Abstract:
The present invention discloses systems and method for storing and organizing UFDs (USB flash drives) on a storage pole, and for configuring UFDs to accommodate storage on a storage pole. Various embodiments also include configurations of the UFDs and/or storage poles which prevent rotation of the UFDs on the storage pole, thereby providing aligned stacking of the UFDs. Some embodiments include more than one pole for storage and/or alignment of the UFDs. Some embodiments do not require a pole for storage and/or alignment of the UFDs. In addition, systems which allow extraction of a single UFD from a stack of UFDs while maintaining the order of the UFDs are also disclosed.

Description:
This patent application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/762,642 filed Jan. 30, 2006. 

   FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a system and method for storing and organizing UFDs on a storage pole, and for configuring UFDs (USB flash drives) to accommodate storage on a storage pole. 
   Mechanical means for organizing small items on a desktop are well-known in the art of office accessories. A common device for organizing and holding small notes is a storage pole, available from Office Depot, 2200 Old Germantown Road, Delray Beach, Fla. 33445 (shown in  FIG. 1A ). 
   In order for a device of this type to be useful, the organized items need to have a tunnel through them that is larger than the diameter of the spindle. When the organized items are pieces of paper of different sorts, the tunnel can be made in the paper upon pushing them onto the pole. 
   However, when using a storage pole for organizing items other than paper (or similar items which can be pierced), the tunnel in the item needs to be made in advance. A prior art example of a storage pole for items that have tunnels to enable their organization on a pole are “dome cones”, available from Goal Sporting Goods, Inc., 37 Industrial Park Road, P.O. Box 236, Essex, Conn. 06426 (shown in  FIG. 1B ). 
   UFDs are well-known in the art of digital computing as a means for portable data storage. Until recently, UFDs were relatively expensive. People would generally own a single UFD at the most. People would typically use a UFD for a variety of applications and carry the UFD with them during the day. 
   Recently, UFDs have become an inexpensive commodity. People can now afford to use them for dedicated purposes, and own a several UFDs. Typically, while a person would carry with him the specific UFD that he intends use, his desktop and drawers would most likely accommodate a large number of UFDs. It would be useful to have a handy and well-organized way to store UFDs, while maintaining visibility and accessibility. 
   A storage pole would be a convenient means for storing and organizing UFDs, if UFDs were produced with a sufficiently large tunnel around the center area of the device. Unfortunately, UFD devices are traditionally designed to be small and compact. Their circuitry is typically designed on a solid, rectangular printed circuit board. They are generally not manufactured with a sufficiently large tunnel, and cannot be drilled after production without damaging them. 
   For the growing community of UFD and portable data storage devices users, it would be useful to have a system for filing, organizing, sorting, and retrieving multiple UFD devices in a device similar to a storage pole. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   For the purpose of clarity, several terms which follow are specifically defined for use within the context of this application. The term “storage pole” is used in this application to refer to a substantially vertical rod, supported on a base, used to organize a plurality of loose items on a desktop. The term “tunnel” is used in this application to refer to a passage through a solid object. The term “tunnel end” is used in this application to refer to the intersection of a tunnel with the outer surface of an object. According to this definition, every tunnel has two ends. The term “tunnel wall” is used in this application to refer to an interior surface, of a solid object, that encloses a tunnel passage, except at the ends of the tunnel. The term “standard CD” is used in this application to refer to a compact disc having an aperture which allows the disc to be slid onto a storage pole with a pole diameter of at least 9 mm. 
   It is the purpose of the present invention to teach a system for filing, organizing, sorting, and retrieving UFD devices on a storage pole. 
   The present invention further teaches a novel design of a printed circuit board of a UFD that accommodates a large tunnel, generally in the center of the UFD, and designed to match the diameter of storage poles that a UFD user may have available to him, thereby enabling the user to store UFDs on his storage pole. For example, CD-stack storage containers, like the ones shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C, have a storage pole that is slightly smaller than the tunnel of a standard CD. 
   The invention further teaches a design for a storage pole device that enables a user to sort and select UFDs from a stack of UFDs. 
   The invention further teaches a design for the tunnel in a UFD that registers the angular position of the UFD on the storage pole, and ensures that a specific side of the UFD will face the user, either for decorative reasons or to expose a label area. 
   Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided for the first time a UFD including: (a) a body having at least one tunnel, for storing the UFD that is substantially centered within the body. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel is substantially perpendicular to a face of the body of the UFD. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel is substantially cylindrical with a diameter of at least about 6 mm. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel is substantially cylindrical with a diameter of at least about 8 mm. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel is substantially cylindrical with a diameter of at least about 10 mm. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel intersects at least one printed circuit board of the UFD. 
