Abstract:
Desk organizers are generally discussed herein with specific discussions extended to desk organizers having at least one cup holder. The organizers are configured to hold or store office-related products, such as paper clips, thumbtacks, business cards, etc. The cup holder is configured to hold a cup, a soda can, a mug, a Styrofoam cup, etc. The cup holder may include interference wedges for wedging a cup within the cup holder and may include a toaster, which may be part of a stack of toasters or may be fixedly secured to the base of the cup holder.

Description:
[0001]     Desk organizers are generally discussed herein with specific discussions extended to desk organizers comprising a cup holder.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Desk organizers for organizing office related products are widely commercially available. In general, they comprise a base and one or more wall enclosures for holding office related products, such as paper clips, thumb tacks, Post-It® notes, pens, pencils, business cards, tapes, letters, etc. While most organizers are made from a rigid plastic or an acrylic material, higher-end organizers may be made from wood, metal, and even, at least in part, leather.  
         [0003]     Often times, drinks are served or consumed in an office environment. These drinks, either served in a cup, in a mug, from a bottle or a can, are typically placed on a desk or a coaster positioned on the desk. Unfortunately, these drinks will occasionally get tipped over when reaching for the drinks or when not paying attention and accidentally knocking the drinks over.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is a need for an organizer that not only provides typical organization functions but also serves as a cup holder for decreasing or even eliminating accidental cup tipping.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention may be implemented by providing a desk organizer comprising a plurality of storage bins for storing office related products and a cup holder, the cup holder comprising a base and a wall structure comprising a height comprising a channel extending at least along a section of the height.  
         [0006]     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a desk organizer comprising a storage bin for storing office-related products and a cup holder comprising a wall structure, the cup holder and the plurality of storage bins being integrally formed, and wherein a toaster is positioned within the cup holder.  
         [0007]     In yet other aspects of the present invention, there is provided a method for organizing a desk comprising placing an office-related product in a bin of a desk organizer; placing a cup in a cup holder, which is part of the desk organizer; wherein the cup holder comprises a wall and a channel positioned thereon.  
         [0008]     Other aspects and variations of the apparatus and method summarized above for the desk organizers are also contemplated and will be more fully understood when considered with respect to the following disclosure 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated as the same become better understood with reference to the specification, claims and appended drawings wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a semi-schematic perspective view of a desk organizer provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention comprising a cup holder;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a semi-schematic perspective view of an alternative desk organizer provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention comprising two cup holders;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a semi-schematic perspective view of yet another alternative desk organizer provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a semi-schematic top view of a cup holder provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention comprising a plurality of interference wedges;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a semi-schematic top view of an alternative cup holder provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention comprising a spring loaded arm; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a semi-schematic perspective view of a stack of toasters usable with the desk organizers of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of desk organizers provided in accordance with practice of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the features and the steps for constructing and using the desk organizers of the present invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, as denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicate like or similar elements or features.  
         [0017]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is provided a semi-schematic perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a desk organizer provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention, which is generally designated  10 . In one aspect of the present invention, the desk organizer  10  comprises a housing  12  comprising a plurality of storage bins  14 ,  16 ,  18  having a base  20 , which in one exemplary embodiment is common to all the bins. Preferably, the storage bins have at least some varying heights as measured from the base  20  to the perimeter edge  22  of each respective bin. In the embodiment shown, six storage bins with three different heights are incorporated. However, there may be more than six bins with a same number of bin heights. Alternatively, there may be one or more bins up to and more than six bins. Still alternatively, the bins may have the same shaped configuration, such as the square or rectangular shape shown, or may comprise two or more shaped configurations, such as a square shape and a round shape, a square shape and an oval shape, or a rectangular shape, an oval shape, a round shape, and a complex shape, etc.  
         [0018]     In one exemplary embodiment, a cup holder  24  comprising a wall structure  26  defining a cup storage cavity  28  and a base  30  is incorporated. In a preferred embodiment, the wall structure  26 , and the base  30  are integrally formed with the organizer housing  12 , including with the base  20  of the desk organizer  10 . More preferably, the cup holder  24  and the housing  12  comprising the base  20  are integrally molded using a hard plastic material, such as an ABS material, polycarbonate, PEEK, SAN, ASA, an acrylic material, or similar materials. Obviously, other modern molding techniques may be used to form any of the desk organizers described elsewhere herein, such as over molding the organizer with different parts, and separately assembling two or more components together to form the organizer. The wall structure  26  preferably comprises a slot or a channel  32  for accommodating a handle of a mug or so-called coffee cup. The slot  32  preferably extends along the lengthwise or vertical height of the wall structure  26  in a direction generally perpendicular to the base  30 . While the slot or channel  32  is shown extending the entire height of the wall structure  26 , it may extend less than the entire height. In other words, a short wall structure (not shown) may extend from the base  30  and occupies part of the channel  32 . In addition, the channel  32  may have non-parallel sides, such as a V-shape channel, a parabolic shape channel, or a complex shape channel.  
         [0019]     As is readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, the cup holder is configured to accommodate a cup comprising a handle. However, the cup holder  24  may accommodate other cups or drinks, such as a standard cylindrical shaped cup, a soda can, a plastic cup, a Styrofoam cup, etc. In addition, the channel  32  may be positioned in a different location along the wall structure  26  than as shown. For example, assuming the channel  32  as shown is located at a zero angle position, the channel may instead be located at any angle greater than zero and excluding the angle adjoining the wall structure  34  of the housing  12 . Preferably, the angle selected is such that placement of a cup comprising a handle into the cup holder  24  is facilitated and convenient, such as with consideration for a left handed user, a right handed user, or the angle of approach of the user in placing the cup.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a semi-schematic perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a desk organizer  36  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention is shown. In one exemplary embodiment, the desk organizer  36  may be made from the same material as the organizer  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and has two cup holders  24  positioned along two sides of a housing  38  comprising four storage bins  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d . In one exemplary embodiment, the four storage bins  40   a - 40   c  are similarly sized and shaped. However, the bins  40   a - 40   c  may have different sizes, shapes, and heights, and different numbers of bins, including 1 to 3 or greater than 4.  
