U.S. patent application number 10/706817 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for appliance holder.
Invention is credited to Hein, Barbara.
Application Number | 20040099624 10/706817 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46300297 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040099624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hein, Barbara |
May 27, 2004 |
Appliance holder
Abstract
Described is a device that is designed to hold a variety of
different articles. The device is comprised of a base element and
at lease one clamping components. The clamping components are
capable of being repositioned relative to the base element and may
be inserted to removed, as needed.
Inventors: |
Hein, Barbara; (Peoria,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
The Halvorson Law Firm
Ste 1
405 W. Southern Ave.
Tempe
AZ
85282
US
|
Family ID: |
46300297 |
Appl. No.: |
10/706817 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10706817 |
Nov 10, 2003 |
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29171798 |
Nov 26, 2002 |
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D481930 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/89.01 ;
211/60.1; 211/70.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/04 20130101; A47L
13/512 20130101; F16M 13/02 20130101; F16M 11/041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/089.01 ;
211/060.1; 211/070.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for holding items comprising at lease one movable clamp
component that is adapted to be receive by a base element, said
base element further comprising a top portion, a bottom portion and
two end pieces that hold the top portion in a spaced parallel
relationship relative to the bottom portion, thus forming a
channel, the top portion further including an insertion slot that
is located on an inner edge and is connected to the channel,
wherein the at least one movable clamp component is capable of
being removed from and reinserted in to the base element.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the two end pieces further
comprise a first end piece that attaches to a first end of the top
portion and to a first end of the bottom portion; a second end
piece that attaches to a second end of the top portion and to a
second end of the bottom portion.
3. The device in claim 2 wherein the first end of the top portion
attaches near a top edge of the first end piece; the first end of
the bottom portion attaches near a bottom edge of the first end
piece; the second end of the top portion attaches near a top edge
of the second end piece; and the second end of the bottom portion
attaches near a bottom edge of the second end piece.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first and second end pieces
project substantially forward of the front surfaces of the top
portion and the bottom portion.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one clamp component
comprises a holding element and two attached leg members, said leg
members adapted to be received by a channel formed by the spaced
parallel relationship between the top portion and the bottom
portion.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the holding element is
substantially C-shaped with semi-flexible arms.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the terminal ends of the
semi-flexible arms curve outward.
8. The device of claim 6 where the semi-flexible arms are connected
by a semi-flexible piece.
9. The device of claim 5 wherein the leg members are attached to
proximate ends of the semi-flexible arms and are substantially
parallel.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 29,171,798, which was filed on Nov. 26, 200 and issued as
U.S. Pat. No. D481930 Nov. 11, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a device for
holding objects and more particularly to a wall mounted clamps
suitable for household and industrial use and capable of releasably
holding several objects. Furthermore, individual clamps of the
present invention may be easily inserted or removed.
BACKGROUND
[0003] One effect of consumerism in our society is that individuals
acquire numerous devices, each of which needs to be stored in a
convenient place. For smaller items and objects with regular
outlines, shelves and cabinets are adequate. But, when the objects
have an unusual or bulky outline or when the items are ones that
are used daily, special holding or storing devices are needed.
