Patent Abstract:
A foldable organizer for restaurant waiters includes a folding case which may hold a notepad, an elongated compartment for storing paper money and receipts, a leaf having pockets for holding cards in the elongated compartment, and an exterior pocket for holding a card. The exterior pocket may be produced from a v-shaped opening integrally formed in a flexible shell that surrounds a backing A separate insert is capable of being attached to one end of the folding case, and remains between the two halves of the folding case when in the closed position. The insert including a plurality of pages for holding cards, wherein each of the plurality of pages is joined at one end to create an accordion structure. A strap or clip for fastening the insert to the folding case is located adjacent the end opposite the one end where the plurality of pages are joined.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to methods and devices for organizing and capturing the responsibilities of a waiter in a restaurant. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and devices for recording food orders placed by a restaurant patron, organizing and processing a receipt and/or monies associated with a restaurant check, and organizing the responsibilities of a restaurant waiter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
         [0003]    The responsibilities associated with a restaurant waiter or server involves numerous responsibilities and duties. Examples of various functions include memorizing the “specials of the day” and associated prices, memorizing various spices and additives in preparing a dish, as well as providing for chef suggestions to accompany certain dishes, and wine and drink pairings. In addition, a waiter must keep organized meal orders placed by different tables within the restaurant, and attend to the needs of restaurant patrons. Furthermore, a waiter must keep account of all receipts and monies exchanged throughout the night, accounting for such things as tips, bar tabs and making change for restaurant patrons. 
         [0004]    As is customary in restaurants, a waiter may be responsible for upwards of eight tables, which could amount to servicing forty or so restaurant patrons at any given time. Restaurants are a service-related industry, and the degree of care and precision a waiter displays while servicing the restaurant patrons is part of the measure of a restaurant&#39;s performance. In fact, a well-known restaurant rating guide, ZAGAT, identifies service as the second most important factor in determining a restaurant&#39;s rating, second only to food quality. An organized waiter often can provide a better service experience for a restaurant patron. 
         [0005]    In juggling their various duties and responsibilities, many waiters are faced with the time-consuming task of searching for the needed article or information throughout the service of their tables. This could reflect poorly on the service being provided to the restaurant patron, and result in a lower tip and a lower approval rating for the restaurant. 
         [0006]    The present invention addresses these limitations by providing for a novel method and device for capturing and organizing information common to restaurant waiters. The present invention further provides a novel method and device for increasing efficiency and limiting errors associated with restaurant waiter duties and responsibilities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides methods and devices for capturing and organizing information common to restaurant waiters in performing their waiting duties and responsibilities. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the organizer comprises a folding case with a leaf having an end affixed within an elongated compartment. The leaf may include a plurality of pockets. For example, the leaf may include a first and a second pocket, each pocket having an opening and configured to hold a card. The openings of the first and second pockets being accessible through the elongated opening of the elongated compartment. The first pocket is located adjacent the top interior side and the second pocket is located adjacent the bottom interior side, such that the pockets do not interfere with closing the folding case. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the organizer comprises a folding case having a rear exterior side including a backing and a flexible shell covering at least a substantial portion of the rear exterior side of the folding case, and a v-shaped opening integrally formed in the flexible shell. The v-shaped opening creates a rear pocket between the flexible shell and the backing, and the rear pocket is configured to accept a card. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the organizer comprises a folding case and an insert capable of being attached to one end of the folding case. The insert remains between the top interior panel and the bottom interior panel of the folding case when the folding case is in the closed position; the insert including a plurality of pages for holding cards such as credit cards or driver&#39;s licenses. Each of the plurality of pages is joined at one end, and the means for fastening is located adjacent the end opposite the one end where the plurality of pages are joined. A strap or clip may be used to attach the insert to one end of the folding case. 