         [0021]     In one exemplary embodiment, the two cup holders  24  each comprises a channel  32  positioned 180 degrees from one another. However, the two channels may be similarly angularly aligned or aligned anywhere along the wall structure  26  excluding along the structure adjoining the wall  34  of the organizer housing  38 . In one exemplary embodiment, at least one of the channels  32  of the two cup holders comprises a short wall structure  42  extending from the base  30  of the cup holder  24  and extends partially upwardly away from the base. In an alterative embodiment, at least one of the cup holders incorporate a continuous wall structure  26 , i.e., no channel  32 . This cup holder resembles a standard cylindrical organizer bin. However, standard cylindrical organizer bins in a multi-bin organizer are generally smaller in diameter than necessary to accommodate a cup, a soda can, or a mug. Accordingly, a channel-less cup holder incorporated with an organizer provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention are sized to accommodate a cup, a soda can, or a mug. If the mug has a handle, then the wall of the channel-less cup holder, at least right under the handle, is sufficiently short so as to come under the base of the handle.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a semi-schematic perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a desk organizer  44  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention is shown. In one exemplary embodiment, the desk organizer  44  may be made from the same material as the organizer  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and has two cup holders  24  positioned along two sides of a housing  46  comprising six storage bins  40   a - 40   d  and  48   a ,  48   b . Although the storage bins shown have two distinct heights having the same shaped opening, the bins may have different shapes, heights, and opening sizes, as previously discussed with reference to the organizers of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Furthermore, although two cup holders  24  are shown, the organizer  44  may incorporate a single cup holder or more than two cup holders  24 .  
         [0023]     In the present embodiment, a plurality of card slots, mail slots, or letter slots  50  are incorporated for accommodating cards, mails, or letters. Assuming that the two sets of mail slots  50  are located on the left side and the right side of the housing  46  and the front side is the side closest to the viewer, the two cup holders are preferably situated to the left side and right side of the organizer  50 . However, both cup holders or at least one of the cup holders may be situated on the front side of the organizer with a channel situated minus 90 to plus 90 degrees from the front, which is defined as the zero position or origin.  
         [0024]     While a limited number of organizers are shown and discussed, a person of ordinary skill in the art can readily modify the organizers provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention to incorporate other commonly known organizer features. For example, a business card holder, a tape dispenser, a lid over a compartment, etc., may be incorporated. Accordingly, such modifications are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a semi-schematic top view of a cup holder  52  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In one exemplary embodiment, the cup holder  52  comprises a wall structure  26 , a base  30 , a channel  32 , and a plurality of pliant interference wedges  54 . In a preferred embodiment, three wedges  54  are incorporated. However, one, two, or more than three wedges may be incorporated without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Interference wedges  54  used with cup holders are well known in the automobile art for pinning or wedging a cup within the cup holder for stability. In the present embodiment, the same wedges are incorporated with the cup holder  52 . However, other interference devices may be incorporated for wedging a cup within a cup holder. For example, resilient springs and living hinges may be incorporated instead of resilient foam or rubber material. The cup holder  52  may be incorporated in any of the organizers shown and described elsewhere herein.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a semi-schematic top view of a cup holder  56  provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In one exemplary embodiment, the cup holder  56  comprises a wall structure  26 , a base  30 , a channel  32 , and a spring loaded gate  58 . Spring loaded gates used in cup holders are well known in the automobile industry. In the present embodiment, the same spring loaded gates are incorporated with the cup holder  56 . The cup holder may be incorporated in any of the organizers shown and described elsewhere herein.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a semi-schematic view of a stack of toasters  57  comprising a plurality of individual toasters  58 . The toasters  58  may be incorporated in any of the organizers shown and described elsewhere herein. For example, the plurality of toasters  58  may be placed in one or more similarly shaped bins in an organizer provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention. More preferably, the toasters are placed in one or more of the cup holders  24  described elsewhere herein. The toasters may be a foam type toaster, a rubber type toaster, a plastic type toaster, or any known commercially available prior art toasters, such as toasters made with corkscrew material. More preferably, the toasters are a rimless rubber type toaster adapted to fit inside a cup holder. In an exemplary embodiment, only a few toasters are stored in each cup holder with the balance of cup holder space reserved for a cup or a mug. Exemplary number of toasters include two to five. In another alternative embodiment, a toaster is permanently affixed to the base of a cup holder with optional additional toasters stacked on top thereof. In yet another alternative embodiment, a single toaster is placed in a cup holder.  
         [0028]     In use, a cup may be placed on top of the stack of toasters  57 . If a toaster is needed for a second cup, one can be taken from the stack and used for the second cup. However, if a second cup holder is incorporated in the organizer, the second cup may be placed in the second cup holder.  
         [0029]     Although limited preferred embodiments and methods for making and using the desk organizers provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention have been specifically described and illustrated, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various material changes may be used, incorporating different mechanical engagement means to attach the various components to one another, making use of two or more different materials, making the organizers transparent, adding color to the material, etc. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the desk organizers constructed according to principles of this invention may be embodied other than as specifically described herein. The invention is also defined in the following claims.