Patent Publication Number: US-10314373-B2

Title: Storage assembly with pockets

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to storage assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new storage assembly for allowing a person to organize and readily access various items. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a flexible panel having a first side, a second side and a perimeter edge extending around and between the first side and the second side. The panel is positionable in an extended position and a folded position. A plurality of pockets is coupled to the first side of the panel. Each of the pockets has a respective first end, second end and perimeter wall coupled to and extending between the respective first and second ends. The first end of each of the pockets is open to provide access to an interior of an associated one of the pockets. The pockets are vertically stacked relative to each other when the panel is in the folded position. A plurality of supports is coupled to the panel. Each of the supports is positioned between associated ones of the pockets to provide rigidity between the associated pockets and facilitate retaining the panel in the folded position. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top front side perspective view of a storage assembly with pockets according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an in-use side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new storage assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the storage assembly with pockets  10  generally comprises a flexible panel  12  having a first side  14 , a second side  16  and a perimeter edge  18  extending around and between the first side  14  and the second side  16 . The panel  12  is elongated wherein the perimeter edge  18  includes a pair of short sides  20 ,  22  and a pair of long sides  24 ,  26  attached to and extending between the pair of short sides  20 ,  22 . The panel  12  is positionable in an extended position  28  and a folded position  30 . The panel  12  may be constructed from leather, plastic or like flexible material that will allow the panel  12  to fold. 
     A projection  32  is coupled to and extends outwardly from the perimeter edge  18  of the panel  12  forming a lip  34  extending around the panel  12 . A tab  36  is coupled to and extends outwardly from the projection  32  wherein the tab  36  facilitates holding of the assembly  10 . The tab  36  may be integrally coupled to the projection  32  or may be sewn or otherwise fastened to the projection  32 . The tab  36  may be coupled to an associated one of the short sides  20 ,  22  and may be arcuately-shaped. 
     A plurality of pockets  38  is coupled to the first side  14  of the panel  12 . Each of the pockets  38  has a respective first end  40 , second end  42  and perimeter wall  44  coupled to and extending between the respective first  40  and second  42  ends. The first end  40  of each of the pockets  38  is open to provide access to an interior  46  of an associated one of the pockets  38  through the first end  40 . The second end  42  of each of the pockets  38  may also be open to provide access to the interior  46  of the associated pockets  38  through the second end  42 . Each of the first  40  and second  42  ends of the pockets  38  are positioned adjacent to the perimeter edge  18  of the panel  12 . Each of the first  40  and second  42  ends of the pockets  38  may include a reinforced border constructed from leather, canvas or like material. The pockets  38  are vertically stacked relative to each other when the panel  12  is in the folded position  30 . Each perimeter wall  44  of the pockets  38  may include a transparent panel  39  made of vinyl or like material to permit viewing into the interior  46  of the associated pocket  38 . 
     A plurality of compartments  48  is coupled to the second side  16  of the panel  12 . Each of the compartments  48  has a respective primary end  50 , secondary end  52  and peripheral wall  54  coupled to and extending between the respective primary  50  and secondary  52  ends. The primary end  50  of each compartment  48  is open to provide access to an interior  56  of an associated one of the compartments  48  through the primary end  50 . The secondary end  52  of each compartment  48  may also be open to provide access to the interior  56  of the associated compartment  48  through the secondary end  52 . Each of the primary  50  and secondary  52  ends of the pockets  38  are positioned adjacent to the perimeter edge  18  of the panel  12 . Each of the primary  50  and secondary  52  ends may include a reinforced border constructed from leather, canvas or like material. The compartments  48  are vertically stacked relative to each other when the panel  12  is in the folded position  30 . Each peripheral wall  54  of the compartments  48  may include a transparent panel  57  made of vinyl or like material to permit viewing into the interior  56  of the associated compartment  48 . 
     A plurality of supports  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  is coupled to the panel  12 . Each support  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  comprises a rigid planar member. Each of the supports  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  is positioned between associated ones of the pockets  38  to provide rigidity between the associated pockets  38  and facilitate retaining the panel  12  in the folded position  30 . Each of the supports  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  is positioned within an interior of the panel  12  and may be sewn therein. A weighted base member  68  is coupled to the panel  12  and is positioned proximate an associated one of the short sides  20 ,  22  of the panel  12  extending transversely between the pair of long sides  24 ,  26  of the panel  12 . The base member  68  and the tab  36  may each be coupled to opposite ones of the short sides  20 ,  22 . The base member  68  may include a rigid plate  70  constructed from metal or like material. The base member  68  is positioned within the interior of the panel  12  and may be sewn therein. The base member  68  provides rigidity to the panel  12  and also helps to transition the panel  12  from the extended position  28  to the folded position  30  due to the weight of the base member  68 . 
     In use, desired objects  72 , such as sunglasses, makeup or the like, are positioned within a selectable one of the pockets  38  and compartments  48 . The assembly  10  can then be placed in a center console of a vehicle for storage of the objects  72  within the console. When access to a particular object  72  is desired, a user grasps the tab  36  and pulls the assembly  10  out of the console. The transparent nature of the pockets  38  and compartments  48  allows a user to quickly and easily view the objects  72  stored within the assembly  10 . A user can then remove the desired object  72  from the associated pocket  38  or compartment  48  and place the assembly  10  back within the console for storage. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.