WO2014093328A1

WO2014093328A1 - Organizer

Info

Publication number: WO2014093328A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/074098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jun Ma; Gerald E. Mueller; Nicolas A. Echeverri; David M. Mahli
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2012-12-10
Filing date: 2013-12-10
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-10
Also published as: TW201437056A

Abstract

An organizer comprising a support member having a front face with a plurality of sheet loops thereon, wherein the sheet loops abut in parallel juxtaposition, defining a retention channel between adjacent sheet loops, and wherein the sheet loops are deformable and resilient.

Description

ORGANIZER

Field

The present invention relates to organizers, e.g., for holding or displaying photographs, memos, etc.

Background

A variety of organizers for holding or displaying photographs, memos, cards, etc. are known. In addition to those merely having slots in which an item sits by force of gravity, many use hand activated devices such as crocodile or alligator clips, binder clips to secure the items. These can be somewhat complex to assemble and unwieldy to operate as well as susceptible to causing damage to the item being held.

The need exists for organizers which are easy to use, provide secure gripping and release.

Summary

The present invention provides new organizers that are easy to use.

In brief summary, an organizer of the invention comprises a support member having a front face with a plurality of sheet loops thereon, wherein the sheet loops abut in parallel juxtaposition, defining a retention channel between adjacent sheet loops, and wherein the sheet loops are deformable and resilient.

Organizers of the invention can be made in a variety of configurations, having selected aesthetic appearance and appeal.

Brief Description of Drawing

The invention is further explained with reference to the drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of an organizer of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the top plate of an illustrative embodiment of an organizer of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet configured to be used to make the sheet loops in an organizer of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of top plate and sheet loops of an illustrative organizer of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of sheet loops, a top plate, and a locking plate of an illustrative organizer of the invention.

These figures are not to scale and are intended to be merely illustrative and not limiting. Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments

An organizer of the invention comprises a support member having a front face with a plurality of sheet loops thereon, wherein the sheet loops abut in parallel juxtaposition, defining a retention channel between adjacent sheet loops, and wherein the sheet loops are deformable and resilient. In Fig. 1, organizer 10 comprises support member 12 with a plurality of sheet loops 14 protruding from the front surface 16 thereof. The sheet loops abut in parallel juxtaposition defining retention channels 18 between adjacent sheet loops. As used herein, resilient means the sheet loops, under the conditions used, does not undergo permanent yield or plastic deformation and exhibits a tendency to seek to recover their initial configuration such that adjacent sheet loops will impart a compressive force toward each other when an article has been inserted into the retention channel defined therebetween.

The support member should be sufficiently strong to support the sheet loops and any articles gripped thereon. Typically, the back member is adapted to be handled as desired, and to mount the organizer on a surface as desired, e.g., with openings for mounting or screws, nails, pegs, etc., adhesive or mechanical means, etc.

Illustrative examples of materials suitable for making the sheet loops include plastic films, e.g.,

PET films, co-extruded PET/EVA films, etc. Typically films having thickness on the order of about 4 to 8 mils will be well suited, though films having thicknesses outside this range will be useful in some embodiments.

Typically, the sheet loops have an average width, and the resultant retention channels will have an average length, of at least about 2.5 cm, and in some embodiments, have an average width of from about 5 to about 15 cm. Sheet loops which are narrower, and thus yield shorter retention channels, than will typically fail to grip documents and other articles with desired efficacy.

The sheet loops are attached to the support member, e.g., the front surface or rear surface thereof, such that the loops are in abutting position. Illustrative examples of means for attaching the loops to the rail include staples, screws, nails, clips, adhesive, etc. A typical embodiment will have from 4 to 18 sheet loops, resulting in from 3 to 17 retention channels, typically preferably from 5 to 12 retention channels. It will be understood that organizers of the invention may be made with more sheet loops and retention channels in accordance with the invention. In many embodiments, the length of the array of sheet loops is from about 20 to 40 cm, though arrays having dimensions outside this range may be used if desired.

