U.S. patent application number 10/722745 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for personal organizational accessory.
Invention is credited to Coleman, Ronald D..
Application Number | 20040099551 10/722745 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32329293 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040099551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Coleman, Ronald D. |
May 27, 2004 |
Personal organizational accessory
Abstract
A personal organizational accessory having a main body and a
sliding panel. The main body having a slot and a protecting
portion. The sliding panel being longitudinally received in the
main body the slot and into the protecting portion. The sliding
panel including a stopping device adapted to prevent the removal of
a sliding device inserted into the main body.
Inventors: |
Coleman, Ronald D.; (Ste.
Genevieve, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David R. Deal
Thompson Coburn LLP
One US Bank Plaza
St. Louis
MO
63101-9928
US
|
Family ID: |
32329293 |
Appl. No.: |
10/722745 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60429388 |
Nov 27, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/065 20130101;
A45C 1/06 20130101; A45C 15/02 20130101; A45C 2001/065
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/320 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A personal organizational accessory comprising: a sliding panel
having a first edge, a second edge, a front face, an access device,
an insertion portion and a supporting portion, the insertion
portion extending longitudinally from the first edge in a direction
of the second edge, the supporting portion extending longitudinally
from the insertion portion to the second edge, the insertion
portion including a ramp device and a stopping device, the stopping
device having a stopping device width, the stopping device width
being measured from a longitudinal axis of the sliding panel, the
access device being located on the supporting portion at a panel
distance from the first edge and adapted to provide a grip for a
user to move the sliding panel, the sliding panel being adapted to
support an electronic device having a working face; a main body
having a slot and a protecting portion, the protecting portion
extending longitudinally from the slot to an end edge, the end edge
being located at a protecting distance from the slot, the
protecting distance being less than the panel distance, the
protecting portion being adapted to longitudinally receive the
sliding panel such that when the first edge of the sliding panel
abuts the end edge of the protecting portion the access device is
opposite the slot from the end edge, the slot having a slot width
and being changeable from a non-stretched condition to a stretched
condition, the slot width being less than the stopping device width
when in the non-stretched condition, the slot being adapted to
interact with the sliding panel such that as the insertion portion
is inserted longitudinally into the protecting portion the ramp
device of the insertion portion stretches the slot from the
non-stretched position to the stretched position such that the
stopping device may be inserted into the protecting portion, the
slot being further adapted to interact with the sliding panel such
that, when the stopping device passes the slot as the sliding panel
is inserted longitudinally into the protecting portion, the slot
returns to a non-stretched position, the slot being further adapted
to interact with the sliding panel such that when the stopping
device is in the protecting portion the slot will abut the stopping
device as the sliding panel is moved longitudinally to retain the
insertion portion of the sliding panel in the protecting portion of
the main body.
2. A personal organizational accessory as set forth in claim 1
wherein the electronic device is integral with the sliding
panel.
3. A personal organizational accessory as set forth in claim 1
wherein the electronic device is a calculator.
4. A personal organizational accessory as set forth in claim 1
wherein the sliding panel and the main body are adapted to interact
such that the sliding panel may be deployed in the open position
and the closed position such that in the open position the working
face of the electronic device is accessible to a user and in the
closed position at least a portion of the working face of the
electronic device is contained in the protecting portion of the
main body.
5. A personal organizational accessory as set forth in claim 4
wherein the main body further comprises at least one retaining
portion, the retaining portion being adapted to retain an article,
the article being adapted to store information input by a user when
the sliding panel is in the open position; and wherein the sliding
panel and the main body panel are adapted to interact such that
when the sliding panel is deployed in the open position the working
face of the electronic device and an article retained by the
retaining portion are accessible to a user.
6. A personal organizational accessory as set forth in claim 5
wherein the sliding panel and the main body panel are adapted to
interact such that when the sliding panel is deployed in the open
position the working face of the electronic device and an article
retained by the retaining portion face a user.
