U.S. patent application number 11/968523 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for apparatus and method for storing, organizing, and carrying commom items which can be removably attached to an aircraft tray table.
Invention is credited to Lisa Franco Ben Harush, Roberta Franco.
Application Number | 20080156604 11/968523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39582310 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080156604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Franco; Roberta ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STORING, ORGANIZING, AND CARRYING COMMOM
ITEMS WHICH CAN BE REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO AN AIRCRAFT TRAY TABLE
Abstract
A portable organizing device is provided, which further
comprises a connecting mechanism for removably attaching the device
to a tray table commonly found on commercial airliners. This device
can be used to secure or contain items commonly carried by
travelers, such as pens, tissues, medicines, books, and playing
cards, and can be folded and carried as a small handbag, which can
also be used to transport the same items. The connecting mechanism
can be comprised of straps which further comprise VELCRO for
attaching one strap to another around the tray table.
Inventors: |
Franco; Roberta; (San
Carlos, CA) ; Ben Harush; Lisa Franco; (San Carlos,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Shawn Farmer;Suite 6
30 Vine Street
Lansdale
PA
19446
US
|
Family ID: |
39582310 |
Appl. No.: |
11/968523 |
Filed: |
January 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60883096 |
Jan 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/1 ; 150/107;
150/112; 190/102; 190/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/00 20130101; A45C
13/02 20130101; B60R 7/043 20130101; A45C 9/00 20130101; A45C
2013/1015 20130101; A45C 7/0095 20130101; A45C 11/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/1 ; 150/112;
150/107; 190/109; 190/102 |
International
Class: |
A45C 9/00 20060101
A45C009/00; A45C 3/00 20060101 A45C003/00; A45C 13/30 20060101
A45C013/30; A45C 13/10 20060101 A45C013/10 |
Claims
1. A portable organizing apparatus which can be used as a handbag
in one configuration and can be removably attached to a fold-down
tray table, in a second configuration comprising: a substantially
planer body having an exterior side and an interior side, wherein
the substantially planar body can be capable of being folded along
a line bisecting said body to create the handbag configuration
wherein the interior side is hidden and the exterior side forms the
exterior of said handbag; and a plurality of pockets and other
fastening devices are attached to said interior side.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the fold down tray
table is one of those commonly attached to the back of a seat such
as those found on a typical commercial airliner.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable
organizing apparatus comprises one or more straps, attached to the
exterior of the substantially planar body, which can be used to
removably attach said planar body to a fold-down tray table.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein one or more of the
straps comprise VELCRO for attaching one or more straps to one or
more other straps.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable
organizing apparatus comprises one or more carrying handles
attached to the exterior of the substantially planar body.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable
organizing apparatus comprises one or more fastening devices, such
as a zipper or buttons, which can be used to retain the apparatus
in the handbag configuration.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pockets
comprising the portable organizing apparatus further comprise
elastic or some other cinching mechanism to hold the openings of
said pockets closed.
8. A method for transporting and storing items while traveling, the
method comprising: providing a portable organizing apparatus which
can be used as a handbag in one configuration and can be removably
attached to a fold-down tray table, in a second configuration
comprising a substantially planer body having an exterior side and
an interior side, wherein the substantially planar body can be
capable of being folded along a line bisecting said body, one or
more straps, attached to the exterior of the substantially planar
body, which can be used to removably attach said planar body to a
commercial airliner's fold-down tray table, a plurality of pockets
and other fastening devices, and one or more carrying handles
attached to the exterior of the substantially planar body; placing
a number of items to be stored or transported in the pockets or
other fastening devices in to the portable organizing apparatus in
its second configuration; transforming the portable organizing
apparatus into a handbag configuration by folding it once along a
line bisecting it lengthwise in order to transport said apparatus;
and transforming the portable organizing apparatus into a
substantially planar configuration and removably attaching the
portable organizing apparatus to a fold-down tray table using said
straps in order to store and access items in the pockets and other
fastening devices comprising the apparatus.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit to provisional application
No. 60/883,096, which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention resides within the art of
portable organizers. More specifically, the present invention is
directed toward a portable organizer, which can be removably
attached to a standard fold-down tray table, commonly found aboard
most commercial aircraft, and can also be used and carried as a
standard handbag.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many portable organizers exist on the market today, which
can be mounted in any number places. Some of these organizers are
designed for use in the home or office, but many others are
designed for use in vehicles, particularly cars. Additionally, many
recent car models are equipped with organizers for holding glasses,
compact discs, coins, and drinks in cans or cups. Generally, these
organizers are left in the car, though there are a few notable
exceptions. Issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,986 by Santos et al. teaches
a travel tote bag for use in a vehicle, which can be mounted to
either the front or back of a standard bucket seat, commonly found
in cars, and can be folded into a typical handbag.
