U.S. patent application number 10/232497 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-04 for holder for small articles.
Invention is credited to Bell, Rodney.
Application Number | 20040041066 10/232497 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31977020 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040041066 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bell, Rodney |
March 4, 2004 |
Holder for small articles
Abstract
A holder for removably attaching an article to a surface is
provided having a conformable member, a hook and loop fastener on
the outer side of the member, and an adhesive surface on the inside
of the member.
Inventors: |
Bell, Rodney; (Carrollton,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Offices of John D. Gugliotta, P.E., Esq.
202 Delaware Building
137 South Main Street
Akron
OH
44308
US
|
Family ID: |
31977020 |
Appl. No.: |
10/232497 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/314 ;
248/205.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/041 20130101;
F16M 13/022 20130101; A47G 29/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/314 ;
248/205.3 |
International
Class: |
A47G 029/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A holder for removably attaching an article to a surface,
comprised of: a holder, said holder constructed of a conformable
member having an inner surface and an outer surface and forming an
internal conduit within the inner surface; a plurality of spaced
corrugated inner ridges formed radially about said inner surface
for provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace
pathways; means for removably attaching said holder to a mounting
surface, said means in physical communication with said outer
surface; and adhesive means for affixing said holder to an article,
said adhesive means in physical communication with said inner
surface; and wherein said adhesive conformable member can be
disposed about an outer surface of an article.
2. The holder for removably attaching an article to a surface of
claim 1, wherein said means for removably attaching said holder to
a surface is comprised of a loop fastener strip embedded in a
recess specially formed therefor on one side of said holder for
engagement with a hook fastener strip permanently affixed to said
surface.
3. The holder for removably attaching an article to a surface of
claim 2, wherein said attachment means comprises hook and loop
fasteners.
4. A holder for small articles comprising: a conformable member
that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface
of a small, elongated object, said conformable member having an
internal conduit formed by the member and a plurality of spaced
corrugated inner ridges radially about an interior surface for
provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace
pathways; a receiving channel linearly aligned along an outer
surface of the conformable member that extends the entire length of
the member; a loop fastener strip affixed within said receiving
channel such as to appear embedded in the outer surface of the
member, a hook fastener strip for attachment to a surface by
adhesive, said hook fastener strip for affixing to said loop
fastener strip.
5. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said small,
elongated object is capable of being a disposable cigarette
lighter.
6. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said
conformable member is constructed of a foam material having a
spongy, flexible texture but is otherwise durable.
7. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said
conformable member is capable of being formed by an injection
molding process.
8. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said loop
fastener strip comprises a loop fastener adhesive opposite a loop
fastener element specially formed therefor for engagement with a
hook fastener strip.
9. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said hook
fastener strip comprises a hook fastener adhesive opposite a hook
fastener element.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention is an improvement on the disclosure in
U.S. Ser. No. 09/433,832 filed on Nov. 3, 1999, which was a
Continuation in Part of application Ser. No. 09/382,345, filed on
Aug. 25, 1999, both abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a holder for
small articles and, more particularly, to a foam holder for
receiving small, linearly elongated articles.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In the related art, there exists patents for holders for
objects, such as cigarette lighters, in order to keep a cigarette
lighter handy. Most of the devices in these patents provide a
cavity whereby a cigarette lighter of the disposable type may be
inserted for storage. Some of the patents provide a means for
attaching the cigarette lighter to a cigarette pack holder case or
directly to the side of a pack of cigarettes.
[0006] The present invention is unlike any of these inventions. It
is a conformable member that is capable of forming around and
adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated object. The
internal conduit formed by the member has a corrugated inner ridges
about the interior surface for provide both a frictional contact
surface as well as airspace pathways. The conformable member has
the loop portion of a conventional hook and loop fastener embedded
in a recess on its outer side. On the inner side is an adhesive
layer that allows the member to be attached to an elongated object.
The hook portion with a peel off adhesive backing is sold with it
to allow it to be attached to any surface.
[0007] A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that
read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the
following references were considered related:
1 U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 5,788,479 Galanos et al. Aug.
4, 1998 5,630,503 Rhodes et al. May 20, 1997 5,088,684 Torras et
al. Feb. 18, 1992 4,852,729 Conte Aug. 1, 1989 4,230,224 Weeks Oct.
28, 1980 4,223,784 Kaneyasu Sep. 23, 1980 D 370,301 Murphy May 28,
1996 4,205,367 Arnold, III May 27, 1980 4,262,682 Banyash Apr. 21,
1981 D 402,400 Pausinger Dec. 8, 1998 D 376,871 Sanchez et al. Dec.
24, 1996
[0008] Of some relevance is U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,224 issued to Weeks
disclosing a combination cigarette and lighter case whereby a
cigarette lighter holder is removably fastened to a cigarette case
via hook and loop fasteners. However, the cigarette lighter case
cannot be attached anywhere but the cigarette case.