7. A sliding panel for use with a personal organizational accessory
having a main body having a slot, a protecting portion, and at
least one retaining portion, the retaining portion being adapted to
retain an article, the article being adapted to store information
input by a user, the protecting portion extending longitudinally
from the slot to an end edge, the end edge being located at a
protecting distance from the slot, the protecting portion being
adapted to longitudinally receive a sliding panel, the slot having
a slot width and being changeable from a non-stretched condition to
a stretched condition, the slot width being less in the
non-stretched condition than in the stretched condition, the
sliding panel comprising: sliding panel having a first edge, a
second edge, a front face, an access device, an insertion portion
and a supporting portion, the insertion portion extending
longitudinally from the first edge in a direction of the second
edge, the supporting portion extending longitudinally from the
insertion portion to the second edge, the insertion portion
including a ramp device and a stopping device, the stopping device
having a stopping device width, the stopping device width being
measured from a longitudinal axis of the sliding panel, the access
device being located on the supporting portion at a panel distance
from the first edge and adapted to provide a grip for a user to
move the sliding panel from a closed position to an open position,
the sliding panel being adapted to support an electronic device
having a working face, the sliding panel being further adapted to
interact with the main body such that as the insertion portion is
inserted longitudinally into the protecting portion of the main
body the ramp device of the insertion portion stretches the slot
from the non-stretched position to the stretched position such that
the stopping device may be inserted into the protecting portion,
the sliding panel being further adapted to interact with the main
body such that when the stopping device passes the slot as the
sliding panel is inserted longitudinally into the protecting
portion the slot returns to a non-stretched position, the sliding
panel being further adapted to interact with the main body such
that when the stopping device is in the protecting portion the slot
will abut the stopping device as the sliding panel is moved
longitudinally to retain the insertion portion of the sliding panel
in the protecting portion of the main body.
8. A sliding panel as set forth in claim 7 wherein the sliding
panel being further adapted to interact with the main body such
that when the first edge of the sliding panel abuts the end edge of
the protecting portion the access device is opposite the slot from
the end edge.
9. A sliding panel as set forth in claim 7 wherein the electronic
device is integral with the sliding panel.
10. A sliding panel as set forth in claim 7 wherein the electronic
device is a calculator.
11. A sliding panel as set forth in claim 7 wherein the sliding
panel and the main body are adapted to interact such that the
sliding panel may be deployed in an open position and a closed
position such that in the open position the working face of the
electronic device is accessible to a user and in the closed
position at least a portion of the working face of the electronic
device is contained in the protecting portion of the main body.
12. A sliding panel as set forth in claim 11 wherein when the
sliding panel is in the open position the working face of the
electronic device and an article retained by the retaining portion
are accessible to a user.
13. A sliding panel as set forth in claim 12 wherein when the
sliding panel is in the open position the working face of the
electronic device and the article retained by the retaining portion
face a user.
14. A method of using a sliding panel as set forth in claim 7
comprising: providing a personal organizational accessory having a
main body having a slot, a protecting portion, and at least one
retaining portion, the retaining portion being adapted to retain an
article, the article being adapted to store information input by a
user, the protecting portion extending longitudinally from the slot
to an end edge, the end edge being located at a protecting distance
from the slot, the protecting portion being adapted to
longitudinally receive a sliding panel, the slot having a slot
width and being changeable from a non-stretched condition to a
stretched condition, the slot width being less in the non-stretched
condition than in the stretched condition; and inserting the
sliding panel into the slot of the main body until the stopping
device is past the slot.
Description
[0001] This is a non-provisional application based on provisional
application Serial No. 60/429,388, filed Nov. 27, 2002, for which
priority is claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One aspect of the present invention is a personal
organizational accessory comprising a sliding panel and a main
body. The sliding panel has a first edge, a second edge, a front
face, an access device, an insertion portion and a supporting
portion. The insertion portion extends longitudinally from the
first edge in a direction of the second edge. The supporting
portion extends longitudinally from the insertion portion to the
second edge. The insertion portion includes a ramp device and a
stopping device. The stopping device has a stopping device width.
