Compact disc organizer on sun visor

A multiple disc recording organizing holder apparatus comprising a substantially flat carrier panel which is elongated in a longitudinal direction to be attached to and carried by a vehicle sun visor, which is also longitudinally elongated, and flatly adjacent one side of the visor; there being a series of storage pockets on the panel having entrances exposed at at least one side of the panel; the pockets having entrance edges which are spaced apart longitudinally, and which define angles .alpha. relative to the longitudinal direction, where 65.degree.<.alpha.<85.degree..

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to storage of recording discs in positions 
for ready access; and more particularly, to a novel carrier panel 
attachable to a vehicle sun visor, and wherein the carrier panel provides 
a series of storage pockets for recording discs, such as compact discs. 
The latter are typically of a size conforming generally to the transverse 
dimensions of sun visors. 
There is a need for means to store compact discs in vehicles, to enable 
their ready access. Such discs are ordinarily stored in their plastic 
containers, which are quite rigid and require two-handed manipulation to 
open the opposite sides of such container. This presents a safety problem 
to the operator of a vehicle in motion, since the operator should not 
release grasp of a steering wheel in order to open a CD container to gain 
access to the CD. 
Also, there is need for a compact disc storage device which will enable 
ready, one-handed access to any of a series of such discs stored in a way 
that also enables their ready presentation as a group for selection in one 
position; and their out-of-the-way storage, as a group, in another 
position. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a major object of the invention to provide a device meeting the above 
need or needs. Basically, the device of the invention is a disc recording 
organizing holder apparatus, and comprising: 
a) a substantially flat carrier panel which is elongated in a longitudinal 
direction to be attached to and carried by a vehicle sun visor, and flatly 
adjacent one side of the visor, 
b) there being a series of storage pockets on the carrier panel having 
entrances exposed at at least one side of the panel, 
c) the pockets having entrance edges which are spaced apart longitudinally, 
and which define angles .alpha. relative to the longitudinal direction, 
where: 
EQU 65.degree.&lt;.alpha.&lt;85.degree. 
Typically, the visor is in the form of a flat panel having an upper 
longitudinal edge and a lower longitudinal edge, the lower edge adapted to 
be swung downward, to expose one side of the visor, which is normally 
concealed, the carrier panel extending adjacent that one side of the 
visor, the pocket entrances then exposed to extend in a generally 
horizontal row and also toward the visor upper edge. 
Another object is to provide apparatus, as referred to, wherein the pocket 
entrance edges extend in substantially parallel relation. The pockets are 
arranged to hold recording discs to have first portions frictionally 
retained in the pockets and second portions projecting out of the pockets, 
the second portions subtending angles .beta. where: 
EQU 90.degree.&lt;.beta.&lt;120.degree. 
Such discs typically comprise compact discs. 
Yet another object is to provide a carrier panel, as described, wherein it 
has felt surfaces frictionally engaging the recording discs retained in 
the pockets. The side of the panel at which the discs are presented for 
selection desirably consists substantially entirely of felt. The 
CD-receiving pockets may be located in rows at opposite sides of the 
carrier panel, so that reversal of the carrier panel on the visor enables 
selection of another series of discs, doubling the capacity of the device. 
An additional object includes the provision of means to attach the carrier 
panel to one side of the visor. Such means typically includes flaps 
hingedly connected to the carrier panel to fold over the visor at the 
opposite side thereof; and such attachment means may include 
interengageable VELCRO elements on the flaps. Alternatively, the carrier 
panel may be attached to the visor, as via elastic strap means. The 
carrier panel may be provided with additional retention means, as for 
example for a mirror, pencils, etc. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the 
details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from 
the following specification and drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In FIGS. 1-5, the apparatus 10 is constructed to provide a multiple 
recording disc organizing holder. See, for example, the multiple compact 
discs 11-16 in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, received in pockets to be described. 
The apparatus 10 includes a carrier panel 20, which is substantially flat, 
as seen in FIG. 1, and elongated in a longitudinal direction indicated by 
arrow 21. The panel 20 is sized to be attached to and carried by a vehicle 
sun visor indicated at 22 in FIGS. 3 and 4. The visor is also typically 
longitudinally elongated and has substantially flat, opposite sides 22a 
and 22b. 
