AU690126B2

AU690126B2 - Desk top organizer

Info

Publication number: AU690126B2
Application number: AU71803/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alex Boutsakis
Original assignee: Chronos Designs Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Chronos Designs Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1993-07-08
Filing date: 1994-07-08
Publication date: 1998-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-08
Also published as: AU7180394A

Description


  
 



  TITLE: DESK TOP ORGANIZER
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to article organizers such as document or paper holding or storage means and relates particularly to a desk top organizer for positioning, storing and holding paper or documents on a desk top although it will be appreciated that the invention may be used with any storage system.



  Generally in an office there are many items coming "in" to be read, noted, acted upon or otherwise dealt with and many items going "out" which have been dealt with. The usual practice is to have a single "in" tray and another "out" tray.



  However items coming "in" can fall into many subject categories and the urgency with which each matter must be dealt with can vary significantly. In a single "in" tray the items may be piled high and urgent or interesting matter could be buried and therefore not noticed within a required time.



  BACKGROUND ART
One known solution to this problem is to include multiple files in a single "in" tray.



  The material being delivered is inserted into the relevant files. However this requires the person delivering the material to spend time finding the relevant file, inserting the material and returning the file to the tray. Further the person who must deal with the material must regularly open each of the files to see if there is material in each file.



  Another known solution is a multiplicity of trays that interengage to form a tower of trays. Each tray can be an "in" tray for particular types of material. However, a tower of trays occupies a large space and overshadows other areas of the desk.



  A plurality of trays is also not able to provide different sized compartments to accommodate different quantities of material in each category.



  It is desirable to provide a desk top organizer which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages of known solutions to the problems of "in" trays.  



  It is also desirable to provide a desk top organizer which occupies less space than known desk top organizers but is adaptable to meet varying needs or quantities of material.



  It is also desirable to provide a novel desk top organizer which is relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, install and use and is more aesthetically pleasing than known desk top organizers.



  DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an article organizer comprising a structure supporting a plurality of substantially rigid partitions with adjacent partitions diverging away from each other and defining storage compartments therebetween.



  The rigid partitions held in position by the supporting structure form a rigid construction of storage compartments that do not collapse or expand upon insertion of material. The obliquely angled partitions also provide a wide opening at the distal side of the partitions that allows easy insertion and viewing of the material. In use the compartments could be allocated for different subject matter or types of material and the contents of the compartments selectively viewed according to urgency or interest.



  Preferably the partition members extend along substantially radially aligned planes from a single common axis. Said base structure may include brackets aligned along the single common axis with corresponding aligned slots for releasably mounting said partitions on said base structure in the radially aligned configuration.



  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In order that the invention is more readily understood particular embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a desk top organizer in accordance with
 one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the central support of the desk top
 organizer of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a desk top organizer in accordance with
 a second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a desk top organizer in accordance with
 a third embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the central support of the desk top
 organizer of Figure 5;

  ;
Figure 8 is an exploded constructional view of the central support of the desk
 top organizer of Figure 5;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the central portion of a desk top organizer in
 accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a front diagrammatic view of the desk top organizer of Figure 5;
Figure 11 is a front perspective view of a desk top organizer in accordance with
 a fifth embodiment of the invention.



  MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a desk top organizer 15 comprises a rear substantially semi-circular end stand 21 and a front substantially semi-circular end stand 22  which together with a rod 19 and a plurality of identical substantially semi-circular supports 23 each having a plurality of radial slots 24 form a central supporting structure for sup porting a plurality of partitions 31.



  The semi-circular end stands 21, 22 and the semi-circular supports 23 are fixedly mounted on the rod 19 by glue, welding or the like so as to maintain respective orientation of their straight parts to form a stable base that can rest on a flat surface. The mounting also maintains the semi-circular supports in spaced arrangement to provide support of the partitions 31 along the length of the rod 19.



