US20240000225A1
2024-01-04
17/855,565
2022-06-30
A single or multilevel table-like organizer designed to hold and charge cell phones and other common electronic devices such as tablets, which is also meant to provide a central point location in which a person can place the personal items that they frequently bring with them when they leave the home. The levels are referred to as decks because one version has sloping angled front sides to facilitate easy and comfortable smooth rounded surfaces for placement and retrieval as well as shallow vertical sides and full backboards to keep items securely in place on the decks. Wood columns hold up the fronts of the decks. The decks are made from plywood covered with a rubbery shelf liner, and the forward, side, and backboards are all made with wood, though other materials could be used. Additionally, there is a shelf below the decks for other items such as a laptop, which could be placed and charged there especially as there is also a built-in outlet just above this shelf mounted to a cross brace structure at the back. Coat hooks are an option on the sides of the deck/s to hang items from such as coats, hats, and purses. There are also small metal hooks that can be mounted to the lower outlet cross brace structure to hang extra keys or jewelry from. Additionally, 120-volt AC outlets with USB charging ports are built into the centers of the backboards, though strictly USB charging ports could be used instead. The USB ports have the highest available amperage capability to charge with, including the common type A port and the newer type C ports. Furthermore, these device charging organizers have the capability to mount a smart TV or a monitor for viewing on an extended and braced upper backboard above the upper deck. Another option can place a light fixture in place of the TV, and there are also additional smaller lights possible on the unit.
The two alternative organizer versions confer certain advantages. The dual level organizer depicted with the smaller upper deck centered over a larger lower deck can offer ergonomic access for multiple people from all directions at once and could be highly desirable in a party situation. Furthermore, the dual level organizer with the trapezoid shaped upper deck provides easier access to the outlets and the suspended charging cords as well as deck platforms with more accessibility and alternative ergonomics. The decks are wider though, so the width of the unit requires more space.
With this combination of features, these multi-deck device organizers provide a highly convenient and practical location in a home, and some business settings, to include hotel rooms, to place one's personal small items, to include the charging of electronic devices, as well as the potential operation of these devices in coordination with a smart TV or a computer.
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A47B2200/0081 » CPC further
General construction of tables or desks; Tables or desks having means for applying electronic or electric devices Auxiliary apparatus with electrical connections for office furniture
A47B2021/066 » CPC further
Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables with power or communication connection interface
A47B2200/04 » CPC further
General construction of tables or desks Television stands or tables
A47B21/06 » CPC main
Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
A47B13/08 » CPC further
Details of tables or desks Table tops; Rims therefor
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to personal effects organizers and electric device charging tables; however, this invention has additional features and multiple differences.
With the supposition that wooden valet stands, whose primary function was to hold clothes, added the further abilities of being able to hold small personal items, such as combs, could have led to the development of simple tabletop organizers to be followed by wall mounted organizers having multiple functions. There have for a long time been tables called entry tables, which can include various shelves and often have coat and hat racks built onto them. Therefore, this invention could be considered something of a combination consisting of a free standing entry table and a wall personal effects/property organizer but with further developments and potential abilities.
A. U.S. Pat. No. 9,039,226 to Abdullah et al. (2015) discloses a “Desk Organizer and Multi-compartment Storage Unit” which has an enclosed lower circular portion housing charging ports matched with an upper circular dome like structure that is rota-table and which has multiple compartments meant to hold many pills, but small office supply items can also be put in the compartments. This organizer is a desk mounted structure without any decks adjacent the charging ports.
B. U.S. Pat. D823,796 to Zhang (2018) is titled a “Multi USB Charging Station”, which is a simple desktop model that has a thin lower housing the electrical charging apparatus and six charging ports on one side. Above the housing there are seven thin and parallel, primarily vertical, partitions in which one can align cell phones in a manner similar to a letter holder. This structure does not have further organizer abilities.
