Patent Application
20070205170
This invention relates to utility boxes and more particularly to a molded plastic desk caddy suitable for use in combination with a student desk to hold a water bottle and various other paraphernalia.
It is common for students to “set up shop” at their desks not only with the usual pens, pencils, bookmarks, rulers and erasers, but also with a water bottle. Various attempts have been made to construct organizer boxes for pens, pencils, bookmarks erasers, and so forth. Similar attempts have been made to create holders for water bottles, but not with the needs of a student in mind; i.e.; most devices are sports related. To our knowledge, no one has designed or constructed a device which meets the objectives of holding student paraphernalia and a water bottle and does so in an aesthetically pleasing, as well as useful and economical fashion.
In accordance with our invention, we provide a desk caddy which can be attached to conventional student desk and is capable of holding not only the ordinary paraphernalia of school students, but also a water bottle. In accordance with that objective, our desk caddy comprises integral front, back and opposite side walls and a floor extending between the front, back and side walls to define a generally rectangular box. Within the box we utilize at least one and preferably two dividers which extend between the front and back walls parallel to and spaced from the side walls to define two or three compartments, one of which is sized and shaped to accommodate a water bottle. In addition, we locate a raised pattern such as a plurality of parallel spaced vertical ribs in the bottom of the water bottle compartment such that the water bottle sits on the pattern and is raised above the compartment floor. The pattern may take any of many forms.
In the preferred form of our invention we incorporate a structure which can be used to attach the desk caddy to a desk. In one form, the attachment structure comprises a hanger which is integral with the top edge of the back wall and extends downwardly from the top edge in parallel, spaced relationship with the back wall. With this structure, the caddy may be hung on the side of a storage bin which is underneath the desk top. In this embodiment, the back wall is bumped out toward the bottom portion so that the desk caddy, when hooked over the top edge of a desk storage bin, sits more or less vertically upright rather than tilted.
In another form, the attachment structure allows the caddy to be attached directly to the edge of the desk top itself.
In the illustrated embodiments, we incorporate an aesthetically pleasing and utilitarian slope to the front wall so that at least one of the compartments is lower than the compartment holding the water bottle, thus facilitating access to smaller implements such as erasers and bookmarks. The entire box is preferably integrally made of injection molded plastic so as to be both useful and economical to manufacture.
Referring to the drawing there is shown a molded plastic desk caddy 10 attached to the side of a storage bin 12 which underlies the hinged top 14 of a conventional student desk having metal legs 16. The desk caddy 10 is of integral molded plastic construction and comprises a front wall 18, a rear wall 20, opposite parallel side walls 22 and 24 extending between the front and back walls 18, 20, and a floor 26. In addition, spaced parallel dividers 28 and 30 run fore and aft between the front wall 18 and the rear wall 20 and are integral therewith. The left portion of the front wall 18 as shown in
A pair of hangers or hooks 32 are formed integral with and extending downwardly from the top of the rear wall 20 in spaced relationship with the main portion of the rear wall 20 to permit the caddy 10 to be hung over the top edge of the metal (or plastic) storage bin 12 which is part of the conventional student desk as best shown in
As shown in
The tallest compartment; i.e., the compartment defined by the side wall 22 and the divider 28 is sized to accommodate a water bottle 38 and is further provided with spaced parallel ribs 36 in the floor 26 of that compartment so as to raise the bottom of the bottle 38 up off of the floor. This provides an area for the collection of water which may condense on the side of the bottle 38 if the contents thereof are chilled and used in a room with high humidity. The parallel pattern of ribs 36 is merely illustrative of various raised patterns which can be used.
In use, the top 14 of the student desk is raised by means of hinges (not shown) and the caddy 10 is hung on the side of the storage bin 12 as shown. The desktop 14 is then lowered and the caddy 10 remains in place as long as the student occupies the desk. It is a simple matter for the student to disengage the caddy 10 from the desk and place it in a backpack or locker or other storage facility when the school day is over.
Referring to
As indicated in several places above, the embodiment of the invention described herein is illustrative rather than limiting and various modifications and additions thereto may occur to persons skilled in the art. Medium or high density polyethylene is a good choice for the injection molding of the caddy 10, but other plastics such as polyurethane and/or the more expensive elastomeric plastics can also be used. Color is a matter of choice and a place may be provided to receive a sticker or label with the student's name if desired.
