AU2002257371A1 - A wall-mountable holder - Google Patents

Description

A WALL-MOUNTABLE HOLDER TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a wall-mountable holder for releasably retaining an article such as, for example, a bicycle, a fire extinguisher or a tool.

The invention has been developed primarily for retaining a wheel of a bicycle, scooter or like vehicle up off the ground, such that the weight of the bicycle is supported by the other wheel, and will therefore be described in this context. BACKGROUND ART

Bicycles are frequently stored in confined spaces, such as in garages, hallways, bedrooms and cellars. For space-efficient storage, bicycles are best stored either completely up off the ground or with one wheel off the ground such that the bicycle is suspended vertically. Many types of holders for securing bicycles in confined spaces are known. Problems with such holders, however, include that they can be difficult to install and to maintain, they can be difficult to use, they can be expensive to buy, they may be positioned such that they are dangerous when not in use, and that they can be space-consuming themselves. One of the simplest ways of holding a bicycle up off the ground is by securing brackets to a wall and suspending the bicycle on the brackets parallel to the wall. A disadvantage with this bracket arrangement is that a person needs to be strong enough to be able to lift the bicycle completely up off the ground and onto the brackets, and vice-versa. One way of holding a single wheel of a bicycle up off the ground and perpendicular to a wall, so that both wheels rest against the wall, is to hold the upper wheel in a rack that has been fixed to the wall. A disadvantage with this type of holder is that the rack will necessarily jut out from the wall at a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the bicycle wheel. Such a rack may be dangerous as, when not in use, it is likely to jut out from the wall at about eye level.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wall- mountable holder for retaining an article that at least minimises one of the disadvantages referred to above, or provides the public with a useful or commercial choice.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a wall-mountable article holder comprising: a wall-mountable support frame; and a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to the support frame to define an article-receiving region between the jaws, the jaws being moveable between an open position and a closed position, each jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one of the jaws releasably locking to the support frame when in the closed position; wherein when an article is urged against the proximal ends of the jaws, the jaws pivot to the closed position and retain the article, and when the article is urged against the distal ends, the jaws pivot to the open position and enable the article to be removed.

Preferably, both jaws releasably lock to the support frame. Any suitable locking means can be used to releasably lock the jaws to the support frame. In an embodiment of the invention, each jaw can have a clip that is lockable to the support frame. For instance, each jaw can have a C-shaped clip that is lockable to a cylindrical part of the support frame. In another embodiment, the C-shaped clips can be part of the support frame and can be lockable to cylindrical parts of the jaws.

In yet another embodiment, the support frame can have a retainer located between the proximal ends of the jaws and a wall-mounting region of the support frame, and each jaw can have a flexibly resilient leg lockable behind a shoulder or edge of the retainer when the jaws are in the closed position. The retainer can have more than one edge or shoulder (eg. a serrated edge) behind which each said leg is lockable, and this arrangement can enable the jaws to be locked in different positions.

Preferably, the retainer is wedge-shaped, the wedge of the retainer tapers towards the proximal ends of the jaws, and each leg has a hooked end that locks behind a shoulder of the retainer. When the jaws are being moved towards the closed position and the legs are forced against the retainer, the legs flex apart from one another and lock behind the shoulders under tension. When the jaws move from the closed position, the legs unlock from behind the shoulders, the legs flex towards one another and bear against the retainer and consequently assist the jaws in moving to the open position.

Preferably, the proximal ends of the jaws are connected together with a hinge such that they pivot in unison. Each jaw can have a pair of collars that interleaf with one another and a hinge pin can extend through the collars to hold the proximal ends of the jaws together.

The retainer can have a groove within which is situated the collars when the jaws are in the closed position.

The wall-mounting region can comprise a bracket having apertures adapted to receive fasteners such as nails or screws. Alternatively, the wall- mounting region can comprise a layer of adhesive material. Any other suitable means for mounting the support frame to a wall can be used.

The support frame can have arms that project outwardly from the wall-mounting region and from the wall to which the holder is mounted, and each of the jaws can be pivotally mounted to a projecting end of a said arm. That is, the support frame can be substantially U-shaped or V-shaped when viewed in plan. Each jaw can have a pin and each arm can have an elongated socket within which can pivot the pin.

Preferably, the arms of the support frame flex away from one another when the hinge is brought into temporarily alignment with the pin of each arm when moving the jaws between the open and closed positions. The return of the arms to their resting position can urge the jaws either into the open position or closed position.

