Storage Organizer
20180086132 ยท 2018-03-29
Inventors
Cpc classification
B42F7/06
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B42F13/22
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B42P2241/16
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B42F13/40
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B42F13/40
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B42F13/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B42F13/22
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A storage organizer comprising a planar base sheet whereupon compartments or containers for storing items or substances may be arranged as a plurality of rows and columns, and where said organizer may be incorporated into a loose-leaf ringed binder simultaneously used to store and organize relevant paper documents. Categorization of stored items occurs through labeling space above columns and beside rows, while a paper or pull-out component situated beneath stored items allows for a submatrix stratification and characterization of stored contents. A method for efficiently storing and familiarizing medicines is addressed, comprising organization by day and a specific time or frequency of administration on the base sheet, with further characterization on the paper or pull-out component according to medicine name, strength and prescription number by row, with columns according to date prescribed and initials of prescriber, appearance, indication, intended result, special considerations and/or monitoring parameters, and possible side effects.
Claims
1. A storage organizer comprising: a. a base formed from a planar sheet of material, wherein i. said base contains the means for the attachment and removal of sidewalls and containers, or said base comprises permanently attached sidewalls in combination with the means for the attachment and removal of additional sidewalls and/or containers, whereby a customizable number of compartments is formed upon said base into a series of compartments as a plurality of rows and columns ii. said containers, when not fitting within said sidewalls, contain the means for attachment and removal from said base for the formation of a plurality of rows and columns iii. said base contains the means for placement and securement within a loose-leaf ringed binder through corresponding openings near one or more edges of said base, whereby the passage of openable rings attached to said binder may occur through said openings, whereby said organizer can only move along paths delineated by the shape of said rings when closed, whereby said base is confined to said binder iv. said base comprises space to the right and/or to the left of said rows for the placement of indicium or labeling for identification of contents stored according to rows v. said base comprises space above and/or below said columns for the placement of indicium or labeling for identification of contents stored according to columns vi. said base comprises an opening within said base, whether said base is uniform as one piece or comprises a separable top and bottom section, wherein the placement and removal of one or more pieces of paper or a pull-out component may occur.
2. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a lid made of a transparent material, such as polycarbonate or polypropylene, whereby a user may readily determine the nature of an item stored on said base, or in a container on said base, without having to remove said lid.
3. The organizer of claim 1, wherein said containers may comprise a body, lid, and bottom, wherein said lid contains the means for being securely attached to said body, and wherein said bottom, when present, contains the means for securely attaching to said base sheet.
4. The organizer of claim 1, wherein said containers may comprise a lid with openings, whereby a paperclip, curved pic, or the ends of a standard pair of tweezers or a specialized pair of tweezers may be inserted into said openings, whereby said container may be easily detached or removed from said base sheet when a vertical-lifting force is applied.
5. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a lid, whereby stored contents or containers may be exposed in a rapid manner when said lid is vertically removed from the top wise edge of said sidewalls or pivotally lifted while remaining attached to one sidewall or to the rings of said binder.
6. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a lid for compartments formed between sidewalls, whereby stored contents or containers may be exposed one compartment at a time through a sliding motion of said lid.
7. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a lid according to claim 5, wherein said lid contains a peg receptacle that fits over a peg protruding from the top of a sidewall, or where the entire top side of said sidewall acts as a peg, wherein said peg receptacle on said lid is tapered, whereby an increasingly tighter fit may be produced in accordance with the downward pressure a user applies to the top surface of said lid.
8. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a lid according to claim 5, wherein said lid is used in combination with a peg in the shape of a bolt comprising a tubular bottom section, with or without threads, whereby said bolt-shaped peg may be placed into a hole, with or without receiving threads, in the center of a peg protruding from the top of a sidewall, as described in claim 7, whereby the diameter of the head of said bolt exceeds the diameter of the peg receptacle on said lid, whereby said lid is retained in a closed position.
9. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a lid according to claim 5, wherein said lid contains a flexible seam or living hinge, or a rounded hinge, whereby the other three edges of said lid may become contiguous with the top wise edges of adjacent sidewalls when in a closed position.
10. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a lid according to claim 5, wherein said lid contains a clasp or catch, whereby said lid may snap into a securely closed position, whereby said lid may be retained in a permanently closed position until a releasing force is applied to said clasp or catch by a user.
11. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a lid according to claim 6, wherein said lid may slide along the top-wise edge of two sidewalls, and over any containers stored within said sidewalls, by sliding within a channels on the top-wise edge on said sidewalls, whereby securement of stored items or containers beneath said lid and within said sidewalls may occur.
12. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a lid retaining component that may be attached to the top of said sidewalls, whereby a lid according to claim 6 may not be removed from said organizer or expose compartments except by a sliding motion.
13. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a series of primary protrusions on the vertical face of the channels described in claim 11, whereby said primary protrusions come into contact with secondary protrusions on flexible arms of said lid, whereby a predetermined amount of resistance is formed as the secondary protrusion slides past the primary protrusion, whereby said resistance prevents said lid from moving beyond predetermined positions that correspond to the opening of individual compartments, whereby said lid remains in place in spite of gravity or without additional urging by the user, and whereby a tactile sensation corresponds to the proper placement of said lid in accordance to providing access to a given compartment along a series of compartments in a given row of stored items.
14. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a spring operated lid closure component attached to said base, wherein said component contains a top and bottom section pivotally connected, whereby tension may be formed through the use of said spring situated between said top and bottom sections, whereby a clasping lip on said top section may slide over the top wise face of said lid, coming to rest in an indention on the top face of said lid when in a closed position, whereby said lid cannot be opened unless said top section is depressed by the user and said lid is simultaneously slid out from underneath said clasping lip.
15. The organizer of claim 1, wherein said base sheet may be subdivided and contain the means for subdivided sections to fit together.
16. The organizer of claim 1, wherein longitudinal sidewalls, whether permanent or removable, contain channels, whereby removable latitudinal sidewalls may fit within said channels, whereby a user may increase the number of individual compartments.
17. The organizer of claim 1 comprising removable latitudinal sidewalls in accordance with claim 16, wherein said sidewalls are joined together through a seam running along the top wise edge of said sidewalls, whereby new compartments may be formed within several rows simultaneously, allowing a user to readily facilitate the formation of new compartments.
18. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a pull-out component, wherein said pull-out contains the means for receiving and displaying digital information, whereby information related to stored contents may be digitally retained, retrieved, modified and reviewed, whereby said pull-out component comprises: a. a CPU b. a memory storage system c. one or more input apparatuses, such as a keyboard, touch-sensitive screen, microphone, universal serial bus port or wireless transmitter d. one or more output apparatuses, such as a liquid crystal display screen, speaker, universal serial bus port or wireless transmitter.
19. The organizer of claim 1 comprising a pull-out component wherein said pull-out comprises a wipe-able board, whereby a writing utensil containing non-permanent ink may be used for the placement of indicium.
20. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a means whereby said paper or pull-out component has a reduced likelihood to fall out of the organizer due to gravity as a result of friction created through a rigid or semi-flexible incline situated along the interior of the opening capable of receiving the paper or pull-out component, whereby said paper or pull-out component comes in contact with the surface of said incline as a result of a user urging said paper or pull-out component into said opening.
21. The incline of claim 20 further comprising a layer of material on its surface, such as rubber or silicon, whereby additional frictional resistance may be created so as to prevent said paper or pull-out component from falling out of said organizer due to gravity.
22. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising at least two inclines as described in claim 20, wherein said inclines exist on opposing faces of said opening so as to bend and distorts the normal plane of one or more pieces of paper or a pull-out component as said paper or pull-out component is urged into said opening by a user, or distorts the natural shape of a semi-rigid incline when said pull-component is inflexible, whereby additional friction is created so as to prevent said paper or pull-out component from falling out of said organizer due to gravity.