[0009] Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an
apparatus and method which allows attachment of a small elongated
article to any convenient surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved holder for small articles.
[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
device which would enable one to always keep a disposable butane
cigarette lighter handy.
[0012] Further objects of the present invention are to allow for
use with pencils and writing implements, hairbrushes, razors,
toothbrushes and other grooming items, lipsticks and cosmetic
items, lighters, flashlights and sundry other similar articles.
[0013] It is feature of the present invention that the loop portion
is on the holder to make it soft to hold
[0014] It is an advantage of the present invention that it can be
made to fit many small, elongated articles.
[0015] It is another advantage of the present invention that its
elastic properties allow it to firmly conform to a number of such
articles.
[0016] It is yet another advantage of the present invention that
with multiple hook components one can keep the holder in more than
one location.
[0017] Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present
invention, the holder is equipped with a hook and loop fastener
such as Velcro (TM) to aid in keeping the apparatus as well as the
lighter handy. A conformable member supports the fastening means in
a manner that is capable of forming around and adhering to the
outer surface of any small, elongated object. The conformable
member has the loop portion of a conventional hook and loop
fastener embedded in a recess on its outer side. On the inner side
is an adhesive layer that allows the member to be attached to an
elongated object. The hook portion with a peel off adhesive backing
is sold with it to allow it to be attached to any surface. In this
fashion, the objects can be attached to any surface as heretofore
described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The advantages and features of the present invention will
become better understood with reference to the following more
detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with
like symbols, and in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for small objects
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
shown therein being used with a conventional butane cigarette
lighter;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a front side elevational view thereof;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a rear side elevational view thereof;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;
[0024] FIG. 6 is bottom plan view thereof; and
[0025] FIG. 7 is front view of a hook fastening strip with the
adhesive stripping still attached, according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in
terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the FIGS.
1-7, wherein a holder for small articles 10 is disclosed, according
to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown
removably attached to a surface 30. A conventional disposable
butane cigarette lighter 12 is shown disposed within a conformable
member 20. As best shown in conjunction with FIG. 2, the
conventional disposable butane cigarette lighter 12 shown aligned
for placement into the conformable member 20. The conformable
member is affixed to a loop fastener strip 14, which is aligned
with and attached onto a hook fastener strip 22. The hook fastener
strip supports a hook fastener adhesive surface 24 on the inside of
said conformable member 20.
[0027] The conformable member 20 is constructed of a foam or nylon
material having a spongy, flexible texture but is otherwise
durable. It is a conformable member that is capable of forming
around and adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated
object. Conventional injection molding processes would be suitable
for manufacturing the member 20. Linearly aligned along the outer
surface of the conformable member 20 is a receiving channel 16 that
extends the entire length of the member 20. Within this receiving
channel 16 is affixed the loop fastener strip 14. An internal
conduit 18 is formed by the member 20, and a plurality of spaced
corrugated inner ridges 26 radially about the interior surface for
provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace
pathways 28.
[0028] The loop fastener strip 14 is attached recessed such as to
appear embedded in the outer surface of the member 20. The loop
fastener strip 14 has a loop fastener adhesive 32 opposite a loop
fastener element 34 of a conjunctive hook and loop fastener. Loop
fastener strip 14 is specially formed therefor for engagement with
a hook fastener strip 22.
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a front view of a hook fastener strip 22 for
attachment to a surface 30 with the adhesive stripping still
attached. The hook fastener strip 22 is formed in a similar manner
as the loop fastener strip 14, with a hook fastener adhesive 42
opposite a hook fastener element 44. The hook fastener adhesive 42
is designed to be permanently affixed to mounting surface 30. The
mounting surface 30 may be any surface where it is desirable to
conveniently place a lighter. Typically, the hook and loop
fasteners (more commonly known as Velcro(TM)) are attached to
lighter 10 and surface 30 by peeling back an adhesive strip
revealing a self sticking surface on the strip.
[0030] The loop fastener 14 would be applied at the factory placed
into recess 16, while hook fastener strip 22 would come in the same
package with the adhesive strip still on. Additional hook fastener
strips 22 would be available at a nominal additional cost. In this
fashion, one could put hook fastener strip 22 on any surface or
several surfaces if desired.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a front side view of the present invention,
where it may be possible to emboss or imprint an advertising logo
or the user=s name on the side.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a rear side view the present invention showing
the loop fastener strip permanently affixed to the side embedded in
recess 16.
[0033] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the
present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It
is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the
claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope
of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
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