U.S. patent number 3,926,488 [Application Number 05/522,984] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-16 for storage attachment for tables, wall pictures, and the like.
Invention is credited to Paul E. Amos.
United States Patent |
3,926,488 |
Amos |
December 16, 1975 |
Storage attachment for tables, wall pictures, and the like
Abstract
A storage attachment for tables, wall pictures and like objects
having planar surfaces. The attachment includes a semiflexible
collar having walls engaged with the outer periphery of the planar
surface, and extending beyond the limits thereof, thereby providing
a storage area between the collar walls. The storage area may be
enclosed by placement of a member over the storage area and in
engagement with that portion of the collar remote from the planar
surface.
Inventors: |
Amos; Paul E. (McKeesport,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
24083186 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/522,984 |
Filed: |
November 11, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/241; 312/204;
312/284 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
13/08 (20130101); A47B 25/00 (20130101); A47G
1/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
25/00 (20060101); A47B 13/08 (20060101); A47G
1/06 (20060101); A47B 085/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/137,196,241,284,204
;273/5 ;108/60 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schlesinger, Arkwright, Garvey
& Dinsmore
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A storage attachment for a member having a planar surface of
polygonal shape, the attachment including:
a. a polygonal collar comprising a plurality of sides of
predetermined height in contiguous relation with the peripheral
edges of the planar surface of the member,
b. said collar being constructed of a semiflexible material to
permit relative movement of the component parts thereof,
c. internal ribs extending transversely of the sides of said collar
and spaced from the longitudinal edges thereof, and
d. supporting tabs engaged with a plurality of the sides of said
collar and extending inwardly thereof,
e. each of said supporting tabs being substantially coplanar with a
longitudinal edge of a side of said collar, whereby edges of the
planar surface may be positioned between said supporting tabs and
transverse ribs by flexing one of the sides of said collar,
f. the height of the sides of said collar being greater than that
of the planar surface to provide a storage area defined by the
planar surface and collar.
2. The storage attachment of claim 1 with the addition of:
a. a cover member having a second planar surface,
b. the sides of said collar being in substantially contiguous
relation with the periphery of said cover member and said second
planar surface being supported by said internal ribs in spaced
relation to the planar surface of the member.
3. A storage attachment for a member having a planar surface of
polygonal shape, the attachment including:
a. a polygonal collar comprising a plurality of sides of
predetermined height in contiguous relation with the peripheral
edges of the planar surface of the member,
b. said collar being constructed of a semiflexible material to
permit relative movement of the component parts thereof,
c. internal ribs extending transversely of the sides of said collar
and spaced from the longitudinal edges thereof,
d. supporting tabs engaged with a plurality of the sides of said
collar and extending inwardly thereof,
e. each of said supporting tabs being substantially coplanar with a
longitudinal edge of a side of said collar, and
f. a cover member positioned within said collar between an edge of
said collar and said internal ribs by flexing one of the sides of
said collar,
g. the planar surface of the member being positioned within said
collar in spaced relation to said cover member, whereby a storage
area is formed therebetween.
4. A storage attachment for a member having a planar surface, the
attachment including:
a. collar means in contiguous engagement with the peripheral edges
of the planar surface,
b. said collar means being constructed of a semi-flexible material
and comprising a plurality of side members,
c. a portion of said collar means extending beyond the limits of
the planar surface to provide a storage area defined by the collar
means and planar surface,
d. supporting tabs extending inwardly of said collar means into
engagement with the member,
e. rib means extending transversely of said collar means and spaced
from said supporting tabs,
f. the planar surface of the member being engaged with said rib
means at a point remote from said supporting tabs, and
g. a cover member positioned within said collar means between said
rib means and a limit of said collar means,
h. said cover member being in spaced relation to the planar surface
of the member.
