GB2113984A

GB2113984A - Clip-on support device and assembly incorporating same

Info

Publication number: GB2113984A
Application number: GB08203399A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David James Treasure
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-05
Filing date: 1982-02-05
Publication date: 1983-08-17

Abstract

A clip-on support device comprises a resilient clip (2) for at least partially encircling and gripping a suitable support body, a support member or members (3) attached to and projecting outwardly from the resilient clip (2) and adapted to carry an article to be retained to the support body. The assembly may support a razor, toothbrush and tube of toothpaste on the body of an aerosol dispenser. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clip-on support device This invention concerns a clip-on support device intended primarily, but not exclusively to clip onto the body of a can to provide support for individual items such as toiletry products, e.g.

toothbrush, toothpaste, razor.

It is, of course, known to provide permanently wall-mounted toothbrush racks and the like, but the present invention is concerned with the provision of a cheap, easily made device which to perform its function does not have to be permanently fixed, but can be used at any location where a suitable mounting body, such as the aforesaid can, is or can be positioned.

According to the present invention, there is provided a clip-on support device comprising: resilient clip means for at least partially encircling and gripping a suitable support body, such as a tubular can; and means attached to said resilient clip means to provide at least one outward projection adapted and arranged to project outwardly from the support body and to carry an article to be retained to said support body.

The resilient clip means is preferably a partcircular band of resilient material, such as perspex, with one or more support tags or brackets projecting radially outwardly from the outer cylindrical surface of the clip. Such tag or tags may be substantially flat in a plane transverse an axis round which the clip extends.

In one embodiment there is a plurality of tags, each tag being specially adapted to accommodate a particular one of a set of articles, such as a razor, toothpaste tube and toothbrush.

In another embodiment a single relatively large outwardly projecting bracket is provided, different portions of this bracket being apertured or otherwise adapted to retain the articles required.

The device is preferably integrally moulded from a plastics material. It may also be made of a metallic or an elastomeric material.

Two preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip-on support device according to a first embodiment of the invention, also illustrating how it could be attached to an elongate body; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clip-on support device according to a second embodiment of the invention, also illustrating how it could be, attached to an elongate body; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figure 3.

With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, a clip-on support device 1 comprises a part-cicular band or ring 2 of resilient material, and integrally moulded therewith from a suitable plastics material, three circumferentially spaced, radially outwardly projecting brackets or tags 3. These tags project outwardly from the outer cylindrical surface of the band 2 and are each specially adapted to retain a particular article. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, tag 3a is provided at its outer end with a square notch 4 which may accommodate, for example, the handle of a disposable wet-razor.

Tag 3b is formed at its outer end with an outwardly open part-circular recess 5 for partially enclosing and gripping a small tube of toothpaste, and tag 3c is adapted to carry a toothbrush with the toothbrush handle passing through a substantially rectanguiar aperture 6 and the head of the toothbrush resting on the periphery of the tag.

The ring 2 is adapted to partially enclose and grip the tubular body of a can 7 (illustrated in chain line), and the resilience of the clip is such as to permit the device to be pushed onto the can from the side laterally of the can in the direction as arrowed i.e. in a snap-engaging manner. More particularly the ring must be capable of flexing outwardly so as to enlarge the gap b between the tips of the ring to a dimension equal to the diameter of the tubular body of the can.

This device is cheap to manufacture and is intended to be particularly useful as a disposable item to be retailed or supplied to, for example, hotels, as part of a kit including the can, which may be a can of shaving foam, talcum powder, hair spray etc., and the particular articles which the clip is intended to carry. Appropriate items of the kit can readily be replaced and eventually the whole kit may be discarded and replaced.

In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, there is a single meniscal, or crescentshaped flange 9 with its concave curved edge adjoining the outer cylindrical surface of the clip.

Spaced portions of this flange are adapted, in this case apertured, to receive and carry the requisite items. Thus, the large central aperture 10, the small circular aperture 11 and the oval aperture 12 will accommodate, respectively, a toothpaste tube, a disposable razor and a toothbrush.

In both embodiments, when the device is attached to a can the items are carried by and suspended from the tag, or flange-like brackets.

Clearly, clip-on securing devices according to the invention may be made in many other forms for attachment to other forms of support body and for carrying other types of articles. For example, a device according to the invention may be adapted as a rack for small tools such as screwdrivers etc.

1. A clip-on support device comprising: resilient clip means for at least partially encircling and gripping a suitable support body, such as a tubular container; and support means attached to and projecting outwardly from said resilient clip means said support means being adapted and arranged to project outwardly relative to the support body and to carry an article to be retained to said support body.

