Abstract:
An organizer for a desk or other surface. In one aspect, the invention can be an organizer comprising: a rack assembly comprising a pair of spaced-apart vertical supports and a plurality of horizontal rods extending between and supported by the pair of vertical supports, the plurality of horizontal rods arranged in a spaced-apart manner; an organization accessory having a rear side having a width that is greater than a distance between the vertical supports, the organization accessory having a pair of hook members extending from the rear side of the organization accessory; and the organization accessory mounted to the rack assembly so that the hook members engage one of the horizontal rods and the rear side of the organization accessory rests against the pair of vertical supports.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/730,214, filed Oct. 25, 2005, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The present application is also a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/550,772, filed Oct. 18, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,056 the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a desktop organizer, and, more particularly, to a desktop organizer attached to a desk and capable of holding a multitude of items that normally clutter up a desk. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This section describes the background of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention. There is no intention, either express or implied, that the background art discussed in this section legally constitutes prior art. 
     Many people work at desks that are cluttered with so much stuff that they have very little working space. The desktop may contain a computer monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, other computer related items, a telephone, in/out baskets, books, files, notepads, pens, pencils, a stapler, and other office supplies. Some desktop organizers provide a place to put some of these items, but they rest on the desktop consuming valuable work space. Other organizers are mounted on a wall, but not all desks are located close enough to a wall for the organizer to be convenient. 
     A few desktop organizers are attached to the desktop and provide storage above the desktop. Some of these organizers require damaging the desktop, such as drilling a hole in or driving a screw into it, to mount them to the desktop. Other organizers include a pair of legs that are clamped to an overhanging portion of the desktop to support the organizing device. These organizers are very limited in the amount of material that can be stored on them due to this method of support. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves these and other needs by providing a desktop organizer that is able to store a significant amount of material and that takes up minimal desk space. In one aspect, the invention can be an organizer comprising: a rack assembly comprising a pair of spaced-apart vertical supports and a plurality of horizontal rods extending between and supported by the pair of vertical supports, the plurality of horizontal rods arranged in a spaced-apart manner; an organization accessory having a rear side having a width that is greater than a distance between the vertical supports, the organization accessory having a pair of hook members extending from the rear side of the organization accessory; and the organization accessory mounted to the rack assembly so that the hook members engage one of the horizontal rods and the rear side of the organization accessory rests against the pair of vertical supports. 
     In another aspect, the invention can be an organizer secured to a desired surface having an extending portion comprising: a base assembly comprising: a clamping member having a channel, the extending portion of the desired surface slidably inserted into the channel of the clamping member; an adjustable fastener extending into the channel that compresses the extending portion of the desired surface against the clamping member; and a cover member coupled to the clamping member and having a rear portion, a forward portion and a channel in the rear portion, the cover member positioned atop the desired surface so that a portion of the clamping member nests within the channel of the cover member and the forward portion of the cover member contacts the desired surface to prevent the organizer from leaning forward; and a rack assembly connected to and extending upward from the base assembly. 
     In a further aspect, the invention can be an organizer secured to a desired surface having an extending portion comprising: a base assembly comprising: a clamping member having a channel, the extending portion of the desired surface slidably inserted into the channel of the clamping member; and a cover member having a rear portion, a forward portion and a channel in the rear portion, the cover member positioned atop the desired surface so that a portion of the clamping member nests within the channel of the cover member, the forward portion of the cover member having a bottom surface that contacts the desired surface to prevent the organizer from leaning forward; and the forward portion of the cover member having a curved top surface forming a well; and a rack assembly connected to the base assembly and extending upward from the rear portion of the cover member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of certain embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the desktop organizer of the present invention mounted on a desktop; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the base assembly of the desktop organizer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the base assembly through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the base assembly through line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the end vertical support of the desktop organizer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the center vertical support of the desktop organizer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged view of one of the rods of the desktop organizer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one of the clips used to hold the rods to the end vertical supports of the desktop organizer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the elevator bolt of the base assembly of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the cup holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system, components and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain embodiments of the invention. 
