GB2247910A

GB2247910A - Means for fastening a utensil to a vertical surface

Info

Publication number: GB2247910A
Application number: GB9019880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elaine Judith Novak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-11
Filing date: 1990-09-11
Publication date: 1992-03-18
Also published as: GB9019880D0

Abstract

A utensil such as a soap holder, toilet roll holder, toothbrush holder is fastened to a vertical surface by a suction pad or diaphragm 1 caused to take on a dishlike profile to create a vacuum by a trigger 5 pivoted to a stud 2 embedded in the pad; the trigger may be the utensil itself (see Figures 3, 4). The trigger includes a cam 7 acting against a diaphragm housing 6 to force stud 2 axially. <IMAGE>

Description

"Suction Mounted Accessories" This invention relates to an improved means of mounting holders and like devices on vertical walls. The invention is particularly applicable to mounting bathroom or kitchen accessories on vertical tiled, glass or other non-porous surfaces.

Common means of fastening a utensil or device to a wall or the like include screws. In this case, it is necessary to drill holes in the vertical surface into which the screws may be inserted. A further attachment means commonly used until now is a strong adhesive.

Unfortunately, there are a number of disadvantages associated with screwing or glueing a utensil to a wall or surface. For example, such attachment means necessitate damaging or defacing the surface and often leave unsightly marks when the utensil is removed, Thus, it is not practical to move a utensil to different locations on the wall or surface such as positions which are more suitable for different users of the utensil.

In the bathroom there are many utensils that are commonly fastened to a vertical surface such as a tiled wall, or a shower screen. These include: shower accessory trays for holding soap, shampoos and the like; a toilet roll holder; a toothbrush holder; a cup holder, and so on. At times, and especially in the case of a family with growing children, it is difficult to know at what height upon the vertical surface to fasten such utensils. People with different heights desire the utensil to be located at a height suitable to themselves. Until now, it has not been possible to quickly and simply adjust the height of a utensil without the use of tools and without defacing the surface, and yet still be confident of a strong attachment means which may be constantly reused.

In the present invention these and other disadvantages are overcome and there is provided a vastly improved means of releasably securing or attaching a utensil or device to a vertical surface or wall.

In this Specification a vertical surface or wall includes walls or surfaces that are near vertical.

According to one aspect of the present invention means for fastening a utensil to a non-porous vertical surface comprises a flexible diaphragm, a diaphragm housing, a stud, and a stud controlling means, wherein an end of the stud is attached to the flexible diaphragm such that movement of the stud causes movement of an inner portion of the diaphragm, and wherein said movement of the stud in an axial direction away from the diaphragm deforms the diaphragm from a substantially flat condition to a dished condition, and wherein said movement of the stud is activated by the stud controlling means.

Preferably, one end of the stud is embedded in the flexible diaphragm.

Preferably, the utensil is a device or holder for bathroom or kitchen products.

Preferably, the stud controlling means comprises a trigger pivotally mounted for movement between a released and an activated position, the trigger including a cam such that when the trigger is in an activated position the cam is so disposed as to force the stud to retract axially in respect to the diaphragm, thereby creating suction means, and wherein pulling the trigger to the released position releases the cam's pressure on the stud, thereby allowing the diaphragm to return to a substantially flat condition.

According to a further aspect of the invention a means for fastening a utensil to a non porous vertical surface comprises a flexible diaphragm, a diaphragm housing, a stud, and a stud controlling means, wherein one end of the stud is attached to the flexible diaphragm such that movement of the stud causes movement of an inner portion of the diaphragm, and wherein said movement of the stud is activated by the stud controlling means, and wherein the stud controlling means is incorporated into the utensil.

Preferably, one end of the stud is embedded in the flexible diaphragm.

Preferably, the utensil is pivotally mounted on the stud and includes a cam such that when the utensil is in its normal operating position the cam acts against the diaphragm housing, thereby maintaining the stud in a retracted position so as to provide a partial vacuum between the diaphragm and the non-porous surface to which it is attached, and wherein pivotal movement of the utensil causes simultaneous rotation of the cam so as to enable the stud to move in an axial direction to allow the diaphragm to return to a substantially flat condition.

