Patent Publication Number: US-6905036-B2

Title: Ironing organizer

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   The subject application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/329,725 filed Dec. 26, 2002, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,155 granted Feb. 24, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The subject invention relates to an organizer of the type having a shelf for supporting miscellaneous household items. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Organizers of the type to which the instant invention pertains are well known in the prior art. An example of one such prior art organizer is shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. D451,254 to Egan. 
   This type of organizer, wherein a shelf extends forwardly from a backboard, consumes a relatively large volume of space, which is a detriment in a storage or shipping condition as well as a retail store display. 
   Various other organizers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,332 Vanderbilt, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,893,770 and 4,895,334 to Bajek et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,472 to Brise and U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,902 to Emery et al. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES 
   An organizer assembly of this invention comprises a backboard for mounting to a structure and a shelf for projecting from the backboard and is characterized by a coupling for removably connecting the shelf to the backboard. A backboard connector and a shelf connector mechanically interconnect with one another for supporting said shelf in a cantilevered position extending forwardly from said backboard and a hanger is disposed on the shelf for engaging the backboard connector for removably supporting the shelf in a storage position extending parallel and in overlapping relationship to the backboard. 
   Accordingly, the subject invention provides an organizer assembly that has a compact storage position for storage and shipping and a unique coupling for connecting the shelf to the backboard in either the cantilevered position of the shelf or the storage position of the shelf whereby the combination occupies a relatively small volume for storage and shipping. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is perspective view of the subject invention shown in the storage position and encased in a wrapper for shipment and display; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembly in the storage position; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the method of mounting to a support structure; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the mechanical connection of the shelf to the backboard; and 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the shelf supported on the backboard in the cantilevered position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, an ironing organizer assembly is generally shown at  10 . 
   The assembly  10  comprises a backboard, generally indicated at  12 , and including arms  14  for cradling the legs of an ironing board (not shown) and a shelf, generally indicated at  16 , for projecting from the backboard  12  in a cantilevered position, as shown in FIG.  5 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a wrapper  18  surrounds the backboard  12  and the shelf  16  in the storage position for shipping and display. The backboard  12  includes an upper shoulder  20  and a nose  22  extending upwardly from the upper shoulder  20  and defining a hole therethrough. The wrapper surrounds the backboard  12  and the shelf  16  in the storage position and engages the upper shoulder  20  and defines an opening  24  with the nose  22  extending therethrough. The wrapper may have information relating to the assembly and use of the assembly for presentation in a retail store as the assembly is hung on a display rack, or the like, via the nose  22  and hole  24  therein. 
   The assembly  10  is characterized by a coupling for removably connecting the shelf  16  to the backboard  12 , either in the overlapping storage position or in the cantilevered position for use. 
   The coupling includes a backboard connector, generally indicated at  26 , and a shelf connector, generally indicated at  28 , that mechanically interconnect with one another for supporting the shelf  16  in a cantilevered position extending forwardly from the backboard  12 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The backboard connector  26  includes a pair of embossments spaced laterally from one another and each having a top  30  and spaced sides  32  with a pair of flanges  34  extending in opposite directions from the sides  32  to define inside grooves facing one another and outside grooves facing towards the ends of the backboard. The shelf connector  28  includes a pair of C-shaped channels each with a cover  36  and opposing tongues  38  for sliding the tongues  38  into the grooves with each cover  36  engaging one of the tops  30  for supporting the shelf  16  in the cantilevered position. In other words, the covers  36  of the shelf connectors  28  engage and rest upon the tops  30  of the backboard connectors to limit downward movement of the shelf  16  on the embossments  26 . Once in the cantilevered position, the upward movement of the shelf  16  out of the cantilevered position is limited by a pair of detents  40 , i.e., a detent  40  disposed above each of the embossments  26  for engaging the covers  36  of the C-shaped channels for retaining the shelf  16  in the cantilevered position. 
   The shelf  16  includes a shelf surface  42  with a back wall  44  extending between ends and sidewalls  46  having upper and lower edges  48  and  50  extending forwardly from the ends of the back wall  44 . The C-shaped channels are disposed in the back wall  44  and extend into the shelf, i.e., inwardly of the plane of the back wall  44 . The walls  44  and  46  extend above and below the shelf surface  42  and strengthening ribs  52  are disposed on the bottom  60  of the shelf  16  and on the back of the backboard  12  (not shown) as is customary in components molded in plastic material. In addition, the shelf  16  includes a cleat  54  projecting forwardly of the front portion for winding a chord thereabout. For example, an iron may be set upon the shelf with the electrical chord thereof wound around the cleat  54  during non-use. The sidewalls  46  present an opening  56  to the shelf surface  42  just rearward of the cleat  54 . 
   Alternatively or in combination, the coupling comprises a retainer for removably supporting the shelf  16  in a storage position extending parallel and in overlapping relationship to the backboard  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . More specifically, the retainer includes a hanger comprising projections  58  disposed on the shelf  16  for engaging the backboard connector  26  for suspending the shelf  16  in the storage position. The embossments include a bottom  60  at the lower extremity of each of the inside facing grooves and the hanger includes a pair of the projections  58  extending in opposite directions from the shelf  16  for sliding engagement with the inside grooves and resting upon the bottoms  60  for suspending the shelf  16  from the backboard  12  in the storage position, as shown in FIG.  2 . The shelf  16  defines a front portion  62  more narrow than the distance between the ends of the back wall  44  and less than the distance between the inside grooves with the projections  58  being disposed on opposite sides of the front portion  62  of the shelf  16  and at the lower edges  50  of the sidewalls  46 . 
   The retainer may also include at least one and preferably a pair of tabs  64  extending laterally from the shelf  16  for engaging one of the arms  14  in the storage position to retain the shelf  16  inside of the arms  14  and in the parallel relationship to the backboard  12 . The tabs  64  extend laterally from the upper edges  48  of the sidewalls  46  at the ends of the back wall  44 . More specifically, each of the arms  14  projects outwardly from the backboard  12  through an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface  66  for receiving the diverging legs of an ironing board to an inwardly directed finger  68  for retaining the legs on the inclined surface  66  and for overlying one of the tabs  64  when the shelf  16  is in the storage position, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
   A plurality of mounting holes  70  extend thorough the embossments and the backboard  12  for mounting the backboard  12  to a structure as by screws  72  and anchors  74 . The various openings on either side of the embossments are for facilitating the molding of the backboard  12  and removal of the mold dies. The tapers  76  project out from the backboard  12  and increase in thickness in the downward direction for a wedging action against the back wall  44  of the shelf  16  as the shelf  16  is slid into engagement with the backboard connectors  26 . 
   As alluded to above, the components are preferably injection molded of an organic polymeric material, i.e., a plastic material. The shelf  16  is placed in the storage or shipping position shown in  FIG. 2  with the shelf surface  42  facing outward and the projections  58  disposed in the grooves behind the flanges  34  and engaging the bottoms  60  of the embossments. To prevent the shelf  16  from swinging outwardly, the tabs  64  overlap and are retained behind the fingers  68 . A wrapper  18  may be placed around the components  12  and  16  in this stored position for shipping and display in a retail store. Upon purchase of the components packaged as shown in  FIG. 1 , the user would remove the shelf  16  from the stored position and slide the tongues  38  into the grooves (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) until the covers  36  engage the tops  30  for supporting the shelf  16  in the cantilevered position (as shown in FIG.  5 ). The user may also remove the shelf  16  from the backboard  12  and replace the shelf  16  in the storage position. 
   Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.