[0004] It can be reasonably assumed that air travelers would also
benefit from the availability and use of portable organizers. Such
a portable organizer can be used to carry and store many common
items carried by travelers. Currently, many passengers are forced
to access these items from their luggage stored in overhead storage
bins, which can be inconvenient and even dangerous while the
aircraft is in motion. Furthermore, such an organizer can be
helpful when passing through security checkpoints found in
airports, because it could allow the user to store and organize all
of the items they would currently carry on their person in a way
that would allow the items to be easily scanned like any other
handbag.
[0005] Unfortunately, the Santos device, and other similar devices,
cannot be easily converted for use by air travelers. The reason
being, the Santos device is attached to the back of a car's bucket
seat by a first strap affixed around a headrest at the top of the
seat and a second strap which is affixed around the bottom of the
seat. This type of attachment mechanism would be unacceptable for
use with seats commonly found on commercial airliners, because it
would infringe on the rights of the traveler sitting in the seat to
which the portable organizer is attached.
[0006] Fortunately, most commercial airliners provide a tray table
for each passenger upon which beverages can be served and the
passenger can use for any number of other purposes. These tray
tables typically are attached to the back of the seat directly in
front of the air traveler where it can be folded down for use, or
are sometimes contained within the armrest of the air traveler's
seat. These tray tables, particularly those attached to the back of
the seat directly in front of the air traveler; provide an
excellent platform upon which a portable organizer can be mounted,
while not interfering with the rights of the passenger whose seat
the tray table is mounted. While the present apparatus is discussed
as being used with tray tables found on commercial airliners, it
could be also used with similar tray tables not located on
aircraft.
[0007] What is needed is a portable organizer that can easily be
carried by air travelers in the form of a carry-on handbag when
closed, but which can also have the ability to be opened and
removably attached to a standard tray table found on most
commercial aircraft, facilitating easy access to, and storage of
any number of items commonly carried by air travelers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a
portable organizer, which can be used to store and organize any
number of items commonly carried while traveling, such as tissues,
medicine bottles, writing utensils, playing cards, etc. It is a
further aspect of the present invention that it can be folded into
a handbag with handles to facilitate its use as carry-on luggage or
a so-called "personal item." The present invention can also
comprise straps, which allow the user to secure the opened portable
organizer to a standard fold-down tray table found aboard most
commercial airliners.
[0009] The above aspect can be obtained by an apparatus that
includes: A portable organizing apparatus which can be used as a
handbag in one configuration and can be removably attached to a
commercial airliner's fold-down tray table, in a second
configuration comprising: a substantially planer body having an
exterior side and an interior side, wherein the substantially
planar body can be capable of being folded along a line bisecting
said body; one or more straps, attached to the exterior of the
substantially planar body, which can be used to removably attach
said planar body to a commercial airliner's fold-down tray table; a
plurality of pockets and other fastening devices; and one or more
carrying handles attached to the exterior of the substantially
planar body.
[0010] These, together with other aspects and advantages, which
will subsequently become apparent, reside in the details of
construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a
part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts
throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as
well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the
present invention, will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following description of the preferred
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting a portable organizer in an
open configuration revealing its interior, which further comprises
several pockets and other item securing devices, according to an
embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting a portable organizer in a
closed configuration revealing its exterior, where carrying handles
and straps for removably securing said tote can be attached,
according to an embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a frontal view of a portable organizer in an open
configuration revealing its interior and removably attached to a
tray table such as those commonly found on commercial airliners,
according to an embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of a portable organizer in an open
configuration revealing its interior and removably attached to a
tray table such as those commonly found on commercial airliners,
according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to
be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to
be considered part of the entire written description. In the
description, relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal,"
"vertical,", "above," "below," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom" as
well as derivative thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly,"
"upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation
as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion.