In FIG. 4, the apparatus is shown attached to the visor, whereby panel 20 
extends flatly adjacent side 22a of the visor. Note that the panel 20 has 
a front side 20a and a rear side 20b. 
A series of pockets, as referred to above, is incorporated on the panel 20 
to have entrances exposed at at least one side of the visor. The pockets, 
as shown, are formed beneath outer flaps 23-28, which extend in a row, and 
particularly overlap or underlap one another, as for example is indicated 
in FIG. 2. Pocket flap edges may be suitably attached to an under layer 
29, as along longitudinal edge lines indicated at 30 and 31 in FIG. 1. The 
pocket widths are slightly larger than the diameters of the CD's 11-16, 
and the pocket depths are substantially less than the diameter of the 
CD's, whereby the CD's are frictionally retained in the pockets, engaging 
the flap inner sides; however, portions of the CD's project freely from 
the pockets, as shown, for ready manual, one-handed grasping by the 
vehicle operator, or passenger, for example. 
The pockets have entrance edges, defined for example by the flaps at 
23a-28a, which are spaced longitudinally, and define angles .alpha. 
relative to the longitudinal direction, where .alpha. lies between 
65.degree. and 85.degree., i.e., 65.degree.&lt;.alpha.&lt;85.degree. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the visor flat panel has an upper longitudinal edge 40 
and a lower longitudinal edge 41. Edge 41 is adapted to be swung down to 
FIG. 3 position, to expose or present the visor side 22b normally 
concealed upwardly. The pocket angled entrances, adjacent edges 23a-28a, 
are then exposed to extend in a longitudinal row; and also to extend 
upwardly and leftwardly as shown in FIG. 3, facilitating ready selective 
grasping of the CD's for removal from the panel 20, and for reinsertion 
into the pockets, when desired. 
Note that the pocket edges extend upwardly and leftwardly in substantially 
parallel relation. The CD's have first portions frictionally retained in 
the pockets and second portions projecting out of the pockets, the second 
portions subtending angles .beta. from their centers, where: 
90.degree.&lt;.beta.&lt;120.degree.. Also, the disc second portions overlap the 
entrance edges of the next in sequence pockets. The carrier panel pockets 
may consist of felt to provide felt surfaces protectively and frictionally 
engaging the recording discs retained in the pockets. Panel backer layer 
20c may consist of relatively stiff, yet somewhat flexible, fabric 
material, such as NYLON. 
Means is provided to readily and removably attach the carrier panel 20 to 
side 22b of the visor. As shown, such means may include flexible flaps 45 
and 46 hingedly connected to or integral with panel 20, so as to fold over 
the visor edges and connect together at the rear side 22a of the visor. 
See FIG. 4. Such hinging is defined, with unusual advantage, by flap 
narrowing in the longitudinal direction, so that the connection loci (of 
45 and 46 to 20) at 48 and 49, extend longitudinally. See for example 
longitudinal seam binding at 50 and 51 associated with flap 45 locus 48 of 
connection with 20, and longitudinal seam binding at 52 and 53 associated 
with flap 46 locus 49 of connection with 20. The seam binding may extend 
as a substantially continuous strip at 54-56 from 50 and 51, and at 57-59 
from 52 and 53. Surface layers 75a and 75b on the flaps may consist of 
felt. VELCRO layer 60 on the underside of flap 46 may then engage felt 
layer 75a, as shown in FIG. 4, to adjustably attach the panel 20 to the 
visor. Narrowing of the flaps 45 and 46, longitudinally, also avoids 
interference of the flaps with the visor hinge means 62 at the left end of 
the visor, as shown, and particularly for shorter visor applications. A 
corner is formed by one flap and the carrier panel, to face 62, as shown. 
FIG. 3 also shows the vehicle steering wheel 64 and front windshield 65. 
FIG. 6 shows auxiliary holders 70 and 71 on flap 46, such as a pencil 
holder and sunglass holder or garage door opener. 
FIG. 7 shows attachment means for panel 20 in the form of elastic straps or 
loops 76 and 77 that fit over the visor. There are twelve CD pockets 
shown. 
FIG. 8 shows a modification in which pockets for CD's are also formed at 
the opposite side of the carrier layer 20. See the rows of pockets 90 and 
91 on a U-shaped panel 20, and carried at opposite sides of the visor 22 
for selective exposure.