Apparatus and method for storing items

Abstract

A mountable item holder includes a rear sidewall which has a number of stabilizing features which, when the item holder is secured to an external vertical surface, stabilizes or otherwise prevent the item holder from “rocking” on the external vertical surface. The stabilizing feature may be embodied as a number of ribs defined in the rear sidewall of the item holder. A method of mounting an item holder to an external vertical mounting surface is also disclosed.

1 . A mountable item holder for storing a number of office or household items, comprising: 
 a molded plastic receptacle having a rear sidewall, the sidewall having formed therein a pair of ribs extending outwardly from the rear sidewall, and    means for mounting the receptacle to an external vertical surface secured to the rear sidewall at a position between the pair of ribs, whereby the ribs contact the external vertical surface when the receptacle is secured thereto thereby enhancing the stability of the receptacle.    
     
     
         2 . The item holder of  claim 1 , wherein the means for mounting the receptacle comprises hook and loop material.  
     
     
         3 . The item holder of  claim 1 , wherein the means for mounting the receptacle comprises a magnet.  
     
     
         4 . The item holder of  claim 1 , wherein the molded plastic receptacle comprises an injection molded plastic receptacle.  
     
     
         5 . The item holder of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of ribs extends from a top portion of the rear sidewall to a bottom portion of the rear sidewall.  
     
     
         6 . A method for mounting an item holder for storing a number of office or household items to an external vertical surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a mounting apparatus between a pair of stabilizing ribs on a rear sidewall of the item holder, and    mounting the item holder on the external vertical surface with the mounting apparatus such that the stabilizing ribs contact the external vertical surface so as to enhance the stability of the mounted item holder.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the mounting apparatus comprises a pair of complementary pieces of hook and loop material,    the positioning step comprises adhesively securing one of the pair of complementary pieces of hook and loop material to the rear sidewall, and    the mounting step comprises adhesively securing the other piece of the pair of complementary pieces of hook and loop material to the external vertical surface.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the mounting apparatus comprises a magnet,    the positioning step comprises adhesively securing one side of the magnet to the rear sidewall, and    the mounting step comprises magnetically securing the other side of the magnet to the external vertical surface.    
     
     
         9 . A mountable item holder for storing a number of office or household items, comprising: 
 a molded plastic receptacle having a rear sidewall, the sidewall having formed therein a first standoff and a second standoff extending outwardly from the rear sidewall, and    a mounting apparatus secured to the rear sidewall, the mounting apparatus being configured to removably mount the receptacle to an external vertical surface, wherein each of the first standoff, the second standoff, and the mounting apparatus contact the external vertical surface when the receptacle is secured thereto.    
     
     
         10 . The item holder of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting apparatus is positioned between the first standoff and the second standoff.  
     
     
         11 . The item holder of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting apparatus comprises hook and loop material.  
     
     
         12 . The item holder of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting apparatus comprises a magnet secured to the rear sidewall.  
     
     
         13 . The item holder of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the first standoff comprises a first stabilizing rib extending from a top portion of the rear sidewall to a bottom portion of the rear sidewall, and    the second standoff comprises a second stabilizing rib extending from the top portion of the rear sidewall to the bottom portion of the rear sidewall.