Folding organizer

• US 5,984,092 A
• Filed: 01/28/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C. Donise Heard-Willmon
• Original Assignee: C. Donise Heard-Willmon
• Inventors: Heard-Willmon, C. Donise
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US09/014,872
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 206/233, 206/214, 206/38, 206/224, 206/371, 206/232, 206/349, 206/425, 206/445, 206/820, 383/38-40, 383/119, 150/112, 150/130
• US Class Current: 206/233
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/005 Toiletry cases

Abstract

An organizer apparatus for carrying numerous samples or other items. Organizer has a single flexible sheet which is divided into six or more panels by parallel folds or plications. The panels have inner faces upon which pockets, loops and the like may be provided for holding and displaying items. The organizer may be folded in a pattern which places the panels in a certain parallel position so that the organizer is compact for carriage or storage. When the organizer is collapsed into the compact position, specially located fasteners hold the organizer in this closed position in a manner which secures the contained items. The specially located fasteners, combined with the particular folding pattern, permit the organizer to be unfolded and used in a manner which promotes an orderly, pleasant presentation of the contained items to the user or potential customer. A mode of construction is disclosed which permits the organizer to hold bulkier, non-planar items, without impeding the integrity or compactness of the apparatus. Certain specialized cases are disclosed which can be used to carry the organizer.

Claims

1. An organizer apparatus comprising:

a sheet, having a cover face and an inside face, and substantially equally divided by a plurality of parallel plications into multiple panels, said sheet comprising;

at least two flexible plies and said plications comprise living hinges, and further wherein, when a first intermediate panel and a first center panel are fastened to form a first fastened pair, said first fastened pair pivots in relation to all other said multiple panels, and also wherein, when a second center panel and a second intermediate panel are fastened to form a second fastened pair, said second fastened pair pivots together in relation to all other said multiple panels, and finally wherein at least two of said multiple panels maintain a coplanar position on opposite sides adjacent to the combination of said first and second fastened pairs; and

said panels comprising;

said first and second center panels mutually adjacent along a central one of said plications;

said first intermediate panel adjacent said first center panel;

said second intermediate panel adjacent said second center panel;

a first end panel; and

a second end panel;

wherein each of said multiple panels comprises an inner side, and at least one of said multiple panels comprises a substantially planar rigid core disposed between said at least two flexible plies and at least one of said multiple panels, other than said panel comprising a substantially planar rigid core, comprises a substantially flexible panel;

means on said cover face for releasably fastening said first intermediate panel to said first center panel; and

means on said cover face for releasably fastening said second center panel to said second intermediate panel;

wherein said sheet is foldable at said plications to place said multiple panels in mutually parallel relation with said first intermediate panel in contact with said first center panel, and with said second center panel in contact with said second intermediate panel.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means, on said inner side of said flexible panel, for holding at least one non-planar item.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising closure means for releasably connecting said second end panel to said first end panel.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said closure means comprises:

a pliant flap extending from said second end panel and disposable parallel against said first end panel when said multiple panels are placed in mutually parallel relation; and

means for temporarily securing said pliant flap to said first end panel.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising means on said pliant flap for holding disposable tissues between said flap and said first end panel when said means for temporarily securing is engaged.

6. An organizer apparatus comprising:

a bifacial sheet, said sheet divided by five plications into six panels, said panels comprising;

first and second center panels mutually adjacent along a central one of said plications;

a first intermediate panel adjacent said first center panel;

a second intermediate panel adjacent said second center panel;

a first end panel adjacent said first intermediate panel; and

a second end panel adjacent said second intermediate panel;

wherein each of said six panels comprises a cover side and an inner side;

means, on at least one of said inner sides, for holding at least one item;

means, on respective cover sides of said first intermediate panel and said first center panel, for releasably fastening said cover side of said first intermediate panel to said cover side of said first center panel; and

means, on respective cover sides of said second center panel and said second intermediate panel, for releasably fastening said cover side of said second center panel to said cover side of said second intermediate panel;

wherein said sheet is foldable at said plications to place said six panels in mutually parallel relation with said cover side of said first intermediate panel in contact with said cover side of said first center panel and with said cover side of said second center panel in contact with said cover side of said second intermediate panel.

7. An organizer according to claim 6 further comprising closure means for releasably connecting said second end panel to said first end panel.

8. An organizer according to claim 7 wherein said closure means comprises:

a pliant flap extending from said second end panel and disposable parallel against said first end panel when said six panels are placed in mutually parallel relation; and

means for temporarily securing said pliant flap to said cover side of said first end panel.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said bifacial sheet comprises at least two flexible plies and said plications comprise living hinges.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said six panels comprises a substantially planar rigid core disposed between said at least two flexible plies.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said six panels, other than said panel comprising a substantially planar rigid core, comprises a substantially flexible panel.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising means, on said inner side of said flexible panel, for holding at least one non-planar item.

13. An organizer apparatus comprising:

an oblong sheet substantially equally divided into six panels by five parallel plications, said panels comprising;

first and second center panels mutually adjacent along a central one of said plications;

a first intermediate panel adjacent said first center panel along a first intermediate one of said plications;

a second intermediate panel adjacent said second center panel along a second intermediate one of said plications;

a first end panel adjacent said first intermediate panel; and

a second end panel adjacent said second intermediate panel;

wherein each of said six panels comprises a cover side and an inner side;

first means, on respective cover sides of said first intermediate panel and said first center panel, for releasably fastening together said cover sides of said first intermediate panel and said first center panel;

second means, on respective cover sides of said second center panel and said second intermediate panel, for releasably fastening together said cover sides of said second center panel and said second intermediate panel; and

closure means for releasably connecting said second end panel to said first end panel, said closure means comprising;

a pliant flap extending from said second end panel and disposable parallel against said first end panel when said at least six panels are placed in mutually parallel relation; and

means for temporarily securing said pliant flap to said first end panel;

wherein said sheet is foldable at said central and said first intermediate plication to place said first center and said first intermediate panels in mutually parallel relation whereby to engage said first fastening means, and wherein said sheet is foldable at said central and said second intermediate plication to place said second center and said second intermediate panels in mutually parallel relation whereby to engage said second fastening means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said bifacial sheet comprises at least two flexible plies and said plications comprise living hinges.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said six panels comprises a substantially planar rigid core disposed between said at least two flexible plies.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said six panels, other than said panel comprising a substantially planar rigid core, comprises a substantially flexible panel.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means, on said inner side of said flexible panel, for holding at least one non-planar item.