U.S. patent application number 11/157416 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for article support device mountable with stretch releasing adhesive.
Invention is credited to Peter Newbould, Mauro Porcini, Sigurdur Thorsteinsson.
Application Number | 20070257165 11/157416 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36968746 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070257165 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Newbould; Peter ; et
al. |
November 8, 2007 |
Article support device mountable with stretch releasing
adhesive
Abstract
An article support device for vertical mounting on a wall
surface includes a base plate having opposed front and rear major
surfaces, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a
second side edge, and a cover plate having opposed front and rear
major surfaces, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and
a second side edge. The base plate front surface and the cover
plate rear surface include a raised connecting portion and a
cooperating recess configured to engage by horizontal sliding
engagement such that when the device is mounted vertically on a
wall surface, any load applied to the cover plate creates a force
in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of
horizontal sliding engagement between the base plate and the cover
plate. A method of mounting a hook on a vertical surface using the
article support device is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Newbould; Peter; (Milano,
IT) ; Thorsteinsson; Sigurdur; (Milano, IT) ;
Porcini; Mauro; (Milano, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
PO BOX 33427
ST. PAUL
MN
55133-3427
US
|
Family ID: |
36968746 |
Appl. No.: |
11/157416 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/205.3 ;
248/307 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 1/175 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/205.3 ;
248/307 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/17 20060101
A47G001/17; A47G 1/16 20060101 A47G001/16 |
Claims
1. An article support device for vertical mounting on a wall
surface, comprising: (a) a base plate having opposed front and rear
major surfaces, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and
a second side edge; and (b) a cover plate having opposed front and
rear major surfaces, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side
edge, and a second side edge; wherein the base plate front surface
and the cover plate rear surface include a raised connecting
portion and a cooperating recess configured to engage by horizontal
sliding engagement such that when the device is mounted vertically
on a wall surface, a load applied to the cover plate will create a
force in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of
horizontal sliding engagement between the base plate and the cover
plate.
2. An article support device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
raised connecting portion is an elongated rail extending
transversely along the rear surface of the cover plate.
3. An article support device as defined in claim 2, wherein the
rail extends from the first side edge of the cover plate to the
second side edge of the cover plate.
4. An article support device as defined in claim 2, wherein the
rail includes a narrow neck portion adjacent the rear surface of
the cover plate and a flange portion extending outwardly from the
neck portion.
5. An article support device as defined in claim 4, wherein the
recess is a channel having a narrow throat region generally
corresponding to the neck portion of the rail and has a wide
retaining region generally corresponding to the flange portion of
the rail.
6. An article support device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
raised portion is an elongated rail extending transversely along
the front surface of the base plate.
7. An article support device as defined in claim 6, wherein the
raised portion extends from the first side edge of the base plate
to the second side edge of the base plate.
8. An article support device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
cover plate front surface includes a load bearing functional
portion extending outwardly therefrom, whereby the direction of the
force created by the load applied to the device is generally
perpendicular to the direction of sliding engagement between the
base plate and the cover plate.
9. An article support device as defined in claim 8, wherein the
functional portion extends outwardly from the cover plate front
surface adjacent the lower edge of the cover plate.
10. An article support device as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a stretch releasing adhesive strip including a
non-adhesive pull tab configured for attachment to the rear surface
of the base plate.
11. An article support device as defined in claim 10, wherein when
the base plate is mounted on a surface, the adhesive strip
non-adhesive pull tab extends outwardly from behind the base plate
and further wherein the cover plate is arranged in overlapping
relation with the non-adhesive pull tab, thereby to conceal the
pull tab from view when the assembled device is viewed from the
front.
12. An article support device as defined in claim 1, wherein when
the device is assembled, the first and second side edges of the
base plate and the first and second side edges of the cover plate
are visible to a user viewing the device.
13. An article support device as defined in claim 12, wherein the
base plate and cover plate have equal widths.
14. An article support device as defined in claim 1, further
comprising stop means for aligning the base plate and cover plate
in a predetermined position.
15. An article support device as defined in claim 14, wherein the
stop means comprises a protrusion and a mating recess.
16. An article support device as defined in claim 1, wherein base
plate and cover plate are formed of a synthetic plastic
material.
