Multiple tray desk organizer

• US 6,968,957 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting Limited (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Custom Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Fynn, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David
• Application Number:
  US10/446,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20040108282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 211/11, 211/131.1, 211/133.3, 211/133.4, 211/163, 211/13.1, 211/126.2, 248/282.1
• US Class Current: 211/11
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/03 with substantially horizontally extensible or adjustable parts other than drawers, e.g. leaves

Abstract

A desk tray is mounted on a support surface with a support base. Extending vertically from the support base is an elongated rod carrying a spindle. The spindle and rod have several receptacles at different levels above the support surface. The spindle and rod are rotatably mounted on the support base.

Claims

1. A multi-function tray for mounting on a support surface, said tray comprising a post base adapted to be attached to said support surface, an angle arm having first end rotatably mounted on said post base, said angle arm having a second end horizontally and vertically displaced from said first end, an elongated rod having a longitudinal axis with a first end and a second end, said first end of said elongated rod attached to said second end of said angle arm, a tubular spindle rotatably mounted about said longitudinal axis of said rod, said spindle having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end in rotating contact with said second end of said angle arm, a receptacle mounted on said spindle intermediate said bottom end and said top end extending normal to said longitudinal axis whereby said elongated rod and said angle arm can rotate about said post base, whereby said receptacle and spindle can rotate about said rod.

2. A multi-function tray of claim 1 wherein said tray includes a second tubular spindle having a top end, a bottom end, and a second intermediate receptacle rotatably mounted about said longitudinal axis of said rod, said bottom end of said second tubular spindle in rotating contact with said top end of said tubular spindle.

3. A multi-functional tray of claim 2 wherein said tray includes a plurality of similar tubular spindles each having a bottom end, a top end and an intermediate receptacle, are sequentially rotatably mounted about said longitudinal axis of said rod, said bottom end of one of said plurality of spindles is in rotating contact with said top end of said second tubular spindle, the bottom end of each sequential spindle rotatably contacting the top end of the adjacent similar tubular spindle, said second end of said rod rotatably connected to the top end of said plurality of tubular spindles.

4. A multi-function tray of claim 3 wherein said tray includes a plurality of dishes each having a connection on the periphery, said each connection affixed to said rod between said plurality of sequential tubular spindles, said dishes extending normal to said longitudinal axis of said rod.

5. A multifunctional tray of claim 4 wherein said plurality of dishes and said intermediate receptacles are disposed approximately opposite to each other about said rod.

6. A multi-function tray of claim 4 wherein said plurality of dishes include at least one dish with a rack mounted within said periphery.

7. A multi-functional tray of claim 2 wherein said tray includes at least two dishes, each dish having a periphery, said periphery of each dish having a connector, a first dish attached to said rod by a first connector, said first dish disposed between said second end of said angle arm and said bottom end of said spindle, a second dish attached to said rod by a second connector between said top of said spindle and said bottom of said second tubular spindle.

8. A multi-function tray of claim 1 wherein said tubular spindle includes an integral bracket intermediate said top end and said bottom end, said receptacle affixed to said bracket.

9. A multi-function tray of claim 3 wherein said plurality of similar tubular spindles each include an integral bracket, each intermediate receptacle of each similar tubular spindle fixed to each integral bracket.

10. A multi-function tray for mounting on a support surface, said tray comprising a post base adapted to be attached to said support surface, an angle arm having one end rotatably mounted on said post base, said angle arm having a second end horizontally and vertically displaced from said first end, an elongated rod having a longitudinal axis with a first end and a second end, said first end of said elongated rod attached to said second end of said angle arm, a plurality of tubular spindles mounted about said longitudinal axis of said rod, each of said plurality of tubular spindles having a bottom end, a top end, and an intermediate receptacle extending approximately normal to said elongated rod, said bottom of one of said plurality of tubular spindles engaging said second end of said angle arm, said top end of said one of said plurality of tubular spindles engaging the bottom end of an adjacent spindle whereby said angle arm rotates said plurality of spindles about said post base.

11. A multifunction tray of claim 10 wherein said tray includes a plurality of dishes, said dishes having a periphery with a connector in said periphery, said connector connected to said elongated rod, each of said plurality of dishes disposed on said elongated rod intermediate a top end and a bottom end of adjacent tubular spindles.