Locker wall-protector and contents organizer

Abstract

Apparatus for protecting, from wear, tear and abuse, the interior walls (e.g., the side and back walls) of a conventional storage locker of the type commonly used in schools, gymnasia, clubs and work places for temporarily storing various possessions of the locker user. Such apparatus preferably comprises a foldable protective panel made of a durable textile, cloth fabric, plastic, textile/plastic blends or other flexible material that is shaped and sized to overlay a major portion of at least one of the interior walls of such locker. A plurality of attachment elements, such as magnets, serves to releasably attach such panel to the locker wall(s) at spaced locations over the surface of the panel. Preferably, the panel is made of denim, and the denim panel supports a plurality of organizing pockets and/or loops of different sizes and shapes that are adapted to temporarily receive and/or support various possessions of the locker user, e.g., a cell phone, wallet, coins, writing utensils, tools, books, food, etc.

1 . Apparatus for simultaneously protecting the inside surfaces of a storage locker while affording the locker user an opportunity to organize objects to be stored within such locker, said storage locker being in the shape of a parallelepiped of rectangular cross-section and having a storage space defined by a pair of spaced, parallel side walls, a back wall interconnecting opposing edges of said side walls, and a front wall that supports an access door hinged along one side for pivotal movement between locker-opening and locker-closing positions, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) a flexible protective panel sized to overlie a major portion of at least one of said walls of said storage locker, said panel having a plurality of pockets formed therein for receiving and storing personal objects of the storage locker user; and   (b) a plurality of coupling devices for releasably attaching said flexible panel to one or more of said walls of said storage locker at spaced locations.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein said flexible protective panel comprise a material selected from the group consisting of textiles, cloth, fabric, plastic, and textile/plastic blends. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein said panel comprises denim. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein said panel has a surface area sufficiently large to cover the surface area of one of said side walls or said back wall. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein said panel has a surface area sufficiently large enough to cover a major portion of the respective surface areas of both of said side walls and said back wall. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein locker walls are comprised of a magnetically-attractive material, and wherein said coupling devices for releasably attaching said panel to said locker walls comprises a plurality of magnetic members that are positionable at spaced locations on the surface of said panel, each magnetic member being capable of producing a magnetic field projecting through said panel, said magnetic field being sufficiently strong to support at least a portion said panel on a locker wall. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein locker walls are comprised of a magnetically-attractive material, and wherein said coupling devices for releasably attaching said panel to said locker walls comprises a plurality of magnetic coupling devices, each being magnetically attracted to said locker walls, and each carrying a mechanical, panel-engaging device adapted to engage said panel at a predetermined location. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 7  wherein each of said magnetic coupling devices comprises a housing that supports (i) a magnetic member on one side of said housing, and (ii) said mechanical panel-engaging device on an opposite side of said housing. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 8  wherein each of said mechanical panel-engaging devices comprises a stem that extends outwardly from said opposite side of said housing, said stem being adapted to pass through an opening formed in said panel, said stem pivotally supporting a rocker member that can be manually moved between a first position in which it provides no substantial interference to the passage of said stem through said panel opening, and a second position in which it prevents said stem from being withdrawn from said opening after said stem has passed through said panel opening. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein said panel supports a plurality of snaps at a predetermined locations, and said locker walls support a plurality of complementary snaps at spaced locations, said complementary snaps being adapted to mate with said panel snaps and thereby form a releasable connection. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 8  wherein said panel supports a plurality of snaps at a predetermined locations, and wherein said mechanical panel-engaging device on said opposite side of said housing comprises a complementary snap adapted to releasably engage a snap on said panel. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 8  wherein said panel defines a plurality of button holes at a predetermined locations, and wherein said mechanical panel-engaging device on said opposite side of said housing comprises a button adapted to releasably engage a button whole in said panel. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 7  wherein said panel comprises a denim material. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 10  wherein said panel comprises a denim material. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 12  wherein said panel comprises a denim material. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein said panel supports a zipper by which said panel, upon being removed from said locker walls and folded so that said pockets are positioned within the folded panel, can converted to a duffel bag for transporting all objects stored within said pockets. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 1  wherein said panel supports a pair of complementary Velcro® strips by which said panel, upon being removed from said locker walls and folded so that said pockets are positioned within the folded panel, can be converted to a duffel bag for transporting all objects stored within said pockets.