Patent Publication Number: US-2018042349-A1

Title: Rollup tool organizer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for organizing and transporting articles and, more particularly, to a rollup tool organizer that rolls between a cylindrical configuration and a laid out configuration, wherein all the tools are organized and visible. 
     At the end of the day toolboxes, bags and buckets become unorganized because everyone just throws their tools in trying to leave, etc. Other tool organizers are only for small specialty items; they only hold a couple hand tools as their ergonomics are not meant to hold tools of full size or full capacity of a tool box. In other words, they are too small and not adapted to readily carry and organize an entire toolbox, tool bag, or tool bucket. They are also not adapted to have an attached pocket/bag for bulky or loose items. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a rollup tool organizer that rolls between a cylindrical configuration and a laid out configuration, wherein all the tools are organized and visible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a rollup tool organizer includes an elongated body member of fabric defined by two opposing body side edges extending between a body top edge and a body bottom edge; a plurality of pockets sequentially disposed along each of the two opposing body side edges so that the openings thereof are facing; a head member defined by two opposing head side edges extending between a head top edge and a head bottom edge, wherein a head distance between the two opposing head side edges is greater than a body distance between the two opposing body side edges; and the body top edge joined to the head member along an attachment point, wherein the attachment point is proximate and parallel to and inward from the head bottom edge, and wherein the centerlines of the body and head members are aligned. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the rollup tool organizer includes an elongated body member of fabric having a body front surface and an opposing body rear surface, defined by two opposing body side edges extending between a body top edge and a body bottom edge; a plurality of pockets sequentially disposed along the body front surface of each of the two opposing body side edges so that the openings thereof are facing, wherein the plurality of pockets occupy substantially all of the two opposing body side edges; one or two secure straps attached to the body member so as to be parallel to and spaced apart from the openings of the plurality of pockets; a head member having a head front surface and an opposing head rear surface defined by two opposing head side edges extending between a head top edge and a head bottom edge, wherein a head distance between the two opposing head side edges is greater than a body distance between the two opposing body side edges; and the body top edge joined to the head member along an attachment point, wherein the attachment point is proximate and parallel to and inward from the head bottom edge, and wherein the centerlines of the body and head members are aligned; a front pocket attached to the head front surface of the head member, wherein one of the four edges of the front pocket corresponds to the attachment point, wherein another edge of the four edges is an opening having a detachable fastener for closing and opening said opening; and two spaced apart support straps disposed on the rear surfaces of the head and body members, extending from approximately the head top edge to at least half way to the body bottom edge, wherein each of the two spaced apart support straps provides a D ring on one end, and wherein the opposing other end of each support strap is not attached to the body member, whereby the body member is dimensioned and adapted to be rolled up in a semi-cylindrical configuration so as to rest approximately mid-point between the head top and bottom edges. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use in a cylindrical configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use in a laid out; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a rollup tool organizer that rolls between a cylindrical configuration and a laid out configuration. The rollup tool organizer provides a head and body member, wherein the body member provides a plurality of pockets along its elongated side edges. The pockets are sequentially arranged and adapted to secure an array of tools therein, which are all visible in the laid out configuration. At one end, the body member is attached along an attachment point to the head member, wherein the attachment point is located proximate but inward of an edge thereof, so when the body member is rolled into a semi-cylindrical configuration it may be disposed near the center of head member, which in turn is rolled about the semi-cylindrical forming a cylindrical configuration that a user may carry to and from job sites. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the present invention may include a rollup tool organizer  60  that rolls between a cylindrical configuration  62  and a laid out configuration  54 . The rollup tool organizer  60  may include a body member  18  connected to a head member  10 . The body member  18  and the head member  10  may be made of any material that is flexible, durable, and resistant to puncture and tearing, such as heavy duty canvas, leather or the like. Generally speaking, the body member  18  may be an elongated, while the head member  10  may be more square. Though it should be understood that the head and body members may be shaped and dimensioned various ways, so long as the head and body members function in accordance with the present invention as described herein. 