17. A method of mounting a hook on a vertical wall surface,
comprising the steps of: (a) providing a base plate having opposed
front and rear major surfaces, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first
side edge, and a second side edge, and providing a cover plate
having opposed front and rear major surfaces, an upper edge, a
lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein the
base plate front surface and the cover plate rear surface include a
raised connecting portion and a cooperating recess configured to
engage by horizontal sliding engagement such that when the device
is mounted vertically on a wall surface, a load applied to the
cover plate will create a force in a direction generally
perpendicular to the direction of horizontal sliding engagement
between the base plate and the cover plate; (b) adhering a
double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strip having a non-adhesive
pull tab at one end to the rear surface of the base plate such that
the non-adhesive pull tab extends outwardly from behind the base
plate; (c) vertically mounting the base plate on the wall surface
by adhering the base plate to the vertical wall surface using the
double-sided stretch releasing adhesive strip; and (d) connecting
the cover plate to the base plate by horizontally sliding the cover
plate onto the base plate from a first side edge to a second side
edge, whereby the cover plate overlays the non-adhesive pull tab.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates generally to article support
devices, such as hooks and, more particularly, to article support
devices mountable with stretch removable adhesive.
[0002] It is known to use stretch releasing adhesive strips having
non-adhesive pull tabs to mount items on a wall surface. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,516,581 (Kreckel et al.), for example, discloses a removable
adhesive strip that can be used to mount various items such as
hooks, calendars, posters, and signs on a wall surface.
[0003] When using stretch releasing adhesive strips to mount an
object on a wall surface, the non-adhesive pull tab at one end of
the strip must either be left exposed to allow a user who later
wishes to separate the objects to grasp it, or the mounted object
must be designed to selectively conceal and expose the pull tab to
allow a user to access the pull tab during the stretch removal
process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,464 (Hamerski et al.), for example,
discloses a two-piece hook specially made with a slidable cover
portion that selectively conceals the tab portion.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,474 (doCanto et al.), U.S. Pat. No.
6,082,686 (Schumann), U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,864 (Schumann), and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,187,404 (Schumann) disclose holding devices of varying
complexity that are adapted for mounting on a wall using a stretch
releasing adhesive tape. Each holding device includes a base plate
and a front functional part that covers the base plate along with
the non-adhesive pull tab, which projects beyond the base plate.
When these devices are mounted on a wall, however, an individual
viewing them may not recognize that the devices are mounted with a
stretch removable adhesive and may not recognize that the devices
are designed to reveal the non-adhesive pull tab when removal is
desired. This may particularly be the case when the person wishing
to remove the device is different from the person who mounted the
device and is unfamiliar with the operation of the device. In
addition, such devices are often difficult to use because it is
difficult for a user to actuate the front functional part to reveal
or otherwise expose the non-adhesive pull tab, particularly for
users with limited dexterity.
[0005] There remains a need for an improved device that can be
mounted on a wall surface using a stretch releasing adhesive tape
having a non-adhesive pull tab that allows the non-adhesive pull
tab to be concealed when the device is mounted on a surface, but
allows the pull tab to be readily accessed when a user wishes to
stretch remove the adhesive strip and, therefore the device, from
the wall surface. In addition, there is a need for such a device
that is easy and inexpensive to make and use.
[0006] It would be desirable to provide a device that can be
mounted on a wall surface using a stretch releasing adhesive tape
having a non-adhesive pull tab, whereby the device conceals the
pull tab when the device is assembled and mounted on a wall
surface, but the device can be easily disassembled to provide
access to the pull tab when stretch removal from the wall surface
is desired. More particularly, it would be desirable to provide:
(1) an article support device in the form of, for example, a hook
that can be mounted with a stretch releasing adhesive having a
non-adhesive pull tab, such that when the device is assembled, it
conceals the non-adhesive pull tab so it is not visible to those
viewing the device; (2) to provide a device such that when it is
mounted on a surface and viewed by a user, it is visually apparent
to the user that the device may be separated or disassembled; (3)
to provide a device whereby it is readily apparent to a user
viewing the device how the device can be separated or disassembled;
and (4) to provide a device such that when it is disassembled, the
non-adhesive pull tab is exposed, thereby allowing a user to grasp
the pull tab to stretch remove the adhesive strip, and therefore
the device, from the wall surface. It would also be desirable to
provide a device that is inexpensive and easy to make and use.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention provides an article support device for
vertical mounting on a wall surface. The device includes a base
plate having opposed front and rear major surfaces, an upper edge,
a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, and a
cover plate having opposed front and rear major surfaces, an upper
edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The
base plate front surface and the cover plate rear surface include a
raised connecting portion and a cooperating recess configured to
engage by horizontal sliding engagement such that when the device
is mounted vertically on a wall surface, any load applied to the
cover plate creates a force in a direction generally perpendicular
to the direction of horizontal sliding engagement between the base
plate and the cover plate.