23. The organizer of claim 1 further comprising a child proofing lock and strap, as would commonly be used on cupboards and cabinets to secure against intrusion by a child, which may be affixed to the outside covers of the binder housing the organizer of claim 1, whereby said organizer may be secured in a closed and tamper-resistant manner.
24. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said organizer comprises three openings capable of receiving the three rings of a loose-leaf three ring binder, wherein said openings are square, whereby more space is available for insertion of said ring when compared to round openings.
25. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said organizer comprises three openings capable of receiving the three rings of a loose-leaf three ring binder, wherein the middle opening is larger than the top and bottom openings, whereby the top and middle opening or bottom and middle opening may be inserted simultaneously into the corresponding rings while the opposite edge is higher than would otherwise be possible with uniformly sized openings, particularly when said insertion occurs in a binder with large rings, such as a 4 binder.
26. The organizer of claim 1 comprising openings capable of receiving the rings of a binder, wherein said openings are vertically raised above the plane of the bottom face of the organizer commonly in contact with the interior cover of said binder, whereby said organizer may rest completely flat on the interior cover of said binder when said binder is an opened position.
27. A method of familiarizing a user with items stored on the organizer of claim 1, whereby identification and understanding of various characteristics of stored items is facilitated through information stored on the paper or pull-out component that is situated within said opening and beneath stored items, wherein said paper or pull-out component contains indicia arranged into rows that correspond with columns of items stored above, wherein a linear connection is observable between said columns and rows as said paper or pull-out component is slid out from said opening, and when said base and containers are made of a clear material, such as polycarbonate or polypropylene, and wherein further identification and understanding of stored contents may occur through information arranged into columns on said paper or pull-out component.
28. A method of organizing columns and rows of information on the paper or pull-out component claim 1, wherein said paper or pull-out is used to aid in the identification of specific characteristics of stored medicines, wherein each row is organized according to the name of an individual medicine, whereby said rows visibly correspond to columns of medicines stored above on said organizer, and wherein said columns of information on the paper or pull out may comprise the following fields: a. name of medicine or supplement, strength and prescription number b. date prescribed and initials of prescribing provider c. shape, color and/or markings on the tablet or capsule d. indication of medicine or why it was prescribed e. the intended result the medicine produces f. special considerations or monitoring parameters g. possible side effects
29. A method wherein the organizer of claim 1 is used by a pharmacist in filling prescriptions for a customer, whereby said customer may retrieve all of their medicines and and/or supplements prearranged within said organizer along with a paper or pull-out component completed by the pharmacy according to claim 28, as well as information pertinent to the safe and effective use of said medicines and/or supplements, in accordance with claim 28.
30. A method whereby the organizer of claim 1 is used in conjunction with a device capable of capturing an electronic image, such as a digital imaging scanner, wherein said device slides into said opening, whereby electronic images of stored contents may be captured when the base of claim 1 is made of a clear material, such as polypropylene or polycarbonate, whereby various objects, such as insects, plants, rocks or seeds may be identified and further studied through software used with said scanner or through a tablet computer or similar device connected to said scanner, and wherein an arrangement of said contents may be stored electronically and/or further reviewed according to a pre-programmed arrangement in order to ascertain conformity with an expected arrangement according to the programming of said software.