The sheet loops are positioned abutting one another to have an average spacing from crest to crest of from about 15 to about 30 millimeters.

In typical embodiments, the sheet loops have an average wave height of from about 20 to about 40 millimeters.

The sheet loops may be made from individual sheets that are attached to the support member, e.g., to the front surface thereof.

In some embodiments, a single sheet is configured and attached to the support member to form the desired array of sheet loops and retention channels. For instance, Fig. 3 shows a portion of a sheet configured to be used in an illustrative embodiment of the invention. Sheet 13 has been configured by forming fold lines 22, e.g., by perforation, at regular spacing. The portion between each set of fold lines 22 will correspond to a sheet loop 14. In addition, sheet 13 has an array of openings 24 near each fold line. Turning to Fig. 2, support member 12 comprises top plate 26 which has a plurality of slots 28 therein. When assembled, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each sheet loop will extend from adjacent slots. In this preferred embodiment, the bottom surface 28 of top plate 26 has a plurality of pins 30 positioned adjacent the slots. To assemble the organizer, a lead edge of sheet 13 is inserted into the first slot 28 and the openings 24 at the edge engaged with pins 30. Thereafter, each fold line is inserted in sequence to the next succeeding slot, and the openings 24 adjacent either side of the respective fold line engaged with the pins corresponding to such slot. As this is continued, sheet loops of sheet 13 are formed with each successive loop defining a retention channel. Optionally, support member 12 may further comprise a bottom plate 32 that will engage with top plate 26 and secure sheet 13 and each of the sheet loops 14 in place.

Typically, organizers of the invention will have from 4 to 18 loops, forming from 3 to 17 retention channels though embodiments having numbers outside this range may be made in accordance with the invention. Perhaps most typically, the organizer will have from 5 to 12 retention channels though it will be understood that organizers having a number of channels outside this range may be made in accordance with the invention.

In many embodiments, the plurality of loops extends for a distance of from about 20 to about 40 cm inches long, i.e., perpendicularly to the array of parallel retention channels, though smaller or larger rails may be made in accordance with the invention.

In addition to supporting the sheet loops, the support member may be adapted on its front face 16 for additional features, e.g., with a writable surface thereon, space and means to support a note pad, space or means to support a writing instrument, etc.

Organizers of the invention may be used on generally horizontal surfaces, or on upright surface with the longitudinal axis of the rail extending in a horizontal direction, vertical direction, or in-between.

We have found that such organizers can provide effective gripping and orientation of documents, photos, cards, etc. with surprising ease.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.

The complete disclosure of all patents, patent documents, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described, for variations obvious to one skilled in the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An organizer comprising a support member having a front face with a plurality of sheet loops thereon, wherein the sheet loops abut in parallel juxtaposition, defining a retention channel between adjacent sheet loops, and wherein the sheet loops are deformable and resilient.

2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the retention channels have an average length of at least about 2.5 cm.

3. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the retention channels sheet loops have an average length of from about 5 to about 15 cm.

4. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the sheet loops have an average crest spacing of from about 15 to about 30 millimeters.

5. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the sheet loops have an average wave height of from about 20 to about 40 millimeters.

6. The organizer of claim 1 comprising from 4 to 18 sheet loops.

7. The organizer of claim 1 comprising from 3 to 17 retention channels.

8. The organizer of claim 1 comprising from 5 to 12 retention channels.

9. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sheet loops extends for a distance of from about 20 to about 40 cm.

10. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the sheet loops are attached to the front surface of the support member.

1 1. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a front plate having a plurality of slots therein and each sheet loop extends from adjacent slots.

12. The organizer of claim 1 wherein the sheet loops are formed from a single resilient sheet.

13. The organizer of claim 1 1 wherein the sheet loops are attached to the back side of the face plate. base plate adapted to attach to the back side of the

14. The organizer of claim 1 1 further comprising

face plate.

claim 1 wherein a portion of the front surface of the support member is writable.

15. The organilzzeer of

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