U.S. patent application number 11/510445 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-28 for self-locking hook.
This patent application is currently assigned to Helen of Troy. Invention is credited to Todd Ethan Brunner, Mark Naden, Marco Perry, Troy Phipps.
Application Number | 20080047913 11/510445 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39133871 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080047913 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Naden; Mark ; et
al. |
February 28, 2008 |
Self-locking hook
Abstract
A self-locking hook for supporting a load on a substantially
horizontal surface is disclosed. The hook has a relatively rigid
C-shaped body which includes a surface defining an opening for
accommodating a substantially horizontal component and a support
having a load bearing or attachment point. The surface of the
opening includes a first contact area and a second contact area.
The load bearing or attachment point is attached to the body
relative to the opening such that application of a load at the load
bearing point while the first contact area is contacting a
component rotates the body about the first contact area until the
second contact area abuts the component. This self-locking feature
allows the hook to be used effectively on both component surfaces
which are slightly angled or sloped and with loads which are not
perpendicular to the component surface.
Inventors: |
Naden; Mark; (New York,
NY) ; Perry; Marco; (Brooklyn, NY) ; Brunner;
Todd Ethan; (Brooklyn, NY) ; Phipps; Troy;
(Brooklyn, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEYFARTH SHAW LLP
131 S. DEARBORN ST., SUITE2400
CHICAGO
IL
60603-5803
US
|
Assignee: |
Helen of Troy
|
Family ID: |
39133871 |
Appl. No.: |
11/510445 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/119.009 ;
248/304 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/281 20130101;
Y10T 24/51 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/119.009 ;
248/304 |
International
Class: |
A47G 29/087 20060101
A47G029/087 |
Claims
1. A shower assembly for attaching to a shower head pipe, the
assembly comprising: a hook comprising: a body comprising a first
surface defining a first span of an opening and a second surface
defining a second span of the opening opposite the first span; and
a support integral to the body and comprising an attachment point
for bearing a hanging load; and a shower unit attached to the
attachment point of the hook such that it causes the body of the
hook to bind the shower head pipe between the first surface and the
second surface of the body.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shower unit comprises at
least one shelf and is removably retained within the support.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the shower unit comprises a
frame connected to the support.
4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the frame is permanently
attached to the support.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces
of the opening comprise a C-shaped portion for removably retaining
the shower unit.
6. The hook of claim 5, wherein the first surface comprises
material having a high coefficient of friction.
7. The hook of claim 5, wherein the second surface comprises
material having a high coefficient of friction.
8. A self-locking hook for attachment to a substantially horizontal
component, the hook comprising: a body defining an opening therein
for fitting around a substantially horizontal component, wherein a
first surface of the body defining a first span of the opening is
directly opposite a second surface of the body defining a second
span of the opening; and a support integral to the body and
comprising an attachment point for bearing a hanging load, wherein
the support is positioned relative to the opening such that
application of a force at the attachment point normal to the
component causes the body to bind the component between the first
surface and the second surface.
9. The self-locking hook of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of
the opening is lined with a resilient material.
10. The self-locking hook of claim 9, wherein the material has a
high coefficient of friction.
11. The self-locking hook of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of
the first surface of the body comprises a resilient material.
12. The self-locking hook of claim 8, wherein the second surface
comprises a resilient material.
13. The self-locking hook of claim 8, wherein the surface defining
the opening is non-planar.
14. The self-locking hook of claim 13, wherein the attachment
point, the first surface, and the second surface are
non-planar.
15. The self-locking hook of claim 8, wherein the attachment point
is offset from a straight line passing through the first and second
surfaces.
16. The self-locking hook of claim 16, wherein the support is
positioned below the component when the hook is engaged with the
component.
17. The self-locking hook of claim 8, wherein the body is
C-shaped.
18. The self-locking hook of claim 8, further comprising at least
one shelf unit connected to the support at the attachment
point.
19. The self-locking hook of claim 18, wherein the support
comprises a C-shaped portion for removably retaining the at least
one shelf unit.
