Patent Publication Number: US-2006000790-A1

Title: Hanging office organizers

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Disclosure  
      The present disclosure is generally directed to organizational accessories, and more particularly to a hanging organizer such as a storage tray or a display board for use within an office and for hanging from a piece of office furniture, a drawer, a computer or an available and unused object.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      In most office environments, whether at work or at home, desktop space is almost always at a premium. People often also desire critical files and other information to be readily available, visible, or within arms reach when sitting at their computer in such an office environment. Often, it is desirable to have files and important items with a clear view of where the worker normally sits.  
      Also, it is often desirable to store arts and crafts materials where they can be easily seen and reached without consuming valuable desktop or drawing table surface area. There is also a need for an easy way to store such materials quickly and easily to avoid a cluttered and disorganized appearance in the work area.  
      Drawers are generally not preferred because they become full of various materials and require the user to rummage though large quantities of materials to find what he or she wants. However, one solution is to make drawers from a clear material or see through mesh or grating. This solution is unsightly as the cluttered items held in the drawer are clearly visible and this solution still requires a substantial amount of unwanted rummaging when the drawer becomes full.  
      Other solutions have been developed, with varying degrees of success. For example, file holders are sometimes hung from walls, doors, drawers, or the like. These solutions are very often not easily accessible. Also, trays and dividers have been developed for placement on a desktop for holding files or documents. These solutions take up excess desk or drawing table space, which is already at a premium and therefore these solutions are not desirable.  
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
      In satisfaction of aforenoted needs, an improved hanging organizer is provided which comprises a first backing connected to at least one overhang strap. The first backing is connected to at least one organizing element selected from the group consisting of a bulletin board, one or more pockets of various sizes and configurations, clips for holding notes or memos and combinations thereof.  
      In a first series of embodiments, the overhang strap holds the backing and organizing elements against a vertical wall of a central processing unit (CPU) of a personal computer. The overhang strap may be detachably connected to a top horizontal surface of the CPU or may extend over to a vertical wall opposite the CPU from the first backing and organizing elements. The overhang strap may be secured to the CPU using a variety of methods including magnets, one or more counter-weights, an adhesive or tacky material, one or more VELCRO® fasteners or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the overhang strap may be fabricated from a relatively stiff material such as a bendable mesh so that it can be folded over the top vertical surface of the CPU and bent around to abuttingly engage the vertical wall of the CPU opposite the vertical wall that abuttingly engages the backing member and organizing elements.  
      According, a hanging organizer for a CPU can be provided with one or more pockets for holding files, art materials, paper or other office or arts and craft items. Further, a hanging organizer for a CPU is provided that can provide a bulletin board disposed along a vertical of a CPU. Still further, a hanging organizer is provided that can provide a combination of one or more pockets and a bulletin board.  
      The bulletin board may be of the cork-type, a dry erase chalkboard, a wire mesh board or other types of bulletin boards known in the art so that notes may either be written on or removably posted on the bulletin board.  
      Another embodiment involves a saddle-back configuration where two backings are connected by one or more straps. The strap may then be hung over a CPU to provide backings with organizing elements on either side of the CPU or the straps may be hung over a cubicle divider, door, drawer, file cabinet or other structure found in the office or work place.  
      Preferably, the one or more straps or length-adjustable. A preferred embodiment includes two spaced apart, length-adjustable straps. The backing members may be connected to organizing elements of different configurations, preferably a plurality of different sized pockets.  
      Other features, advantages and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments are described below in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:  
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a hanging file holder for a CPU constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.  
       FIGS. 1B-1E  are partial side views illustrating various means for retaining or holding the overhang strap of the hanging organizer shown in  FIG. 1A  in place on a CPU.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective of a hanging display or pin-up board for a CPU constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.  
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a combination hanging file holder and pin-up or bulletin board device for a CPU constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.  
       FIG. 3B  is an inset to  FIG. 4  showing the combination hanging file holder and pin-up or bulletin board device for a CPU in a work environment.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the combination device of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  being used in an office environment.  
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of saddle-bag type hanging folder made in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the saddle-bag type hanging folder of  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 7  is a front plan view of one of the saddle folders of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Organizers for hanging accessories and materials are disclosed that can be used in conjunction with a CPU, cubicle partition, door, file cabinet, drawer or other structure. The disclosed hanging accessories can generally be referred to as a CPU saddle or CPU sling. The disclosed organizers attach to and hang from an object within an office, such as a CPU, and can be adapted for storing and/or displaying office supplies, file folders, documents, CDs, computer diskettes, and the like. etc. The disclosed accessories are designed to free up space within an office environment, and particularly on a desktop within such an environment or work space.  