  The semi-circular supports 23 include slots 24 which radially extend from near a common radiating point. Clearly the slots 24 do not extend from the common radiating point so as to maintain the unity of the supports 23. Each support 23 has corresponding positioned slots 24 and are mounted on the rod 19 so that the respective slots align. The respective common radiating points also align to form a radial axis that extends parallel with the extension of the rod 19. The radial axis could correspond with the axis of the rod 19.



  The plurality of partitions 31 have a length less than the distance between the front and rear end stands 22, 21 when fixed to the rod 19. The thickness of a lateral edge of the partitions is narrower than the width of the slots 24 so that the partitions are able to be inserted into the aligned corresponding slots 24 of the supports 23. The partitions 31 are thereby supported by the plurality of semi-circular supports 23 and extend radially from the radial axis that is parallel to the extension of the rod 19.

 

  The partitions can be selectively inserted into any corresponding aligned set of slots so that compartments of varying sizes can be constructed. The size of paper or documents able to be held in the organizer is dependent on the size of the partition.



  Preferably the partition is sized to be able to accommodate A4 size paper or any other size which is commonly used. The organizer can thereby be used as a desk top organizer to hold and store incoming documents. The organizer could also be sized to hold small memos or envelopes. The organizer provides a neat and compact storage and organizing means that allows easy storage, easy access and easy viewing of material in a plurality of compartments.  



  In a second embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 4, a   90"    version of a desk top organizer is shown which is substantially the same as the first embodiment, except that the front and rear end stands 51, 52 and the supports 53 mounted on the rod 59 are quadrant shaped. The   90"    version allows the desk top organizer to be located adjacent a wall but still provide a fan arrangement of paper storage compartments.



  In a third embodiment of the invention which is similar to the first embodiment a threaded rod 36 replaces the rod 19. The semi-circular rear end stand 21, is attached to one end of the rod 26 by means of the rod 26 extending through a hole in the end stand 21 and being held in position by a screw nut 28 threaded on the rod at an inner side of the end stand 21 and cap end nut 27 threaded on the rod at the outer side of the end stand 21. The plurality of semi-circular supports 23 are located at spaced distances along the threaded rod 26 by means of inserting the threaded rod 26 through holes 25 positioned in respective supports 23 such that the linear side of the end stand 21 and the supports 23 are able to concurrently rest on a flat surface. The supports 23 are maintained in position by screw nuts 28 located on the threaded rod 26 and located on either side of each support 23.

  The front semi-circular end stand 22 is located at the other end of the threaded rod 26 with similar hole positioning such that its linear side also rests on a flat surface concurrently with the other end stand 21 and supports 23. The front end stand is similarly maintained in position by a screw nut 28 screwed onto the threaded rod 26 on the inner side of the front end stand 22 and a cap end nut 27 located at the end of the threaded rod 26 and the front of the front end stand 22.



  Referring to Figures 9 and 10, a further embodiment of the invention is shown which comprises a desk top organizer 33 comprising a central support base 34 having front end plate 35 and rear end plate 36 such that the end plates 35 and 36 and central support base 34 have substantially a semi-circular cross-section and are aligned so as to be able to be supported on a substantially flat surface. The central support base 34 further including parallel longitudinal slots 37 extending substantially the length of the support base 34. Said slots 37 extending into the central support base 34 along respective radial lines such that when partitions 38  are inserted into said slots, said partitions 38 are supported by the central support base 34 and the partitions extend in the respective radial direction corresponding to the radial extension of the slots.



  The central support base 34 may be made integral with the front and rear end plates 35 and 36 and be moulded from wood, plastic or any other material.



     Similariy    the product can be made in its constituent parts and assembled later.



  Referring to Figure 11, a fifth embodiment of the invention is shown. A desk top organizer 39 comprises a base plate 41 and upright plate 42, rear end segment plate 43 in front and segment plate 44. The base plate 41 and upright plate 42 are maintained in their respective places by their rear and front end segment plates 43 and 44 having corresponding angle of rotation with the radial ends of each end plate abutting and connecting to the base plate 41 and upright plate 42 such as by means of snap fasteners 45 extending through holes in said upright plate 42. In another form the end plates 43 and 44 may be moulded integrally with the base plate 41, upright plate 42 or constructed separately and glued together.



