U.S. patent application number 10/922596 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-14 for railing attachment device.
This patent application is currently assigned to LTL Wholesale, Inc.. Invention is credited to Groff, Malcolm K., Yu, Yeu-Tien.
Application Number | 20050079011 10/922596 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34272492 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050079011 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Groff, Malcolm K. ; et
al. |
April 14, 2005 |
Railing attachment device
Abstract
A device for attaching an item to a railing using: a) a first
coupling adapted to be attached to a railing; and b) a second
coupling adapted to be attached to an item. The first coupling
engages the second coupling and once engaged, the first coupling
and the second coupling cannot be separated unless they are
disengaged from each other.
Inventors: |
Groff, Malcolm K.;
(Orwigsburg, PA) ; Yu, Yeu-Tien; (Shin Dain City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Frank A. Mazzeo
Frank A. Mazzeo, P.C.
Suite 200
808 Bethlehem Pike
Colmar
PA
18915
US
|
Assignee: |
LTL Wholesale, Inc.
Schuylkill Haven
PA
|
Family ID: |
34272492 |
Appl. No.: |
10/922596 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60496609 |
Aug 20, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/348 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 403/7005 20150115;
A47G 19/10 20130101; F16M 13/02 20130101; F16M 11/041 20130101;
A47G 7/044 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/348 |
International
Class: |
E04H 017/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for attaching an item to an outdoor stable surface
comprising: a) a first coupling adapted to be attached to the
stable surface; b) a second coupling adapted to be attached to an
item; wherein the first coupling engages the second coupling when
the second coupling is rotated with respect to the first coupling
and, as this rotation occurs, the second coupling moves axially as
the second coupling is rotated; wherein once the first coupling and
second coupling are engaged, the first coupling and the second
coupling cannot be separated unless they are disengaged from each
other.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling has first
teeth thereon and the second coupling has second teeth thereon and
the couplings are engaged and disengaged when the teeth engage and
disengage.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the teeth are engaged when the
second coupling is twisted in a first direction about a common axis
of rotation of the first coupling and the second coupling; and
wherein the teeth are disengaged when the second coupling is
twisted in a second direction about the axis of rotation.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling and the second
coupling have a circular cross-section.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling and the second
coupling are engaged via the use of ramp-shaped clips.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the ramp-shaped clips have
engaging teeth thereon.
7. The device of claim 5, wherein the ramp shaped clips have
engaging protrusions formed thereon.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is a railing.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the item is a tray.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the item is a plant-holder.
11. An item attached to a railing comprising: a) a first coupling
adapted to be attached to the railing; b) a second coupling
attached to the item; wherein the first coupling engages the second
coupling when the second coupling is rotated with respect to the
first coupling and, as this rotation occurs, the second coupling
moves axially as it is rotated; wherein once the first coupling and
second coupling are engaged, the first coupling and the second
coupling cannot be separated unless they are disengaged from each
other.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the second coupling is formed
integrally with the item.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the item is a tray.
14. The device of claim 11, wherein the item is a planter.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/496,609, filed on Aug. 20, 2003, which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The field of the invention is railing attachments, and more
specifically railing attachments that make balancing or placing an
item on a railing easier.
[0003] Hand-railings are made to assist in balancing. It is, in
fact, their primary function. Unfortunately, railings are made to
balance and offset the leaning weight of a person. They are not, as
anyone who has seen a drink crash to the ground knows, made for
balancing all objects.
[0004] Recognizing this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,214 to
Birnbaum shows a railing attachment 10 that has long straight
dove-tail channels formed therein for receiving similarly shaped
rails attached to a tray. Once the tray's rails are engaged in the
attachment's dove-tail channels, the tray is securely fastened to
the rail and should not tip over. The problem with this device is
that it is difficult to engage the long rails, especially with a
loaded tray, and the channels and rails must align precisely.
[0005] Unrelated fields have adopted similar devices to prevent
things from falling from precarious surfaces. For example, U.S.
Pat. Nos. 949,025 and 2,684,110 are directed to the timeless task
of preventing children from emancipating their food and trays or
dishes from high chairs, etc.
[0006] Other problems of balancing items on rails are unique to
outdoor rails. Anything balanced on an outdoor rail should be
secure enough to not blow away in a wind or accidental bumping, and
yet be easily and conveniently releasable with a minimum of
gyrations. Additionally, it would be beneficial if the items were
relatively permanently attached to a railing, and also
weatherproof.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the
prior known devices and addresses these other needs for a variety
of products that might be attached to a rail. Briefly stated, the
invention provides a device for attaching an item to a railing
comprising: a) a first coupling adapted to be attached to a
railing; and b) a second coupling adapted to be attached to or
formed on an item. The first coupling engages the second coupling
with a minimum of movement and once engaged, the first coupling and
the second coupling cannot be easily or accidentally separated and
must be intentionally disengaged from each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first coupling of the
attachment device.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the first coupling shown in
FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second coupling of the
attachment device.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the first coupling and the
second coupling aligned prior to engagement with each other.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cutaway side elevation of the first coupling and
second coupling engaged with each other.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second coupling attached
to a tray.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a first embodiment of the engaged clips.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an alternate embodiment of the engaged clips.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second coupling attached
to a planter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0018] In the Figures, the same numerals are used to indicate the
same or similar parts. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first coupling 10 with
clips 12 that are meant to engage complementary clips. Since the
goal of the invention is to mount an item that is subject to
tipping or falling on a stable surface, the coupling 10 is mounted
on such a surface 16. Mounting is achieved using known fasteners
such as nails, screws, or adhesive to secure the coupling 10 to the
stable surface 16. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
coupling 10 is mounted onto the surface 16 by driving fasteners
through openings in the fastening blocks 14 and into the stable
surface.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a second coupling 20 is attached
to an item 30 such as a tray that might be subject to tipping or
spilling when set on a railing or placed outdoors. The second
coupling 20 is mounted to the item through holes 24, shown in FIG.
3 (although fastening blocks similar to 14 can be used). Once
mounted, the first and second part can engage each other so that
the item 30 is secure from tipping. Alternatively, the item 30
could be formed integrally with the coupling 20 thereon.
[0020] Details of the second coupling 20, as well as the engagement
of the first coupling 10 and the second coupling 20, are shown in
FIGS. 3-5. FIG. 3 shows the second coupling 20, which is similar to
the first coupling 10 except that the clips 22 are mounted to the
second coupling's exterior surface. The inside diameter of the
first coupling 10 is preferably greater than the outside diameter
of the second coupling 20, and provides a sliding clearance
fit.
[0021] In another embodiment, the outside diameter of the second
coupling could be greater than the inside diameter of the first
coupling to achieve the same coupled engagement. In such an
embodiment, the clips also would have to be reversed, that is, the
first coupling's clips would be mounted on its exterior and the
second coupling's clips would be mounted on its interior.
[0022] The edges of the first and second couplings 10, 20 can also
be beveled to allow for easier alignment and the initial
telescoping engagement.
[0023] With the second coupling 20 aligned above the first coupling
10 as shown in FIG. 4, the second coupling 20 is pushed in
direction A and engages within the first coupling 10. Once the
second coupling 20 is contained within the first coupling 10, final
engagement of the parts is achieved when the clips 12 and 22 are
engaged by twisting the second coupling 20 in direction B as shown
in FIG. 5. The cutaway portion of FIG. 5 shows the clips 12, 22 in
their final engaged position. Once the clips are engaged, the item
30 attached to the second coupling 20 should be difficult to tip. A
person disengages the parts by turning the second part in the
direction C.
[0024] Preferably, a plurality of generally equally spaced clips
12, 22 are located on the first and second couplings 10, 20. The
clips 12, 22 preferably have ramp-shaped engaging surfaces so that
the twisting movement draws the second coupling 20 down more firmly
onto the first coupling (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In FIG. 8, the clips
are ramped shaped and have engaging teeth. In FIG. 9, the clips are
ramp shaped and have an engaging protrusion on their faces.
[0025] Additionally, the clips 12, 22 are preferably relatively
short in length so that only a minimum amount of rotational
movement of the second coupling 20 with the item 30 is required in
order to completely engage the coupling 10. In a preferred
embodiment, the first and second couplings are approximately 3"
includes in diameter, and the clips 12, 22 are 3/4" inches long.
This results in a twisting movement of 30.degree. or less. If a
smaller size clip or a bigger size coupling is used, a twisting
movement of preferably 20.degree. is needed to achieve full
engagement. This allows a user to easily engage a fully loaded tray
to a railing. Clips may include integral stops and/or also
engageable teeth on their engaging surfaces. The clips may be
attached to the couplings, or formed in the couplings
themselves.
[0026] The items that could be prevented from tipping include trays
(FIGS. 6 and 7), planters (FIG. 10), cups, bottle-holders,
bird-feeders, flagpoles (with the parts engaged vertically on a
vertical railing or post), dishes, grills (e.g. a hibachi-type
small grill), and the like.
[0027] Although the stable surface is contemplated as a narrow
railing that is often not an ideal place to rest items, the present
invention could also be mounted to a rounded rail.
[0028] The part is shown as a generally hollow cylinder, although
other shapes could be used, such as two rings, rectangles and
similar shapes without departing from the disclosed invention.
* * * * *