[0004] In the past a variety of devices have been created that
attempt to satisfy the need for holding frequently used or bulky
objets. Examples are briefly described below.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,987, issued on Oct. 14, 1969 to Yelsma,
discloses a device specifically designed for use in the
construction industry to hold and position items such as
reinforcing bars and pipes. The Yelsma holder has a holding portion
that is substantially C-shaped and two diverging leg structures
that form a base portion. The leg structures are permanently
attached to the holding portion and further include a horizontal
brace or support to maintain their spacing. The C-shape of the
holding portion forms bendable arms that flex to accommodate the
diameter of a held item. Furthermore, at terminal ends of the
bendable arms are guiding and securing flanges. One flange is
directed inward, toward the center of the holding portion while the
other flange is directed outward, away from the center of the
holding portion. While the Yelsma device excellently serves the
purpose for which it was designed, it is limited and cannot be
easily adapted to other uses. Each clamp has its own separate base
upon which no additional clamps may be attached or inserted. The
clamps cannot move relative to the base nor may they be separated
from the base without destroying the device.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,773, issued on Jul. 3, 1978 to Losenno,
discloses a beautician's tool hanger. The Losenno device is
designed to be a wall mounted structure that holds the beautician's
tools a distance from the wall. Included in this device is an
inverted J-shaped support structure that may be removably attached
to a wall mounted base. Attached to the inverted J-shaped support
structure is a horizontal arm member with pressure clips that are
permanently attached such as by riveting or spot welding. While the
Losenno patent teaches that additional pressure clip members may be
attached to the horizontal arm member, the horizontal arm member
must be extended and the additional pressure clips attached at the
point of manufacture. Additional clips may not be added by the end
user. Furthermore, by its design, the entire apparatus, support
structure and horizontal arm member with attached clips, is
removable from the base. Thus, individual clips may not be removed
without substantial effort. Finally, the pressure clip of Losenno
cannot independently move relative to the wall mounted base.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,299, issued on Dec. 6, 1977 to Kurosaki,
discloses an electrical cord holder. The Korusaki cord holder
comprises a circular clamp body with two opposed arcuate arms and
leg members attached to lower ends of the arms. The c portion
connecting the two opposed arms are connected near the attached leg
members is a thin-walled hinge. At terminal ends of the opposed
arms are mutually engageable pawls. These mutually engageable pawls
serve to secure the terminal ends of the opposed arms together
thereby quasi-permanently clamping the electrical cord within the
clamp body. Kurosaki further teaches the use of a base plate to
hold and secure the leg members of this holder, however the clamp
devices are not movable relative to the base plate nor can
additional clamp devices be inserted without further modification
of the base plate.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,604, issued on Dec. 23, 1980 to Brach,
discloses a multipurpose closeable clamp. In its open configuration
the Brach clamp has a W-shape, however in its closed configuration
the clamp is circular. The Brach clamp has two arcuate arms
attached to each other by a thin-walled flexible hinge. These arms
are supported and attached at a central location to a resilient
arcuate fastening extension. Brach teaches that the fastening
extension may be removably attached to a wall mounted base. The
fastening extension fits into the wall mounted base in a
swallow-tail joint configuration. While an ingenious device, the
Brach clamps each have a separate wall mounting base and this
patent does not contemplate the possibility of inserting additional
clamps to a wall mounting base. Furthermore, the clamps are not
movable relative to the wall mounting base and cannot be
repositioned.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,432, issued on Nov. 25, 1986 to
Salacuse, and U.S. Pat. No 4,728,071, issued on Mar. 1, 1988 also
to Salacuse, both disclose further improvements upon the Brach
patent, but do not solve any of the above discussed problems.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,760, issued on Jul. 9, 1985 to Salacuse,
is another improvement on the Brach patent, but with a redesigned
base. As above described, the Brach patent discloses a clamping
device that is permanently mounted onto a surface in a single
orientation, the Salacuse '760 patent, however, provides a mounting
structure that allows the clamp device of the Brach patent to be
mounted at two orthogonally different orientation. This is
accomplished by providing a mounting body forming a compartment
defined by side walls of the body, the side walls being preferably
cylindrical and a front wall; a means for connecting the body to a
generally vertical surface such as a wall and substantially
parallel to the front wall; a snap-clamp device; a mounting member
in abutting rotational relationship with the front wall, the
mounted member being connected to said snap clamp device; a
fastener connected to said mounting member, the fastener including
a shaft having opposed ends with one of the ends connected to and
extending substantially perpendicular from a surface of the
mounting member and two perpendicular pairs of locking arms
connected to the other of the ends of the shaft and extending
substantially at right angles relative to the shaft. The front wall
of the compartment has a central passage substantially normal to
the inner and outer surfaces and further forms two pairs of slots
connected to the central passage and adapted to receive the two
pairs of locking arms and shaft. Each of the four locking arms
includes a tapered surface having an edge extending substantially
at right angles relative to the shaft. However, the redesigned base
only allows for rotational repositioning of the clamping element,
and not horizontal or vertical repositioning. Furthermore, as in
the above patents, this device is designed to hold a single item
and additional holding elements may not be added or removed as
needed.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,074, issued on Oct. 3, 1989 to Bryson et
al., discloses a rack used to hold appliances and the like. The
Bryson rack has keyhole shaped slots in two parallel spaced support
surfaces, a large diameter slot directly above a smaller diameter
slot, which receives hair appliances such as hair dryers and curing
irons. The support surfaces are attached to a mounting structure.
While this rack adequately serves its intended purpose, it does not
allow holding elements to be removed or inserted, as needed.
Furthermore, the holding elements are permanently fixed into place
with no possibility of repositioning relative to the mounting
support. Finally, the holding elements of the Bryson device are not
flexible and cannot accommodate a side variety of differently sized
items.
[0012] While the above mentioned devices are suited for their
intended usage, none of the disclosed devices teaches a hair
appliance holder including a wall mounting base of suitable height
to allow the device to grip a wide variety of sizes and shapes; a
plurality of sets of arms that are in movable relation to each
other and the wall mounting base, said arms designed such that they
are capable of gripping a wide variety of sizes and shapes of hair
care appliances. Additionally, there is a need for a device in
which additional holding elements may be inserted or removed, as
needed. In as much as the art is relatively crowded with various
hair care appliance holders, it can be appreciated that there is a
continuing need for and interest in improvements to such hair care
appliance holders, and in his respect, the present invention
addresses this need and interest.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device
that is capable of holding a plurality of different items.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
device in which holding elements are movable relative to a base
element.
[0015] It is still another object of the resent invention to
provide a device in which the holding elements are independently
movable relative to each other and to the base element.
[0016] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a device in which holding elements may be easily inserted into the
base element.
[0017] It is still yet another object of the present invention to
provide a device in which holding elements may be easily removed
from the base element.
[0018] It is an additional object of the present invention to
provide a device in which a base element has a channel that
receives holding elements and allows the holding elements to be
freely repositioned relative to the base element.
[0019] The novel features that are considered characteristic of the
invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its
operation together with the additional object and advantages
thereof will best be understood from the following description of
the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically
noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the
specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed
meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts.
If any other meaning is intended, the specification will
specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a
word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words "function" or
"means" in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended
to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if
the provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn.112, paragraph 6, are sought to
be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically
state the phrases "means for" or "step for" and a function, without
also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in
support of the function. Even when the claims recite a "means for"
or "step for" performing a function, if they also recite any
structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, then
the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.112, paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35
U.S.C. .sctn.112, paragraph 6, are invoked to define the
inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only
to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in
the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all
structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function,
along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent
structures, materials or acts for performing the claimed
function.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a section view along line 3 in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates insertion of a clamp component into the
base piece according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a back perspective view of a clamp component
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring not to the drawings an in accordance with the
above and other objects, a multi-purpose apparatus 1 useful for
holding elongated objects away from surface and capable of
repositioning the held objects is provided. Furthermore, the
apparatus 1 of the present invention is capable of insertion and
removal of additional holding elements.
[0026] The apparatus 1 includes a surface mounting base element 10
and at least one spring pressure holding elements(s) or clamp
component(s) 50 that are adapted to be received by the base element
10. The surface mounting base 10 has a top portion 20 and a bottom
portion 30 that are held in fixed relationship to each other by
first and second end pieces, 15 and 16. First end piece 15 attaches
to a first end 21 of the top portion 20 and to a first end 31 of
the bottom portion 30. Second end piece 16 attaches to a second end
22 of the top portion 20 and to a second end 32 of the bottom
portion 30. Preferably, the first end 21 of the top portion 20 is
attached near a bottom edge of the first end piece 15. Likewise,
preferably the second end 22 of the top portion 20 is attached near
a top edge of the second end piece 16, while the second end 32 of
the bottom portion 30 is attached near a bottom edge for the second
end piece 16. While the end pieces, 15 and 16, may be formed to be
flush with a front surface 23 of the top portion 20 and a front
surface 33 of the bottom portion 30, in its preferred embodiment,
the apparatus 1 of the present invention contemplates that the end
pieces 15 and 16 project substantially in front of the font
surfaces, 23 and 33, of the top and bottom portions 20 and 30.
While the end pieces, 15 and 16, may be formed into practically any
shape, in its preferred embodiment, they are formed into an
elongated D-shape.
[0027] There is a back portion 40 that attaches to a back side of
the base element 10. Attached to an inner surface of the first and
second edge pieces, 15 and 16, and extending between the base
element 10 and the back portion 40 are at least one mounting tab(s)
17 each with at least one included mounting apertures(s) 18. The at
least one mounting aperture(s) 18 is designed to receive mounting
means such as drywall screws, nails and the like. In the preferred
embodiment, it is contemplated that a single mounting tab 17 with a
single included mounting aperture 18 is attached to each inner
surface of the first and second edge pieces, 15 and 16.
[0028] The top portion 20 and the bottom portion 30 are vertically
separated from each other, thus forming a horizontal channel along
which movable clamp components 50 are capable of traveling. Located
in the base element is an insertion slot 24. Preferably the
insertion slop 24 is centrally located intermediate between the top
and bottom portion 20 and 30. The insertion slot 24 is used in the
insertion or removal of the movable clamp components 50.
[0029] Each movable clamp component 50 comprises a holding element
55, a first leg 51 and a second leg 52. The holding element 55 is
substantially C-shaped with two opposed arms, 53 and 54. The arms
53 and 54 are attached to each other at proximate ends by a
semi-flexible segment 56, while distal ends of the arms curve
outward. The flexible segment 56 may be a thin-walled living hinge,
but, in the preferred embodiment, has approximately the same
thickness at the distal ends of the holding element 55 and acts as
a stiff restoring force opposed to those crated by flexation of the
two arms, 53 and 54.
[0030] The first and second legs, 51 and 52, are attached to the
holding element 55 near the proximate ends of the arms 53 and 54,
on either side of the flexible segment 56. The first and second
legs, 51 and 52, are substantially parallel to each other.
Furthermore, as can be seen from the drawings, in the preferred
embodiment, the first and second legs, 51 and 52, attached to a
substantive part of each arm 53 and 54, respectively. Located near
terminal ends of the first and second legs, 51 and 52, are at least
one, preferably two, incised slots 57. The slots 97 are wide enough
to accommodate the interior edges of the top portion 20 and the
bottom portion 30 and allow the clamp component 50 to be
repositioned freely.
[0031] When received by the surface mounting base 10, each of the
clamp components 50 is capable of traveling the length of the
surface mounting base 10 along the horizontal channel formed by the
top portion 20 and the bottom portion 30. One of the primary
advantages of the present invention is that individual clamp
components 50 may be freely and easily inserted or removed from the
surface mounting base 10. Thus, a user may supplement or reduce the
clamping capability by inserting additional clamp components 50
into the surface mounting base 10.
[0032] In use, the surface mounting base 10 is attached to a
surface, such as a wall, by attachment means, such as screws or
nails. Alternatively, the base 10 may be attached by suitable
adhesives such as a double sided adhesive. An object is then pushed
into the clamp component 50. Restoring forces in the semi-flexible
arms, 53 and 54 and in the semi-flexible segment 56 apply pressure
onto the item sufficient to secure it into place. Additional
clamping components 50 may be added by inserting a leg member, such
as the first leg member 53, into and parallel to the channel formed
by the top portion 20 and the bottom portion 30 and partially
rotating the clamp component 50 vertically, followed by inserting a
first end of a second leg member, such as the second leg member 54,
into the channel and inserting a second end of the second leg
member through the insertion slot 24 and further rotating the clamp
component 50 into the vertical position. Consequently, the clamp
component may be removed by reversing the above described
process.
[0033] In an other embodiment, one of the first or second end
pieces 15 or 16 may be flexibly attached and is adapted to be bent
outward to provide an opening designed to receive the clamp
component 50. In this embodiment, a fastening means would be
included on the flexibly attached end piece to secure the end in
place when the device is in use.
[0034] The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above
in the Drawings and Description of Preferred Embodiments. While
these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is
understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications
and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described
herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the
purview of this description are intended to be included therein as
well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the
inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims
be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary
skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a
preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the
applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented
and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description.
It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to
the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations
are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment
was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of
the invention and its practical application and to enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated.
* * * * *