2. A clip-on support device according to claim 1 wherein said resilient clip means comprises a partcircular band or ring adapted to grip the support

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Clip-on support device This invention concerns a clip-on support device intended primarily, but not exclusively to clip onto the body of a can to provide support for individual items such as toiletry products, e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, razor. It is, of course, known to provide permanently wall-mounted toothbrush racks and the like, but the present invention is concerned with the provision of a cheap, easily made device which to perform its function does not have to be permanently fixed, but can be used at any location where a suitable mounting body, such as the aforesaid can, is or can be positioned. According to the present invention, there is provided a clip-on support device comprising: resilient clip means for at least partially encircling and gripping a suitable support body, such as a tubular can; and means attached to said resilient clip means to provide at least one outward projection adapted and arranged to project outwardly from the support body and to carry an article to be retained to said support body. The resilient clip means is preferably a partcircular band of resilient material, such as perspex, with one or more support tags or brackets projecting radially outwardly from the outer cylindrical surface of the clip. Such tag or tags may be substantially flat in a plane transverse an axis round which the clip extends. In one embodiment there is a plurality of tags, each tag being specially adapted to accommodate a particular one of a set of articles, such as a razor, toothpaste tube and toothbrush. In another embodiment a single relatively large outwardly projecting bracket is provided, different portions of this bracket being apertured or otherwise adapted to retain the articles required. The device is preferably integrally moulded from a plastics material. It may also be made of a metallic or an elastomeric material. Two preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip-on support device according to a first embodiment of the invention, also illustrating how it could be attached to an elongate body; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clip-on support device according to a second embodiment of the invention, also illustrating how it could be, attached to an elongate body; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figure 3. With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, a clip-on support device 1 comprises a part-cicular band or ring 2 of resilient material, and integrally moulded therewith from a suitable plastics material, three circumferentially spaced, radially outwardly projecting brackets or tags 3. These tags project outwardly from the outer cylindrical surface of the band 2 and are each specially adapted to retain a particular article. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, tag 3a is provided at its outer end with a square notch 4 which may accommodate, for example, the handle of a disposable wet-razor. Tag 3b is formed at its outer end with an outwardly open part-circular recess 5 for partially enclosing and gripping a small tube of toothpaste, and tag 3c is adapted to carry a toothbrush with the toothbrush handle passing through a substantially rectanguiar aperture 6 and the head of the toothbrush resting on the periphery of the tag. The ring 2 is adapted to partially enclose and grip the tubular body of a can 7 (illustrated in chain line), and the resilience of the clip is such as to permit the device to be pushed onto the can from the side laterally of the can in the direction as arrowed i.e. in a snap-engaging manner. More particularly the ring must be capable of flexing outwardly so as to enlarge the gap b between the tips of the ring to a dimension equal to the diameter of the tubular body of the can. This device is cheap to manufacture and is intended to be particularly useful as a disposable item to be retailed or supplied to, for example, hotels, as part of a kit including the can, which may be a can of shaving foam, talcum powder, hair spray etc., and the particular articles which the clip is intended to carry. Appropriate items of the kit can readily be replaced and eventually the whole kit may be discarded and replaced. In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, there is a single meniscal, or crescentshaped flange 9 with its concave curved edge adjoining the outer cylindrical surface of the clip. Spaced portions of this flange are adapted, in this case apertured, to receive and carry the requisite items. Thus, the large central aperture 10, the small circular aperture 11 and the oval aperture 12 will accommodate, respectively, a toothpaste tube, a disposable razor and a toothbrush. In both embodiments, when the device is attached to a can the items are carried by and suspended from the tag, or flange-like brackets. Clearly, clip-on securing devices according to the invention may be made in many other forms for attachment to other forms of support body and for carrying other types of articles. For example, a device according to the invention may be adapted as a rack for small tools such as screwdrivers etc. CLAIMS

2. A clip-on support device according to claim 1 wherein said resilient clip means comprises a partcircular band or ring adapted to grip the support body with its inner curved surface engaging an outer curved surface of said support body, said at least one projection projecting from the outer curved surface of said band or ring.

3. A clip-on support device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said support means is adapted to carry a plurality of articles to be retained to said support body.

4. A clip-on support device according to claim 3 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, outwardly projecting members each adapted to support a respective said article.

5. A clip-on support device according to claim 3 wherein said support means comprises a single circumferentially extending, outwardly projecting member, of which circumferentially spaced portions are adapted to support respective said articles.

6. A clip-on support device according to any preceding claim wherein said support means comprises, for the, or a said article in elongate form, an opening through which a portion of said article can extend with said article lying alongside the support body.

7. A clip-on support device according to claim 6 wherein the opening or at least one of the openings is laterally open.

8. A clip-on support device according to claim 6 wherein the opening or at least one of the openings is laterally enclosed.

9. A clip-on support device according to any preceding claim in which the said support means is formed integrally with the resilient clip means.

10. A clip-on support device according to claim 9 wherein the resilient clip means and support means are integrally formed from plastics material.

11. An assembly comprising a tubular container which is adapted to stand on a horizontal support surface with its axis substantially vertical; and a clip-on support device, according to any preceding claim, in which the resilient clip means is dimensioned so as at least to partially to encircle and grip the outer cylindrical surface of said container.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 which further comprises a said article which said support means is adapted to carry.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said article includes an elongate portion and said support means is adapted to carry said article with at least part of said elongate portion extending substantially vertically alongside said tubular body.

14. An assembly according to any of claims 11 to 13 wherein said tubular container is one having at its upper end a nozzle for the emission of material from within the container by the action of pressure within the container.

15. An assembly according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 12 wherein said container is a can of shaving foam and the article, or one of the articles is a razor, the support means having a portion adapted to at least partly encircle a handle portion of said razor.

16. An assembly according to claim 12 or any claims dependent thereon wherein the article or one of the articles is a toothbrush.

1 7. An assembly according to claim 1 6 wherein a further said article is a tube of toothpaste.

18. A clip-on support device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. An assembly comprising a tubular container adapted to stand on a horizontal support surface with its axis substantially vertical, a clip-on support device according to claim 1 8 and at least one article to be carried by said support device and thereby retained to said container.