Organization system

• US 4,858,354 A
• Filed: 03/09/1987
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence H. Gettler
• Original Assignee: Lawrence H. Gettler
• Inventors: Gettler, Lawrence H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/023,483
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 40/324, 40/359, 40/375, 40/491, 40/904, 40/360, 40/488, 312/140.4, 312/209, 312/234, 312/234.4, 206/557, 206/562, 108/26, 116/321, 116/323, 220/23.2
• US Class Current: 40/324
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/10 Supports or holders for show-cards
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/18 Casings, frames or enclosures for labels

Abstract

An organization system includes a series of covered, side-by-side "status-tracking" filing trays, open at each end, for placement on an existing countertop (thus, the top surface of the covered trays continues to provide a flat working surface for that counter). Each filing tray corresponds to a given subject, and each contains a filing tray clipboard for holding the file pertaining to that subject. Above each tray is at least one symbol display mechanism, so that the status of the subject on different parameters can be displayed and monitored visually from a distance. The display mechanism depicts the status of these parameters by display of an appropriate symbol or color, for example, as follows: no display color (no action necessary); red display color (orders requested); yellow display color (orders acknowledged or in progress); and green display color (orders complete). A further set of stand-alone status-tracking clipboards for extra subjects is provided, which incorporate symbol display mechanisms onto the board itself.

Claims

1. An organization system for tracking the state of completion of an activity applicable to more than one subject, said activity having at least two states of completion, said system comprising:

a number of tray members equal to the number of subjects, said tray members arranged in side-by-side fashion upon a counter, said tray members including a top surface providing a working surface above said counter, and including a mounting device engageable to a tray connection device on said counter, and further including means for containing information relating to said subject; and

a display mechanism for selectively revealing a symbol indicating the state of completion of said activity activities to be tracked.

2. The organizational system of claim 1 for tracking the state of completion of more than one activity applicable to said subject, including a number of display mechanism equal to the number of activities to be tracked.

3. The organizational system of claim 1 wherein said counter has at least two sides, and said tray members are accessible from either side.

4. The organizational system of claim 1 wherein said display mechanism is visible from either side of said counter.

5. The organizational system of claim 1 wherein said tray members are made of a transparent material.

6. The organizational system of claim 1 wherein said information containing means comprises a clipboard insertable within said tray members.

7. An organization board for tracking the state of completion of more than one activity applicable to a given subject, said activity having at least two states of completion, comprising:

a clipboard member with means for containing information relating to said subject, said clipboard member made of a transparent material; and

a number of display mechanisms equal to the number of activities to be tracked, said display mechanisms mounted on said clipboard for selectively revealing a symbol indicating the state of completion of said activity, said display mechanisms visible through said clipboard transparent material.

8. A symbol display mechanism for selectively revealing a symbol indicating the state of completion of an activity, said display mechanism having a front side and a back side, comprising:

upper and lower housing members;

a strip member partitioned into panels bearing red, yellow and green symbols slidable within said housing members; and

an opaque cover portion to obscure some or all of said strip member symbols, wherein said strip member is slidable within said housing members and completely behind said opaque cover portion to display no symbols indicative of completion of an activity, and slidable within said housing members and completely away from said opaque cover portion to simultaneously display symbols indicative of completion of the activity to both sides of said display mechanism, and further that said display mechanism is stackable upon other like display mechanisms to enable indications of completion of a plurality of activities.