C. U.S. Pat. No. 10,337,719 to Chien (2019) has several alternative structures showing a lower portion housing electrical charging ports with an upper part primarily consisting of various decorative pieces such as a small artificial fish bowl. One of Chien's figures shows an upper portion that appears to be a simple and small shallow rectangular tray that could hold small objects like keys, coins, or a cell phone. While this would have some useful function, it is a very small desktop structure, which has quite a limited capacity to store items or charge multiple devices.
D. U.S. Pat. D923,978 to Reister (2021) is titled a “Combined Dresser Valet and Charging Station”. It is similar in structure to a tabletop jewelry box though it is of a very simple structure having a small drawer at the bottom section with a lidded compartment above one side area of the drawer and another small and open compartment adjacent the lidded one. Therefore, the small and open compartment is meant to hold and charge a cell phone. This is another desk or tabletop structure with only a slightly larger capacity but appears mostly impractible to store or charge multiple items.
E. From a search of the internet with Google.com it is apparent that there is a large variety of simple desk and wall organizers, and there are various relatively normal and simple appearing tables that have USB charging ports built onto them. One product which somewhat superficially resembles the present invention is a product with a title of “Isle Power Tower”. This product does have outlets and USB chargers and has three flat levels in a tiered shape but the lower level is at floor height and its purpose seems primarily to charge phones in a school setting and would not function well as an organizer of one's personal affects.
Several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
In accordance with the present invention a four legged freestanding multi-deck organizer with 120-volt electrical outlet/USB chargers built-in to the backboards, and a TV mounted to an extension board at the top.
FIG. 1 shows the primary structure and assembly of a free standing multi-deck organizer with built-in power and charging capability.
FIG. 2 shows an optional and preferred capability of the primary structure of figure lwith an upper backboard extension with a TV mounting bracket installed.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative freestanding embodiment utilizing two decks built with support braces holding the smaller one above the larger one with a charging station box mounted onto the upper deck.
FIG. 4 shows an alternative freestanding embodiment utilizing two decks with the upper deck having a trapezoid shape with an angled back power and charging box on the top deck.
FIG. 1 is a right and somewhat downward perspective view of a dual deck entry organizer with USB charging panels 20. This dual deck station table-like assembly, FIG. 20, depicts several invention features. FIG. 20 shows a furniture piece constructed unit, which serves several object holding purposes in a highly practical combination manner. A second deck, situated lower down below the upper deck 24 is the central, or lower deck 22, which is the largest platform in the organizer unit 20. The upper deck 24 is identified, however the actual upper deck surface is not visible in FIG. 1, though its forward rounded, smoothed, and angled “edge” surface is visible at location 38. Of the lower deck 22, the rearward backboard is visible at 26 and its left sideboard is visible at 28, with its right sideboard visible at location 30. Its front angled and rounded forward edge is visible at 32. At the top deck platform 24, the backboard is at 34 and its left sideboard is at location 36. A right-side support column 40 is visible on the central platform's lower deck 22 right sideboard 30. A left side support column 42 is visible on the lower deck's 22 sideboard 28. A table leg support for the front left side of the unit 20 is visible at location 44. The front right table leg 46 is shown as well as the rear left table leg at 48, and the rear right table leg at 50. The lowest shelf platform at 52 is not considered one of the decks such as the lower and upper decks 22, and 24 respectively. A section of wood at location 54 is one of the rear structural members supporting the electrical 120-volt outlet 68. A bar extends out horizontally with a hook visible at its end 56.
FIG. 2 is a slightly left perspective drawing of an optional TV mounting extension 80. The upper backboard 34 is depicted and the tops of the left and right rear legs are visible at 72 and 74 to help provide full clarity of the TV vertical extension board 80. The metal TV mounting bracket 76 and it's upper mounting screw 78 can be seen near the top of the vertical extension 80. For further clarification the upper backboard's 34 router-ed round edge 82 is identified and some other standard parts are also, such as the 120-volt outlet cover 84, the 120-volt outlet itself, 86, the USB type A charging port 88, and the USB type C charging port 90.
