The present invention relates generally to organization and storage systems and methods for use thereof, and more specifically to a system and method of labeling, organizing, and storing flash drives.
Flash drives, also known as USB drives, thumb drives, jump drives, or memory sticks, are compact devices commonly used for saving, storing, and/or transferring various types of digital files between computing devices, such as desktop or laptop computer hard drives. Additionally, most televisions on the market today are equipped with USB ports allowing users to insert a flash drive into the television and play saved video and/or audio files via the television display screen and speakers. Accordingly, many consumers store digital video and/or audio files on flash drives for use with their televisions.
The compact design of flash drives accommodates easy transport in a user's pocket, in a user's bag, on a user's keychain, on a lanyard around a user's neck or wrist, or via another mode of transport. However, such compact design also results in limited capacity for each flash drive, often leading to users having numerous flash drives to store their electronic files and media. With a multitude of flash drives, the content saved on each can be easily confused, which in turn can lead to a user wasting time reviewing files on multiple flash drives before locating a desired digital file. Another disadvantage of flash drives being compact is that they tend to be easily lost or misplaced. What is needed is an efficient system and method for organizing and storing flash drives to cut down on lost, misplaced, and/or mixed-up flash drives.
Heretofore there has not been available an organization and storage system and method with the advantages and features of the present invention.
The present invention discloses an organization and storage system and method. The present system includes a hang tag piece configured for attachment to an object to be organized and stored and a case configured for receiving and housing the object and the attached hang tag piece.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the hang tag piece includes an end slot opening leading to an inner cavity and configured for receiving a label; a side display configured for displaying the label; a protector piece configured for enclosing and protecting the label; and attachment holes on each end, each attachment hole configured for connecting to a key ring, lanyard, hook, other carrying or mounting mechanism, or combinations thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, an attached key ring helps hold the label and protector piece in place by connecting through the end slot opening, preventing the label and protector piece from falling out of the end slot opening. In alternative embodiments, other locking mechanisms are utilized in place of a key ring for connecting through the end slot opening to hold the label and protector piece in place. In an exemplary embodiment utilizing a key ring, to remove and/or replace the label of the present invention, the key ring is removed; the label and protector piece are removed; and the protector piece is opened for access to the label. The label may then be replaced with a new or modified label; the new or modified label placed within the protector piece; the protector piece closed around the new or modified label; the label and protector piece reinserted into the hang tag end slot opening; and the key ring reattached.
In an aspect of the present invention, the case includes an open internal space configured for receiving and holding the object to be organized and the attached hang tag piece. In an exemplary embodiment, the case includes a molded receiver configured for holding the object and hang tag piece without the object and hang tag piece sliding around within the case. The case includes one or more case labels corresponding to the label on the hang tag piece. The case label can either be attached to the outside of the case via adhesive or placed within the case and visible through a clear case display.
In use of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hang tag piece is attached to a flash drive via a lanyard or alternative attachment piece connected around the lanyard loop of the flash drive and around one of the hang tag piece end holes, preferably the attachment hole on the opposite side of the hang tag piece end slot opening. A description or notation regarding the contents of the flash drive are written on a label; the label is inserted into a protector piece; and the label and protector piece are inserted into the end slot opening with the written description or notation displayed through the clear top display. Preferably, a key ring or alternative locking piece is attached to the end attachment hole on the same end as the end slot opening, holding the label and protector piece within the hang tag piece inner cavity. A corresponding case label is placed on or in a case so that the case label is displayed from outside of the case. The flash drive with the attached, labeled hang tag piece is placed within the corresponding case, and the case is closed. The case holding the flash drive and hang tag piece can then be stored and organized in a tidy manner, allowing for quick and efficient storage and retrieval of a desired flash drive with desired digital files.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.
I. Introduction and Environment
As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Additionally, anatomical terms are given their usual meanings. For example, proximal means closer to the trunk of the body, and distal means further from the trunk of the body. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.
II. Preferred Embodiment
The present invention is an organization and storage system and method 2 for efficient identification, arrangement, housing, and retrieval of desired objects to be organized and stored. The organization and storage system 2 includes a hang tag piece 4 configured for attachment to an object to be organized and stored and a case 32 configured for receiving and housing the object and the attached hang tag piece 4.
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention is used to label, store, and organize flash drives containing saved digital content. In the digital age we live in today, people often use digital memory storage devices, such as but not limited to hard drives and flash drives, to store digital files, documents, media, etc. Flash drives are advantageous in many situations over hard drives because flash drives are compact and portable, accommodating easy access to files between multiple computing devices and/or display screens. However, the compact, portable design of flash drives also has tradeoffs, such as limited storage capacity for each individual flash drive. This often leads to a user having numerous flash drives to store the user's various digital content. Having numerous, compact flash drives commonly results in flash drives being misplaced or mixed up, which in turn can result in significant wasted time looking for a desired digital file. The present invention provides a system and method for resolving such issues and efficiently organizing and storing flash drives. Additionally, with currently-sold display monitors, televisions, speaker systems, cars, and other electronic devices being equipped with USB ports, the music and entertainment industries may plausibly move toward selling music, movies, videos, and other digital media on flash drives rather than on larger mediums like discs (i.e., CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs). Thus, in addition to providing a system and method for efficiently organizing and storing one's digital media, the present invention provides the music and entertainment industries with a new system and method for packaging music, movies, videos, and other digital media for retail sales. Further, new forms of electronic media called non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have gained popularity and may be saved on flash drives and organized and stored utilizing the present invention.
In other embodiments, the organization and storage system 2 of the present invention may alternatively be used with objects to be organized and stored other than flash drives. For a non-limiting example, the present invention may be utilized for organizing and storing collectables such as stamps, coins, sports cards, etc. Moreover, technology is ever-changing, and digital files may eventually be stored on alternative devices not yet developed. The present invention may also be used in the future for organization and storage of such yet to be developed devices.
Referring to the drawings in more detail,
In a preferred embodiment, the hang tag piece 4 further includes a protective piece 12 configured for receiving, enclosing, and protecting the label 10; for sliding into the inner cavity 8; and for being visible through the top side open display 40. The protector piece 12 protects the label 10 from damage and accommodates easier sliding in and removal of the label 10 from the inner cavity 8 of the hang tag piece 4. In an exemplary embodiment, the protective piece 12 is clear so that the label 10 can be easily read through the protective piece 12. However, the protective piece 12 may alternatively be slightly tinted or be a translucent color as long as the label 10 is clearly visible through the protective piece 12. The protective piece 12 may be made of plastic, glass, or an alternative clear or translucent material.
In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated by
In an exemplary embodiment, the protective piece joined end 16 further includes an end extension 18. Such a joined end extension 18 provides a guide for easier insertion of the protective piece 12 into the end slot opening 6 and inner cavity 8, with the joined end extension 18 inserted through the end slot opening 6 first. However, other embodiments of the present invention do not include a protective piece joined end extension 18. In further embodiments, the present invention may not include a protective piece 12. In such embodiments without a protective piece 12, the user may slide a label 10 directly into the end slot opening 6 and inner cavity 8.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the label 10 comprises a piece of paper small enough to fit within the protective piece 12 and hang tag inner cavity 8. Preferably, a user of the present invention writes a name and/or description 9 of the content of the object to be organized and stored on the label 10. Such label writing 9 is depicted as a generic “LABEL” in
In embodiments of the present invention, the main body of the hang tag piece 4 may be made up of plastic, filament, fiberglass, metal, wood, rubber, or any other solid material. In the embodiment shown in
The hang tag piece 4 is configured for attachment to the object to be organized and stored via a key ring, lanyard, small chain 29, alternative attachment mechanism, or combinations thereof, connected through one of the hang tag piece end holes 22, 24 and connected to the object. In embodiments for use with a flash drive 28, the hang tag piece attachment mechanism 29 can attach to the flash drive 28 through a flash drive lanyard hole 44, which the majority of flash drives are equipped with.
In an exemplary embodiment, a key ring, clip, hook, or alternative locking mechanism 26 attaches through the hang tag piece planar first end holes 22 on the same side as the end slot opening 6, preventing the label 10 and protective piece 12 from falling out of the end slot opening 6. Such key ring or other locking mechanism 26 attached to the holes 22 through the same end as the end slot opening 6 may be attached to the object to be organized and stored; be attached to another lanyard, keychain, or alternative transport piece 27; or be a standalone key ring or other locking mechanism 26. To access or change the label 10, the key ring or other locking mechanism 26 is simply removed, followed by the protective piece 12 and label 10 being removed from the inner cavity 8. The label 10 can then be reviewed, revised, and/or replaced and reinserted into the protective piece 12. The protective piece 12 is then reinserted into the inner cavity 8 through the end slot opening 6, and the key ring or other locking mechanism 26 reattached to the hang tag piece 4. In some embodiments of the present invention, the locking mechanism 26 may further include a lock requiring a key or code to remove the locking mechanism 26 from the hang tag piece 4, thus limiting access to label 10 removal.
In an exemplary embodiment, the hang tag top open display 40 is an open, non-covered portion of the body of the hang tag piece 4, open to the inner cavity 8 to allow the label 10 to be displayed. Preferably, a clear protective piece 12 provides protection for the label 10, slides into the hang tag piece inner cavity 8, and is visible through the hang tag piece open display 40, while accommodating a user seeing through it to the description and/or notations 9 written on the label 10. However, alternative embodiments include a top display 40 having an attached, permanent protector made of clear plastic, glass, or any other clear or translucent material configured for protecting the label 10, holding the label 10 in place, and allowing the label 10 to be displayed.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a case 32 having open and closed configurations includes an internal space configured for receiving and housing an object to be organized and an attached hang tag piece 4 and includes one or more case labels 34 which are externally viewable with the case 32 in its closed configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the case 32 is made of a clear material, such as but not limited to clear plastic or glass, to display a case label 34 positioned inside the case 32. However, alternative embodiments include non-transparent cases 32 of any color(s). Such non-transparent cases 32 may include a clear outer receiver for receiving a case label 34 or may be configured for having a case label 34 attached via adhesive or another mode of attachment. The case 32 may include one or more case labels 34 corresponding to the label 10 on the hang tag piece 4 and may include further description of the object itself or files saved on the object. Such corresponding case labels 34 and hang tag labels 10 accommodate efficient organization, storage, identification, and retrieval of objects.
In a preferred embodiment, the case 32 includes a molded receiver 36 configured for holding the object and hang tag piece 4 without the object and hang tag piece 4 sliding around within the case 32. Embodiments of the case may further include clips, hook and loop fasteners, or other attachment mechanisms for attachment to the object and/or hang tag piece 4. Preferably, the case 32 will include a snapping open and close mechanism. However, alternative opening and closing mechanisms can be utilized in embodiments of the present invention, such as but not limited to magnetic closure(s), hook and loop fastener(s), buckle(s) and strap(s), and clip(s). Multiple cases 32 of the present invention can easily be stored in bookcases, file cabinets, drawers, or any other desired location for easy organization, storage, identification, and retrieval.
In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in
In use of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated by
In an exemplary embodiment, the present organization and storage system 2 and method of use are utilized with everyday consumer digital files. Additionally, the present invention could be used by the music and entertainment industries for retail sales of music and movies on flash drives. The entertainment and movie industries can print movie and music album covers and information for placement on hang tags 4 and cases 32 of the present invention, similar to previous covers and information used with retail DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, CDs, cassette tapes, vinyl records, etc. The present invention could also be used for retail sales of electronic books (e-books) and audiobooks on flash drives. Further industries and markets that may utilize the organization and storage system 2 include but are not limited to homes, schools, businesses, hospitals, offices, and anyone else wanting to efficiently organize and store various objects.
It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms and is not to be limited to the examples specifically discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited.
This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/040,315, filed Jun. 17, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63040315 | Jun 2020 | US |