Description
DRAWINGSFIGURES
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REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0073] 100 the first embodiment for a base sheet; 101 openings for rings of a binder; 102 T-shaped channels for longitudinal sidewalls; 103 space for labeling rows of stored items; 104 space for labeling columns of stored items; 106 longitudinal sidewalls with T-shaped protrusions; 108 T-shaped protrusions on longitudinal sidewalls; 110 pegs on the base sheet; 112 a ring securing component; 114 pegs on the ring securing component; 116 peg receptacles on a latitudinal sidewall; 118 an exterior latitudinal sidewall; 122 peg receptacles on the base sheet; 124 the first embodiment for a sliding lid; 126 protrusions that form a channel for sliding lids; 127 channels on longitudinal sidewalls for sliding lids; 128 protrusions on longitudinal sidewalls for removable interior latitudinal sidewalls; 129 channels on longitudinal sidewalls for removable interior latitudinal sidewalls; 131 peg-receptacles on one edge of a lid; 132 pegs on one edge of a lid; 133 a handle for a lid used with a base sheet; 135 removable interior latitudinal sidewalls; 136 openings on latitudinal sidewalls for securing lids; 137 an opening on a lid for a T-shaped peg; 138 two protrusions on the bottom face of a lid; 139 a T-shaped peg for securing lids; 142 the first embodiment for a pull-out component; 144 an opening for receiving a pull-out component; 146 second embodiment for a pull-out component; 148 hook-like protrusions on the pull-out component; 150 a blockage for the hook-like protrusions of the pull-out component; 152 a stop-protrusion on the pull-out component; 154 a wedge on the bottom face of the pull-out component; 201 the top section of a second embodiment for a base sheet; 204 permanently attached outer and inner longitudinal sidewalls; 208 permanently attached outer latitudinal sidewalls; 251 the top section of a third embodiment for a base sheet; 252 a second embodiment for a sliding lid; 301 the top section of a fourth embodiment for a base sheet; 302 the first embodiment for a bottom section of a base sheet; 314 a lid retaining component; 316 pegs on the lid retaining component; 318 a hole on the lid retaining component; 320 peg-receptacles on longitudinal sidewalls for securing the lid retaining component; 323 a permanently attached latitudinal sidewall; 322 a hole on longitudinal sidewalls for securing the lid retaining component; 324 primary protrusions on the channels for sliding lids; 326 a third embodiment for a sliding lid; 328 flexible arms on a sliding lid; 330 secondary protrusions on flexible arms of a sliding lid; 334 an indention for securing a sliding lid; 336 removable interior latitudinal sidewalls that span all rows; 340 a lid closure component; 342 the top section of the lid retaining component; 344 the bottom section of the lid retaining component; 346 a clasp on the lid retaining component for securing lids; 348 the female component of a hinge pivotally connecting the top and bottom sections of the lid securing component; 349 the male component of a hinge pivotally connecting the top and bottom sections of the lid securing component; 350 an indention for receiving the lid securing component; 352 a hole for securing the lid securing component with a screw; 354 an embodiment for an opening for a binder ring; 358 an incline for creating friction against the paper or pull-out component; 360 holes for securing the top and bottom sections of the base sheet together with a screw; 362 protrusions for guiding sheets of paper or the pull-out component into the opening; 364 an indention to ease grasping the paper or pull-out component for removal; 366 curved protrusions for facilitating paper or the pull-out component into the opening; 368 the first embodiment for a pivotally opening lid; 370 a second embodiment for a pivotally opening lid; 372 a third embodiment for a pivotally opening lid; 401 a fifth embodiment for the top section of a base sheet; 403 peg-like protrusions for securing containers; 602 the first embodiment for a container body; 604 the first embodiment for a container lid; 606 the first embodiment for a container bottom; 607 the first embodiment for a container comprising a bottom, body and lid; 608 peg-like receptacles for securing containers to a base sheet; 609 channels formed between protrusions for a sliding container lid; 610 the upper protrusion forming a channel for a sliding container lid; 611 the bottom protrusion forming a channel for a sliding container lid 612 a handle on a container lid; 622 the second embodiment for a container body; 624 the second embodiment for a container lid; 626 the second embodiment for a container bottom; 628 peg-like protrusions on a container lid for securement to a container body; 630 peg-like receptacles on a container body for securement to a container lid; 641 the third