         [0011]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a top, front, perspective view of the foldable organizer in a closed position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a left side elevation view of the foldable organizer in a closed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view of the foldable organizer in a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the foldable organizer in a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the foldable organizer in a closed position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the foldable organizer in a closed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the foldable organizer in a closed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the interior of the foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an elevational view of the exterior of the foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an elevational view of the interior of the foldable organizer in an open position with a writing pad shown in dashed lines. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of the foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a left side elevation view of the foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a right side elevation view of the foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a front, top, left exploded view of the interior section with the foldable organizer in an open position showing the insert removed. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a front, top, perspective view of the ORGANIZER in an open position showing the compartment slightly open and a separate pocketed leaf contained within the compartment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  showing the front of the separate pocketed leaf attached to the bottom of the compartment of the ORGANIZER. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a rear, top, perspective view of the ORGANIZER in an open position showing the compartment slightly open and a separate pocketed leaf contained within the compartment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  19 - 19  showing the rear of the separate pocketed leaf attached to the bottom of the compartment of the ORGANIZER. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is a front elevational view of the insert for foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a side view of the insert for foldable organizer in an open position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  is a front, side perspective view of the insert for the foldable organizer. 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  is a rear, side perspective view of the insert for the foldable organizer 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    In various embodiments, the foldable organizer comprises a folding case having a compartment for storing receipts. The foldable organizer also may be described as a stationary-type portfolio or as a padfolio, and may be suggestive of a wallet. In one embodiment, a foldable organizer designed to capture various information helpful to a waiter or server. Such a foldable organizer may include a folding case containing a notepad; at least one compartment for storing paper money and receipts; a clear pocket for inserting information; a writing utensil holder; a rear card pocket for holding a credit card; and a credit card swipe machine to processing credit cards. The folder organizer also may include an elongated leaf affixed within the compartment, dividing the compartment into two sections, and the leaf further having pockets for accepting and holding cards. The pockets are positioned on the leaf so as to avoid interfering with the closing of the folding case. Referring now to the drawings, like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the several views. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 1 and 7  depict a foldable organizer case  10  in a closed position, and showing the rear pocket  20  for storing cards such as a credit card or a point-of-sale (POS) computer swipe card. One suitable dimension for the rear pocket is 2.8 inches (7.2 cm) by 2.6 inches (6.7 cm). The rear pocket  20  is also illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 18 , depicting the foldable organizer case  10  in an open position. 
         [0037]    The rear pocket  20  preferably is integrally formed on the rear exterior section  18  of the foldable organizer case  10 . The rear exterior section  18  includes a backing  22  and a flexible shell  24  covering substantially the entire rear exterior section of the folding case  10 . A v-shaped opening  26  is formed integrally in the flexible shell  24 . The v-shaped opening  26  creates the rear pocket between the flexible shell  24  and the backing  22 , and the rear pocket  20  is configured to accept a card such as a credit card or a POS card. The integrally formed rear pocket  20  streamlines the appearance and leaves a large surface on the rear exterior section  18  to deboss and/or print custom branding or logos. 
         [0038]    Vinyl (or PVC) is a suitable material for the flexible shell  24 . Leather is another suitable material for the flexible shell. The backing  22  is preferably rigid. Cardboard may be a suitable material for the backing  22 . In one embodiment, a sheet  28  of vinyl is adhered to the backing  22  and behind the flexible shell on the rear exterior section  18  of the foldable organizer case  10 . In this manner, a card in the rear pocket  20  would be sandwiched between two layers of vinyl. The additional layer of material placed over the backing  22  and behind the flexible shell  24  of the rear exterior section  18  also helps avoid the seals or lines that a non-integrally formed rear pocket would create. 
         [0039]    The rear pocket  20  is preferably sized and positioned on the rear exterior section to prevent the inserted card from getting lost in the void alongside the additional layer of material. The v-shape of the opening  26  for the rear pocket  20  facilitates removal of the card from the pocket. Preferably, the sides of the rear pocket  20  cover about two-thirds of the length of the card to be held by the pocket. The rear pocket  20  preferably also is located near the bottom left corner of the rear exterior section  18  of the foldable organizer case  10 . Otherwise, having the rear pocket positioned more toward the center of the rear exterior section of the foldable case, and cover most of the card, could increase the possibility that the inserted card may slip between the backing and the shell. 
         [0040]    Where the rear exterior section  18  of the foldable organizer case has dimensions of about 6.6 inches (16.9 cm) by 4.6 inches (11.8 cm), a sheet  28  of vinyl having a preferable size of 4.75 inches (12.2 cm) by 6.5 inches (16.6 cm), is placed behind the backing  22  of the case  10 . The opening  26  in the shell  24  for the rear pocket  20  is preferably placed 2.9 inches (7.5 cm) right of center, and coincides with the placement of the vinyl sheet  28  on the backing  22 . The shell  24  preferably is constructed from vinyl, and so a card in the rear pocket would be sandwiched between two sheets of vinyl in this embodiment. A small sealed ridge may be placed around the pocket to make the rear opening stronger and less prone to tearing. A triangle or v-shaped opening  26  is preferred to reduce the likelihood of tearing at the top corner of the rear pocket  20 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 10 and 15  depict the foldable organizer case  10  in an open configuration. The foldable organizer case  10  comprises a folding case which may contain a notepad or waiter pad  30  for taking food orders placed by restaurant patrons, as well as special requests and other notes regarding the table. The foldable organizer case may include an upper interior pocket into which the back of the notepad may be inserted to hold the notepad in the case. 
         [0042]    The bottom interior panel  34  and the top interior panel  36  are exposed when the foldable organizer case  10  is in the open configuration. In this embodiment, the waiter pad  30  is configured in the bottom interior panel  34  of the foldable organizer case  10 , however, the waiter pad  30  may be configured in any portion of the organizer case  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the top interior panel  36  of the organizer case  10  further comprises a clear interior pocket  38  for displaying various information related to the function of waiting tables, serving restaurant patrons, and/or other relevant information, when the organizer case  10  is in the open position. The foldable organizer case  10  also may include a lower interior pocket  32  for storing a card such as a credit card, preferably on the bottom interior panel  34  behind the pad  12 . 