   According to the present invention, there is provided for the first time a system for storing data, the system including: (a) a storage pole; and (b) a UFD having at least one tunnel for threading the UFD on the storage pole. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel is substantially cylindrical and perpendicular to a face of the UFD. 
   Preferably, the storage pole is substantially cylindrical with a diameter of at least about 5 mm. 
   Preferably, the storage pole is substantially cylindrical with a diameter of at least about 7 mm. 
   Preferably, the storage pole is substantially cylindrical with a diameter of at least about 9 mm. 
   Preferably, the storage pole is configured to be compatible with an aperture of a standard CD. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel of the UFD has a diameter of at least about 6 mm. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel of the UFD has a diameter of at least about 8 mm. 
   Preferably, at least one tunnel of the UFD has a diameter of at least about 10 mm. 
   Preferably, a wall of at least one tunnel is configured to interact with the storage pole in a manner that prevents rotation of the UFD around the storage pole. 
   Preferably, the system further includes: (c) at least one side pole for preventing rotation of the UFD along an axis of at least one tunnel, wherein a periphery of the UFD is configured to interact with at least one side pole, thereby preventing rotation of the UFD on the storage pole. 
   Preferably, the storage pole is configured to be in one of two states, a first state that allows removal of the UFD from the storage pole, and a second state that prevents removal of the UFD from the storage pole, the storage pole configured to be reversibly switched from the first state to the second state. 
   Most preferably, the UFD can freely move along the storage pole while the storage pole is in the second state. 
   According to the present invention, there is provided for the first time a device for data storage and retrieval, the device including a UFD having a shape configured for facilitating aligned stacking of a plurality of such UFDs. 
   According to the present invention, there is provided for the first time a method of packing a plurality of data storage and retrieval devices, the method including the steps of: (a) configuring each data storage and retrieval device of the plurality of data storage and retrieval devices with at least one tunnel configured to facilitate stacking of the plurality of data storage and retrieval devices; and (b) stacking the plurality of data storage and retrieval devices on a storage pole. 
   These and further embodiments will be apparent from the detailed description and examples that follow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1A  shows a prior art storage pole; 
       FIG. 1B  shows an alternate prior art storage pole; 
       FIG. 2A  shows a prior art CD-stack storage container; 
       FIG. 2B  shows an alternate prior art CD-stack storage container; 
       FIG. 2C  shows an alternate prior art CD-stack storage container; 
       FIG. 3A  shows a top view of a UFD with a tunnel suitable for placing on a storage pole; 
       FIG. 3B  shows a top view of a UFD with a tunnel suitable for placing on a storage pole with its cap removed; 
       FIG. 4  shows a storage pole holding UFDs; 
       FIG. 5A  shows a storage pole in its closed-loop configuration; 
       FIG. 5B  shows a storage pole in its open-loop configuration; 
       FIG. 6  shows several stacked UFDs with labels; 
       FIG. 7A  shows a cross-sectional view of a UFD and storage pole with single, internal angular registration; 
       FIG. 7B  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD and storage pole with single, internal angular registration; 
       FIG. 8A  shows a cross-sectional view of a UFD and a storage pole with single, external angular registration; 
       FIG. 8B  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD and a storage pole with single, external angular registration; 
       FIG. 9A  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD and storage pole with dual, internal angular registration; 
       FIG. 9B  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD and storage poles with dual, external angular registration; 
       FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD with two tunnels for internal angular registration; 
       FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD configuration for surface angular registration. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is of a system for a UFD organizer and a method for storing UFDs. Specifically, the present invention can be used for filing, organizing, sorting, and retrieving multiple UFDs. The present invention further includes designs for UFDs that can accommodate storage in conjunction with the system mentioned above. The principles and operation of a UFD organizer according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1A  shows a prior art storage pole intended to be used with paper items. This device does not require that the items have a tunnel. The items are punctured when they are pushed onto the storage pole. This prior art device serves as the conceptual inspiration for the UFD storage device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B  shows a prior art storage pole used for solid objects that have a pre-fabricated tunnel. 
     FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C show prior art devices for storing a stack of CDs. These devices include a pole and a base, and often also include a cover (not shown in these figures). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the tunnel in a UFD is similar to the tunnel of a standard CD (i.e. the hole in the middle of a standard CD), with a diameter of about 10 mm, enabling standard CD-stack storage containers, with storage pole diameters of about 9 mm, to be used for the storage of UFDs. 