     An embodiment of an organizer for a desk or other horizontal surface having an extending portion includes an elongated base assembly having a clamping member and a cover member for attaching to the extending portion, at least one fastening device for attaching the clamping member to the surface and for attaching the cover member to the clamping member, a pair of vertical supports adapted to be attached to the cover member and each support including a plurality of holes, and a plurality of horizontal accessory supporting rods extending from the slots in one of the vertical supports to the corresponding holes in the other vertical support. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an organizer for a desk having an extending desktop portion. The organizer may include an elongated base member, at least one fastening device for attaching the elongated base member to the extending desktop portion, a pair of vertical supports adapted to be attached to the base member, a plurality of rods attached to the vertical supports, and at least one organizing accessory having a pair of hooks for hanging the accessory from one of the rods. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an organizer for a surface having an extending portion. The organizer may include a pair of vertical supports adapted to be attached to the extending desktop portion, a plurality of rods attached to the vertical supports, and at least one organizing accessory having a pair of hooks for hanging the accessory from one of the rods. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, there is shown a perspective view of a desk organizer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The desk organizer  10  may include a base assembly  12  attached to a desktop  11 . The base assembly  12  may support a pair of end vertical supports  16  and a center vertical support  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the end vertical support  16  may include a vertical member  54  having a plurality of evenly-spaced holes  56 , an offset member  58 , and a horizontal tab  61  having an elongated hole  63 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the center vertical support may include a vertical member  65  having a plurality of evenly spaced holes  67  and a base  69  having a hook portion  72 . 
     The end vertical supports  16  and center vertical support  18  may support a plurality of parallel rods  21  for attaching organizing accessories. The rods  21  may be positioned through the corresponding holes  56  and  67  in end vertical supports  16  and center vertical support  18 , respectively, and secured to the end vertical supports  18  with a plurality of retainer clips  23 . The organizing accessories may include a shelf  24  and a cup holder  25  for holding a cup  26 . Various other organizing accessories may include, but are not limited to, a letter holder, a file sorter, a book/magazine holder, a basket, an organizer basket, a CD holder, and a pencil holder. 
     Depending upon the overall length of the desk organizer and the accessories utilized (i.e. weight to be supported), the center vertical support may not be necessary. The length of the desk organizer may vary from less than one foot to greater than two feet. Multiple desk organizers may be used together to increase the storage capabilities. The desk organizer may also used with any other horizontal surface, not only a desktop, where additional storage is desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an exploded view of the base assembly  12 . The base assembly  12  may include a clamping member  27  that attaches to the desk and a cover member that attaches to the clamping member  27  on the desktop. The clamping member  27  may include an upper horizontal portion  28  and a lower horizontal portion  30 . Elevator bolts  29  and  31  may extend through holes  32  and  34 , respectively, in the upper horizontal portion  28  of the clamping member  27  and holes  36  and  38 , respectively, in the cover member  14  to allow the clamping member  27  to be attached to the desk and the cover member  14  to be attached to the clamping member  27  using nuts  41 , such as acorn nuts or other suitable nuts. Other bolts having a large flat bottom surface may be used in place of the elevator bolts. The cover member  14  may further include openings  43  and  45  for the insertion of a portion of the end vertical supports. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there are shown sectional views of the base assembly  12  of  FIG. 1 . The clamping member  27  may be attached to an extending portion  13  of desktop  11  using the elevator bolt  29 , which may include a threaded portion  74 , a base  76 , and a slotted top  76  ( FIG. 9 ). A nut  49  may be welded to the bottom side of the upper horizontal portion  28  around the hole  32  for engaging the threaded portion  74  of elevator bolt  29  to allow the tightening of base  76  to the extending portion  13  of the desktop  11 . 
     An upper portion of the elevator bolt  29  including the slotted end may extend through the hole  36  in the cover member  14  and an elongated hole  63  in a horizontal tab  61  on the end vertical support  54  ( FIG. 5 ). The nut  41  may secure the cover member  14  and the end vertical support  54  to the clamping member  27 . 