embodiment for a container lid; 642 the third embodiment for a container body; 644 a flexible peg-like protrusion on the bottom face of a container lid for securement to a container body; 646 the gap between the bottom face of the container lid and the flexible peg-like protrusion; 648 a hand-like protrusion on the terminal end of the flexible peg-like protrusion; 650 an opening in a container body for receiving the hand-like protrusion 652 an indention on a container lid to ease opening; 654 openings on a container lid to ease removal from a base sheet; 656 an embodiment for specialized tweezers; 658 hand-like protrusions on the terminal ends of specialized tweezers; 681 the sixth embodiment for a top section of a base sheet; 682 peg-like receptacles on a base sheet for receiving a container bottom; 701 the seventh embodiment for the top section of a base sheet; 704 a letter-sized piece of paper demonstrating indicia relevant to organizing and characterizing medicines; 706 peg-like protrusions on latitudinal sidewalls for securing vertically removable lids; 708 the second embodiment for a bottom section of a base sheet;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0074] The first embodiment 100 for a base sheet is shown in
[0075] A ring securing component 112 designed for left side insertion to a base sheet contains pegs 114 that are long enough to slide through a peg receptacle 116 located on a latitudinal sidewall 118 and into a peg receptacle 122 on the base sheet 100. Openings 101 capable of receiving rings of a binder are shown on the ring securing component 112.
[0076] Space for longitudinal labeling 104 is located at the top of the base sheet, above stored contents, whether stored in formed compartments or in removable containers, in accordance with formed columns. Space for latitudinal labeling 103, according to row organization, is provided on the left side of the organizer, atop the ring securing component 112.
[0077] Pegs 110 on both the right and left edges of the base sheet allow latitudinal sidewalls 118 with peg receptacles 116 to fit snugly over said pegs, thus firmly securing said sidewall to said base sheet. Additional base sheets 100 may be attached to each other through said pegs 110 and adjacent peg receptacles 116, as also shown in
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[0090] Top and bottom sections contain holes 360, whereby a screw may attach said pieces together. Said bottom section also contains protrusions 362 whereby said paper or pull-out component slides along a predetermined path for alignment with columns of stored contents above. Although not shown graphically a similar protrusion exists on the bottom face of the top section to prevent a piece of paper or pull-out component from sliding any further into the opening, whereby a portion of the paper or the pull-out component is exposed outside the opening so that a user may easily grasp the paper or pull-out component for removal.
[0091] In this embodiment that the size of the opening 144 for the paper or pull-out component is large enough for a letter-sized piece of paper, 8.511.
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[0093] A third embodiment for a pivotally opening lid 372, comprising a living hinge or seam, is shown in
[0094] A fifth embodiment for the top section of a base sheet 401 is presented in
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[0102] Once a user has stored all the items they wish to store, they may then place a lid 326 over each row by placing it into channels 127 formed along the topside edge of longitudinal sidewalls. Said embodiment comprises the use of a lid retaining component 314 that may be fastened above said channels, thereby preventing the lids from falling if the organizer is turned upside down. Additionally, primary protrusions 324 on said grooves encounter secondary protrusions 330 on flexible arms 328 of the lid as it slides over compartments or removable container on the base sheet. This feature enables the user to adjust the location of a lid in order to expose the contents of a given compartment without the lid moving from that position unless further urged by the user. If the user turns the lid 180 degrees, so that the secondary protrusions are furthest away from the organizer, the resistance is disabled as the secondary protrusions never make contact with the primary protrusions.
[0103] A user may also attach a lid closure component 340 to the base sheet, whereby spring operated tension enables the lid to be secured in a closed position as a clasping lip 346 on the component rests in an indention 334 on the top face of the lid 326 when the lid is in a fully closed position. In order to remove the lid from the closed position, a user would press down on the top section of the closure component, as though pressing a button, while simultaneously sliding the lid out from underneath the clasping lip.