20. A self-locking hook comprising: a rigid body having a surface
defining an opening for accommodating a substantially horizontal
component, the surface comprising a first contact area and a second
contact area; and a support comprising a load bearing point and
attached to the body relative to the opening such that application
of a load at the load bearing point while the first contact area is
contacting a component rotates the body about the first contact
area until the second contact area abuts the component.
21. The hook of claim 20, wherein the first contact area is
directly opposite the second contact area.
22. The hook of claim 20, wherein the surface defining the opening
is substantially C-shaped.
23. The hook of claim 20, wherein the surface defining the opening
comprises material having a high coefficient of friction.
24. The hook of claim 20, wherein the first contact area comprises
material having a high coefficient of friction.
25. The hook of claim 20, wherein the second contact area comprises
material having a high coefficient of friction.
26. The hook of claim 20, further comprising an integral load
removably attached to the support.
27. The hook of claim 26, wherein the integral load is a shower
shelf unit.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present device relates to hooks. Particularly, the
present device relates to hooks for supporting a hanging load from
a horizontal member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Hooks for supporting a hanging load from a substantially
horizontal surface have been known and used for a very long time.
The J-hook is a common design, often having an eyelet in one end
for securing a line tied to some object to be supported.
Unfortunately, the J-hook could be easily unseated from an
accidental impact or quick loss of tension. C-shaped and S-shaped
hooks provide slightly better security from such detachment, and
O-rings, D-rings and carbiners even more protection by surrounding
the horizontal surface completely when connected.
[0003] However, each of these designs fails to provide two
important features needed for supporting certain loads. First, they
are ineffective on non-horizontal surfaces. Even the slightest
angle can create problems for these connection devices when a load
is applied. The connectors will typically slide along the surface
until they either are physically impeded, reach a level (i.e.,
horizontal) surface, or reach the lowest point of the surface.
[0004] Second, the devices are ineffective at resisting a force
having a horizontal component. That is, even when secured to a
perfectly horizontal surface, they will slide along that surface if
subjected to a horizontal force. Much like the first problem, these
devices will continue to traverse the surface unless and until they
are physically impeded or the force is sufficiently abated.
[0005] The present invention overcomes these and many other
disadvantages of previous devices. Disclosed is a self-locking hook
which is decorative, yet functional; versatile as a support for any
number of commercial, industrial, and household purposes; and is
easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] There is disclosed herein an improved hook for suspending a
load from a substantially horizontal component which avoids the
disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional
structural and operating advantages.
[0007] In a first embodiment the self-locking hook comprises a
rigid body having a surface defining an opening for accommodating a
substantially horizontal component, the surface comprising a first
contact area and a second contact area, and a support comprising a
load bearing point. The load bearing or attachment point is
attached to the body relative to the opening such that application
of a load at the load bearing point while the first contact area is
contacting a component rotates the body about the first contact
area until the second contact area abuts the component.
[0008] In a particular embodiment, the hook is provided in a shower
assembly for attaching to a shower head pipe. A shower unit may be
attached to the attachment point of the hook such that it causes
the body of the hook to bind the shower head pipe between the first
surface and the second surface of the body.
[0009] These and other aspects of the invention may be understood
more readily from the following description and the appended
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the
subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of
which, when considered in connection with the following
description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its
construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be
readily understood and appreciated.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
present hook supporting a shower unit;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the assembly shown
in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of one embodiment of the present
hook attached to a shower head pipe; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of one embodiment of the hook of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with
the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered
as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments
illustrated.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, there is illustrated a self-locking
hook, generally designated by the numeral 10. The hook 10 has a
body 12 defining an opening 14 therein for fitting around a
substantially horizontal component 30. The opening 14 is created by
a first surface 16 of the body defining a first span of the opening
17 and a second surface 18 of the body, directly opposite the first
surface 16, defining a second span of the opening 19. A support 20
is integral to the body 12 and comprises an attachment point 22 for
connecting a hanging load.
