Self-securing Holding Device

Abstract

A flexible device holding an article being self-securing as onto a vertical surface comprising a plurality of layers of which the outer layers are secured to intermediate layers at a plurality of points by welds and said intermediate layers are secured together at a point by a weld positioned centrally transversely of said first mentioned welds.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein relates to improvements in the construction of a flexible holding device for hanging or holding articles particularly onto a vertical supporting surface, said device having outwardly facing adhesive surfaces.

This invention represents improvement over the related inventions by the inventor herein which are disclosed in his U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,339 dated Mar. 28, 1967, U.S. Pat. No. 3,241,795 dated Mar. 22, 1966 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,272 dated July 23, 1963.

The improvement herein is present in the multi-layered construction of the device wherein the several layers thereof are secured together at points by welds spaced from the peripheries of said layers and spaced from one another.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a multi-layered holding device in which the outer layers thereof are respectively secured at a plurality of points to non-adhesive intermediate layers and said intermediate layers are secured together at a point or points out of register with the points at which said intermediate layers are secured to said outer layers.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a self-holding device comprising a plurality of flexible layers having the outer layers thereof welded to intermediate layers at points spaced from the peripheries thereof and said intermediate layers being welded together at a point centrally of said weld points securing said outer layers.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken view in front elevation with portions thereof in dotted line;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 with portions being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in vertical section;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modification thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view of another modification of the device herein in front elevation with a portion being broken away;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5 as indicated;

FIG. 7 is a view in front elevation of another modification of the device herein; and

FIG. 8 is a view in vertical section taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 7 as indicated.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the embodiment of the invention as indicated in FIGS. 1-3, said invention comprises a self-securing surface mounted holding device 10.

This is a multi-layered device and the improvement herein is represented by the substantial holding capacity achieved through the particular arrangement and functional relationship between the respective layers thereof and by means of which there is a well defined localized distribution of the load thereon as will be further described.

Said device 10 comprises outer layers 12 and 18 and intermediate layers 14 and 16. Said layers are formed of a suitable flexible plastic material for which polyvinyl chloride has been found to form a very suitable material.

The layers 12, 14 and 16, 18 are respectively secured together by pairs of welds 22 and 24 which are spaced inwardly from the ends thereof and are located centrally transversely thereof. The intermediate layers 14 and 16 are secured together by a weld 20 positioned centrally thereof.

The outward facing surfaces 28 and 29 of said layers 12 and 18 are here shown having an adhesive 30 applied thereto whereby they form self-securing surfaces and overlying the same are removable protective cover strips 32 and 33.

In use, the cover strip 32 will be peeled away and the surface 28 with its adhesive coating will be placed against a supporting surface such as wall surface 35 and will be secured thereto by pressure against the outer cover strip 33 to secure a good overall contact of said surface 28 with the supporting wall surface.

The cover strip 33 will be removed exposing the adhesive coated surface 29 and the article A to be supported by said device is pressed against said surface.

Said article A will be secured to the entire area of the surface 29. The layer 18 in turn distributes the load of said article A through the welds 24 to the layer 16 which in turn distributes the load thereon through the weld 20 to the layer 14 which layer in turn distributes the load centered thereon through the welds 22 to the layer 12. Thus between the layers 18 and 16 there are two central points of pull as there are between the layers 14 and 12. Between the two intermediate layers 14 and 16 there is a single point of pull or exertion. Hence the specific points of distribution of the load of the article held throughout the several layers of the device are well spaced from the peripheries of their respective layers. Hence there is no direct pull against the periphery of the supporting layer 12. The pull against this layer is centered through the two welds 22 and through them the load is distributed radially about each of these points throughout the area of the layer 12. The load diminishes as its pull radiates outwardly from the weld or holding points. This distribution of load in removing direct pull from the periphery of the layer 12 minimizes any possible peel back at the periphery of said layers. Once an edge portion of a supporting layer begins to peel away from the supporting surface, the holding effect of said layer is rapidly dissipated. Peel back is avoided in the structure of the device described. The distribution of the load through the several layers as described results in what has been experienced in use as a substantial holding capacity with respect to the size of the device.

A convenient size of said device has been found to be on the order of 3/4 inch in length by 1/2 inch in width. Multiples of said device may be formed into unitary devices. In forming the device, large sheets of material may be used welded together in layers in the manner as described above and then die cut to form either individuals of said device or multiples thereof as may be desired.

The art of ultra-sonic sealing has been developed with respect to sheets of plastic material such that the depths of welds may be controlled. Hence where there may be two underlying layers welded as described with respect to layers 12 and 14 a third layer 16 may be welded to the layer 14 as shown without having the weld extend to the layer 12. Hence the arrangement of the welds as described with respect to the device is commercially practical.

MODIFICATION

Referring to FIG. 4, a modification of the device above presented is disclosed and is indicated generally by the reference numeral 40 with respect to which parts identical to those above described are indicated by like reference numerals.

In lieu of a four layer device as the one first above described, here a three layer device is presented comprising layers 12 and 14 as above described.

Secured to said layer 14 by a central weld 41 is a layer 43 having an outer facing surface 44 having an adhesive coating 30 thereon overlying which is a protective cover strip 45.

Said device 40 functions in a manner similar to that of the device first above described.

MODIFICATION

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 another modification of the device first above described is shown being indicated generally by the reference numeral 50.

Said device 50 comprises an intermediate layer 52 and outer layers 54 and 56 at each side thereof. Connecting all three of said layers are central welds 58 and 59 in registration with one another. Connecting the layers 52 and 54 are a pair of central vertically spaced welds 53 and 55, said welds being substantially centrally of said layer 54 with respect to each end portion and with respect to said welds 58 and 59.