         [0043]    The organizer also may include a pen holder. The pen holder may be a channel in the fold of the case that will allow a pen to slide in and out. Another embodiment of the organizer may also include a light preferably located at the top of the top interior panel to illuminate the waiter pad  12  and or the clear pocket, or both, when the foldable organizer case is in the open position. 
         [0044]      FIG. 16  further depicts at least one billfold compartment  40  for storing paper items, such as paper money, receipts, and bills. The compartment  40  preferably is elongated, with an opening that runs nearly the entire length of the open case  10 . The compartment may have only a single common storage space, or, in the alternative, the compartment may be divided into two separate areas, or sub-compartments. For example, one for cash, and one for credit card receipts. These sub-compartments  46  and  48  are separated or divided by a flexible leaf  50 . Preferably, the bottom of the leaf is affixed to the bottom  44  of the compartment  40 . In one preferred embodiment, the leaf  50  is positioned in the middle of the billfold compartment  40 , and does not to extend the entire length of the compartment  40 . The lateral ends of the leaf  50  are free or unaffixed to the compartment  40 . The leaf  50  may act as a divider without having its lateral ends affixed to the compartment  40  and still substantially isolate the sub-compartments created by the leaf  50 , while allowing for less constrictive access to the sub-compartments  46  and  48 . This also allows the billfold area to be closely positioned at the top and bottom, making the compartment tight in those areas, and allows for less bulk in the foldable organizer In one embodiment, the leaf  50  sits one centimeter below the height of the compartment, and only extends wide enough to hold two credit cards. The leaf  50  can be moved forward and back to provide the user with access to separate areas of the billfold compartment  40 , as well as to the pockets of the leaf  50 . 
         [0045]    The leaf  50  preferably includes four pockets  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58 , each having an opening and configured to hold a card such as a credit card. The first pocket  52  preferably is located adjacent the top interior panel and the second pocket  54  is located adjacent the bottom interior panel such that the pockets do not interfere with closing the folding case  10 . Preferably, two pockets are placed symmetrically on each side of the leaf  50 . Thus, first pocket  52  and third pocket  56  are located adjacent the top interior panel and the second pocket  54  and fourth pocket  58  are located adjacent the bottom interior panel. Various guests&#39; credit cards and/or driver&#39;s licenses can be stored in the leaf  50  within the billfold compartment  40 . Each pocket preferably includes a clear material to allow the user to identify each guest&#39;s credit card and/or driver&#39;s license. Preferably, each pocket opens toward the top of the billfold compartment. 
         [0046]    The foldable organizer case  10  may be used with an insert  60  to store credit cards, driver&#39;s licenses, and similarly sized objects. The insert  60  preferably includes a plurality of sheets  62  with pockets  72  sized for holding credit cards. Preferably, each sheet includes three pockets on each side. The pocketed sheets  72  are sandwiched between a front sheet  64  and a back sheet  66  which are preferably clear to allow the user to identify the cards, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  15 ,  22  and  23 . In one embodiment, the back sheet is a formed from a semi-rigid piece of solid colored PVC material having a thickness of about 0.75 mm to 1.0 mm. Preferably, the back sheet is made from the same material as the interior of the case. All of the sheets are attached at one end  72 , with the opposite end unattached to allow one to flip from one sheet to another in an accordion fashion, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . The sheets of the insert  60  are accessible near the top of the case in the open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , as well as  FIGS. 1 ,  11  and  12 . The back sheet  66  includes an elastic fabric band  70  wraps around the front end of the case  10  to hold the insert  60  in place. Having the elastic fabric band  70  wrap around the top of the front end of the case  10  also allows access to the compartment  40 , and allows the sheets of the insert  60  to be accessible near the top of the case  10  in an accordion fashion. The elastic band may include branding or a logo. The elastic band  70  may be attached to the back sheet  66  by riveting, thermoplastic bonding, another suitable means of attachment. In an alternative embodiment, the insert may be held in place on the top of the case by a clip. 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 18 , an optional feature is illustrated on the front exterior side of the organizer  10 . A front exterior pocket  14  is formed on the front exterior side  16  of the organizer case  10 , which enables the user to insert and remove a logo, point of purchase advertisement, or other information chosen to be displayed to restaurant guests. Preferably, three sides of a clear plastic sheet are affixed to the front exterior section  16  of the foldable case  10 , with a thumb tab cutout formed on the open side of the exterior pocket  14 . 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the organizer may incorporate a credit card swipe machine for processing credit card transactions remotely from the organizer The credit card swipe machine may incorporate a wireless communications means for relaying information to an from a central processing system or network. 
         [0049]    Although embodiments of the invention are described, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, the words and phrases in the specification and claims are intended to be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). It is, therefore, evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1