The stopping device width is measured from a longitudinal axis of
the sliding panel. The access device is located on the supporting
portion at a panel distance from the first edge. The access device
is adapted to provide a grip for a user to move the sliding panel.
The sliding panel is adapted to support an electronic device having
a working face. The main body has a slot and a protecting portion.
The protecting portion extends longitudinally from the slot to an
end edge. The end edge is located at a protecting distance from the
slot. The protecting distance is less than the panel distance. The
protecting portion is adapted to longitudinally receive the sliding
panel such that when the first edge of the sliding panel abuts the
end edge of the protecting portion the access device is opposite
the slot from the end edge. The slot has a slot width and is
changeable from a non-stretched condition to a stretched condition.
The slot width is less than the stopping device width when in the
non-stretched condition. The slot is adapted to interact with the
sliding panel such that, as the insertion portion is inserted
longitudinally into the protecting portion, the ramp device of the
insertion portion stretches the slot from the non-stretched
position to the stretched position such that the stopping device
may be inserted into the protecting portion. The slot is further
adapted to interact with the sliding panel such that, when the
stopping device passes the slot as the sliding panel is inserted
longitudinally into the protecting portion, the slot returns to a
non-stretched position. The slot is further adapted to interact
with the sliding panel such that when the stopping device is in the
protecting portion the slot will abut the stopping device as the
sliding panel is moved longitudinally to retain the insertion
portion of the sliding panel in the protecting portion of the main
body.
[0003] Another aspect of the present invention is a sliding panel
for use with a personal organizational accessory. The person
organizational accessory has a main body having a slot, a
protecting portion, and at least one retaining portion. The
retaining portion is adapted to retain an article. The article is
adapted to store information input by a user. The protecting
portion extends longitudinally from the slot to an end edge. The
end edge is located at a protecting distance from the slot. The
protecting portion is adapted to longitudinally receive a sliding
panel. The slot has a slot width and is changeable from a
non-stretched condition to a stretched condition. The slot width is
less in the non-stretched condition than in the stretched
condition. The sliding panel comprises a first edge, a second edge,
a front face, an access device, an insertion portion and a
supporting portion. The insertion portion extends longitudinally
from the first edge in a direction of the second edge. The
supporting portion extends longitudinally from the insertion
portion to the second edge. The insertion portion includes a ramp
device and a stopping device. The stopping device has a stopping
device width measured from a longitudinal axis of the sliding
panel. The access device is located on the supporting portion at a
panel distance from the first edge and is adapted to provide a grip
for a user to move the sliding panel from a closed position to an
open position. The sliding panel is adapted to support an
electronic device having a working face. The sliding panel is
further adapted to interact with the main body such that as the
insertion portion is inserted longitudinally into the protecting
portion of the main body the ramp device of the insertion portion
stretches the slot from the non-stretched position to the stretched
position such that the stopping device may be inserted into the
retaining portion. The sliding panel is further adapted to interact
with the main body such that when the stopping device passes the
slot as the sliding panel is inserted longitudinally into the
protecting portion the slot returns to a non-stretched position.
The sliding panel is further adapted to interact with the main body
such that when the stopping device is in the protecting portion the
slot will abut the stopping device as the sliding panel is moved
longitudinally to retain the insertion portion of the sliding panel
in the protecting portion of the main body.