     FIG. 3A  shows a preferred embodiment of a UFD  20  in a closed configuration, according to the present invention. UFD  20  is covered by a cap  22  which provides a round shape when UFD  20  is closed. A tunnel  24  is located in the center of UFD  20 , and has a diameter that allows UFD  20  to be placed on a storage pole, such as CD storage pole (i.e. at least 10 mm). Tunnel  24  intersects at least one printed circuit board (not shown) of UFD  20 .  FIG. 3B  shows UFD  20  with tunnel  24  and a USB connector  30 . Cap  22  is shown removed from UFD  20 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a UFD organizer for UFDs according to the present invention. A storage pole  40  is located on a base  42  that is designed to accommodate a large quantity of UFDs  44 . Storage pole  40  has a diameter of at least 9 mm. UFDs  44  each have a large tunnel of the type shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
     FIG. 5A  shows a preferred embodiment of a bent storage pole, in its closed-loop configuration, which is useful for organizing UFDs of the present invention on a desktop. An “inverted U”-shaped storage pole has a left pole-half  50  and a right pole-half  52 , which are both supported from a common base  56 . Pole-halves  50  and  52  have a diameter of at least 9 mm, and contact each other at a bent peak seam  54 . UFDs  58 , having a diameter of at least 10 mm, are located on left pole-half  50 , and UFDs  60  are located on right pole-half  52 . A single UFD  62  is shown being transferred from left pole-half  50  to right pole-half  52 . 
     FIG. 5B  shows the bent storage pole of  FIG. 5A  in its open-loop configuration. Left pole-half  50  has been pulled to the left in  FIG. 5B , opening peak seam  54  and creating a gap  64  between left pole-half  50  and right pole-half  52 . The flexibility of pole-halves  50  and  52  can be achieved by the inherent flexibility of the storage pole material, by the localized flexibility of a joint (not shown) connecting pole-halves  50  and  52  to base  56 , by base  56  being made of two parts (not shown) that can be separated from each other; or by many other ways known in the art of mechanical engineering. UFDs  58 , which are threaded on left pole-half  50 , remain on left pole-half  50 . UFDs  60 , which are threaded on right pole-half  52 , remain on right pole-half  52 . A loose UFD  66  is shown being released from the storage pole device. According to the storage pole device shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a user of this storage pole device can select and extract any UFD without changing the overall order of the UFD archive. 
     FIG. 6  shows several stacked UFDs  70  with each bearing a label  72  on its side, enabling a user to easily read each label  72  of stored UFDs  70  by looking at the stack. Since the tunnels of UFDs  70  are round (like tunnel  24  of UFD  20  and cap  22  shown in  FIG. 3A ), if UFDs  70  are stacked on a storage pole as disclosed in the present invention, then UFDs  70  can rotate in any direction. Rotation of UFDs  70  would result in the positioning of each label  72  in random directions, thereby making it difficult to view each label  72  simultaneously. This drawback is overcome in the following embodiments shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     FIG. 7A  shows a horizontal cross-sectional view through a UFD  80  (partly shown) and a storage pole  84 . Storage pole  84  is slightly narrower than a tunnel  82  of UFD  80 . Storage pole  84  has a straight pole-alignment key  86 , and similarly, tunnel  82  of UFD  80  has a matching straight tunnel-alignment key  88 . Tunnel-alignment key  88  of UFD  80  and pole-alignment key  86  of storage pole  84  must be placed in proper angular registration in order for UFD  80  to be slid onto storage pole  84 . Alignment keys  86  and  88  then prevent rotation of UFD  80  on storage pole  84 . 
     FIG. 7B  shows a horizontal cross-sectional view through an alternate UFD  90  (partly shown) and a storage pole  94 . Storage pole  94  is slightly narrower than a tunnel  92  of UFD  90 . Storage pole  94  has a protruding, curved pole-alignment key  96 , and similarly, tunnel  92  of UFD  90  has a protruding, curved tunnel-alignment key  98 . Tunnel-alignment key  98  of UFD  90  and pole-alignment key  96  of storage pole  94  must be placed in proper angular registration in order for, UFD  90  to be slid onto storage pole  94 . Alignment keys  96  and  98  then prevent rotation of UFD  90  on storage pole  94 . This embodiment, like the one shown in  FIG. 7A , ensures that UFD  90  will not rotate and that labels of all UFDs will be readily visible. 
   While the embodiments of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  seem functionally identical to each other, there is one important difference between them. While the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7B  enables the use of UFD  90  on generic storage poles which are completely round, UFD  80  (of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7A ) will not accommodate storage poles which are completely round, thereby requiring a specially-designed storage pole for UFD  80 . 
   While the preferred embodiments described above teach how to make a substantially-cylindrical UFD whose tunnel wall is configured to prevent rotation of the UFD when engaged on an appropriate storage pole, it should be understood that a similar configurational change can be made to the periphery of a substantially-cylindrical UFD. A UFD organizer of this type can be achieved in several ways. As shown in  FIG. 8A , a UFD  100  has a protrusion  102  on the periphery of UFD  100 . 
