Patent Publication Number: US-2013248470-A1

Title: Item Organizer to Hold Writing Instruments and Other Items

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention pertains to the field of organizers. More particularly, the invention pertains to item organizers to hold long, thin items such as writing instruments. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     When individuals are in transit, or have reached a leisure or business trip destination, they often need easy access to writing instruments. In the prior art, pens and pencils may be placed in a small bag during travel. Some purses or briefcases include strapped slots that are fixed to a flat area of the interior of the bag to hold pens and pencils. 
     Single or double pen tubes or channels are known. Other flat multi pen holders have channels that are created by rows of stitching that create the channels. In other prior art, free standing pen holders may include multiple slots fixed to a flat material which can be rolled together. 
     In all of the prior art, the tubes or channels are not connected to each other, being held in place by a back plate or base. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An item organizer, for example a travel organizer, includes a plurality of sleeves, preferably constructed of a flexible material and extending radially from and longitudinally along a common central axis. The sleeves are attached around the central axis. In some embodiments, the sleeves are attached to each other around the central axis. In other embodiments, the sleeves are attached to each other or to a central hub that forms the central axis. In one preferred embodiment, the item organizer includes three sleeves. In other preferred embodiments, two, four, five, or even more sleeves may extend from the central hub. The sleeves may be permanently or reversibly attached around the central axis. The item organizer includes a central attachment location for the sleeves. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  shows an item organizer with three sleeves attached to each other around a common central axis in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1   b  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1   c  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 1   a , with an item in two of the sleeves. 
         FIG. 2   a  shows an item organizer with two sleeves attached to each other at a central location in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2   b  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 2   a.    
         FIG. 2   c  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 2   a , with an item in one sleeve. 
         FIG. 3   a  shows an item organizer with four sleeves attached around a central hub that forms a common central axis in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   b  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 3   a.    
         FIG. 3   c  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 3   a , with an item in two sleeves. 
         FIG. 4   a  shows an item organizer with five sleeves attached to each other around a common central axis in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4   b  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 4   a.    
         FIG. 4   c  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 4   a , with an item in two sleeves. 
         FIG. 5   a  shows an item organizer with twelve sleeves attached around a central hub that forms a common central axis in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5   b  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 5   a.    
         FIG. 5   c  shows a cross-sectional top down view of the item organizer of  FIG. 5   a , with an item in three sleeves. 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional top down view of a single sleeve attached to a central hub in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7   a  shows a central hub base for three sleeves in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7   b  shows a top down view of the central hub base in the embodiment of  FIG. 7   a.    
         FIG. 7   c  shows a top down view of three sleeves attached to the central hub base of  FIG. 7   a.    
         FIG. 8   a  shows a central hub base for two sleeves in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8   b  shows a top down view of two empty sleeves attached to the central hub base in the embodiment of  FIG. 8   a.    
         FIG. 8   c  shows a top down view of two expanded sleeves attached to the central hub base of  FIG. 8   a.    
         FIG. 9   a  shows a central hub base for four sleeves in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9   b  shows a top down view of four empty sleeves attached to the central hub base in the embodiment of  FIG. 9   a.    
         FIG. 9   c  shows a top down view of four expanded sleeves attached to the central hub base of  FIG. 9   a.    
         FIG. 10   a  shows a central hub base for five sleeves in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10   b  shows a top down view of five empty sleeves attached to the central hub base in the embodiment of  FIG. 10   a.    
         FIG. 10   c  shows a top down view of five expanded sleeves attached to the central hub base of  FIG. 10   a.    
         FIG. 11   a  shows a central hub base for twelve sleeves in another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11   b  shows a top down view of twelve empty sleeves attached to the central hub base in the embodiment of  FIG. 11   a.    
         FIG. 11   c  shows a top down view of twelve expanded sleeves attached to the central hub base of  FIG. 11   a.    
         FIG. 12  shows a single sleeve that fits into the central hub base of  FIGS. 7   a  through  11   c.    
         FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional top down view of a single sleeve attached to a central hub in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14   a  shows a first side of a sleeve that is open on both ends. 
         FIG. 14   b  shows a second side of the sleeve of  FIG. 14   a.    
