US20100276384A1

US20100276384A1 - Wall-mounted organizer

Info

Publication number: US20100276384A1
Application number: US12/431,957
Authority: US
Inventors: Chi Hang Mak
Original assignee: Umbra LLC
Current assignee: Umbra LLC
Priority date: 2009-04-29
Filing date: 2009-04-29
Publication date: 2010-11-04
Also published as: CA2666194A1

Abstract

An organizer having a front wall including a first recess and a first hook arranged to pivot into and out of the first recess, a back wall having a means for mounting the organizer to a substantially vertical surface, a left wall, a right wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the back wall, the left wall, the right wall, and the bottom wall define an inner chamber adapted to hold items therein.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to devices for organizing items, such as eyeglasses, envelopes, electronic devices, and the like, more particularly to such devices adapted to be mounted upon a wall, and even more particularly to such devices having retractable hooks for hanging clothing thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Organizers are well known devices used for storing and organizing items, such as keys, mail, eyeglasses, handheld electronic devices, etc. Generally an organizer comprises an open or closed top compartment, which is subdivided into a plurality of sub-compartments, in which a user stores and organizes items. One problem with prior organizers is that they are generally designed only for tabletop use, and thus require another structure, such as a table, desk, or shelf, to operate, which is not always feasible in the location desired for the organizer. For example, if a user desires to have an organizer in a hallway next to the entrance of his house for holding sunglasses, keys, and other items generally used while traveling, having a table in the hallway may not be feasible in many circumstances.
Coat hooks are well known articles of manufacture used for hanging coats, jackets, scarves, umbrellas, and the like on walls, often proximate to the entrance to a house or dwelling. Generally, a coat hook comprises a hook portion coupled to a means for securely mounting the hook portion to a wall. One problem with prior coat hooks is that the hook portion permanently extends out from the wall, where it has a tendency to snag the clothes or skin of passers by.
Thus, there is a longfelt need for an organizer which does not require a tabletop to operate effectively. There is also a longfelt need for a coat hook which does not snag passers by.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is an organizer comprising: a front wall including a first recess and a first hook arranged to pivot into and out of the first recess; a back wall having a means for mounting the organizer to a substantially vertical surface; a left wall; a right wall, and, a bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the back wall, the left wall, the right wall, and the bottom wall define an inner chamber adapted to hold items therein.
In a preferred embodiment, the organizer includes a first groove arranged in the inner chamber, a second groove arranged in the inner, and a divider wall, wherein the divider wall is adapted to be slidingly received in the first groove and the second groove, and the divider wall divides the inner chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment when slidingly received within the first groove and the second groove.
A general object of the present invention is to provide an organizer which can be mounted on a substantially vertical surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wall-mounted organizer having at least one retractable coat hook.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures of an exemplary embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention organizer, shown holding a plurality of items;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the organizer;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the organizer;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the organizer;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing a first hook pivoted open; and,