  A plurality of positioning pegs 46 extend along substantially corresponding radial lines on the front end plate 44 and the rear end plate 43 such that partitions 47 can be inserted into the desk top organizer in a plane that radially extends from the vertex of the base plate 41 and upright plate 42. The number of partitions that can be inserted is merely dependent on the number of positioning pegs 46 located in the respective end plates 43 and 44. Said positioning pegs 46 may be made integral with the end plates 43 or 44 or otherwise extend through suitably positioned holes within the end plates.



  In use of the desk top organizers of the above described embodiments, a plurality of partitions are supported in substantially radial directions in order to define compartments therebetween into which paper or documents can be held or stored.



  The number of partitions that is used is variable and the size of the compartments are adjustable to accommodate the variable quantity of incoming material of different categories. Further, the front end plate or stand is sized smaller than the lateral  extent of the partitions so as to allow a viewing of the material in each compartment but still maintaining the documents within the desk top organizer. The sizing of the front plate or stand also allows for insertion or withdrawal of material partially through the front opening. This prevents the awkwardness of having to withdraw materials in the radial direction of the extension of the partitions.



  In order to improve the aesthetics of the desk top organizer, the material may be made of coloured plastic with the pegs, rod or threaded rod, end cap and screw nuts of similar material or of steel with a coloured coating which matches the colour of the plastic. Clearly though it is the functional improvements of this desk top organizer that provides the most benefit, such as the neat, compact means of having a plurality of compartments but still allowing easy access and easy viewing.

 

  It should be evident from the above description that the improved desk top organizer avoids most if not all the disadvantages of the prior art. Of course many modification to the above described embodiment may be readily envisaged by persons skilled in the art. For example the rod may be replaced by a plastic strip which clips onto the bottom edge of the end stands 21 and 22 and the plurality of the supports 23. Further, the partitions may have slots which fit into grooves or protuberances on the plurality of supports 23 to maintain the partitions supported in a radial position. Also the structures of the end stand and the supports of any of the three embodiments may not be strictly circular but elliptical or otherwise curved with radial like arrangement of the partitions.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An article organizer comprising a structure supporting a plurality of substantially rigid partitions with adjacent partitions diverging away from each other and defining storage compartments therebetween.

2. An article organizer according to claim 1 wherein the supporting structure includes a base on which the partitions are mounted such that the partitions diverge away from the base.

3. An article organizer according to claim 2 wherein the partitions are releasably mounted on the base.

4. An article organizer according to claim 3 wherein the base includes a plurality of brackets spaced along the length of the base and having a plurality of corresponding slots, which are sized and aligned to allow mounting and support of the partitions in the slots.

5. An article organizer according to claim 1 wherein the supporting structure includes end brackets which engage and support the partitions.

6. An article organizer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support structure defines part of one or more storage compartments.

7. An article organizer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the partitions are supported in a substantially radial arrangement around a central axis.

8. An article organizer according to claim 7 wherein the organizer is fanshaped and the plurality of partitions at least partially overlie each other.

9. An article organizer according to claim 8 wherein the organizer extends through 1800.

10. An article organizer having a supporting structure engaging a respective edge of a plurality of substantially rigid partitions to support the partitions such that they diverge away from each other and define storage compartments therebetween.

11. An article organizer according to claim 10 wherein the supporting structure includes slots or grooves and the edge of the partitions are releasably mounted in respective slots or grooves.

12. An article organizer according to claim 10 wherein the supporting structure includes sets of protuberances extending from the body of the supporting structure, the partitions being releasably mounted on the supporting structure with the edge of each partition coacting with respective sets of protuberances to locate and support the partitions.

13. An article organizer according to claim 11 wherein the supporting structure includes a plurality of spaced members having slots, corresponding slots of each spaced member engaging with different parts of one or more edges of respective partitions to locate and support the partitions.