Storage organizer

• US 7,165,687 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gene M. Stevens, Joyselyn Stevens
• Original Assignee: Gene M. Stevens, Joyselyn Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Gene M., Stevens, Joyselyn
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/292,559
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 211/86.01, 211/26, 211/55, 211/10, 211/113, 211/118, 211/119.004, 211/72, 248/918, 248/690, 248/672, 248/205.2, 206/308.1, 206/308.3
• US Class Current: 211/86.01
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 17/08 Construction of the containers, e.g. trays or drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

One embodiment (100) of a storage organizer includes three panels (52), (94) and (102) which are structured for attachment by a hook and loop fastener (86) to exterior surfaces of a computer unit including a computer (84). Other panels (81), (105) and (380), and a top storage unit (106), are attached to exterior surfaces of respective ones of the panels (52), (94) and (102). The panels (81), (105) and (380), and the top storage unit (106), are structured to form various configurations of storage cells for storing accessories typically used in conjunction with the use of the computer (84). The panels (52), (81), (94), (102), (105) and (380) are composed of a panel material (54) which includes three layers (216), (218) and (220) of a non-metallic material which are bound together by an edge binder (226) sewn in place by a thread (228).

Claims

1. A storage organizer for use with a computer unit for storing a plurality of computer-related accessories, wherein the computer unit is formed with a surface, which comprises:

a panel having an inboard major surface and an outboard major surface on opposite sides thereof;

a plurality of storage cells formed on the outboard major surface of the panel for storing the computer-related accessories therein;

means formed on the inboard major surface of the panel for facilitating attachment of the inboard major surface to the surface of the computer unit; and

at least one of the plurality of storage cells comprising;

a front wall spaced outward from, and formed independently of, the panel;

a rear wall formed by a portion of the panel spaced inward from the front wall;

a floor wall formed, separately and independently of the panel and the front wall, with an inboard end and an outboard end, and extending between the front wall and the rear wall;

means for fastening the inboard end of the floor wall to the rear wall; and

means for fastening the outboard end of the floor wall to the front wall.

2. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises:

the means for facilitating includes a fastener attached to the panel to provide facility for attaching the panel to the side surface of the computer unit for support of the panel.

3. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 2, which further comprises:

the fastener is a fabric hook and loop fastener.

4. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the panel is formed in a prescribed configuration to facilitate placement of the inboard major surface of the panel adjacent the side surface of the computer unit.

5. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the panel comprises:

a first layer of material of a prescribed thickness, and having a surface formed in a prescribed planar format;

a second layer of material of a thickness greater than the prescribed thickness, and having a surface formed in the prescribed planar format;

the surfaces of the first and second layers of material being placed in interfacing engagement and joined in the prescribed planar format; and

the prescribed planar format being the same for the surfaces of the first and second layers of material.

6. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 5, which further comprises:

a third layer of material of a thickness less than the thickness of the second layer formed in the prescribed planar format;

the second layer being formed with a first major surface and a second major surface;

the first layer of material overlapping the first major surface of the second layer of material in the prescribed planar format;

the third layer of material overlapping the second major surface of the second layer of material in the prescribed planar format; and

the first, second and third layers of material being secured together.

7. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 6, wherein the material of the first, second and third layers of material is plastic.

8. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first, second and third layers are secured together by a stitched plastic thread.

9. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises:

the front wall is parallel with the rear wall; and

the floor wall is perpendicular with the front wall and the rear wall.

10. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rear wall comprises:

a first layer of material; and

a second layer of material; and

wherein the storage organizer further comprises;

a portion of the inboard end of the floor wall being located between the first layer and the second layer of the rear wall.

11. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 10, wherein the floor wall comprises:

a first layer of material;

a second layer material;

a third layer of material;

the second layer of material being in assembly with, and between, the first layer and the third layer;

extended sections of the first layer and the third layer of the floor wall extending from assembly with the second layer thereof in a direction away from the front wall at the inboard end of the floor wall; and

the extended sections of the first layer and the third layer forming the portion of the inboard end of the floor wall which is located between the first layer and the second layer of the rear wall.

12. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 10, wherein the means for fastening the inboard end of the floor wall to the rear wall comprises:

a thread extending through at least the first layer and the portion of the inboard end of the floor wall for securing together the first layer and the portion.

13. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rear wall comprises:

a first layer of material formed with a first face which is facing away from the front wall, and a second face which is facing toward the front wall,

a second layer of material formed with a face which is facing toward the front wall and is in interfacing assembly with the first face of the first layer of material; and

a backing layer of material in interfacing engagement with a portion of the first face of the first layer of material adjacent the inboard end of the floor wall.

14. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 13, which further comprises:

the first layer of material formed with a first-layer slot extending therethrough adjacent the inboard end of the floor wall;

the backing layer formed with a backing-layer slot extending therethrough, and aligned with the first-layer slot; and

the portion of the inboard end of the floor wall extending through the aligned first-layer slot and the backing-layer slot.

15. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 13, wherein the face of the second layer is a first face, and which further comprises:

the second layer of material formed with a second face facing away from the floor wall; and

a third layer of material formed with a face which is in interfacing assembly with the second face of the second layer.

16. The storage organizer, as set forth in claim 1, for use with the computer unit wherein the surface is a first side surface, and the computer further includes a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, and a top surface extending between the first and second side surfaces, which further comprises:

the panel is a first side panel formed with the inboard major surface and the outboard major surface, with the inboard major surface being positionable adjacent the first side surface of the computer unit;

a second side panel formed independently of the first side panel and having an inboard major surface and an outboard major surface, with the inboard major surface being positionable adjacent the second side surface of the computer unit;

a top panel formed independently of the first side panel and the second side panel and having the inboard major surface and an outboard major surface, with the inboard major surface being positionable adjacent the top surface of the computer unit;

the first side panel being attached to the top panel along adjoining edges thereof,

means formed on the respective inboard major surfaces of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the top panel, for facilitating attachment of the respective inboard major surfaces to the first side surface, the second side surface, and the top surface, respectively, of the computer unit;

at least one of the first side panel, the second side panel and the top panel formed with the plurality of storage cells on the respective outboard major surface thereof; and

at least one of the plurality of storage cells comprising;

the front wall spaced outward from, and formed independently of, a respective one of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the top panel;

the rear wall, formed by a portion of the respective one of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the top panel, spaced inward from the front wall;

the floor wall formed, separately and independently of the front wall, and the respective on of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the top panel, with the floor wall formed with an inboard end and an outboard end, and extending between the front wall and rear wall;

means for fastening the inboard end of the floor wall to the rear wall; and

means for fastening the outboard end of the floor to the front wall.

17. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises:

a fastener attached to the first side panel, the second side panel and the top panel to provide facility for attachment thereof to the first side surface, the second side surface and the top surface, respectively, of the computer unit.

18. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 17, which further comprises:

the fastener is a fabric hook and loop fastener.

19. The storage organizer as set forth in claim 17, which further comprises:

a fastener attachable to the inboard surface of at least one of the first side surface, the second side surface and the top surface of the computer unit for facilitating attachment thereof to at least one of the first side panel, the second side panel and the top panel, respectively, to provide facility for attachment thereof to the adjacent inboard surface.