   An appropriately-shaped alignment pole  103 , matching the contour of protrusion  102 , secures UFD  100  to the UFD organizer. A tunnel  104  located in UFD  100  is used to slide UFD  100  onto a conventional storage pole  105 . In this embodiment, UFD  100  will not slide onto alignment pole  105  without proper alignment of protrusion  102  and alignment pole  103 . 
   Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 8B , a UFD  106  has an indented niche  108  on the periphery of UFD  106 . An appropriately-shaped alignment pole  110 , matching the contour of niche  108 , secures UFD  110  to the UFD organizer. A tunnel  112  located in UFD  106  is used to slide of UFD  106  onto a conventional storage pole  114 . In this embodiment, UFD  106  will not slide onto alignment pole  114  without proper alignment of niche  108  and alignment pole  110 . 
   Furthermore,  FIG. 9A  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD  120  and storage pole  124  with dual, internal angular registration. Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7B , storage pole  124  is slightly smaller than a tunnel  122  of UFD  120 . Storage pole  124  has a protruding, curved pole-alignment key  126 , and similarly, tunnel  122  of UFD  120  has a protruding, curved tunnel-alignment key  128 . When tunnel-alignment key  128  of UFD  120  and pole-alignment key  126  of storage pole  124  are in proper angular registration, rotation of UFD  120  on storage pole  124  is prevented. Storage pole  124  also has an indented pole-niche  130 . 
   Likewise, UFD  120  also has a corresponding, indented tunnel-niche  132  on the internal surface of UFD  120 . In this embodiment, UFD  120  will not slide onto storage pole  124  without proper alignment of pole-alignment key  126  with tunnel-alignment key  128  and pole-niche  130  with tunnel-niche  132 . 
     FIG. 9B  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD  140 , a primary alignment pole  144 , and a secondary alignment pole  148  with dual, external angular registration. Similar to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , UFD  140  has a protrusion  142  and an indented niche  146  on the periphery of UFD  140 . Primary alignment pole  144 , matching the contour of protrusion  142 , and secondary alignment pole  148 , matching the contour of niche  146 , secure UFD  140  to the UFD organizer. In this embodiment, UFD  140  will not slide onto primary alignment pole  144  and secondary alignment pole  148  without proper alignment of protrusion  142  and niche  146  with primary alignment pole  144  and secondary alignment pole  148 , respectively. A tunnel  150  located in UFD  140  is available for storage of UFD  140  on a conventional storage pole  152 . 
   In addition to preventing rotation of the UFDs, the dual registration embodiments of  FIGS. 9A and 9B  eases the movement of the UFDs along the storage pole by making a UFD slide only along the axis of the storage pole without canting the UFD, minimizing contact between the tunnel wall and the storage pole, to a greater extent than in the single registration embodiments shown in  FIGS. 7A through 8B . Further embodiments can be considered in which a plurality of protrusions and niches, both internal and external, are present for various applications. 
     FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD with two tunnels for internal angular registration. A UFD  160  has a storage-pole tunnel  162  for storage on a standard, CD storage pole (not shown). UFD  160  also has an alignment tunnel  164  for preventing rotation of UFD  160  when stored on a storage-pole device having two poles when storage-pole tunnel  162  and alignment tunnel  164  are both engaged on a conventional storage pole  166  and an alignment pole  168 . It is appreciated that alignment tunnel can be dimensioned to have various shapes and sizes, and can be located anywhere in UFD  160 . In preferred embodiments, UFD  160  can have more than one alignment tunnel  164 . 
   While the most natural location of a tunnel is in the center of a UFD, the UFD taught by the present invention can have a tunnel in any location. It is noted that the shape of a CD, which may be desirable in order to conform to established market standards, is maintained when the tunnel is generally located in the central area of the UFD. More specifically, the CD shape is maintained if the center of the minimum encompassing sphere of the UFD is located in the tunnel. 
     FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate UFD configuration for surface angular registration. UFDs  170  have indentations  172  and protrusions  174  located on opposite surfaces of UFDs  170 . When UFDs  170  are placed on top of each other with proper surface angular registration of indentations  172  and protrusions  174 , rotation of UFDs  170  is prevented, allowing for aligned stacking of UFDs  170  and adequate viewing of UFD labels  176 . 
   It is appreciated that in the above embodiments which prevent rotation of the UFDs, the tunnels and corresponding storage poles can be configured in numerous ways that prevent rotation. For example, triangular, square, and hexagonal tunnels and poles are all shapes that are within the domain of the present invention, among others. 
   While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention may be made.