         FIG. 15   a  shows the open position of another embodiment for a sleeve with a flap in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15   b  shows the top and bottom of the sleeve of  FIG. 15   a  in a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An item organizer includes at least two sleeves (for example, channels or tubes), preferably constructed of a flexible material and joined around a central hub or axis. The sleeves are attached around a common central axis. The sleeves are arranged around the central axis circumferentially. In one preferred embodiment, the item organizer includes three sleeves. In other preferred embodiments, two, four, five, or even more sleeves may be connected to each other or to a central hub. The item organizer preferably includes a single attachment position for the sleeves. In some preferred embodiment, the organizer may be used while traveling. 
     The sleeves provide organization for several items, for example writing instruments, when carrying them all at the same time. The item organizer creates an organized bundle of items, such as writing instruments. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the sleeves are permanently attached to the central hub or axis. In these embodiments, the sleeves and the hub can be permanently attached by stitching. Alternatively, they may be permanently connected using adhesives. 
     In one embodiment, the axis may be a central connection point between the multiple sleeves, and the sleeves are stitched or otherwise permanently attached to each other by connecting the sides (or the front edges in embodiments with two or three sleeves) of the sleeves together around a central axis. In embodiments where the sleeves connect directly to each other, the diameter of the central hub or space forming the central axis does not grow substantially as the number of sleeves increases. In another embodiment, the central hub includes additional material to which each of the sleeves is permanently attached. In embodiments where the sleeves are connected to a central hub forming the central axis, the diameter of the central hub increases as the number of sleeves increases. 
     In preferred embodiments, the sleeves are made of a flexible material, for example leather or fabric. The sleeves preferably have a substantially flattened cylindrical shape, like a football or a flower petal. In embodiments with a central hub, the central hub is preferably made of a flexible material, for example leather or fabric. In some preferred embodiments, the sleeves and the hub are made of the same flexible material. 
     In other embodiments, the sleeves and/or the central hub are made of a less flexible material, such as deformable plastic, and the components are attached by an adhesive. Alternatively, in these embodiments, the item organizer could be manufactured from a mold in a single piece. 
     In other embodiments, the sleeves are reversibly attached to the central hub. In these embodiments, the sleeves connect to the central hub by mating portions of the sleeves to a corresponding portion of the central hub. 
     Each of the sleeves is shaped and sized to hold a long, relatively thin, preferably substantially cylindrical item. Each sleeve is biased towards a closed position to hold the item. The user preferably applies pressure to the sides of the sleeves to open the sleeves for release of the item or for placement of the item in the sleeves. 
     Some items that could be held in the organizer include, but are not limited to, writing instruments (for example, pens, pencils, markers, and highlighters), tools, cigars, makeup brushes, paint brushes, and silverware settings. In embodiments with silverware settings, the tubes could include special tarnish felt in its interior to reduce the chances of tarnish on the pieces of silverware. Each of the sleeves isolates each of the items being held from the others while keeping all of the items (for example, pens) together in a neat bundle. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeves have different heights and/or widths. In other embodiments, the sleeves have the same heights and widths. The sleeves can hold items that are shorter in length than the length of the sleeves. The sleeves can also hold items that are longer in length than the sleeves, and protrude from the sleeves when held in place by the sleeves. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the sleeves include a flap, cover or lid that can be open or closed. In the closed position, the flap, cover or lid provides extra security for retaining the item in the organizer. In other embodiments, both ends of at least one of the sleeves are open. 
     FIGS  1   a  through  1   c  show an item organizer  1  with three sleeves  2  attached around a central axis  5 . The sleeves  2  are permanently attached around the central axis  5 . Each sleeve  2  includes a first side  7  and a second side  8 . In some embodiments, a central hub  4  forms the central axis  5 , and the sleeves  2  are attached to the central hub  4 . Examples of a central hub  4  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . In other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached directly to each other and surround a space that forms the central axis  5 . In still other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached to each other and surround the central hub  4 .  FIG. 1   b  shows empty sleeves, while  FIG. 1   c  shows two of the sleeves  2  holding an item  6 , such as a pen. The sleeves  2  preferably expand to hold the items  6  in place. As shown in these figures, the sleeves  2  are preferably spaced evenly and extend radially outward from the central axis. 
