Patent Publication Number: US-2011062162-A1

Title: Portable organizer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority and herein incorporates by reference U.S. provisional patent application 61/243,330, filed Sep. 17, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In today&#39;s busy lifestyle, convenience time-saving gadgets abound. It seems that we have more and more things to keep track of while we spend more time on our couch. Of course end tables and coffee tables are a common place to keep all these things, it is not a perfect solution as things fall off, spill and simply run out of room. 
     Likewise, end tables are often used in bedrooms. The end table is often ever-crowed with alarm clock and other items. Also, it is difficult to keep things organized on a flat table. There is a need for a portable organizer that can keep items neat and accessible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable organizer has a container portion that has a plurality of compartments that are formed by an arrangement of inner walls. The inner walls may be adjustable or statically arranged. A tongue is connected to the container portion that is used to anchor the container portion by fitting between a mattress and box spring or cushion and couch frame, etc. A hinge may be used to connect the tongue to the container portion to aid in storage. The tongue may be attached at an upper portion or lower portion of the container portion to match selected uses. In one embodiment, the tongue is compact and removable for easy and compact storage. 
     Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is front cutaway view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side cutaway view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 1  in a typical use. 
         FIG. 5  is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 6  in a typical use. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 8  in a typical use. 
         FIG. 10  is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer with a removable tongue portion. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer with a removable tongue portion having a securing means. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer with an integrated tongue portion. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a side cutaway view of the portable organizer shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  in a storage position. 
         FIG. 17  is a side cutaway view of a handled embodiment of the portable organizer shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         FIG. 18  is a top view of the handled embodiment of the portable organizer shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 9  with a tray cover installed. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 9  with pop out inner walls. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a portable organizer  100  is shown having an outer wall which forms a container portion  110  with a plurality of inner walls  115 ,  120 ,  125  and  130  respectively. Inner walls  115 ,  120 ,  125  and  130  are permanently formed as part of portable organizer  100  and are manufactured as an integral unit. In another embodiment, some or all of inner walls  115 ,  120 ,  125  and  130  are selectively insertable by sliding between grooves formed on inner sides of container portion  110  as is known in the art. In the embodiment shown, a hinge  140  connects tongue  135  to outer wall  110 . Hinge  140  allows container to rotate for storage. In use tongue  135  slides under a mattress or cushion  170  between a box spring or couch frame  175 . The container portion  110  rests against box spring or cushion  175  to keep it from rotating further. A limiting hinge may be used to further limit rotation without depending on resting against box spring or cushion  175  as is known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of a portable organizer  200  is shown having an outer wall which forms a container portion  210 . A hinge  240  connects a tongue  235  as discussed above; however, tongue  235  is attached at a lower portion of container portion  210  causing container portion  210  to be positioned above tongue  235 . In this embodiment, hinge  240  limits rotation by having a limiting portion that allows hinge  240  to rotate to a point but no further. This allows folding for storage. A plurality of inner walls  225  and  230  are used to create various compartments to hold items. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a portable organizer  300  is shown having an outer wall forming a container portion  310  having a plurality of inner walls  325  and  330 . A tongue portion  335  is integrally formed as part of container portion  310 . Of course, although tongue portion is shown joining at the bottom of container portion  310 , it is understood that it could be joined at the top in a similar fashion as the portable organizer shown in  FIG. 2  without hinge  140 . 
     In a typical use, as shown in  FIG. 7 , portable organizer  300  is inserted under mattress or cushion  170  between box spring or couch frame  175  using tongue  335 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a portable organizer  800  is shown having an outer wall forming a container portion  810 . In this embodiment, container portion  810  is curved at one end to eliminate sharp corners. A plurality of inner walls form compartments  815 ,  820 ,  830 ,  838 ,  840 ,  845 ,  850 ,  855  and  865  respectively. Of course the exact layout of these compartments is not critical. In the embodiment shown a compartment  838  is large enough to hold a book or magazine. These are shown merely as examples of the kind of things that could be held in portable organizer  800 . In use, each user will determine what is actually held in the compartments. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 9 , a removable inner wall  822  is user configurable so as to change the shape of the compartments. Removable inner wall  822  fits within a wall track  825  to allow the user to insert or remove by sliding therein. Of course one or more wall tracks  825  may be provided depending on the degree of customization allowed. Additionally, the size and shape of removable walls  822  may be varied to provide additional flexibility. 
     In use, portable organizer  800  is slipped between mattress or cushion  170  and box spring or couch frame  175  as discussed above. Of course portable organizer  800  may be held in other kinds of anchoring objects such as love seats, desks, etc. Additionally, tongues  135 ,  235 ,  335  and  835  may be made longer or shorter to meet specific needs. For example, the tongue could be made longer for an embodiment that is meant to be used under a mattress and short if meant to be used under a couch cushion. 
     The portable organizer may be made of plastic, wood, metal, composite or any suitable material. Additionally, the tongue may be made of the same material as the container compartment or could be a different material. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  16  a container portion  910  has a compact tongue  920  removably fitting within a support bracket  930 . In storage, container portion  910  is detached from support bracket  930  and then compact tongue  920  is rotated and fits within support bracket  930 . 
     Now with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the portable organizer has container portion  910  attached to support bracket  930  as discussed above with the addition of a retaining means  940 . Retaining means  940  may be bolts or screws or detent pins that securely holds tongue  920  within until detached by user. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the portable organizer is shown having container portion  910  with a non-removable compact tongue  960 . This provides maximum simplicity with a relatively compact size. Because container portion  910  is integrally formed as part of tongue  960 , there are no parts to lose or wear. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , container portion  910  has a handle  965  attached therein rotatably attached with a retainer  970 . In use, portable organizer  910  is conveniently carried using handle  965  in a vertical orientation and once anchored in selected position, handle  965  is rotated to a horizontal position that is out of the way until needed. 
     Now with reference to  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  19 , portable organizer  800  is shown with a tray cover  975  installed by fitting over container portion  810 . Tray cover  975  encloses compartments  815 ,  820 ,  830 ,  838 ,  840 ,  845 ,  850 ,  855  and  865  respectively and allows a user to place a beverage, keys, etc. on top. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 20 , portable organizer  800  is show having pop-out inner walls  822  pre-perforated in tongue  835 . A high strength plastic is perforated to allow a user to pop out walls  822  as needed. Once walls  822  are removed, they are insertable as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 9 . The number of walls  822  disposed within is not critical as long as tongue  835  remains structurally intact. 
     Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.