FIG. 3 is a right and slightly overhead perspective view drawing of an alternative design structure numbered 92. It embodies the use of decks, which could be made of molded plastic, to function as organizing and device charging platforms. The lower deck like structure has a raised edge and is identified at 94, and the outside of the upper deck is at location 96. One of the four visible angled inward and upright support columns is identified at 98 and extends upward from a corner of the base deck 94 upwards to a corner area of the upper deck 96. A power outlet and device charging box structure 100 with angled upward sides is identified with its visible left side at 102, and its top surface visible at 100. Positioned towards the top and middle of the forward side of the power box 100 is a 120-volt power outlet 104 with its corresponding outlet cover, and it also has USB type-A and type-C charging ports depicted. The inside and bottom surface of the upper deck 96 is identified at location 106. The charging plug end of the type-A USB charging cord 110 is depicted draping downward onto the inside of the bottom deck's 94 surface area. Additionally, a portion of the type-A USB cord 110 is depicted extending downward through a slot with a semi-round hole at the bottom 108 formed into the forward side of the upper deck 96. The type-C charging cord 112 is also depicted extending through an unnumbered slot in the upper deck's 96 forward side. It is also draping down to the surface area of the bottom deck 94.
FIG. 4 is a right and overhead perspective view drawing of an alternative embodiment much like the embodiment described for that of FIG. 3. However, this embodiment is meant to be placed against a wall instead of away from walls as the FIG. 3 embodiment is. There are also other differences. The general version of the organizer of FIG. 4 utilizes a trapezoid shaped upper deck that is numerically identified with 114 and its rectangular lower deck is 116. The lower deck 116 has a side trim piece 118. The bottom shelf 120 is pointed out with this trapezoid version 114. The organizer of 114 has its front left leg visible at 122 and its rear right leg at 124. The upper trapezoid shaped deck 126 of the organizer is shown as well as its side trim board at 128, and its back trim board at 130. Two of the cord holes are identified out of the several cord holes 132 of the upper deck 126 depicted. Situated at the rear and center of the upper deck 126 is the 120-volt outlet power box 134. The outlet covers are shown at 136 and the outlet faces at 138. Only the lower portion of the TV mounting board 140 of the trapezoid version 114 is depicted. The front cross brace 142 supports the front of the lower deck 116. The support brace for the rear of the upper deck 126 is at location 144. There are two support legs for the front of the upper deck 126; the left support leg is at 146, and the right support leg is at 148.
The operation of this new type of furniture unit, a dual or multi-deck organizer entry table with charging panels, FIG. 1, 20, has variable uses and advantages depending on the specific needs' day by day of the individuals using it. One of the main uses of this dual deck table 20 is to provide a convenient location to unload one's personal items after one arrives home from work—for example. When a person comes home, they could go straight to their dual deck table 20 and proceed to unload items such as their keys, wallet, cell phone, wristwatch, smart watch, battery banks, sunglasses, hair clips, hats, bracelets, ear rings, necklaces, cigarettes, lighters, medicines, and a variety of other small objects onto either of the two decks 22, and 24.
The lower deck 22 is generally somewhat easier to place items onto, such as wallets and keys, while the upper deck 24 can be easier for other things such as plugging in a cell phone to charge, and to hold the phone in place on the deck 24 while looking at its screen or performing phone functions. A person's height can make a difference for preferences of which deck 22, or 24, to use at a given time for different types of objects. In a household, one option is that shorter individuals may want to use the lower deck 22 and taller individuals may want to use the upper deck 24 if they want to keep their items separate. It could certainly be that it is just more practical for everyone using the table unit 20 to share using both decks 22, 24 simultaneously.