Preferably, the stud controlling means also includes a trigger, wherein the trigger is attached securely to said utensil and similarly pivotally mounted on the stud, and wherein movement of the utensil may be performed by a pivotal movement of the trigger.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention including a soap dish; Fig. 2 is a side view of a further embodiment of the invention also including a soap dish; Fig. 3 is a side view of a further embodiment of the invention, also including a soap dish, and; Fig. 4 is a pictorial view of a shower accessory tray comprising an embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 a means of mounting a utensil to a vertical surface comprises a rubber suction pad or diaphragm 1 and a pull stud 2 which is bonded at one end into the central portion of the suction pad 1. The suction pad 1 is a circular flexible diaphragm which, when pressed against the vertical surface, provides a sealed contact with the surface. The pull stud 2 bonded into the diaphragm 1 may be retracted axially with respect to the diaphragm, thereby deforming the front face in contact with the surface from a substantially flat condition to a dished condition. The hollow in the dished-shape diaphragm 1 contains a vacuum, providing a net air pressure directed as to hold the circumference of the diaphragm 1 to the surface.

In this embodiment there is included a trigger 5 which is pivoted to the stud 2 at a pivot 8. The trigger 5 also includes a cam 7 acting against a diaphragm housing 6. When the trigger 5 is rotated to an activated position the cam 7 acts on the surface of the diaphragm housing 6 so as to force the pull stud 2 axial direction away from the diaphragm 1. The diaphragm 1 subsequently takes on a dishlike profile containing a vacuum and thereby providing suction means. The utensil in this embodiment is a soap dish 9 provided with one or more drain holes 10.

The embodiment of Fig. 2 is similar, and like parts are denoted by like reference numerals. In this embodiment, however, the trigger 5 is pivotally mounted to the diaphragm housing 6 at 11, and is connected to the stud 2 via a pin 12.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, no separate trigger is provided; the utensil itself is used to operate the diaphragm 1. The soap dish 9 is bifurcated at its inner end and pivotted at 13 to the stud 2. The soap dish 9 bears against the diaphragm housing 6 in a cam face 14, whereby vertical pivotting movement of the soap dish 9 causes movement of the diaphragm 1 between flat and dished conditions.

Fig. 4 illustrates the invention applied to a shower accessory in which the utensil comprises a soap dish 9 and a tray 15 for a sponge or the like.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

"Claims"

1. A means for fastening a utensil to a non-porous vertical surface comprising a flexible diaphragm, a diaphragm housing, a stud, and a stud controlling means, wherein an end of the stud is attached to the flexible diaphragm such that movement of the stud causes movement of an inner portion of the diaphragm, and wherein said movement of the stud in an axial direction away from the diaphragm deforms the diaphragm from a substantially flat condition to a dished condition, and wherein said movement of the stud is activated by the stud controlling means.

2. A means as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one end of the stud is embedded in the flexible diaphragm.

3. A means as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the utensil is a device or holder for bathroom or kitchen products.

4. A means as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the stud controlling means comprises a trigger pivotally mounted for movement between a released and an activated position, the trigger including a cam such that when the trigger is in an activated position the cam is so disposed as to force the stud to retract axially in respect to the diaphragm, thereby creating suction means, and wherein pulling the trigger to the released position releases the cam's pressure on the stud, thereby allowing the diaphragm to return to a substantially flat condition.

5. A means for fastening a utensil to a non porous vertical surface comprising a flexible diaphragm, a diaphragm housing, a stud, and a stud controlling means, wherein one end of the stud is attached to the flexible diaphragm such that movement of the stud causes movement of an inner portion of the diaphragm, and wherein said movement of the stud is activated by the stud controlling means, and wherein the stud controlling means is incorporated into the utensil.

6. A means as claimed in Claim 5, wherein one end of the stud is embedded in the flexible diaphragm.

7. A means as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the utensil is pivotally mounted on the stud and includes a cam such that when the utensil is in its normal operating position the cam acts against the diaphragm housing, thereby maintaining the stud in a retracted position so as to provide a partial vacuum between the diaphragm and the non-porous surface to which it is attached, and wherein pivotal movement of the utensil causes simultaneous rotation of the cam so as to enable the stud to move in an axial direction to allow the diaphragm to return to a substantially flat condition.

8. A means as claimed in Claims 5 to 7, wherein the stud controlling means also includes a trigger, whercin the trigger is attached securely to said utensil and similarly pivotally mounted on the stud, and wherein movement of the utensil may be performed by a pivotal movement of the trigger.