[0008] In one embodiment, the raised connecting portion is an
elongated rail extending transversely along the rear surface of the
cover plate. In another embodiment, the raised connecting portion
extends transversely along the front surface of the base plate.
[0009] The recess may be an elongated channel or one or more slots
that are sized to receive the raised connecting portion or
portions. The recess may be formed in either the base plate or the
cover plate.
[0010] In a particular embodiment, the cover plate front surface
includes an outwardly extending load bearing functional portion,
whereby the direction of the force created by the load applied to
the device is generally perpendicular to the direction of sliding
engagement between the base plate and the cover plate.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, the device further
comprises a stretch releasing adhesive strip including a
non-adhesive pull tab configured for attachment to the rear surface
of the base plate. When the base plate is mounted on a surface, the
adhesive strip non-adhesive pull tab extends outwardly from behind
the base plate. When the cover plate is connected to the base
plate, the cover plate arranged in overlapping relation with the
non-adhesive pull tab, thereby concealing the pull tab from view
when the assembled device is viewed from the front.
[0012] In another aspect of the invention, when the device is
assembled, the first and second side edges of the base plate and
the first and second side edges of the cover plate are visible to a
user viewing the device. In a specific embodiment, the base plate
and cover plate have equal widths.
[0013] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
of mounting a hook on a vertical wall surface. The method comprises
the steps of providing a base plate having opposed front and rear
major surfaces, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and
a second side edge, and providing a cover plate having opposed
front and rear major surfaces, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first
side edge, and a second side edge, wherein the base plate front
surface and the cover plate rear surface include a raised
connecting portion and a cooperating recess configured to engage by
horizontal sliding engagement, such that when the device is mounted
vertically on a wall surface, a load applied to the cover plate
creates a force directed in a direction generally perpendicular to
the direction of horizontal sliding engagement between the base
plate and the cover plate; adhering a double-sided stretch
releasing adhesive strip having a non-adhesive pull tab at one end
to the rear surface of the base plate such that the non-adhesive
pull tab extends outwardly from behind the base plate; vertically
mounting the base plate on the wall surface by adhering the base
plate to the vertical wall surface using the double-sided stretch
releasing adhesive strip; and connecting the cover plate to the
base plate by horizontally sliding the cover plate onto the base
plate from a first side edge to a second side edge, whereby the
cover plate overlays the non-adhesive pull tab.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention will be further described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an article support device
according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an article support device in
its fully assembled condition;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the article support device
of FIG. 2 with the cover plate removed;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the cover plate of
FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the
invention; and
[0020] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the cover plate of FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, FIGS. 1-4, show an article support device 10
including a base plate 12, a cover plate 14, and a stretch
releasing adhesive strip 16. For reference purposes, the device 10
is shown in an upright or vertical position as it would typically
be oriented when mounted on vertical wall surface (not shown). The
x-y-z coordinate system used to describe the device below is also
shown.
[0022] The base plate 12 includes opposed front 18 and rear 20
major surfaces, an upper or top edge 22, a lower or bottom edge 24,
a first or left side edge 26, and a second or right side edge 28.
The front surface 18 of the base plate 12 includes a pair of
spaced, generally parallel, raised side portions 12a extending
along each of the first 26 and second 28 side edges from the upper
edge 22 to the lower edge 24. The lower end portions 12a' of the
raised side portions 12a define a pair of spaced leg portions that
define an open region or cutout 30 therebetween. As shown in FIG.
3, the cutout 30 provides an open area for accessing the
non-adhesive pull tab portion 16a of the adhesive strip 16, which
extends outwardly from behind the base plate 12 into the cutout 30
when it is adhered to the rear surface 20 of the base plate 12.
Alternatively, the base plate 12 may be formed without the leg
portions 12a' such that the non-adhesive pull tab 16a simply
extends outwardly from behind the base plate 12 beyond the lower
edge 24 to allow a user to grasp and stretch remove the adhesive
strip 16 from an associated wall surface.
[0023] Each raised side portion 12a includes recesses 32. The
recesses 32 may be slots, notches, grooves, or the like that allow
the base plate 12 to be connected with the cover plate 14 as
described more fully below. To prevent the base plate 12 and cover
plate 14 from separating or pulling apart in the z-direction, the
slots 32 include a narrow opening or throat region 34 and a
relatively wider interior region 36. The slots 32 may be provided
in a variety of shapes so long as they allow the base plate 12 and
cover plate 14 to be joined by lateral sliding engagement and serve
to prevent the base plate and cover plate 14 from inadvertently
separating. Alternatively, the front surface 18 of the base plate
12 may be formed with one continuous recess 32 in the form of an
elongate channel (FIGS. 5 and 6) rather than providing spaced slots
32 in each of the raised side portions 12a as shown in FIGS. 1 and
3.