Preferably, the jaws are prevented from slidably disengaging the support frame by way of the support frame having a ledge extending partway over the legs of the jaws (which prevents movement of the jaws in one direction) and an end of each socket being blind (which prevents movement of the jaws in the other direction). The jaws can be of any suitable shape, the shape being dependent on the nature of the article. The jaws can also be fitted with inserts for retaining different shaped articles. The jaws can have a tread for better gripping an article. Preferably, the jaws are shaped to retain a bicycle by way of the distal ends of the jaws being adapted to extend behind a rim or between spokes of the bicycle wheel.

The holder can have locking means for locking the distal ends of the jaws together. For instance, the distal end of each jaw can have an aperture through which can extend a locking bolt of a padlock. Preferably, the holder comprises plastics material. However, the holder can comprise any other suitable material or materials.

The term "wall" is used herein to denote a wall extending at any angle, or a surface or fixture to which the holder can be attached (eg. a vehicle, a cupboard). The term "comprise", or variations of the term such as "comprises" or

"comprising", are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a holder about to receive a bicycle wheel, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the holder of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the holder of Figure 1 when retaining a bicycle wheel;

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the holder of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a support frame of the holder of Figure

1 ;

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the support frame of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a top plan view of a jaw of the holder of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the jaw of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a front view of the support frame of Figure 5; and; Figure 10 is rear view of the support frame of Figure 9. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In all of the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts. The figures show a plastic wall-mountable holder 1 for retaining an article such as a bicycle. The holder 1 comprises a support frame 2 (best seen in Figures 5, 6, 9 and 10) and a pair of jaws 3, 4 (best seen in Figures 2, 7 and 8) pivotally mounted to the support frame 2 to define an article- receiving region between the jaws 3, 4 (best seen in Figures 1 and 3). The jaws 3, 4 are pivotable between an open position, as seen in Figure 1 , and a closed position, as seen in Figure 3.

The support frame 2 has a wall-mounting bracket 6. The bracket 6 has several apertures 7 for receiving fasteners such as screws. Two arms 8 project from the bracket 6 and from the wall to which the holder 1 is mounted, and each of the jaws 3, 4 is pivotally mounted to a projecting end of a said arm 8. Each jaw 3, 4 has a proximal end and a distal end, and the proximal end is the closest end to the bracket 6.

The proximal ends of the jaws 3, 4 are connected together with a hinge 14. The hinge 14 enables the jaws 3, 4 to pivot in unison. Each jaw 3,

4 has a pair of collars 15, 16 that interleaf with one another and a hinge pin 40 extends through the collars 15, 16 to hold the proximal ends of the jaws 3, 4 together. The hinge pin 40 is held in place with a speed nut (not shown).

Each jaw 3, 4 has a pin 9 (best seen in Figures 7 and 8), each arm 8 has an elongated socket 10 (best seen in Figures 5 and 6) within which can pivot the pin 9. Each jaw 3, 4 includes a spacer arm 11 connected to the pin 9 (best seen in Figure 8).

Both jaws 3, 4 can releasably lock to the support frame 2 when in the closed position. The support frame 2 has a wedge-shaped retainer 20 located between the proximal ends of the jaws 3, 4 and the bracket 6 (best seen in Figures 9 and 10), and each jaw 3, 4 has a flexibly resilient leg 21 adapted to lock behind a shoulder 22 of the retainer 20 when the jaws 3, 4 are in the closed position (see Figure 10). The wedge of the retainer 20 tapers towards the proximal ends of the jaws 3, 4, and each leg 21 has a hooked end 23 for locking behind a said shoulder 22 of the retainer 20. When the jaws 3, 4 are being moved towards the closed position and the legs 21 are forced against the retainer 20, the legs 21 flex apart from one another and lock behind the shoulders 22 under tension. When the jaws 3, 4 move from the closed position, the legs 21 unlock from behind the shoulders 22, the legs 21 flex towards one another and bear against the retainer 20 and consequently assist the jaws 3, 4 in pivoting to the open position. In the closed position, the hinge 14 is situated within a groove 25 of the retainer 20. The arms 8 of the support frame 2 flex away from one another when the hinge 14 is brought into temporary alignment with the pin 9 of each arm 8 when moving the jaws 3, 4 between the open and closed positions. The return of the arms 8 to their resting position helps move the jaws 3, 4 either into the open position or closed position.