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the organizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated the terms “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right”, when used herein, are relative terms meant to refer to the viewing perspective shown in the figures.
Although many methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Adverting now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention wall-mounted organizer, hereinafter referred to as organizer 100. Organizer 100 generally comprises left wall 110, right wall 120, back wall 130, front wall 140, and bottom wall 190, which together define inner chamber 160. As shown in this figure, organizer 100 is adapted to hold items within inner chamber 160, for example, eyeglasses 40 and electronic device 50.
The present invention organizer includes a means for mounting it on a substantially vertical surface, such as a wall. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, back wall 130 includes first mounting bracket 132 and second mounting bracket 134, which are arranged to secure organizer 100 to wall 20. It should be appreciated that first and second mounting brackets, 132 and 134, which are keyhole type mounting brackets, are merely exemplary, and mounting organizer 100 may include any suitable means for mounting it to a substantially vertical surface.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, top edge 141 of front wall 140 is arranged elevationally lower than the upper edge of back wall 130, and the upper edges of left wall 110 and right wall 120 each slope downwardly from the upper edge of back wall 130 to upper edge 141. This particular arrangement, wherein the top of the front wall is elevationally lower than the back wall, is particularly advantageous in that it provides a user with easy visual and manual access to the inner chamber, in order to identify and retrieve items held therein.
While the inner chamber of the present invention is well-adapted for holding a plurality of items therein, in a preferred embodiment, the organizer includes at least one dividing wall arranged to divide the inner chamber into compartments, in order to facilitate the organization of such items. For example, as shown in the figures, organizer 100 includes dividing wall 170 arranged to divide inner chamber 160 into front compartment 160 a and back compartment 160 b. Dividing wall 170 is secured within inner chamber 160 by sliding it into first groove 111, provided in left wall 110, and second groove 121, provided in right wall 120, as illustrated with the double-headed arrows proximate dividing wall 170 in FIG. 7. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, top edge 171 of dividing wall 170 is substantially flush with the upper edges of left and right walls, 110 and 120, when it is fully inserted in inner chamber 160, in order to provide the user with visual and manual access to back compartment 160 b.
This particular arrangement, wherein the dividing wall is removably insertable into the inner chamber, is particularly advantageous as a user may, at times, not wish to compartmentalize the inner chamber. For example, if the size of the items he wishes to hold within the organizer requires the entirety of the inner chamber, it is advantageous to be able to remove the dividing wall. It should be appreciated that the particular arrangement of the dividing wall shown in the figures is meant to be exemplary, and that the organizer may be designed such that the dividing wall is arranged to divide the inner chamber into compartments of different shapes, sizes and/or positions.
For example, the dividing wall may be arranged to divide the inner chamber into left and right compartments, which may easily be accomplished by providing grooves comparable to the first and second grooves, 111 and 121, in front and back walls, 140 and 130. It should also be appreciated that the present invention organizer may include a plurality of dividing walls to further compartmentalize the inner chamber. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the dividing wall may be secured within the inner chamber may any suitable means other than the aforementioned grooves, for example, by means of clasps, or compression fit.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper surface of bottom wall 190 is pitched downwardly as it extends from back wall 130 to front wall 140. By having such a pitched upper surface, items held within inner chamber 160 will tend to slide toward the front wall. This arrangement is particularly advantageous as small items, such as keys, held within the inner chamber may be easily retrieved even when the user cannot see them, since the user need only manually check the bottom of the inner chamber near the front wall for such items. Moreover, if such small items are located in back compartment 160 b, the user need only remove dividing wall 170, as described above, and allow the items to slide toward front wall to retrieve them.
The front wall of the present invention includes at least a first hook adapted to hang items, such as clothes, jackets, scarves, umbrellas, and the like thereon. However, while hooks are generally well-suited for such purposes, a user may not always need one, and having a hook permanently sticking out of the organizer can lead to passers by snagging their clothes or skin on it. Thus, the at least first of the present invention is arranged to pivot into and out of a first recess provided in the front surface of the front wall, so that the hook may be closed when not in use. Additionally, the front surface of each of the hooks is preferably substantially flush with the front surface of the front wall, thereby reducing the likelihood of the aforementioned snagging.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, front wall 140 includes first recess 143, first hook 153, second recess 145, and second hook 155, wherein first hook 153 is arranged to pivot into and out of first recess 143, and second hook 155 is arranged to pivot into and out of second recess 145. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, top edge 153 a of first hook 153 and top edge 155 a of second hook 155 are each arranged substantially flush with top edge 141 of front wall 140. This arrangement is advantageous in that a user may simply pluck at the tope edge of the hook in order to pivot it open. Additionally, as shown most clearly in FIG. 6, front surface 153 b of first hook 153 is substantially flush with the front surface of front wall 140.
The present invention hooks may be pivotably coupled to front wall 140 by any suitable means known in the art. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, first hook 153 includes bore 154, second hook 155 includes bore 156, and organizer 100 includes rod 159 fixedly secured relative to front wall 140, wherein rod 159 extends through bores 154 and 155 such that first and second hooks, 153 and 155, can rotate thereon. Rod 159 is fixed relative to front wall 140 by securing it between lip 192 of bottom wall 190 and a lower edge of front wall 140. As shown in theses figures, bottom wall 190 also includes first gap 193 and second gap 195, each of which provides the space necessary to allow first and second hooks, 153 and 155, to pivot within first and second recess, 143 and 145, respectively. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower portion of first hook 153 is arranged within first gap 193. As first hook 153 pivots on rod 159 out of first recess 143, as illustrated with the double-headed arcuate arrow proximate first hook 153, the lower portion of first hook 153 is pushed up against bottom wall 190 within first gap 193, thereby preventing first hook 140 from pivoting further and providing so that it can support the weight of an item hung thereon.
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An organizer comprising:

a front wall including a first recess and a first hook arranged to pivot into and out of the first recess;

a back wall having a means for mounting the organizer to a substantially vertical surface;

a left wall;

a right wall, and,

a bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the back wall, the left wall, the right wall, and the bottom wall define an inner chamber adapted to hold items therein.

2. The organizer recited in claim 1 including a first groove arranged in the inner chamber, a second groove arranged in the inner, and a divider wall, wherein the divider wall is adapted to be slidingly received in the first groove and the second groove, and the divider wall divides the inner chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment when slidingly received within the first groove and the second groove.

3. The organizer recited in claim 2 wherein the first groove is arranged in the left wall, the second groove is arranged in the right wall.

4. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the bottom wall has a top surface which is pitched downwardly as it extends from the back wall to the front wall.

5. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall further includes a second recess and a second hook arranged to pivot into and out of the second recess.

6. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall has a front surface, the first hook has a front surface, and the front surface of the first hook is substantially flush with the front surface of the front wall when the first hook is arranged within first recess.

7. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall has a top edge, the first hook has a top edge, and the top edge of the first hook is substantially flush with the top edge of the front wall when the first hook is arranged within first recess.

8. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein the front wall has a top edge, the back wall has a top edge, and the top edge of the front wall is elevationally lower than the top edge of the back wall.