5. A storage attachment for a member having a planar surface, the
attachment including:
a. collar means in contiguous engagement with the periphery of the
member,
b. said collar means being constructed of a semiflexible material
to permit relative movement of portions thereof, whereby engagement
of the collar means with the member is facilitated,
c. a portion of said collar means extending beyond the limits of
the member to provide a storage area defined by the collar means
and the planar surface of the member, and
d. means for holding said collar means in engagement with the
member.
6. The storage attachment of claim 5, with the addition of:
a. a cover member engaged with said collar means in spaced relation
to the planar surface of the member.
7. The storage attachment of claim 6, wherein:
a. said cover member has a second planar surface,
b. the inner periphery of said collar means being in substantially
contiguous relation with the outer periphery of said cover
member.
8. The storage attachment of claim 7, with the addition of:
a. means carried by said collar means for holding said cover member
in spaced relation to the planar surface of the member.
9. A storage attachment for a member having a planar surface of
polygonal shape, the attachment including:
a. a polygonal collar comprising a plurality of sides of
predetermined height in contiguous relation with the peripheral
edges of the planar surface of the member,
b. said collar being constructed of a semiflexible material to
permit relative flexing movement of the sides of said collar,
whereby engagement of said collar with the member is
facilitated,
c. a portion of said collar extending beyond the limits of the
member to provide a storage area defined by said collar and the
planar surface of the member, and
d. supporting tabs engaged with a plurality of the sides of said
member and extending inwardly thereof into engagement with the
member.
10. The storage attachment of claim 9, with the addition of:
a. a cover member engaged with said collar in spaced relation to
the planar surface of the member.
11. The storage attachment of claim 10, wherein:
a. said cover member has a second planar surface,
b. the inner periphery of said collar being in substantially
contiguous relation with the outer periphery of said cover
member.
12. The storage attachment of claim 11, with the addition of:
a. spaced abutment means on the inner periphery of the sides of the
collar for supporting said cover member in spaced relation to the
planar surface of the member.
Description
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS
It frequently occurs that many living or work facilities lack
sufficient storage areas for relatively small items such as
gameboards, game pieces, tools, and other articles normally used in
certain areas of the facilities. Even where there are storage
areas, such as cabinets, closets, etc., such are made with the sole
purpose of being for storage and do not serve any other useful
purpose.
It is an object of this invention to provide a storage attachment
for commonly used household items such as tables, wall pictures and
the like, which attachment is readily engaged with the table or
picture to enable them to perform a storage function in addition to
the utility or decorative function of the item.
Another object is to provide a storage attachment of the character
described which is readily engaged with a planar surface of the
article to which it is attached, the attachment including means for
hiding from view the items stored therein, but wherein the items
are readily accessible when needed.
A further object is to provide a storage attachment which comprises
a collar adaptor which may be readily fitted to a table or wall
picture, the collar being of economic construction and readily
manufactured in different shapes and sizes for attachment to a
variety of articles having planar surfaces.
Other objects will be apparent from the following description of
the presently preferred forms of the invention, taken in connection
with the appended drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage attachment of the
present invention, illustrating its use as applied to a table, a
portion thereof being broken away to disclose details of
construction;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of
FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the collar forming a part
of the storage attachment of the invention, and
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the storage attachment of
the present invention illustrating its application to a wall
picture, a portion thereof being broken away to disclose details of
construction.
DESCRIPTION OF FORM OF INVENTION ILLUSTRATED IN FIGS. 1 TO 3
In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a storage attachment
constructed in accordance with the present invention which is
generally designated 10 applied to a conventional table 12 which
includes a table top 14 and legs 16.
Referring to FIG. 3, storage attachment 10 comprises a collar 18
adapted for contiguous engagement with the edges of the table top
which collar is preferably constructed of a semirigid material such
as polypropylene. Collar 18 is of polygonal shape, and includes
side members 20, 22, 24 and 26 which are of a predetermined height.
