GB2440789A

GB2440789A - Accessory storage and display device

Info

Publication number: GB2440789A
Application number: GB0615882A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacqueline Ann Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-10
Filing date: 2006-08-10
Publication date: 2008-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-10
Also published as: GB0615882D0; GB2440789B

Abstract

An accessory storage and display device 10 to be attached to a surface 14 comprises an elongate main section 11 formed from a sheet of perforate material and first and second securing plates 12 connected to opposed ends of the elongate main section 11. The first and second securing plates 12 are adapted to attach the device 10 to the surface 14. The device 10 further comprises at least one accessory support 30 which has fixing means adapted to attach the support 30 to the main section 11. Accessories, such as jewellery and hair pins 15, 16, 17, may be attached to the main section 11 and/or to the support 30 for storage.

Description

ACCESSORY STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE

The present invention relates to an accessory storage and display device, and in particular to an accessory storage and display device adapted to be attached to a surface.

The terms Naccessory or "accessones as used herein refers to body and clothing adornments and devices for use in the hair or on the clothes. It includes items such as hair dips, hair pins, hair ties, jewellery, eamngs, brooches, bracelets and necklaces. Such accessories are normally stored In jewellery : **** 10 boxes, small pots or the like. As a result of all the accessories being stored in a S..

confined space it is not uncommon for them to become entangled. Further, smaller items such as earrings, or the butterfly from the back of an earring can :. easily become misplaced.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages outlined above by * S providing a storage device that can be simply attached to a surface so that accessories may be stored or displayed thereon, in a way that they will be prevented from becoming entangled, and may be instantly recognised and easily located.

* Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided an accessory storage device to be attached to a surface, the device comprising: -an elongate main section formed from a sheet of perforate material; -first and second securing plates connected to opposed ends of the elongate main section, and adapted to attach said device to the surface; and -at least one accessory support, said support having fixing means adapted to attach the support to the main section and wherein accessories may be attached to the main section and/or to the support for storage.

Whilst the present invention is primarily intended for use with accessories, it could conceivably be used to store collectable items such as badges or even items of stationary such as paper clips, bulldog clips and rubber bands.

The term usurface as used herein can refer to any suitable surface where the storage device will be placed, for example on a bedroom wall, or on the inside of a cupboard door. The surface will usually be generally flat but does not need to : **, 10 be, as long as the main section is not obstructed. Also the surface will often be generally vertical, but this is again not essential for operation of the invention.

* * : :* The elongate main section is adapted so that the accessories may be easily attached for storage or display. The elongate main section is formed from a sheet of perforate material, such as a mesh, and may be stretched between the two securing plates so that it is reasonably taut. Hair clips can easily be secured around the main body section from the sides, and accessories such as earrings may be attached by inserting their retaining pins through a perforation and securing it in place with a butterfly if appropriate. Ideally the main body section will be made from a synthetic material such as a plastics material so that it may be easily wiped clean to remain hygienic. Optimally the elongate main section is substantially rectangular.

The main section is attached to first and second securing plates, which in use are attached to the surface. The securing plates preferably have slots through which the elongate main section passes for attachment to the securing plates.

The ends of the main section can be threaded through the slots and sewn in place, or fixed by other means that result in a fixed length between the securing plates.

Alternatively the length of the main section between the securing plates can be adjustable. Many suitable ways of making the length adjustable are known and would be appropriate for the present invention.

It is preferred that each securing plate has a lower region to be attached to the surface and an upper region to which the main body section is attached. The upper region Is raised from the surface so that the elongate main section Is held : ** 10 away from the surface in use. This configuration makes it far easier to attach . accessories to the main section. S...

* The securing plates are preferably made from a ferromagnetic metal such as steel. Magnetic accessories may then be attached to an area of the securing plate. Alternatively, but just as preferably, the securing plates could be made from aplastlcsmatenal.

In a preferred embodiment an adhesive is provided on each securing plate to adhere to the surface, though of course the secunng plates may be attached to the surface In any suitable manner.

The main section is ideal for storing accessories such as hair dips and earrings, but hair bands and bracelets are harder to attach, as they will either have to be tied to the main section or wrapped around it tightly. Therefore, there is provided at least one accessory support. On such a support items like bracelets, necklaces and hair bands may be placed. Preferably the or each accessory support compnses one or more hook adapted to pass through the perforations in the main body to thereby attach the accessory support to the main section. The or each accessory support defines an accessory engaging part on which the accessory may be supported. A simple accessory support may be formed from a single length of elongate material (such as wire) which has been shaped so that the ends define hooks to engage the main section and the intermediate material has been shaped to define an accessory engaging part. The accessory supports could be formed from wire bent into a suitable shape or could be moulded from a plastics material, though any suitable alternative could be used.