It can be more practical and organized to route charging cords from the charging panel 60 out to the sides, and over the sideboards 28, 30, and around the columns 40, 42 to then plug a device in to keep the lower deck 22 more cleared, and it seems to be a more ergonomic method. A person can hang a purse or other things with straps, such as cameras, or neck ties to the horizontal wood dowel bar extension having a hook at the end 56, and it has additional room along its central portion below the lower deck 22. With the small utility hooks 66, (unit's right side visible) a person can hang small items such as jewelry or extra keys.
From FIG. 2, the operation of the multi-deck charger 20 with the TV extension board 80 being fixed to the upper backboard 34 is essentially the same as the non-TV version of FIG. 1 except for the TV mounting and viewing ability. The type of TV mounting bracket shown here at 76 consists of a square plate that is remove-able from the portion mounted to the extension board 80 (only somewhat visible in FIG. 3, metal adjacent screw 78) with a single screw that prevents it from falling off of a sheet metal bracket. The TV mounting kit comes with sets of screws so that one can typically mount the back of the TV to the mounting plate 76 with 4 machine screws then proceed to hang the mounting plate 76 onto the bracket (not visible in FIG. 3) fixed to the extension board 80. The power cord of the TV can easily be plugged into one of the 120-volt outlet sockets 68 positioned near the bottom of the multi-deck 20. The height of the extension board 80 is sufficient for a relatively small TV to pivot left and right, and up and down as the TV mounting bracket 76 is designed to do.
The alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 would operate as a dual level organizer with a shallow sided deck 96 at the top and a larger shallow sided deck 94 at the bottom. While FIG. 3 does not depict it, it is envisioned as primarily a freestanding unit with table legs; though a table top version would also function. However, sometimes the height of the decks would not be ideal in a tabletop version. Mounted on top of the upper tray 96 is a charging box structure 100, constructed in a flat topped pyramidal like shape to enhance the visual and ergonomic access to the power and charging ports in the 120-volt outlet depicted at 104. The top of the power box 100, and the inside surfaces of the two decks 94, 96 could be padded or be of a soft and rubbery type of plastic to improve the functionality of the surfaces. There is room to place at least one cell phone at the top of the power box 100, and it could be charging with one of the USB charging cords shown 110, 112. A cell phone stand of various models could also be placed here at location 100. There is enough room on the surface of the upper deck's surface 106 to hold and charge several phones, and there is enough room on the bottom deck 94 to hold several more from charging cords suspended down from the power box 100. While only one 120-volt outlet 104 is depicted on the power box 100, it is expected that usually at least one other one would be installed on the opposite side of the outlet 104, and outlets could be installed on the other two sides as well. Furthermore, all of the outlets would not necessarily need to provide a full 120-volts, because most of the devices to be charged could be cell phones or other USB using devices, thus several USB charging ports or USB hubs could be installed in the power box's 100 surfaces. The design of the structure depicted in FIG. 3 would allow easy access to the upper and lower decks 96, 94 from the four sides. This is especially so in respect to the lower deck 94 due to the clearance space afforded from the setback resulting from the smaller upper deck 96 being centered over the larger bottom deck 94 with angled inward vertical support braces 98 (only one numbered). Additionally, more decks could be used to add more tiers and some of the other embodiments described for the multi-deck unit 20 could also be incorporated to the organizer structure depicted at 92.
The operation of the trapezoid version 114 of the FIG. 4 alternative embodiment is quite similar to the FIG. 3 alternative embodiment 92. Because the 114 organizer is designed to be placed along a wall, its upper deck 126 rearward side and edge is positioned all the way to the back along its entire length. However, the angled inward shape of the upper deck 126, due to the trapezoid shape, does afford more movement room to see and reach items at the lower deck 116 below. Additionally, the forward edge of the upper deck 126 is set back (rearward) somewhat from the front edge of the lower deck 116, thereby providing further additional clearance to the lower deck 116. Another change is that the organizer of FIG. 4 has several holes positioned at strategic locations down through the surface of the upper deck 126. These upper deck cord holes 132 allow for multiple USB charging cords that are plugged into the outlets 138 to pass through the upper deck 126 and suspend to the lower deck 116 to provide charging options to devices there. The upper deck front leg supports 146 and 148 are angled to reach the forward most edge of the lower deck 116 to provide as much clearance room as possible while still supporting the weight from attaching to the upper deck 126. The design of the power box 134 incorporates three separate 120-volt outlets 138, which are forward facing, but which have a rearward angle to provide good visibility and plug-in functionality. The model of the outlets, 138 on the left and right side have more type-C USB ports than the one in the middle, though the middle outlet has a more powerful type-A port, but they could be of various types available on the market.
There are varying combinations of advantages resulting from the different designs presented in FIGS. 1-4, and from the additional and alternative embodiments described. The advantages these organizers offer include the ability to hold and charge multiple devices in secure in multiple deck held positions with accompanying electrical charging outlets mounted in adjacent panels all supported in a freestanding type of furniture that can be positioned nearly anywhere. Furthermore, the FIG. 4 trapezoid decked alternative utilizes a dual deck structure that optimizes visual and physical space and clearance of movement with a convenient access to multiple charging outlets from a central power box. It also provide suspended charging cords through access holes in the surface of the upper trapezoid shaped deck. The trapezoid deck also incorporates angled outward at the bottom support legs to further improve access of the lower deck.
The different choice of construction between the alternatives results in organizers of personal effects with additional device charging capabilities in a highly practical platform that can be positioned in an ideal location in the home or office to function as a central point for one's movable items. These organizing furniture structures of FIGS. 1-4 include the practical support option of holding TV's or monitors as well as many other potential items and features such as computers, keyboards, speakers, cameras, lighting, USB hubs and home electricity storage just to name a few.
1. I claim a combination freestanding multi-legged single and multi-decked table like personal items organizer having charging outlets built-in to deck backboards, whereby a person can have room to charge multiple electronic devices, such as smart phones, and have a convenient location to quickly and securely place their personal effects, which they often take out and return.
2. The organizer table of claim 1, having columnar supports at the front of the decks providing open sides for the decks.
3. The organizer table of claim 1, having rounded and angled forward deck fronts.
4. The organizer table of claim 1, having TV, or other display screens, mounting ability positioned above the upper deck.
5. A combination freestanding, single and multi deck personal property organizer having a power multi-outlet/USB charger boxlike or mound like structure mounted onto the upper deck.
6. The organizer of claim 5, wherein multi-outlet chargers are mounted to a backboard, which may be held in place with leg or spines at the back, or forward projecting side supports.
7. The organizer of claim 5, wherein there are cord holes all the way through the upper deck so that the cords can suspend through the holes to the lower deck area.
8. The organizer of claim 5, wherein the upper deck is of a smaller size than the lower deck.
9. The organizer of claim 8, wherein the upper deck is generally rounded out forward and could have curved inward portions at the side areas adjacent the support columns to facilitate access to the lower deck.
10. The organizer of claim 5, wherein the upper deck has a trapezoid like shape having the widest part of the trapezoid positioned at the back of the unit whereby spacial clearance is provided for seeing and reaching the lower deck at the front and frontal sides.
11. The organizer of claim 10, wherein the upper deck is supported at its front with upward supports from the lower deck angled backwards to meet up with the underside of the upper deck.
12. The organizer of claim 10, wherein the upward supports from the lower deck mount at the inside front corners of the lower deck extending upwards and inward at an angle to the upper deck.
13. The organizer of claim 10, wherein a led light is recessed into the underside of the upper deck of which the top is covered over by the power box structure.
14. The organizer of claim 10, wherein there are two upper trapezoid shaped decks, which could be over a rectangular shaped deck.
15. The organizer of claim 10, wherein a TV/monitor backboard is installed above and at the back of the upper deck.