     A front portion  46  of the cover member  14  may include a well for storing pens, pencils, or other small desk items and may provide additional support to prevent the desk organizer from leaning forward when holding a substantial load. A back portion  47  of the cover member  14  may extend down farther than the top of the desktop  11  to conceal a substantial part of the clamping member  27 . An extending lip  51  along the back of the cover member  14  may engage a hook portion  72  of the center vertical support  18 . The back portion  47  may include at least one hole or opening  48  to receive a screw or other fastening device (not shown) to fix the portion  47  to the desktop  11 . In this manner, optionally the clamping member need not be employed. 
     The offset member  58  of the end vertical support  16  may be inserted through the opening  43  in the cover member  14  to dispose the horizontal tab  61  adjacent to the top of the cover member  14  with the elevator bolt extending through the elongated hole  63  in the horizontal tab  61 . The offset member  58  may cover an open side of the cover member at least partially concealing the clamping member  27  and elevator bolt  29 . 
     One of the rods  21  may be inserted through one of the holes  56  in the vertical member  54  of the end support rod  16 . The rod  21  may be secured to the vertical member  54  using sides  87  and  89  of one of the retainer clips  23 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , each end  81  of the rod  21  may include a pair of grooves  83  and  85 . The grooves  83  and  85  may be engaged with the slots  92  and  94  in the sides  87  and  89 , respectively, of the retainer clip  23  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a perspective view of one of the organizing accessories. The cup holder accessory  25  may include a cylindrical body  96  having a cup handle opening  97  to allow accommodation of a cup with a handle as shown in  FIG. 1 . A pair of hooks  98  may be attached to the back of the cylindrical body  96  to allow attachment of the cup holder accessory  25  to one of the rods  21  of the desktop organizer  10 . 
     Each organizing accessory may include a pair of hooks. If the width of the accessory is less than the distance between adjacent vertical supports (i.e. the cup holder accessory  25  in  FIG. 1 ), the hooks may each include a vertical rod portion  99  having a length which may be greater than the distance between two adjacent horizontal rods to hold the accessory in an upright position. Alternatively, at least one vertical member (not shown) separate from the hooks may be employed to serve the same function as the hook portions  99 . If the width of the accessory is greater than the distance between adjacent vertical supports (i.e. the shelf accessory  24  in  FIG. 1 ), the length of the hooks may be less than the distance between two adjacent rods since the vertical supports may hold the accessory in an upright position. 
     To install the desktop organizer  10 , the clamping member  27  may be disposed around any extending portion of a desktop  11 . The bases of the elevator bolts  29 ,  31  may be lowered using a screwdriver in the slotted top to firmly clamp the desktop  11  between the lower horizontal member  30  of the clamping member  27  and the bases of the elevator bolts  29 ,  31 . The cover member  14  may then be placed over the clamping member  27  with the slotted tops of the elevator bolts  29 ,  31  extending through the holes  36 ,  38  in the cover member  14 . 
     The offset members  58  of the end vertical supports  16  may next be inserted through the openings in the cover member  14 , so that the offset members  58  may cover the open sides of the cover member  14  and the horizontal tabs  61  may be adjacent to the top of the cover member  14  with the slotted tops extending through the elongated holes  63  in the horizontal tabs  61 . A nut  41  may be used on each extending top of the elevator bolts  29 ,  31  to secure the cover member  14  and the end vertical supports  16  to the clamping member  27 . If, for example, the desk organizer  10  is approximately 24 inches long, a center vertical support  18  may be attached to the cover member  14  using a lip  51  on the back side of the cover member  14  and a hook portion  72  on the center vertical support  18 . 
     A plurality of rods  21  may then be placed through the evenly spaced holes  56  in the vertical supports  16 ,  18 . The ends of the rods  21  including a pair of grooves  83 ,  85  may be secured to the end vertical supports  16  using a plurality of retainer clips  23  or other suitable method, such as rods with threaded ends used with nuts, to achieve a strong rigid connection. The rods  21  may also be provided permanently attached to the vertical supports  16  by welding or other appropriate method of attachment. The desired organizing accessories may now be installed on the parallel vertical rods. 
     The embodiment described above has the advantage of a sturdy base and sturdy vertical supports to allow much greater loads to be placed on the desktop organizer. Shelves on this organizer may be capable of holding twenty pounds or more in actual models which have been constructed and tested. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications and combinations are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations to the exact disclosure herein presented.