Sides 20 and 24 are provided with opposed, inwardly extending
supporting tabs 28 and 30 which are preferably coplanar with the
lower edges of walls 20 and 24. Sides 20, 22, 24 and 26 are further
provided with a plurality of spaced ribs indicated at 32, 34, 36
and 38, which ribs extend transversely of the sides, are of uniform
length and in the same predetermined spaced relation with respect
to the longitudinal edges of the side members.
It will be noted from FIG. 2 that a terminal of ribs 32 and 36 are
transversely spaced from tabs 28 and 30, a distance which is
substantially equal to the thickness of table top 14. The opposite
terminal of each of said ribs 32, 34, 36 and 38 is spaced from a
longitudinal edge of the side members a distance substantially
equal to the thickness of a removable cover member 40 adapted for
fitting engagement within the confines of the collar, the top of
the cover being substantially coplanar with the upper edge of the
collar. Cover 40 and table top 14 lie in a spaced relation thereby
providing a storage area 42 therebetween which is adapted to
receive household items such as gameboards 44, or other articles
which are to be stored.
The storage attachment of the present invention is readily engaged
with table 12 by placing the same over table top 14 and then
successively bowing sides 20 and 24 (see FIG. 3) thereof to permit
tabs 28 and 30 to be positioned beneath table top 14. Tabs 28 and
30 then serve as abutments or stops to prevent any relative upward
movement of the collar with respect to the table, and vertical ribs
32, 34, 36 and 38, engaged with the upper face of table top 14,
positively prevent any downward movement of the collar with respect
to the table. Cover member 40 may be positioned within the confines
of the collar, ribs 32, 34, 36 and 38 serving as stops or abutments
to maintain the top thereafter in substantially flush position with
respect to the upper edge of the collar.
When it is desired to remove any object or objects from the storage
chamber, it is only necessary that any of walls 20, 22, 24 or 26 be
bowed outwardly slightly with one finger, while inserting the other
finger into the space between the bowed wall and cover member 40 to
lift the latter out of engagement with the collar. In the event
that gameboards 44 or other large items which take up substantially
all of the space between the sides of the collar are stored within
chamber 42, any of of flexible walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 may be urged
outwardly to facilitate removal of the item from the storage
area.
DESCRIPTION OF FORM OF INVENTION ILLUSTRATED IN FIG. 4
In FIG. 4, the attachment of the present invention is designated 46
and is shown in engagement with a wall picture 48, the attachment
serving as a frame for the picture. Attachment 46 includes a collar
50 embodying four sides 52, 54, 56 and 58, sides 52 and 56 being
provided with opposed, inwardly extending supporting tabs 60 and
62, each of which lies in coplanar relation with a longitudinal
edge of the side with which it is engaged and in spaced relation to
other longitudinal edges thereof. Sides 52, 54, 56 and 58 are
respectively provided with ribs 64, 66, 68 and 70 which are in
spaced relation to the longitudinal edges of their respective
sides. One terminal of ribs 64, 66, 68 and 70 serve to position
picture 48 and may be adhesively secured, or affixed in any other
suitable manner to thereby retain the picture in place within the
attachment when hung on the wall. The opposite terminal of ribs 64
and 68 are spaced from tabs 60 and 62 respectively a distance equal
to the thickness of a cover member 72, one side of which may be a
gameboard 74. An opening 76 is provided to facilitate hanging of
the picture on the wall.
Cover member 72 may be applied to collar 50 in the same manner as
in the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, with tabs 60
and 62 engaged with the outer face of cover member 72. There is
thereby formed a storage area between picture 48 and cover 72 which
may be used for storage of game pieces for the gameboard or any
other items to be stored.
With the attachment of the present invention, there is provided
simple, low cost means for providing storage area for furniture,
wall pictures, and other household items having a planar surface.
With this invention also, the items stored are readily inserted
into the storage area and are easily accessible when needed. When
stored, these items are hidden from view, the item to which the
present invention is attached serving its normal function in
addition to its storage capacity.
While there has been herein shown and described the presently
preferred forms of this invention, it is to be understood that such
has been done for purposes of illustration, and various changes may
be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *