Desktop organizer

Abstract

A rotatable desktop organizer for holding a plurality of writing instruments and desk items such as paperclips. The desktop organizer has a platform having a plurality of concentric receptacles along the circumference of the top platform surface for securely holding, in each of the receptacle, a single writing instrument in a substantially upright position, a hollow column with an open top protruding upward from the center of the platform for storing desk items therein, a flat base rotatably connected to the bottom of the platform to allow, by rotating the platform, easier access to a particular writing instrument selected, and a removable plug for inserting into the column which has a magnet at its distal end for thereby picking up metallic items stored in the column. The desktop organizer may further have advertising material disposed on the side surface of either the column or the platform.

1 . A desk organizer comprising:
 a) a platform for removably retaining a plurality of writing instruments therein, having substantially planar opposing top and bottom surfaces and a circumferential side surface extending therebetween, the top surface defining a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles thereon adjacent a circumferential edge thereof, each being sized and configured to removably retain a respective writing instrument therein in a substantially upright position; and   b) a hollow column protruding perpendicularly upward from a central portion of the top surface of the platform for storing desk items therein, the column having an open upper column end and an opposing closed lower column end.   
   
   
       2 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially flat base upon which the platform is rotatably mounted for unobstructed rotation relative thereto. 
   
   
       3 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , further comprising a plug sized and configured to removably cover the open upper end of the column. 
   
   
       4 . The desk organizer in  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the plug is magnetized for attracting metallic items thereto. 
   
   
       5 . The desk organizer in  claim 4 , wherein the plug comprises:
 a) an elongated protrusion perpendicularly protruding from a central portion of a bottom surface of the plug, the protrusion having a length such that a distal end thereof substantially extends toward the lower column end when the plug is inserted into the hollow column; and   b) a permanent magnet disposed adjacent the distal end of the protrusion.   
   
   
       6 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein the lower column end extends into an interior of the platform below the top surface thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein advertising material is disposed on an outer surface of the column. 
   
   
       8 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein advertising material is disposed on the side surface of the platform. 
   
   
       9 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of receptacles defines a substantially circular circumference on the top surface of the platform. 
   
   
       10 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacles are substantially equal-spaced from one another. 
   
   
       11 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , further comprising paper clips retained in the hollow column. 
   
   
       12 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein the platform and the column have substantially cylindrical shapes. 
   
   
       13 . The desk organizer in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of receptacles is concentrically located. 
   
   
       14 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of receptacles has a depth such that at least half of the writing instrument retained therein is exposed out of the each receptacle. 
   
   
       15 . The desk organizer in  claim 1 , wherein the number of the receptacles is at least six. 
   
   
       16 . A desk organizer comprising:
 a) a platform for removably retaining a plurality of writing instruments therein, having same sized, substantially planar and circular opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between circumferential edges of the top and bottom surfaces, the top surface defining a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles thereon adjacent the circumferential edge thereof, each being sized and configured to removably retain a respective writing instrument therein in a substantially upright position;   b) a substantially cylindrical column protruding perpendicularly upward from a central portion of the top surface of the platform, the column having an upper column end and an opposing lower column end; and   c) first advertising material disposed on an outer surface of the column.   
   
   
       17 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , further comprising a flat base upon which the platform is rotatably mounted so as to rotate unobstructively relative thereto. 
   
   
       18 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , wherein the cylindrical column defines a cylindrical hollow extending between the upper and lower column ends for retaining desk items therein, the hollow being open at the upper column end and closed at the lower column end. 
   
   
       19 . The desk organizer in  claim 18 , further comprising a plug sized and configured to removably cover the upper end of the column. 
   
   
       20 . The desk organizer in  claim 19 , wherein the plug is magnetized so as to attract metallic items thereto. 
   
   
       21 . The desk organizer in  claim 20 , wherein the plug comprises:
 a) a cylindrical protrusion perpendicularly protruding from a central portion of a bottom surface of the plug, the protrusion having a length such that a distal end thereof substantially extends toward the lower column end when the plug is inserted into the column; and   b) a permanent magnet disposed adjacent the distal end of the protrusion.   
   
   
       22 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , wherein the lower column end extends into an interior of the platform below the top surface thereof. 
   
   
       23 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , wherein the first advertising material is imprinted on the outer surface of the column. 
   
   
       24 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , further comprising a transparent sleeve sized and configured to fit around the column wherein the first advertising material is imprinted on a cylindrical piece of paper disposed between the outer surface of the column and the transparent sleeve. 
   
   
       25 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , further comprising second advertising material disposed on the side surface of the platform. 
   
   
       26 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of receptacles has a substantially circular circumference on the top surface of the platform. 
   
   
       27 . The desk organizer in  claim 26 , wherein the receptacles are concentrically arranged and substantially equal-spaced from one another. 
   
   
       28 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , further comprising paper clips retained in the column. 
   
   
       29 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of receptacles has a depth such that at least half of the writing instrument retained therein is exposed out of the each receptacle. 
   
   
       30 . The desk organizer in  claim 16 , wherein the number of the receptacles is at least six. 
   
   
       31 . A method of advertising comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a desk organizer comprising:
 1) a platform for removably retaining a plurality of writing instruments, having same sized, substantially planar and circular opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between circumferential edges of the top and bottom surfaces, the top surface defining a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles thereon adjacent the circumferential edge thereof, each of being sized and configured to retain a respective writing instrument therein in a substantially upright position, 
 2) a cylindrical column protruding perpendicularly upward from a central portion of the top surface of the platform, the column having an upper column end and an opposing lower column end, and 
 3) a flat base upon which the platform is rotatably mounted so as to rotate unobstructively relative thereto; and 
   b) disposing advertising material on a visible outer surface of the desk organizer.   
   
   
       32 . The method of advertising in  claim 31 , wherein the step of disposing advertising material comprises the step of imprinting first advertising material around an outer surface of the column. 
   
   
       33 . The method of advertising in  claim 32 , wherein the step of disposing advertising material further comprises the step of imprinting second advertising material around on the side surface of the platform. 
   
   
       34 . The method of advertising in  claim 31 , wherein the step of disposing advertising material comprises the steps of: p 1  a) imprinting the first advertising material on a cylindrical piece of paper sized and configured to fit around the column;
 b) disposing the piece of paper around the column; and   c) disposing a transparent shell over the piece of paper so that the first advertising material may be visible therethrough.