     The body member  18  may rectangular, defined by a top edge  56 , an opposing bottom edge  58  and two side edges  70  extending there between. The head member  10  may similarly have a top edge  46 , a bottom edge  48  and two side edges  50 . A distance between the two side edges  50  of the head member  10  are greater than a similar distance between the two side edges  70  of the body member  18  so that when the centerline of the two members are aligned, the head member  10  has the greater “wingspan”, the as illustrated in the Figures. The head and body members have a front surface and a rear surface. 
     Referring to the front surfaces, the head member  10  may provide a first pocket  72  formed by sewing or using other suitable joining techniques to join the three sides of a substantially rectangular front sheet  14  to a generally coextensive backing sheet  12 , which in turn is joined along its edges to the head member  10 , inward from the head member&#39;s edges  46 ,  48 ,  50 . A fourth edge of the front sheet  14  forms an opening into the respective pocket compartments that may be closed using a zipper  16  or other suitable closure device however. 
     An attachment point  74  along of one of the four edges of the front and backing sheets  14 ,  12  that is most proximate but inward from the bottom edge  48  of the head member  10  may correspond to the top edge  56  of the body member  18 . Thus, the front and backing sheets  14 ,  12  and the top edge  56  share the attachment point  74  inward from the bottom edge  48  of the head member  10 . The attachment point  74  is achieved by sewing or some other suitable joining technique. 
     The body member  18  may provide a plurality of pockets  32  formed by folding over the original side edges  39  and stitching  20  at predetermined intervals, which also defines the (new) side edge  70 . The plurality of pockets  32  extend from each of the two side edges  70  so that their respective openings face each other, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Spaced away from said openings may be one or two secure straps  22 , wherein each secure strap  22  is sewn at the predetermined intervals to form loops that align and correspond with the pockets  32 , so that a proximal portion of a tool  24  is housed in a pocket  32  while the tool&#39;s distal portion extends therefrom so as to engage said secure strap loops, as illustrated in the Figures. As a result, each of the plurality of pockets  32  extends approximately a quarter of the distance between the two side edges  70 . The plurality of pockets  32  may have different widths and by their amount of slack for accommodating differently sized tools  24 . Though the pockets  32  are generally elongated having a length to width ratio of approximately at least three to one, they terminate at the same distance from each side edge  70 , and they are not spaced apart, but rather are successive—such properties facilitate rolling process. 
     Referring to the rear surfaces, two spaced apart support straps  28  may be attached so as to extend from near the top edge  46  of the head member  10  toward the bottom edge  58  of the body member  18 . At the top edge portion, the support straps  28  may provide D rings  26 . At the bottom edge portion, the straps  58  may be unattached to the rear surface. A handle strap  30  may bridge the two support straps  28  near the top edge portion. When the rollup tool organizer is finally rolled up into the cylindrical configuration, the bottom edge portion is slid through the D rings  26  and pulled tight so that a user  34  may grasp the handle strap  30  and take the rollup tool organizer  60  on the go. 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. The user  34  may unroll the rollup tool organizer  60  into the laid out configuration, and remove from, secure and otherwise organize their tools  24  in each of the plurality of pockets  32 . Through this structure the present invention forces the user  34  to take the time to organize and put their tools in their respective pockets  32 . Furthermore, through the offset disposition of the attachment point  74 , the body member  18  may be rolled into a semi-cylindrical configuration generally centered over the head member  10 , whereby the user  34  may wrap the head member  10  about the semi-cylindrical configuration to form the cylindrical configuration  62 , wherein the head member  10  acts as a cover, that is cinched secured by the support straps  58  engaging the D-rings  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the present invention may provide along the rear surface of the head member  10 , two spaced apart support straps  70  having D rings  72  wherein the straps  70  extend beyond the top edge portion  46 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The support straps  70  may extend from the D rings  72  to clasps connectors  36  between the top edge portion  46  and the bottom edge portion  48 , wherein the straps  70  may be unattached to the rear surface. A handle strap  74  may bridge the two support straps  70  between the D rings  72  and the clasp connectors  36 . An adjustable slider  38  may operably engage each support strap  70  between the D rings  72  and the clasp connectors  36 , so that when the rollup tool organizer  60  rolls to the cylindrical configuration  62  the adjustable sliders  38  can selectively cinch the cylindrical configuration  62 , and so enable the clasp connectors  36  to removably secure to the D rings  72 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.