Patent Publication Number: US-2006016953-A1

Title: Portable organizer for desk supplies

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/590,361, filed Jul. 23, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to desk accessories. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a portable organizer for containing an array of desk supplies.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      It is not always possible to have one room and a specific desk dedicated to activities such as writing, studying, bill paying, etc. In such instances desk supplies must be transported to a room where a table or desk is available. This scenario can create frustration in that pencils, pens, paper and the like must be separately gathered and transferred to the available space. It would certainly be advantageous if all desk supplies were contained and organized in a single structure, which structure were portable and could be quickly and easily attached to almost any planar surface.  
      The related art is rife with many types of organizers adapted to contain desk supplies. Samples of such related art are identified and cited in the accompanying IDS. However, none of the cited and identified inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a versatile, portable organizer that can be quickly attached to a planar surface as will be subsequently described and claimed in the instant invention.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is drawn to a portable device for desk supplies. The device is strategically provided with plural compartments of different sizes that permit a user to keep all activity or office supplies in an organized array while the device is moved from one location to another, i.e. from a child&#39;s room to the kitchen table. Utilizing clamp members, the device can be attached to almost any horizontal, planar surface such as a kitchen or dining room table. The device can be located at the side of the table leaving the tabletop unobstructed for work (or play) activity.  
      Accordingly, the invention presents a portable device fabricated from lightweight plastic material and having an array of compartments that permits the workplace to be maintained in an organized state. An easy-to-use clamping system allows the device to convert almost any horizontal or planar surface into a working desk with all supplies conveniently attached thereto.  
      The invention provides for improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.  
      A clear understanding of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a partial, perspective view of a third embodiment of a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a movable jaw for a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a partial front view illustrating cam clamps for a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6A  is a partial side view illustrating cam clamps for a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a partial front view illustrating elastomer clamping surfaces for a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 7A  is a partial side view illustrating elastomer clamping surfaces for a portable organizer for desk supplies according to the present invention.  
    
    
      Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Attention is first directed to  FIGS. 1 and 2  wherein the portable organizer of the present invention is generally indicated at  10 . As stated above, organizer  10  is designed for attachment to a horizontal, planar surface such as a tabletop  12 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , organizer  10  comprises an open-top container having front wall  14 , rear wall  16 , bottom wall  18  and sidewalls  20 ,  20   a . An open tray  22  is secured to rear wall  16  adjacent the upper end thereof. Open tray (optionally divided)  22  is designed to hold objects such as pencils and pens in a readily available space. Organizer  10  is fashioned with a compartment  24 , which compartment is dimensioned to contain documents. As contemplated, compartment  24  is sized to receive documents up to 8 ½ by 11 inches. Plural compartments  26  are disposed in one sidewall  20   a  of the organizer. Compartments  26  are provided with angled bottom walls and are deep enough to contain extra pencils or pens and also to hold other small supplies (markers, paper clips, rubber bands, etc.). Spring clamps  28  (only one is shown) are positioned on sidewalls  20 ,  20   a . Each clamp  28  has a jaw portion  28   a  adapted to engage the underside of the tabletop and secure the organizer to the tabletop. Jaw  28   a  and the tray bottom are provided with respective friction padding  30  and covering  32  (both non-marking) to enhance securing and to prevent damage to the tabletop.  
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate alternate embodiments of the invention. In  FIG. 3 , vertical slots  40  are provided in rear wall  16  adjacent each side of organizer  10 . Jaws  42  (only one is shown) are disposed in each slot for vertical movement therein. A spring (not shown) is disposed in each slot and biases the jaws upwardly to contact the bottom of the tabletop. In  FIG. 4 a  flat spring arrangement  44  is employed to urge the jaws upwardly.  
      The movable jaw ( FIG. 5 ) comprises a flat upper surface having a friction pad  30  disposed thereon. A handle portion  42   a  defines the front of the jaw to enhance manipulation thereof. The rear of the jaw features spaced walls  46 ,  46   a , which walls define a groove that permits the jaw to move freely in slot  40 .  
      In lieu of the above-described jaw arrangements,  FIGS. 6 and 6   a  illustrate an embodiment of the invention that employs a pair of cams  50  attached to rear wall  16 , which cams can be rotated to engage the bottom surface of table  12  to secure the organizer. Cams  50  are fabricated from an elastomer to enhance securing and to prevent damage to the table.  
       FIGS. 7 and 7   a  disclose an embodiment that utilizes a single movable jaw  60 , which jaw  60  is coextensive with the width of rear wall  16 . The upper surface of jaw  60  and the undersurface of tray  22  are covered with elastomer material  62  for purposes as indicated above.  
      It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.