       FIGS. 2   a  through  2   c  show an item organizer  10  with two sleeves  2  attached at a central axis  5 . Each sleeve  2  includes a first side  7  and a second side  8 . The sleeves  2  are permanently attached around the central axis  5 . In some embodiments, a central hub  4  forms the central axis  5 , and the sleeves  2  are attached to the central hub  4 . Examples of a central hub  4  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . In other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached directly to each other and the location where they are attached forms the central axis  5 . In still other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached to each other and surround the central hub  4 .  FIG. 2   b  shows empty sleeves, while  FIG. 2   c  shows a sleeve  2  holding an item  6 , such as a pen. The sleeves expand to hold the items in place. As shown in these figures, the sleeves are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central axis  5 . 
       FIGS. 3   a  through  3   c  show an item organizer  20  with four sleeves  2  attached around a central axis  5 . Each sleeve  2  includes a first side  7  and a second side  8 . The sleeves  2  are permanently attached around the central axis  5 . In some embodiments, a central hub  4  forms the central axis  5 , and the sleeves  2  are attached to the central hub  4 . In other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached directly to each other and surround a space that forms the central axis  5 . Some examples of these embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 . In still other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached to each other and surround the central hub  4 .  FIG. 3   b  shows empty sleeves, while  FIG. 3   c  shows two sleeves  2  holding an item  6 , such as a pen. The sleeves expand to hold the items in place. As shown in these figures, the sleeves are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central axis  5 . 
       FIGS. 4   a  through  4   c  show an item organizer  30  with five sleeves  2  attached at a central axis  5 . Each sleeve  2  includes a first side  7  and a second side  8 . The sleeves  2  are permanently attached around the central axis  5 . In some embodiments, a central hub  4  forms the central axis  5 , and the sleeves are attached to the central hub  4 . Examples of a central hub  4  are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . In other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached to each other and surround a space that forms the central axis  5 . In still other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached to each other and surround the central hub  4 . FIG.  4   b  shows empty sleeves, while  FIG. 4   c  shows two sleeves  2  holding an item  6 , such as a pen. The sleeves expand to hold the items in place. As shown in these figures, the sleeves are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central axis  5 . 
       FIGS. 5   a  through  5   c  show an item organizer  40  with twelve sleeves  2  attached around a central axis  5 . Each sleeve  2  includes a first side  7  and a second side  8 . The sleeves  2  are permanently attached around the central axis  5 . In some embodiments, a central hub  4  forms the central axis  5 , and the sleeves are attached to the central hub  4 . In other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached to each other and surround a space that forms the central axis  5 . Some examples of these embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 . In still other embodiments, the sleeves  2  are attached to each other and surround the central hub  4 .  FIG. 5   b  shows empty sleeves, while  FIG. 5   c  shows three sleeves  2  holding an item  6 , such as a pen. The sleeves expand to hold the items in place. As shown in these figures, the sleeves are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central axis  5 . 
     Note that, while each of  FIGS. 1   c ,  2   c ,  3   c ,  4   c , and  5   c  show certain sleeves filled with an item, the organizers are designed so that any number of sleeves may be filled or empty at any given time. The user can choose to put any number of items into individual sleeves, up to the maximum number of sleeves on that particular organizer. 
     Also note that, while  FIGS. 1   b ,  2   b ,  3   b ,  4   b , and  5   b  show adjacent empty sleeves not touching each other, these figures are schematic only. The sides of adjacent sleeves may touch (and be permanently attached to each other where they touch) even while all the sleeves are empty and not expanded. 
     Although  FIGS. 1   a - 5   c  show a certain numbers of sleeves  2  (two, three, four five, and twelve, respectively) permanently attached around a central axis  5 ,  FIG. 6  shows that any number of sleeves  2  can be permanently attached around the central axis  5 . There may be any number of sleeves  2 , depending on the embodiment. The diameter of the optional central hub  4  or the space forming the central axis  5  may increase as the number of sleeves increases. The diameter of the hub  4  or the space forming the central axis  5  depends on the size and number of the sleeves circumferentially spaced around the central axis  5 . Also, the angles of space available for each sleeve is equal to 360/n degrees, where n is the number of sleeves. 
     The sleeves  2  in  FIGS. 1   a  through  6  are permanently attached around a central axis  5 . The sleeves  2  may be attached in any manner, including, but not limited to, stitching the sleeves  2  to each other or a central hub  4  or gluing the sleeves  2  to each other or to the central hub  4 . In preferred embodiments, the sleeves  2  and/or the central hub  4  are made of a flexible material. Some examples for the flexible material include, but are not limited to, fabric or leather. In other embodiments, the central hub  4  and/or the sleeves  2  may be made of a deformable plastic. In some embodiments, the item organizer may be manufactured in a single piece, for example by using a mold that includes the sleeves attached to each other or to a central hub. 
