or locals.  
         [0021]    Some, none or all of this information  22  may be completely provided for the user. For instance, the folder  20  could be preprinted with some contact information (such as information on Rotary, utility companies, etc.), whereas other information (such as information regarding the specific builder or mortgage company) would be left “fill-in-the-blank.” 
         [0022]    Likewise, a combination of the two methods could be presented. For instance, the contact information for Cable Company A could be preprinted on the folder with a blank left for the user to write in Cable Company B&#39;s contact information should the user choose to do so. The folder can also be provided with slots for holding business cards of businesses related to home ownership.  
         [0023]    It is preferred that this folder  20  have an attached binding tabs or integral paper fasteners  40  for holding thereon additional sheets of paper  42  (preferably two hole punched) whereby the home buyer can make notes during the process, including individuals to follow up with regarding specific projects that need to be done. The homebuyer could also fix other legal sized paper documents into the folder, such as a copy of the title insurance information, a copy of the mortgage papers, etc. Alternatively, loose sheets of blank (or preprinted) paper could be placed within the folder, or the folder itself could be configured with one or more pockets for receiving and holding a portion of such loose paper.  
         [0024]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the invented folder  20  of the present invention is provided with a box  50 . This box  50  for holding said folder  20  and miscellaneous loose papers associated with the home purchase transaction. This box  50  preferably includes at least one carrying handle  52  allowing the user to conveniently carry the box. While the box shown has rigid sides generally rigidly fixed to one another, other makes and models of boxes or containers could also be utilized with the present invention.  
         [0025]    The preferred box  50  is capable of holding legal-sized paper. This is due to the fact that home purchase documents can range in size, and typically include legal size paper. Through utilizing a “legal-sized paper” length box, all of these documents could be accommodated. It is envisioned that the user would place copies of important documents associated with the home purchase into the box, along with aforementioned folder. For instance, a copy of the mortgage documents, a copy of the insurance papers, the user manuals and warranties of the appliances provided with the home, etc.  
         [0026]    The box is sized to hold all the papers typically relating to a home mortgage, and to physically fit on a shelf for easy storage and retrieval. The box can be generally similar to a briefcase in dimensions, and thus able to be placed on a closet shelf in a horizontal, vertical, or flat configuration. The configuration of the present invention accords easy storage and protection of the documents in question. Likewise, when these documents are later needed by the homebuyer, they can be easily and completely retrieved in a hasty manner by merely locating the box containing them therein.  
         [0027]    It is preferred that a fastener  54 ,  55  be provided for holding the box in a closed position (FIG. 2) and allowing the box to be used in an open position (FIG. 3). This fastener can comprise any suitable means, including elastic bands, snaps, buckles, tabs, and the preferred hook  55  and loop  54  style fastener.  
         [0028]    While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.