[0024] The cover plate 14 includes opposed front 38 and rear 40
major surfaces, an upper or top edge 42, a lower or bottom edge 44,
a first or left side edge 46, and a second or right side edge 48. A
functional portion 50 in the form of a hook extends outwardly from
the front surface 38 of the cover plate 14. In the illustrated
embodiment, the hook portion 50 extends outwardly from the front
surface 38 of the cover plate 14 adjacent the lower edge 44. While
a functional portion 50 in the form of a hook is shown in the
illustrated embodiment, it will be recognized that the functional
portion 50 is intended to represent a wide variety of
functionalities and that the functional portion 50 may take a
variety of shapes and forms including, for example, a clip, a peg,
or a refastenable mechanical fastener such as hook-and-loop
fasteners.
[0025] The rear surface 40 of the cover plate 14 includes a raised
connecting portion 52 adapted to mate with and slidably engage each
slot 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the raised connecting
portion 52 is an elongated rail extending transversely (i.e. in the
x-direction) along the rear surface 40 of the cover plate 14. In
addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the elongated rail 52
extends from the first side edge 46 of the cover plate 14 to the
second side edge 48 of the cover plate 14. As shown mostly clearly
in FIG. 4, the rail 52 includes a narrow neck portion 52a extending
outwardly from the rear surface 40 of the cover plate 14 generally
corresponding to the narrow throat region 34 of the slot 32, and a
flange portion 52b, which is wider than the neck portion 52a,
extending from the neck portion 52a and generally corresponding to
the wide interior region 36 of the slot 32.
[0026] To facilitate proper alignment between the base plate 12 and
cover plate 14 when the device 10 is assembled, the front surface
18 of the base plate 12 includes a depression or notch 54, and the
raised portion 52 of the cover plate 14 includes projection 56
(FIG. 4) that is aligned with and snaps into the notch 54 when the
base plate 12 and cover plate 14 are properly aligned.
[0027] It will be recognized that even though the raised connecting
portion 52 is shown as being on the rear surface 40 of the cover
plate 14, and the mating recesses 32 are shown as being on the
front of the base plate 12, the position of the raised connecting
portion and the position of the recesses may be reversed such that
the front surface 18 of the base plate 12 includes the raised
connecting portion and the rear surface 40 of the cover plate 14
includes the recesses 32.
[0028] The stretch releasing adhesive strip 16 includes an adhesive
end portion 16b having opposed first and second adhesive major
surfaces 54 and 56, respectively, and a non-adhesive pull tab
portion 16a forming a second end portion having opposed first and
second non-adhesive major surfaces 58 and 60.
[0029] The adhesive strip 16 may be any conventionally known
stretch releasing tape including a pressure sensitive adhesive tape
with an elastic backing, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape with a
highly extensible and substantially inelastic backing, or a solid,
elastic pressure sensitive adhesive. Specific tape strips suitable
for use in the various embodiments of the present invention include
the pressure sensitive adhesive tapes with elastic backings
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,312 (Korpman), the pressure
sensitive adhesive tapes with highly extensible and substantially
inelastic backings described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,581 (Kreckel et
al.) and Bries et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,962); and the solid,
elastic pressure sensitive adhesive described in German Patent No.
33 31 016.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in which features similar to
those shown in FIGS. 1-4 are referred to with like reference
numerals incremented by 100, there is shown an article support
device 110 for vertical mounting on a wall surface including a base
plate 112, a cover plate 114, and a stretch releasing adhesive
strip 116. The device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is generally similar
to the device shown in FIGS. 1-4 but differs in at least the
following respects: the adhesive strip 116 is arranged to be in
alignment with the direction of sliding engagement between the base
plate 112 and the cover plate 114 rather than being arranged
perpendicular to the direction of sliding engagement (i.e. the
adhesive strip 116 is arranged horizontally and extends in the
x-direction); the base plate does not include leg portions defining
a cutout to provide access to the non-adhesive pull tab of the
adhesive strip; the arrangement of the raised connecting portion
and the corresponding recess on the base plate 112 and cover plate
114 have been reversed; and the recess is a single continuous
channel rather than two spaced slots.