The layer 54 has a pair of transverse separations or slits 60 and 61 therethrough and extending thereacross separating said layer 54 into portions 54a, 54b and 54c.

The central weld 58 runs to the central portion 54b. The welds 53 and 55 respectively connect the layer 52 with the portions 54a and 54c.

Applied to the outward facing surfaces 51 and 57 of layers 54 and 56 is an adhesive 30 and overlying said adhesive at each surface thereof are protective cover strips 64 and 65.

The layer 54 will adhere to a supporting surface such as first above described and an article such as article A to be held thereon is applied to the outer adhesive surface of layer 56.

The load of the article held has a direct central pull on the weld 58 through the holding portion 54b to a supporting surface. The pull exerted on the layer 52 is centrally thereof through the weld 58 and radiates outwardly to be distributed to said upper and lower portions 54a and 54c. Thus there are three independent holding surface portions having pull thereupon and if any one of these has a tendency to pull away from a supporting surface it will not effect the other two holding surface portions 54a and 54c. The central pull effect upon each portion of the layer 54 maximizes the holding capacity of the device.

The relative holding capacities of the respective portions of the layer 54 can be varied by varying the relative lengths of said portions. The holding capacity of a portion increases directly with its size. The central portion 54b by having direct weld connections with the layer 56 receives the most direct pull. The portions 54a and 54c receive an indirect distribution of the load of the article held from the central weld 58, as the central portion 54b yields, the end portions 54a and 54c stand portions of the load and in the case of failure of the central portion, the end portions provide the support or holding capacity. Thus there is the benefit here of independent holding portions.

MODIFICATION

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, another modification of the device first above described is shown indicated by the reference numeral 70 and here the device is in the form of a hanger as will be described.

The device 70 comprises an intermediate or central layer 72, a rear layer 74 at one side thereof and a layer 78 at the other or forward side thereof of a somewhat lesser height than said central or intermediate layer 72.

The layer 74 has an adhesive coating 30 overlying its outer facing surface 75 and overlying said adhesive coating for a protective cover strip 79.

Said layer 74 has a horizontal slot or separation 76 extending across the upper central portion thereof forming an upper portion 74a of said layer and a lower portion 74b of said layer.

A pair of horizontally spaced welds 80 and 81 connect the layers 78 and 72 at the lower central portions thereof and walls 82 and 83 respectively in register with said welds 80 and 81 connecting the lower central portions of the layers 72 and 74, said welds being spaced inwardly of the end portions of said layers.

A pair of horizontally spaced welds 84 and 85 connect the upper central portion of said layers 72 and 74 and said welds are substantially in vertical alignment with said welds 82 and 83.

The layer 78 is formed to provide hanging means. It has a configuration in plan as shown in FIG. 7 having a base portion 87 substantially half the height of said layer 72 and having an upwardly extending tongue like central portion 88 having an aperture 89 in the upper portion thereof.

The layer 78 preferably is formed of a substantially rigid material whereby said tongue portion 88 will be sufficiently rigid to support an article as by having an article hanging wire C disposed therebehind as illustrated.

The cover strip 79 will be removed and the outer adhesive surface of the adhesive coated layer 74 will be pressed against the supportive surface to secure the device in holding position.

The load of an article held by the device through the welds 80 and 81 will exert pull upon the layer 72 and will exert pull upon the layer 74 through the welds 82-83 and 84-85 upon the lower and upper portions 74b and 74a of the layer 74.

The layer portions 74a and 74b of the layer 74 are independent of one another and the welds thereon are centrally thereof spaced inwardly from the edge portions thereof avoiding a direct pull upon the edge portions thereof and thus avoiding a peeling effect at such edge portions. The tendency to have a peeling effect weakens the holding capacity of a holding member and the avoidance of such an effect miximizes the holding effect of the holding member. The load of the article held is localized centrally of the respective holding layers and it radiates outwardly from said welds which are the basic or primary holding points or areas.

As described herein, polyvinyl chloride has been indicated as being a preferred material from which to form the device herein. This material has a natural self-securing or self-adhering holding characteristic when applied to a smooth surface such as tile or porcelain. It will be understood that although an adhesive is indicated as having been applied as to the outward facing surfaces 28 and 29 and that said surfaces are characterized as being self-securing surfaces, that also embraced within the scope of the term self-securing is the use of said surfaces with their natural holding quality free from an applied adhesive.

The term weld as used herein is intended to illustrate the concept of securing the multiple layers of the device herein at spaced points by suitable means and so weld is referred to as a general term to include various ways of so doing.

The several embodiments of the device herein described have performed very successfully in use.

It will of course, be understood that various changes may be made in form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention herein which, generally stated, consists in an apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A self-securing article holding device having in combination

a body portion comprising a plurality of layers,

welds securing together adjacent of said layers,

said welds being spaced inwardly of the edge portions of said layers,

one of the outward facing surfaces of the layers at each end of said body portion comprising a self-securing surface,

a pair of said welds securing together the facing surfaces of an adjacent pair of said layers,

a weld securing together the outer facing surface of one layer of said pair of layers and the facing surface of a layer adjacent thereto, and

said pair of welds and said weld being out of registry with respect to each other.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein

said pair of welds are in spaced relation, and

said weld is disposed centrally relative to said pair of welds.

3. A self-securing article holding device having in combination

a body portion comprising a plurality of layers,

welds securing together adjacent of said layers,

said welds being spaced inwardly of the edge portions of said layers,

one of the outward facing surfaces of the layers at each end of said body portion comprising a self-securing surface,

a weld securing together the adjacent faces of adjacent pairs of said layers, and

spaced pairs of said welds securing the facing surfaces of each pair of said adjacent pairs of said layers.