       FIGS. 7   a  through  7   c  show an item organizer  70  with three sleeves  102  reversibly attached to a central hub  104 . The central hub  104  includes three channels  108 . The channels  108  are each shaped to fit a rod  112  on each of the sleeves  102  (see  FIG. 12 ). The sleeves  102  each have a first side  109  and a second side  111 . The sleeves  102  can be placed in the channels  108 , and are easily removable from the channels  108 .  FIG. 7   c  shows the sleeves  102  connected to each corresponding channel  108  with a rod  112 . The channels  108  of the central hub  104  are circumferentially organized around a central axis  105 . This figure also shows an item  106 , such as a pen, inside one of the sleeves  102 . The channels  108  and the corresponding sleeves  102  (when connected to the hub  104  through the channels  108 ) are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central hub  104 . 
       FIGS. 8   a  through  8   c  show an item organizer  80  with two sleeves  102  reversibly attached to a central hub  104 . The central hub  104  includes two channels  108  shaped to fit a rod  112  on each of the sleeves  102  (see  FIG. 12 ). The sleeves  102  each have a first side  109  and a second side  111 . The sleeves  102  can be placed in the channels  108 , and are easily removable from the channels.  FIG. 8   c  shows the sleeves  102  connected to each corresponding channel  108  with a rod  112 . The channels  108  of the central hub  104  are organized around a central axis  105 . This figure also shows an item  106 , such as a pen, inside one sleeve  102 . The channels  108  and the corresponding sleeves  102  (when connected to the hub  104  through the channels  108 ) are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central hub  104 . 
       FIGS. 9   a  through  9   c  show an item organizer  90  with four sleeves  102  reversibly attached to a central hub  104 . The central hub  104  includes four channels  108  shaped to fit a rod  112  on each of the sleeves  102  (see  FIG. 12 ). The sleeves  102  each have a first side  109  and a second side  111 . The sleeves  102  can be placed in the channels  108 , and are easily removable from the channels.  FIG. 9   c  shows the sleeves  102  connected to each corresponding channel  108  with a rod  112 . The channels  108  of the central hub  104  are circumferentially organized around a central axis  105 . This figure also shows items  106 , such as pens, inside two sleeves  102 . The channels  108  and the corresponding sleeves  102  (when connected to the hub  104  through the channels  108 ) are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central hub  104 . 
       FIGS. 10   a  through  10   c  show an item organizer  100  with five sleeves  102  reversibly attached to a central hub  104 . The central hub  104  includes five channels  108  shaped to fit a rod  112  on each of the sleeves  102  (see  FIG. 12 ). The sleeves  102  each have a first side  109  and a second side  111 . The sleeves  102  can be placed in the channels  108 , and are easily removable from the channels.  FIG. 10   c  shows the sleeves  102  connected to each corresponding channel  108  with a rod  112 . The channels  108  of the central hub  104  are organized circumferentially around a central axis  105 . This figure also shows items  106 , such as pens, inside two sleeves  102 . The channels  108  and the corresponding sleeves  102  (when connected to the hub  104  through the channels  108 ) are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central hub  104 . 
       FIGS. 11   a  through  11   c  show an item organizer  110  with twelve sleeves  102  reversibly attached to a central hub  104 . The central hub  104  includes twelve channels  108  shaped to fit a rod  112  on each of the sleeves  102  (see  FIG. 12 ). The sleeves  102  each have a first side  109  and a second side  111 . The sleeves  102  can be placed in the channels  108 , and are easily removable from the channels.  FIG. 9   c  shows the sleeves  102  connected to each corresponding channel  108  with a rod  112 . The channels  108  of the central hub  104  are circumferentially organized around a central axis  105 . This figure also shows items  106 , such as pens, inside three sleeves  102 . The channels  108  and the corresponding sleeves  102  (when connected to the hub  104  through the channels  108 ) are preferably spaced evenly around and extend radially outward from the central hub  104 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a schematic of a single sleeve  102  that can be attached to any of the hubs shown in  FIGS. 7-11 . The sleeve  102  includes a main sleeve portion  103  and a rod  112  that is permanently attached to the sleeve  102 . The rod  112  slips into the corresponding channel  108  in the central hub  104  to reversibly attach the sleeve  102  to the central hub  104 . 