      The saddle or sling is adapted to fit over and hang from any office furniture or object and converts previously unused space to storage space. Such objects can include, but are certainly not limited to a cubicle wall, a chair back, file cabinet, a CPU, a computer monitor, open drawer or other objects found in a work area. Consumers would benefit greatly by using an organizational accessory as disclosed herein because it would clear off desktop space, create storage space that is easily accessible, and utilize previously unused space.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1A , a storage device  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure can have one or more storage receptacles  11 ,  12  such as baskets, bins, vertically oriented trays. The receptacles  11 ,  12  can be suspended from a hanging section or backing  13  that is connected to an overhang strap  14  which serves as a sling or saddle that is adapted to drape over or hook onto an object in an office environment. In one example, the overhang strap section  14  can have a tacky backing to assist in holding the device in place. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 1B  a distal end  17  of the overhang section  14  can have one or more magnets  18  to hold the device in place if installed on a metal object, so long as it does not interfere with operation of the object such as a CPU  16  housing, such as the CPU  16 . In another alternative as shown in  FIG. 1C , the overhang section  14  can have one or more weights  18  or weighted objects in the distal end  17  to hold the device  10  in place once installed.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1D , the overhang section  14  may be coated with an adhesive or tacky material  21  on the interior side  22  of the overhang section  14  so as to secure the overhang section  14  and the organizing device  10  to the CPU or other structure to which the device  10  is installed. As shown in  FIG. 1E , the overhang section  14  may also be secured to the CPU  16  or other structure by use of a VELCRO® fastening system shown generally at  23 .  
      As a still further alternative, the device  10  can be instructed as a true saddle and, thus, have a central hanging section  14  for resting on an object such as a CPU. One or more receptacles can be carried on separate backings  13  that are connected by the central overhang section  14 , thus providing storage space on either side of the object or CPU on which the storage device  10  is installed.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , a display surface  25  can be provided as the storage receptacle for the organizing device  10   a . Information can be written on, tacked on, pinned to, or otherwise displayed on the surface  25 . In one example, the display surface  25  can be a pin-up cork board as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the display surface  25  can be an erasable marker or dry erase surface, a chalk board, or the like. In the true saddle construction described above, one or more storage receptacles such as baskets or bins can hang from one end of the central overhang section, and one or more display surfaces can hang from the other end of the central hanging section  14   a . Alternatively, both ends of the central overhang section  14   a  can include a display surface  25   a.    
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , a combination display surface  25   b  and storage bin or basket  11   b  can be utilized. Such a construction permits each facing side or backing  13   b  of the device  10   b  to accommodate both types of storage. This combination can be incorporated into a true saddle construction as well, either alone, or in conjunction with the other types or receptacles or surfaces described above.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates one exemplary use of the disclosed storage devices. A desktop CPU  16  is utilized for the storage and information display device  106  that is readily accessible.  
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate another saddle bag-type device  10   c  with two backings shown at  13   c ,  13   d  that are connected together by a pair of overhang straps shown at  14   c ,  14   d . Preferably, the overhang straps  14   c ,  14   d  are length-adjustable as shown by the length adjusting buckles shown at  31   c ,  31   d . Each backing  13   c ,  13   d  may be connected to a variety of different organizing elements and, in the embodiment  10   c  shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the backing  13   c  is connected to four different pockets  34  (see  FIG. 5 ) and, the backing member  13   d  is connected to seven different pockets  35  (see  FIGS. 5 and 7 ).  
      The organizational accessories  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  disclosed herein can be fabricated from virtually any suitable materials such as plastic, metal, wood, fabric, non-woven material, or variations and combinations of these well known materials. Further, the processes used to fabricate the disclosed accessories  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  can vary, depending on the suitability for the particular materials selected. If a display surface  25 ,  25   b  is to be provided, it can be fabricated from any suitable material as well, such as cork, erasable marker surfaces, chalk board slate, or the like.  
      In one example, hanging storage trays  11 ,  12 ,  11   b  can be injection molded from a plastic or thermoplastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or the like. A surface portion of the trays or baskets  11 ,  12 ,  11   b , or some other exposed surface can include a display surface  25 ,  25   b  formed thereon. Information to be displayed can be written, pinned, tacked, or otherwise displayed on the display surface. Plastic storage trays or baskets  11 ,  12 ,  11   b  can alternatively be made and then combined with or attached to a flexible and bendable material that can be reconfigured to fit and hang over a particularly selected object within the office.  
      The disclosed accessories  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  can have one or more hanger sections  14 ,  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d  either molded in a fixed size, shape, and orientation or formed from a bendable and re-shapeable material. The hanger sections or slings  14 ,  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d  can be design or formed to fit over and hang from a particular object, such as a vertically arranged CPU, a cubicle wall top, or the like. The sling material can be such that it conforms to the object from which it is suspended, and yet securely holds the display surface, basket, and/or tray in place once mounted.  
      As described above, the disclosed accessories  10   a - 10   c  should be able to fit over any piece of office furniture, a cubicle wall, a chair back, a CPU  16 , a monitor, a drawer or the like. The slings can be configured to wrap completely around an object, such as a CPU  16 , or to hang over an object, such as a cubicle wall or a chair back.  
      Past solutions consisted of file holders hanging on cubical walls attached with hooks, or sitting on the desktop. The disclosed organizers  10   a - 10   c  would be able to fit over most office furniture or CPU&#39;s without the use of hooks with the benefit of converting unused space to storage space.  
      Although particular examples of organizer accessories have been disclosed and described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the invention that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.