These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not
require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a
particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and
the like, such as "connected" and "interconnected," refer to a
relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one
another either directly or indirectly through intervening
structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or
relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like elements throughout.
[0018] The present general inventive concept relates to a portable
organizer, which can be carried as a handbag in its closed
configuration and can be removably attached to a standard tray
table found on most commercial airliners in its open
configuration.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting a portable organizer 100 in an
open configuration revealing its interior, which further comprises
several pockets 101 and other item securing devices, according to
an embodiment.
[0020] A portable organizer 100 can be of a substantially planar
shape when in its open configuration. The portable organizer 100
can be constructed of a durable fabric, polymer, leather or other
suitable material known in the art. The interior of said portable
organizer 100 can contain any number of pockets 101 which can be
used to securely hold any number of items commonly carried by air
travelers. Such items can include pens, pencils, glasses,
prescription bottles, facial tissues, books, magazines (not
pictured), and many other items with sizes and shapes similar to
that of the items listed. The tops of these pockets 101 can contain
elastic or other similar material 102, which act to cinch the tops
of said pockets 101 closed. This feature 102 could be critically
important in holding the contents inside said pockets 101 if an
aircraft (not pictured) in which the present invention was being
used, were to experience turbulence.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting a portable organizer 200 in a
closed configuration revealing its exterior, where carrying handles
204 and straps 205 for removably securing said portable organizer
200 can be attached, according to an embodiment.
[0022] A portable organizer 200 can be of a substantially planar
shape when it is in its closed configuration. The portable
organizer 200 can be placed in its closed configuration by simply
folding it once at a line bisecting its length. It can be held in
this closed configuration by holding the two handles 204 located at
either end of the organizer 200, which are brought together by the
folding described above, or it can be held in this closed
configuration by a fastener such as one or more buttons, a zipper,
one or more VELCRO containing straps 205 or some other suitable
fastening device known in the art (not pictured).
[0023] FIG. 2 also reveals one securing strap 205 which can be used
to removably attach the portable organizer 200 to a tray table (not
pictured). One or more of these straps 205 can be fastened to the
exterior of the portable organizer 200. Each strap 205 should be
attached with sufficient length to form a loop, which can be used
to (wrap around) the tray table (not pictured) securing the
portable organizer 200 to the tray table. Many of the fold-down
tray tables commonly found on airliners contain brackets attached
to the outside edges of the tray itself. These brackets make it
impossible to slip the securing straps 205 around the outside of
the tray table. Therefore, these straps 205 must include a break
forming a first end 206 and a second end 207 of said straps 205,
and said ends 206 and 207 can either be connected or disconnected
from one another. This connection is ideally formed by a the use of
VELCRO on each of the said ends 206 and 207, but other connecting
devices, such as knots, buttons, clasps, or other suitable
connectors known in the art may be used. Indeed, the same VELCRO
containing straps 206 and 207, which can be used to removably
attach the portable organizer 200 to the tray table, can also be
used to hold it together in its closed configuration by closing the
loop, described above, around the portable organizer 200 in its
closed configuration.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a frontal view of a portable organizer 300 in an
open configuration revealing its interior and removably attached to
a fold-down tray table 308 such as those commonly found on
commercial airliners, according to an embodiment.
[0025] The portable organizer 300 in FIG. 3 is attached to a
fold-down tray table 308, which is in its upright and locked
position. In this figure, the portable organizer 300 is attached
with two securing straps 305 which are thin enough so as to allow
the tray table 308 to be locked into its upright position. However,
the portable organizer 300 can be attached in to the top of the
fold-down tray table 308 when it is in the down position (not
pictured). The portable organizer 300 in this figure is shown
containing a pen 309, a pill bottle 310, and a deck of playing
cards 311.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of a portable organizer 400 in an open
configuration revealing its interior and removably attached to a
tray table 408 such as those commonly found on commercial
airliners, according to an embodiment.
[0027] This figure illustrates how a securing strap 405 can be
wrapped around the tray table 408 in order to removably attach the
portable organizer 400 to the tray table 408.
[0028] Although the invention has been described in terms of
exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the
appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other
variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range
of equivalents of the invention.
* * * * *