     Note that, while each of the central hubs shown in  FIGS. 7   a  through  11   c  have a certain number of spaces into which you can place sleeves, the hub does not need to be completely filled with sleeves at any given time. The user can choose to put in any number of sleeves into the hub, up to the maximum number that fits into the hub. 
     In some embodiments, the channels  108  connect to each other and form around a central hollow space, with no material in between the channels  108 . In embodiments with only two sleeves, the channels  108  may connect directly to each other, without a hollow space or a central hub  104 . In other embodiments, the channels  108  surround a solid center of the central hub  104 . 
     In some embodiments, the channels  108  are all the same length. In other embodiments, the lengths of the channels  108  vary. In embodiments with a solid central hub  104  to which the channels  108  are each connected, the central hub  104  may be the same length as one or more of the channels  108 , or the central hub  104  may be a different length than the channels  108 . 
     Although the figures show certain numbers of sleeves (two, three, four five, and twelve) removably attached to the central hub, there may be any number of sleeves, depending on the embodiment.  FIG. 13  shows that any number of sleeves  102  may be attached to the central hub  104 . The diameter of the core grows as the number of sleeves  102  increases. The diameter of the hub depends on the size and number of the channels circumferentially spaced along the hub. Also, the angle of space available for each of the sleeves is equal to 360/n degrees, where n is the number of sleeves  102 . The channels  108  are circumferentially spaced around the central axis  105 . 
     The sleeves  102  in  FIGS. 7   a  through  13  are reversibly attached to the central hub  104  at a central axis  105 . In preferred embodiments, the sleeves  102  and/or the central hub  104  are made of a flexible material. Some examples for the flexible material include, but are not limited to, fabric or leather. In other embodiments, the central hub  104  and/or the sleeves  102  may be made of a deformable plastic. In still other embodiments, the sleeve may be made of both a deformable plastic and a flexible material, for example the rod is made of plastic and the sleeve sides are made of a flexible material. In other embodiments, the central hub and the rod are made of a rigid plastic, and the rest of the sleeve is made of a flexible material or a deformable plastic. In some embodiments, the central hub  104  is manufactured in a single piece, for example by using a mold including all of the channels  108  of the central hub  104 . 
     While a channel  108  and a rod  112  are shown in  FIGS. 7   a  through  13 , in other embodiments, the sleeves  102  are removable from the central hub  104  in other ways. For example, in one alternative embodiment, the central hub  104  is hollow, and each of the sleeves  102  includes a clip or other protruding portion that can be inserted into the hollow portion of the central hub  104  for removably fastening the sleeve to the hub  104  at the central hollow axis  105 . 
     In another alternative embodiment, the exterior of the central hub  104  includes a fastener, such as snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, or hook and eye and the sleeves  102  each include a corresponding fastener material that attaches the sleeves  102  to the central hub  104 . In another embodiment, magnets on the sleeves  102  and central hub  104  are used to reversibly fasten the sleeves  102  to the hub  104 . 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the central hub  104  includes spoke-like protrusions and the sleeves  102  include pocket portions that the spoke-like protrusions fit in to fasten the sleeves  102  to the spokes. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show embodiments for the sleeves  2 ,  102 . Any of the item organizers described herein could incorporate any combination of these sleeves  2 ,  102  in combination with the central hub  4 ,  104 . For example,  FIG. 1   a  shows a sleeve  2  with open ends  107 .  FIG. 1   a  also shows a sleeve  2  with a closed end  207 . The sleeve  102  shown in  FIG. 12  could also have either of these types of ends. 
       FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b  show the sleeves  2 ,  102  open at both ends  107 .  FIG. 14   a  shows a first side  7 ,  109  of the sleeve  2 ,  102  and  FIG. 14   b  shows a second side  8 ,  111  of the sleeve  2 ,  102 . In some embodiments, when an item is placed in the  2 ,  102  sleeve, it is held in place because the sleeve  2 ,  102  is made of a flexible material and sized to snugly fit the item in place. 
       FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b  show another embodiment, where the sleeve  2 ,  102  includes a cutaway  301  on both ends, such that the end of one side of the sleeve  2 ,  102  is lower than the end of the other side of the sleeve  2 ,  102 . This permits items with a clip  302  (see  FIG. 1   a ) to attach to the sleeve  2 ,  102  using the cutaway  301 . While a cutaway  301  is shown in both ends in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b , in other embodiments, a cutaway  301  could be located on only one end of the sleeve  2 . 
     As an example of an embodiment with a cutaway  301 ,  FIG. 1   a  shows an item  6 , such as a pen or other writing instrument, held in place in the sleeve  2  by securing the clip  302  over the cutaway  301  on the exterior of the sleeve  2 . The rest of the item  6  is on the inside of the sleeve  2 . This design for the sleeves  2 ,  102  effectively holds the item  6 ,  106  in place inside the sleeve  2 ,  102 . In preferred embodiments with a cutaway  301 , the cutaway  301  is sized such that the items  6  being held are flush with or below the top of the sleeves  2 ,  102  when placed in the sleeves  2 ,  102 . 
     In other embodiments, items  6 ,  106 , with clips  302  can be held in place in the same manner as discussed above in sleeves  2 ,  102  without cutaways  301 . In these embodiments, the clip portion  302  of the item  6  is outside the sleeve and the rest of the item  6  is inside the sleeve  2 . Since there is no cutaway  301  in these embodiments, the item  6  may extend above the top of the sleeve  2 ,  102  when it is secured in the sleeve  2 ,  102 . 
     In one preferred embodiment using the sleeves  2 ,  102  in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b , the sleeve  2 ,  102  has an approximately 1″ width (W) and an approximately 6″ height (H). 
       FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b  show a sleeve  2 ,  102  with a flap or cover  201  that extends over the open ends  207  to cover the open ends  207  to better secure an item in place. The flaps  201  can also be closed when a particular sleeve is not being used. For example,  FIG. 1   a  shows a sleeve  2  with one end  207  secured by a flap  201  and a fastener  209 .  FIG. 15   a  shows the sleeve  2 ,  102  in an open position.  FIG. 15   b  shows the sleeve  2 ,  102  in a closed position, with both flaps  201  extended over the open end  207  and fastened with a fastener  209 . 
       FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b  show that the flaps  201  on each end  207  are located on opposite sides  7 ,  8  or  109 ,  111  of the sleeve  2 ,  102 , and therefore close on opposite sides  7 ,  8  or  109 ,  111  of the sleeves from each other. In other embodiments, the flap  201  for both ends  207  could be located on the same side  7  or  109  of the sleeve  2 ,  102 , and close on the same side  8  or  111  of the sleeve  2 ,  102 . 
     In one preferred embodiment using the sleeves  2 ,  102  in  FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b , the sleeve  2 ,  102  has an approximately 1″ width (W) and an approximately 6″ height (H). The flap  201 , when extended, measures approximately 1.75″ (F). The extension over the open end is approximately 0.5″ (E). 
     Although  FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b  show a flap top  201  on both ends  207 , in other embodiments, the flap  201  could be located on just one of the ends  207  (see  FIG. 1   a ). In addition, while  FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b  show a snap  209  fastening the flap top  201  when in the closed position, other fasteners  209 , such as buttons, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, or magnets could alternatively be used. In alternative embodiments, one or both of the flaps  201  do not include fasteners  209 . 
     Although  FIGS. 14 and 15  show open ends, in other embodiments, one of the ends  207  of any of the sleeves  2 ,  102  could be permanently closed, creating a bottom for the sleeve, resulting in a pocket for the item being placed in the sleeve  2 ,  102 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the sleeves has two or more compartments, so multiple items can be held in the same sleeve. The compartments in the sleeves may all be the same size, or may differ in size.  FIG. 5   a  shows a sleeve  2  with two compartments  402  and  502  divided by a dividing wall  403 .  FIG. 10   c  shows a sleeve  102  with three compartments  602 ,  702 , and  802 . The compartments  602 ,  702 , and  802  are separated from each other by dividing walls  603 . Note that, while these figures separate the sleeves horizontally (perpendicular to the outer walls of the sleeves) across the sleeves, in other embodiments, the compartments could be formed longitudinally (parallel to the outer walls). In still other embodiments, the compartments could be formed in an asymmetrical pattern. 
     Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.