[0004] Another aspect of the present invention is a method of using
a sliding panel. The sliding panel comprises a first edge, a second
edge, a front face, an access device, an insertion portion and a
supporting portion. The insertion portion extends longitudinally
from the first edge in a direction of the second edge. The
supporting portion extends longitudinally from the insertion
portion to the second edge. The insertion portion includes a ramp
device and a stopping device. The stopping device has a stopping
device width measured from a longitudinal axis of the sliding
panel. The access device is located on the supporting portion at a
panel distance from the first edge and is adapted to provide a grip
for a user to move the sliding panel from a closed position to an
open position. The sliding panel is adapted to support an
electronic device having a working face. The sliding panel is
further adapted to interact with the main body such that as the
insertion portion is inserted longitudinally into the protecting
portion of the main body the ramp device of the insertion portion
stretches the slot from the non-stretched position to the stretched
position such that the stopping device may be inserted into the
protecting portion. The sliding panel is further adapted to
interact with the main body such that when the stopping device
passes the slot as the sliding panel is inserted longitudinally
into the protecting portion the slot returns to a non-stretched
position. The sliding panel is further adapted to interact with the
main body such that when the stopping device is in the protecting
portion the slot will abut the stopping device as the sliding panel
is moved longitudinally to retain the insertion portion of the
sliding panel in the protecting portion of the main body. The
method comprising the steps of providing a personal organizational
accessory. The personal organizational accessory has a main body
having a slot, a protecting portion, and at least one retaining
portion, the retaining portion being adapted to retain an article,
the article being adapted to store information input by a user, the
protecting portion extending longitudinally from the slot to an end
edge, the end edge being located at a protecting distance from the
slot, the protecting portion being adapted to longitudinally
receive a sliding panel, the slot having a slot width and being
changeable from a non-stretched condition to a stretched condition,
the slot width being less in the non-stretched condition than in
the stretched condition. The method further comprising inserting
the sliding panel into the slot of the main body until the stopping
device is past the slot.
[0005] Other features and advantages will be in part apparent and
in part pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a personal organizational
accessory according to the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the personal organizational
accessory of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the sliding panel of the
personal organizational accessory of FIG. 1; and
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of a portion of the main body of
the personal organizational accessory of FIG. 1.
[0010] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG.
1, a personal organizational accessory is shown generally at 20.
The personal organizational accessory in this embodiment is a
checkbook, however the personal organizational accessory may be any
suitable device including but not limited to a planner, an
organizer, a wallet, or a clutch. The personal organizational
accessory 20 includes a main body 22 and a sliding panel 24. The
sliding panel 24 is adapted to support an electronic device. The
electronic device is a calculator in the embodiment shown, however
the electronic device may be any suitable device. The sliding panel
24 supports the electronic device such that a working face of the
electronic device is accessible to a user. In FIG. 1, the sliding
panel 24 and the electronic device are integrally formed, however
the sliding panel may include a recess adapted to hold the
electronic device.
[0012] Referring now to FIG. 3, the sliding panel is shown
generally at 24 (the electronic device is not shown in this figure
for reasons of clarity). The sliding panel has a first edge 26, a
second edge 28, a front face 30, an access device 32, an insertion
portion 34 and a supporting portion 36. The insertion portion
extends longitudinally from the first edge in a direction of the
second edge. The supporting portion extends longitudinally from the
insertion portion to the second edge. The insertion portion
includes a ramp device 38 and a stopping device 40. The stopping
device 40 has a stopping device width 42. The stopping device width
is measured from a longitudinal axis 44 of the sliding panel 24.
The access device 32 is located on the supporting portion 36 at a
panel distance 46 from the first edge 26. The access device 32 is
adapted to provide a grip for a user to move the sliding panel
24.
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 4, the main body is shown generally at
22. The main body 22 has a slot 50 and a protecting portion 52. The
protecting portion 52 extends longitudinally from the slot 50 to an
end edge 54. The end edge 54 is located at a protecting distance 56
from the slot 50. The protecting distance 56 is less than the panel
distance 46. The protecting portion 52 is adapted to longitudinally
receive the sliding panel 24 such that when the first edge 26 of
the sliding panel abuts the end edge 54 of the protecting portion
52 the access device 32 is opposite the slot 50 from the end edge
54. The slot 50 has a slot width 58 and is changeable from a
non-stretched condition to a stretched condition. The slot width is
less than the stopping device width 42 when in the non-stretched
condition.