The distal end of each jaw 3, 4 has an aperture 30 adapted to receive a locking bolt of a padlock. The jaws 3, 4 have ribs 31 (only some of which have been labelled) that strengthen the jaws 3, 4 and help grip the bicycle wheel. Each jaw 3, 4 has a longitudinally extending reinforcing rib 32. The hinge 14, together with an edge 33 of each reinforcing rib 32, determine how far the jaws 3, 4 can pivot when pivoting to the open position. The jaws 3, 4 are prevented from slidably disengaging the support frame 2 by way of the support frame 2 having a ledge 13 extending partway over the legs 21 of the jaws 3, 4 (which prevents movement of the jaws 3, 4 in one direction) and an end 12 of each socket 10 being blind (which prevents movement of the jaws 3, 4 in the other direction). This is best seen in Figures 1 and 6.

In use, the holder 1 is mounted to a vertical wall by way of bracket 6 and screws. A bicycle wheel is pressed against the proximal end of each jaw 3, 4, as shown in Figure 1 , and the jaws 3, 4 pivot until the distal ends meet behind a rim or between spokes of the wheel. As the bicycle wheel is urged against the jaws 3, 4, the arms 8 temporarily flex apart, the legs 21 flex apart upon contact with the wedge-shaped retainer 20 and the hooked ends 23 lock behind the shoulders 22. With the legs 21 locked behind the shoulders 22, the bicycle wheel is retained by the jaws 3, 4. In order to remove the bicycle wheel from the holder 1 , the wheel is pulled away from the wall, the jaws 3, 4 are forced to pivot, the legs 21 disengage the shoulders 22, the legs 21 flex towards one another and bear against the retainer 20 and consequently help pivot the jaws 3, 4 to the open position. The arms 8 also temporarily flex apart and help the jaws 3, 4 move to the open position once the hinge 14 is no longer in alignment with the pins 9. Once the jaws 3, 4 have pivoted to the open position, the wheel can be removed from the region between the jaws 3, 4. The holder 1 of the present invention occupies little space, is easy to use, is readily mountable to a wall, and is adaptable to retain a variety of articles.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims (15)

1. A wall-mountable article holder comprising: a wall-mountable support frame; and a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to the support frame to define an article-receiving region between the jaws, the jaws being moveable between an open position and a closed position, each jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one of the jaws releasably locking to the support frame when in the closed position; wherein when an article is urged against the proximal ends of the jaws, the jaws pivot to the closed position and retain the article, and when the article is urged against the distal ends, the jaws pivot to the open position and enable the article to be removed.

2. The holder of claim 1 , wherein both jaws releasably lock to the support frame.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the proximal ends of the jaws are connected together with a hinge.

4. The holder of claim 3, wherein the support frame has a retainer located between the proximal ends of the jaws and a wall-mounting region of the support frame, and each jaw has a flexibly resilient leg adapted to lock behind a shoulder of the retainer when the jaws are in the closed position.

5. The holder of claim 4, wherein the retainer is wedge-shaped, the wedge of the retainer tapers towards the proximal ends of the jaws, and each leg has a hooked end that locks behind a said shoulder of the retainer.

6. The holder of claim 4, wherein the wall-mounting region comprises a bracket having apertures adapted to receive fasteners.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein the support frame has arms that project outwardly from the bracket and the wall to which the holder is mounted, and each of the jaws is pivotally mounted to a projecting end of a said arm.

8. The holder of claim 7, wherein each jaw has a pin and each arm has an elongated socket within which can pivot the pin.

9. The holder of claim 8, wherein the arms of the support frame are flexibly resilient and said arms flex away from one another when the hinge is brought into temporary alignment with the pin of each arm when moving the jaws between the open and closed positions.

10. The holder of claim 8, wherein the support frame has a ledge extending partway over the legs and an end of each socket is blind such that the pins cannot disengage the sockets by accident.

11. The holder of claim 5, wherein the hinge is provided by way of each jaw having a pair of collars that interleaf with one another and a hinge pin extending through the collars.

12. The holder of claim 11 , wherein the collars are situated within a groove of the retainer when the jaws are in the closed position.

13. The holder of claim 1 , further having locking means for locking the distal ends of the jaws together.

14. The holder of claim 13, wherein the distal end of each jaw has an aperture through which can extend a locking bolt of a padlock.

15. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the jaws are shaped to retain a bicycle and the distal ends are adapted to extend behind a rim or between spokes of the bicycle wheel when the jaws are in the closed position.