[0031] More specifically, the base plate 112 includes opposed front
118 and rear 120 major surfaces, an upper or top edge 122, a lower
or bottom edge 124, a first or left side edge 126, and a second or
right side edge 128. In the illustrated embodiment, the front
surface 118 of the base plate 112 includes a raised connecting
portion 152. The raised connecting portion 152 is an elongated rail
that extends transversely in the x-direction along the front
surface 118 of the base plate 112 from the first side edge 126 of
the base plate 112 to the second side edge 128 of the base plate
112. The rail 152 includes a narrow neck portion 152a extending
outwardly from the front surface 118 of the base plate 112, and a
flange portion 152b, which is wider than the neck portion 152a,
extending from the neck portion 152a.
[0032] The cover plate 114 includes opposed front 138 and rear 140
major surfaces, an upper or top edge 142, a lower or bottom edge
144, a first or left side edge 146, and a second or right side edge
148. A functional portion 150 in the form of a hook extends
outwardly from the front surface 138 of the cover plate. In the
illustrated embodiment, the hook portion 150 extends outwardly from
the front surface 138 of the cover plate 114 between the upper 142
and lower 144 edges. While the functional portion 150 is
illustrated in the form of a hook, it will be recognized that the
functional portion 150 may take a variety of shapes and forms
including, for example, a clip, a peg, or a refastenable mechanical
fastener such as hook-and-loop fasteners.
[0033] The rear surface 140 of the cover plate 114 contains a
connecting slot, groove, or channel 132 adapted to slidably receive
the raised connecting portion 152 of the base plate 112. The
channel 132 includes a narrow opening or throat region 134 and a
relatively wider interior region 136 that serve to lock the cover
plate 114 to the base plate 112. The channel 132 may have a variety
of shapes so long as it allows the base plate 112 and cover plate
114 to be joined by lateral sliding engagement and serves to
prevent the base plate 112 and cover plate 114 from separating in
the z-direction once they have been slidably connected.
[0034] The devices 10, 110 described above operate in a similar
manner. To mount either device on a vertical wall surface, a first
adhesive surface of the double-sided stretch releasing adhesive
strip is adhered to the rear surface of the base plate such that
the non-adhesive pull tab extends outwardly from behind the base
plate. Next, the base plate is vertically mounted on the wall
surface by adhering the second adhesive surface of the double-sided
adhesive strip to the vertical wall surface. Last, the cover plate
is connected to the base plate by transversely sliding the cover
plate horizontally onto the base plate such that the cover plate
overlays the non-adhesive pull tab. The cooperating raised
portion(s) and recess(es) are configured to engage by horizontal
sliding engagement such that when the device is mounted vertically
on a wall surface, a load applied to the cover plate creates a
force that is directed generally perpendicular to the direction of
sliding engagement between the base plate and the cover plate (i.e.
the force is directed in the y-direction), and therefore does not
cause the base plate and cover plate to separate.
[0035] In the embodiments described above, when the device is
assembled, the first and second side edges of both the base plate
and the first and second side edges of the cover plate are visible
to a user viewing the device, assuming the edges are not otherwise
obscured by an item mounted on the device. This may be
accomplished, for example, by making the sides of the base plate
and cover plate coterminous (i.e. the base plate and cover plate
have equal widths) as illustrated in the embodiments shown in FIGS.
1-6, or by providing the cover plate with open sides that permit a
user to view the sides of the underlying base plate. This is
desirable because if a user who wishes to remove the device from a
wall surface is able to see the connection between the base plate
and the cover plate when viewing the device, he or she is more
likely to recognize that the cover plate can be separated from the
base plate by simply sliding the cover plate laterally off of the
base plate.
[0036] Once the cover plate is removed from the base plate, the
non-adhesive pull tab of the stretch releasing adhesive strip will
be exposed. A user familiar with stretch releasing adhesive strips
will then recognize that the device can be cleanly removed without
damaging the wall surface by simply grasping and pulling down on
the non-adhesive pull tab. In addition, the base plate may be
provided with instructions on how to remove the device to aid one
unfamiliar with the operation of stretch releasing adhesives to
remove the device. Thus, by having the side edges of both the base
plate and cover plate visible, the operation of the device is made
more intuitive and user friendly.
[0037] The base plate and cover plate in the various embodiments of
the invention may be formed of any suitable material including
wood, synthetic plastic, metal, and combinations thereof.
[0038] Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that
various changes and modifications may be made to the invention
described above without deviating from the inventive concept. For
example, the base plate and cover plate may come in a variety of
shapes such as a circle, an oval, a square, etc. Thus, the scope of
the present invention should not be limited to the structures
described in this application, but only by the structures described
by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those
structures.
* * * * *