: ** 10 In order that it may be better understood, but by way of example only one e.

embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the * accompanying drawings wherein: FIgure 1 shows a front view of the storage device of the present invention in use on a surface; 0**S*S * S Figure 2 shows a side view of the storage device in use on a surface as in Figure 1; FIgure 3 shows a perspective view of a securing plate; FIgure 4 shows a side view of a securing plate; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an accessory support; FIgure 6 shows a side view of the accessory support in use; and FIgure 7 shows a front view of the accessory support In use.

Turning first to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an accessory storage device generally indicated 10, comprising an elongate main section 11 connected to and extending between two securing plates 12 attached to a surface 14. The accessory storage device is primarily, though not exdusively, intended to support items such as hair dips 15, hair pins 16 or earrings 17, and these are shown connected to the main section.

The main section 11 is made of a synthetic mesh matenal, which is perforate, and allows items such as earrings, brooches and badges to be fixed therethrough. The main section 11 can be easily wiped dean to maintain a high level of hygiene. The main section 11 can be any suitable length, but in this specific example it is approximately 80cm. For convenience Figures 1 and 2 show : **, 10 only the two ends of the main section divided by broken line 18. The main section 11 is pulled relatively taut to make it easier to attach the accessories.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the securing plates 12 comprise an upper region 20, and a lower regIon 21 which are joined by a bridging section 23.

A slot 22 is formed in the upper region 20 and the main section 11 passes therethrough and is attached to itself for attachment (as best shown in Figure 2).

A pressure sensitive adhesive layer 24 is provided on the rear of the lower region 21, and is provided with a release sheet that can be peeled off when the securing plate 12 is to be attached to the surface 14. The plate 12 is constructed from steel, and for decoration purposes may be painted, lacquered or otherwise coated.

Magnetic accessories may be connected to the securing plate 12.

The bridging section 23 is angled to hold the upper region 20 away from the surface 14 during use to simplify the removal and attachment of the accessories.

The storage device 10 further supports at least one accessory support.

Figures 5 to 7 show one embodiment of accessory support generally indicated 30.

constructed from a length of wire. The support 30 comprises two fixing hooks 31 formed from the ends of the wire and two hanging loops 32 between which extends bar 33. As shown in Figures 6 and 7 the support 30 is suspended from the main section 11 by locating the fixing hooks 31 through the perforations in the mesh so that the accessory support hangs thereby. Accessories such as bracelets 34 can be hung from the hanging loop 32 and rest thereon.

In use, as best shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7 the main body section Ills : ** 10 secured between two identical securing plates 12. The securing plates 12 are affixed to the surface 14, whIch Is usually a wall or the inside of a door, by * * :: adhesive layer 24 ensuring that the main section 11 is sufficiently taut.

Accessories such as hair clips 15 and hair pins 16 are attached by placing the hair-clasping sections of these accessories over the main body section 11 from the * sides. Earrings 17 are attached by pushing their pin 17a through the perforations in the mesh main body section and affixing the butterfly 17b, and bracelets 34 are stored by hanging them from the hanging loops 32 of one of the accessory supports 30.

Claims

Claims 1. An accessory storage and display device to be attached to a

surface, the device comprising: -an elongate main section formed from a sheet of perforate material; -first and second securing plates connected to opposed ends of the elongate main section, and adapted to attach said device to the surface; and -at least one accessory support, said support having fixing means adapted to attach the support to the main section and wherein accessories may be : ** 10 attached to the main section and/or to the support for storage.

*.
2. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate main section is substantially rectangular.

3. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in any of the preceding daims, wherein the securing plates have slots through which the elongate main section extends for attachment to the securing plates.

4. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each securing plate has a lower region to be attached to the surface and an upper region to which the main section is attached, which upper region is raised from the surface so that the elongate main section Is held away from the surface in use.

5. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in any of the preceding daims, wherein one or both securing plates are at least partially formed from a ferromagnetic metal to permit the attachment thereto of magnetic accessories.

6. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein one or both securing plates are at least partially formed from a plastics material.

7. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein an adhesive is provided on the first and second securing plates to attach each securing plate to the surface.

8. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the main section can either have a fixed length, or be adjustable.

9. An accessory storage and display device as daimed in any of the preceding : ** 10 claims, wherein the or each accessory support includes a hook adapted to pass through a perforation in the elongate main section to thereby support the S...

* :*::* accessory support on the main section.

10. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the accessory support defines an accessory engaging part to * S is which an accessory may be attached for support thereby.

11. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in claim 9 or claim I 0, wherein the accessory support is formed from a single length of material which has been shaped so that the ends define hooks to engage the main section and the intermediate material has been shaped to define an accessory engaging part.

12. An accessory storage and display device as claimed in claim I and as substantially herein described with reference to and as illustrated In the accompanying drawings.