[0104] A user may also store items in individual containers that fit within compartments, thereby facilitating removal and transport of stored items. These containers comprise a lid and a body that fit within sidewalls. With the third embodiment for a container, shown in
[0105] Stored contents may be identified through labeling space, with space for columns 116 above said columns and space for rows 103 to the right of said rows. An opening between the top 301 and bottom 302 sections of the base sheet allows a standard 8.511 piece of paper or a pull-out component to slide directly beneath stored items. Said paper or pull-out component may contain indicium or labeling to further stratify column contents and provide additional details of stored items. An incline 358 within the opening between the top and bottom section creates friction so as to prevent the paper or pull out component from falling out of the organizer due to gravity. Although not shown graphically, an additional layer of material may be deposited on said incline, such as rubber or silicon, in order to increase friction and resistance to further movement.
[0106] Although the organizer may be most helpful in storing and organizing medicines, it may also be helpful in storing and organizing jewelry, seeds for gardening or farming, or paints used by an artist for painting. When storing medicine, the labeling space located to the right of each of the seven rows allows a user to organize their medicine according to each day of the week. Labeling space above columns allow a user to sort medicine according to a specific time of daily administration. They may then use a piece of paper or the pull-out component to further stratify each medicine by name, according to rows, wherein each row on the paper or pull-out component corresponds to a column of medicine stored above. Each row may then be further stratified into columns of information concerning the stored medicine, such as the initials of the prescriber and the date prescribed, the appearance of the medicine, the indication of the medicine or why it was prescribed, the intended result the medicine produces, such as lowering blood pressure, any special considerations or monitoring parameters, and possible side effects.
[0107] The size of the smallest compartment in the aforementioned base sheet embodiment is large enough to accommodate the largest tablet or capsule currently available on the market, such as a calcium carbonate tablet or fish oil capsule. If a user were advised to take two of these large tablets or capsules at a particular time of day, they would not need to subdivide a compartment using a removable latitudinal sidewall.
[0108] Because the organizer fits within a standard sized notebook, medical information relating to the stored medicines can be readily stored alongside the medicines and sorted through the use of tabs, thereby facilitating retrieval of potentially vital information.
[0109] At some point in the future, it's not improbable that instead of a patient picking up a number of different prescription medicines housed in several different prescription bottles from their local pharmacy, and possibly on different days in a given month, they'll be able to pick up all their medicines readily sorted and stored in this organizer, neatly arranged for the proper administration time and containing all the information pertinent to their proper use and even their disease state(s). Furthermore, because several organizers can be stacked upon one another in the same notebook, a patient would be able to pick up one months' worth of medicine at a time.
[0110] Alternative embodiments for a base sheet allow for variation with respect to compartment size and number, expandability, type of lid and lid mechanism, extent and location of labeling space, whether related to columns and rows formed on the organizer or on the paper or the pull-out component. Alternative embodiments for containers allow for variation with respect to closing mechanisms, size and method of securement upon a base sheet.
[0111] Although not shown graphically, the junction between a base sheet and a lid, or a container body and container lid, may contain a seal or gasket, such as a silicon seal, whereby the contents of a compartment or container may be more thoroughly protected from moisture, air and air-born contaminants.
[0112] The embodiments described above may be made of durable materials, such as metal, wood or plastic, with plastic being most likely due to workability, durability, low weight and low cost. Additionally, plastic materials may be transparent, allowing the correlation between stored items and information on the paper or pull-out component to be observed without necessitating their removal from the opening. Formation of the embodiments may occur through injection molding, selective laser sintering, stereolithography, lathing/machining, and/or fused deposition modeling, with injection molding most likely due to its capacity for high volume, low-cost production.
[0113] While the present invention has been described with several embodiments, it should be noted that various other embodiments and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, embodiments presented herein are merely illustrative of the features of the invention and should not be construed as the only variants thereof or limited thereto.