[0014] The protecting portion 52 is a pocket formed under a cover
60 of the main body 22. Access to the protecting portion 52 is
through slot 50 in the cover 60. In the embodiment shown, the cover
60 is leather. The cover 60 may be any suitable synthetic or
natural material provided that the slot 50 is changeable from one
of the non-stretched condition and the stretched condition to the
other. The slot width 58 is less than the stopping device width 42
when in the non-stretched condition. The slot 50 is adapted to
interact with the sliding panel 24 such that, as the insertion
portion 34 is inserted longitudinally through the slot 50 into the
protecting portion 52, the ramp device 38 of the insertion portion
34 stretches the slot 50 from the non-stretched position to the
stretched position such that the stopping device 40 may be inserted
into the protecting portion 52. The slot 50 is further adapted to
interact with the sliding panel 24 such that, when the stopping
device 40 passes the slot 50 as the sliding panel 24 is inserted
longitudinally into the protecting portion 52, the slot 50 will
return to a non-stretched position. The slot 50 is further adapted
to interact with the sliding panel 24 such that when the stopping
device 40 is in the protecting portion 52 the slot 50 will abut the
stopping device 40 as the sliding panel 24 is moved longitudinally
to retain the insertion portion 34 of the sliding panel 24 in the
protecting portion 52 of the main body 22.
[0015] The access device 32 is located on the supporting portion 36
at a panel distance 46 from the first edge 26 and is adapted to
provide a grip for a user to move the sliding panel 24 from a
closed position shown in FIG. 2 to an open position shown in FIG.
1. The sliding panel 24 is adapted to support an electronic device
26 having a working face. The sliding panel 24 is further adapted
to interact with the main body 22 such that as the insertion
portion 34 is inserted longitudinally into the protecting portion
52 of the main body 22 the ramp device 38 of the insertion portion
34 stretches the slot 50 from the non-stretched position to the
stretched position such that the stopping device 40 may be inserted
into the protecting portion 52. The sliding panel 24 is further
adapted to interact with the main body 22 such that when the
stopping device 40 passes the slot 50 as the sliding panel 24 is
inserted longitudinally into the protecting portion 52 the slot 50
returns to a non-stretched position. The sliding panel 24 is
further adapted to interact with the main body 22 such that when
the stopping device 40 is in the protecting portion 52 the slot
will abut the stopping device 40 as the sliding panel 24 is moved
longitudinally to retain the insertion portion 34 of the sliding
panel 24 in the protecting portion 52 of the main body 22. In the
closed position at least a portion of the working face of the
electronic device is contained in the protecting portion 52.
[0016] In use, a personal organizational accessory 20 and a sliding
panel 24 are provided. The insertion portion 34 of the sliding
panel 24 is inserted into the slot 50. The ramp device 38 comes
into contact with the slot 50 causing the slot to stretch. The
sliding panel 24 continues inside the protecting portion 52 until
the stopping device 40 passes the slot 50. The slot 50 then returns
to an non-stretched condition in which the stopping device width 42
is less than the slot width 58. The insertion portion 34 of the
sliding panel 24 is then retained in the protecting portion 52. The
sliding panel 24 may be moved between the closed position and the
open position. In the closed position shown in FIG. 2 the access
device 32 is located outside the slot and allows a user to grasp
the sliding panel 24 for movement to an open position. In the open
position shown in FIG. 1 the electronic device is accessible to a
user. The main body 22 includes at least one retaining portion 62
that is adapted to receive an article. The article is adapted to
store information input by a user when the sliding panel is in the
open position. The article may be any suitable register including
but not limited to a check register, a notepad, or an electronic
device. The personal organizational accessory 20 is adapted to
retain an article in an orientation that allows a user to access
both the article and the sliding panel when in the open
position.
[0017] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the slot 50 is
located in the cover 60 on a side opposite the retaining portion
62. However, it is to be understood that other configurations may
be employed without departing from this invention such as locating
the slot 50 and the protecting portion 52 at another location of
the main body 22.
[0018] As various changes could be made in the above constructions
and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it
is intended that all matter contained in the above description or
shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the breadth and
scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the
above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only
in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their
equivalents.
* * * * *