[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the support 20 is positioned on
the body 12 relative to the opening 14 such that application of a
force (F) at the attachment point 22 causes the body 12 of hook 10
to bind the component 30 between the first surface 16 and the
second surface 18--the hanging load creates a force in a direction
primarily perpendicular to a surface of the component 30 which is
assumed to be oriented horizontally. In a preferred embodiment, as
shown, the surfaces 16, 18 are rounded and comprised of a material
different from that of the body 12. Preferably, the material used
on the surfaces is both resilient and of a high coefficient of
friction with respect to the surface of the component 30. This
material may cover the entire body surface or any smaller portion
thereof, including covering just the contact area of each surface.
The high coefficient of friction material provides a better grip of
the component surface to prevent slippage when, e.g., the component
is not perfectly horizontal (i.e., sloped) or the load is not
perpendicular to the surface of the component.
[0019] The opening 14 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to be defined by a
C-shaped inner surface of the body 12. This type of opening 14
allows the hook 10 to be readily attached to and detached from any
suitable component, such as a shower head pipe, as shown in FIGS.
4-7. The surface of the opening 14 should surround the component 30
sufficiently to prevent any accidental detachment if impacted. In
certain embodiments (not shown) it may be desirable to provide an
opening which is closed--i.e., like an O-ring--or closable--i.e.,
open with a movable latching mechanism. While the closable design
would function much like the C-shaped design, the closed
configuration would require slipping the hook over an end of the
component for attachment. Those skilled in the art would certainly
understand from the foregoing description, and without more, how to
sufficiently fashion either type of opening.
[0020] Similarly, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support 20
has a defined opening which functions as the attachment point 22
for a hanging load. The attachment point 22 is open at one end to
allow the load to be readily attached to and detached from the
support 20. However, the attachment point 22 may be closed (FIG. 2)
with a permanently affixed frame or the like. The frame 42, as
shown in FIG. 4, could allow for the addition of different
fixtures, such as, e.g., shelves, hooks, or holders of some
kind.
[0021] The greater the amount of weight (i.e., load) affixed to the
attachment point 22, the greater the force (F) acting to rotate the
hook 10 about the first surface 16 (i.e., torque) until the second
surface 18 travels a small angle before contacting the underside of
component 30. By offsetting the attachment point 22 from the
contact area of the first surface 16--i.e., placing it
off-center--the downward pull of force (F) seeks to center below
the point of rotation, thereby forcing the contact area of the
second surface 18 into abutting engagement with the component 30.
This rotating action binds the component 30 between the first
surface 16 and the second surface 18 of the hook 10.
[0022] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the opening 14 is defined by a
non-planar surface. By skewing or curving the surface slightly in a
direction away from the attachment point 22 of the support 20, the
second surface 18 abuts the component 30 after a lesser angle of
travel than if the surface were planar. This feature helps create a
more effective binding of the component 30.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-7, the hook 10 is
used to support a shower unit 40 having a wire frame 42 and at
least one shelf 44, preferably two or three shelves, for holding
shower accessories such as soap, shampoo, sponge, razor, and the
like. The frame 42 attaches directly and permanently to the
attachment point 22 of support 20. The shelves 44 may be movable on
and/or detachable from the frame 42. The hook 10 may be attached
via opening 14 about the shower head pipe, as shown in FIG. 7.
Where the opening is closed as previously discussed, the shower
head would require removal in order to slide the hook 10 onto the
pipe end and up to the horizontal portion of the pipe. The weight
of the shower unit 40 will cause the rotation of the hook 10 about
the first surface 16, thereby binding the shower head pipe between
the first surface 16 and second surface 18 of the body 12. Any
added weight from the storage of previously mentioned shower items
on the unit shelves 44 increases the force (F) and tightens the
bind on the shower pipe.
[0024] The disclosed hook 10 may also be used to support flower
pots, animal feeders, displays, pictures, signs, equipment,
clothing, shelving, other supports, and a number of other items far
too numerous to mention in this application for patent. Further,
the size of the disclosed hook 10 can be determined by its intended
use, including expected maximum load and size of the horizontal
component to which it is to be secured.
[0025] The matter set forth in the foregoing description and
accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and
not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown
and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made without departing from the
broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of
the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following
claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior
art.
* * * * *