GB2502271A

GB2502271A - Switch mounted holder for articles

Info

Publication number: GB2502271A
Application number: GB201208900A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sanjeev Dass
Original assignee: Coventry University
Current assignee: Coventry University
Priority date: 2012-05-21
Filing date: 2012-05-21
Publication date: 2013-11-27
Also published as: GB201208900D0

Abstract

A holder 1 for articles, which is to be mounted on a light switch (11, figure 2), comprises: (i) an intermediate element 3 to be attached to the switch 11, the intermediate element 3 having bores 10 to receive threaded fasteners to be screwed into a threaded bore (16, figure 2) of the switch 11, and the intermediate element 3 having an aperture 9 through which a switch operating control (12, figure 2) of the switch 11 can pass; (ii) an upper element 4 which projects upwardly from the intermediate element 3; and (iii) a lower element 2 which projects downwardly from the intermediate element 3; wherein the lower element 2 has forwardly facing projections 5 for holding an article, and the upper element 4 has a portion which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force.

Description

Switch Mounted Holder for Articles This invention relates to a switch mounted holder for articles.

S Near to the door for entering or leaving a property, such as a house or apartment, it is known to have a message board so that elements of the household can leave each other messages, or leave themselves reminders of things to do. Since all people entering or leaving the property will use the door, it is a useful region of the property to leave messages. One known device to be mounted next to a door includes a small blackboard, and a receptacle for chalk and a cloth. It addition, this known device incorporates hooks for hanging up keys and trays for depositing miscellaneous articles.

The present invention stems from the realisation that in the region of the entry door for a property, there is normally a light switch. This is so that a person entering the property does not have to stumble around looking for the light switch if it is dark inside the property.

Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides a holder for articles which is adapted to be mounted on a light switch, comprising: (i) an intermediate element to be attached to the switch, the intermediate element having at least one bore to receive a threaded fastener to be screwed into a threaded bore of the switch, and the intermediate element having an aperture through which a switch operating control of the switch can pass; (ii) an upper element which projects upwardly from the intermediate element; and (iii) a lower element which projects downwardly from the intermediate element; wherein at least one of the upper and lower elements has at least one forwardly facing projection for holding an article, and at least one of the upper and lower elements has a portion which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force.

Typically, there will be two threaded fasteners and two bores. Thus, in use, the intermediate element is attached to the light switch by threaded fasteners such as screws which pass through the bores in the intermediate element and into the threaded bores of the switch. Typically, a switch will include a housing and a cover plate from which the switch operating control projects, the cover plate having bores through which threaded fasteners pass and are screwed into threaded bores in the housing. Electrical components of the switch will be mounted in the switch housing.

Some or all electrical components may be attached to a cover plate for the switch housing.

S

The intermediate element could replace an existing cover plate for the switch housing; could be placed over an existing cover plate so that the threaded fasters pass through bores in the intermediate element and the cover plate; of could be supplied as original equipment with a light switch housing, in place of a conventional cover plate. If the intermediate element of the holder is to serve as a cover plate as original equipment, electrical components may be attached to the rear of the intermediate element.

The or each switch operating control, which could be for example a lever, a rocker, a button, a rotatable dimmer control, or any other control, will pass through the aperture in the intermediate element. If there is more than one switch operating control, these may pass through a single large aperture, or have individual small apertures. In any event, the or each switch operating control can be operated in a conventional manner.

The or each forwardly facing projection could be or be part of, for example: a hook onto which an item such as, without limitation a key ring can be hung; or a ledge on which an article such as, without limitation, a key ring or a mobile telephone can be placed; or a receptacle into which an article such as, without limitation coins, a key ring or a mobile telephone can be placed. There could be a plurality of horizontally spaced projections, between which an elongate article such as, without limitation, a writing implement can be supported.

Thus, on returning home for example, a resident will find that there is a convenient place, attached to a light switch, where items can be stored temporarily.

There may, for example, be a row of a plurality of projections adjacent the lower end of the holder, on which a user can hang a bunch of keys after entering premises.

In accordance with the invention, at least one of the upper and lower elements has a portion which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force. The purpose of such a rearwardly inclined portion is that it can form a spring clip arrangement with a surface such as a wall to which the switch is S secured. This means that items such as mail in the form of letters or packets can be gripped between the rearwardly inclined portion and the wall. The gap between the wall and the inclined portion will be opened up as an item is inserted and will then close up to grip the item.

In a preferred arrangement, at least the upper element has such a rearwardly inclined portion. An advantage of that, is that an upper part of a light switch housing, or a cover plate for the housing, will serve to prevent items slipping down as the lower edges of items will be engaged by them. However, the lower element may also have a rearwardly inclined portion so that additional items can be gripped below the light switch housing.

A rearwardly inclined portion will terminate adjacent the end of the upper or lower element on which it is provided. The upper or lower element may have a terminal portion which is inclined outwardly with respect to the rearwardly inclined portion, so as to provide a feed in portion.

Whichever of the upper and lower elements is provided with a rearwardly inclined portion, that rearwardly inclined portion may commence a junction with the intermediate element, or at a point spaced from that junction so that there is a straight portion and then the rearwardly inclined portion. If the light switch is surface mounted, there will naturally be a space between the front of the switch and the surface on which the housing is mounted, into which the inclined portion can be directed. If the light switch is flush mounted, there may need to be an alternative design, in which the upper and I or lower element is inclined forwardly to create a space between it and the surface in which the switch is mounted, before there is the rearwardly inclined portion extending back towards the surface.

Preferably, the holder has a defined region on which a written note can be left. This could be a region where a pad of paper can be adhered, such as a pad of PostltTM notes which can be separated from each other and adhered to articles.

Alternatively, there could be a "white board" portion on which a note can be written using a marker pen, or there could be a blackboard portion on which a note can be written in chalk. In any event, preferably the holder includes means for holding a writing implement for use in writing the note. In the case of a blackboard or "white S board" portion, preferably the holder includes means for holding an eraser, cloth or the like. A pad of paper from which a sheet can be detached after reading, avoids the need for an eraser.

The defined region for a note is preferably on the upper element, and if the upper element has a portion which is inclined rearwardly, preferably the that portion has a region on which the part for a note can be positioned. This makes it convenient for a person to write a note.

Preferably, the holder is in the form of an member of material which is formed into the desired shape, the intermediate element, upper element and lower element being integral parts of the member. The bores and the or each aperture are then formed directly in the member.

Preferably, the or each forwardly facing projection is in the form of a portion of the member around part of which a cut is provided and which has been folded forwardly away from the body of the member By way of example, a row of a plurality of hooks at the bottom end of the holder could be provided in this manner.

Further up the holder, on each side an edge portion could be cut partially around and then bent forwards so that a pair of aligned projections is provided. A writing implement could be supported on these, extending across the holder. Preferably the elongate member is elongate. Thus in general terms, the forwardly facing projection for holding an article is provided by a portion which is integrally formed with the part of the holder from which it projects.

The holder could be made from a suitable plastics material, such as a strip or sheet, which will provide the necessary resilience to allow the rearwardly inclined portion to grip correspondence and the like using a spring action. Thus, the resilient force for the portion which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force, is provided by the resilience of the plastics material. The resilience may be provided at least in the region where the rearwardly inclined portion is attached to the remainder of the holder.

References to "upper", "lower", "front", "rear" and so forth are with reference to the S holder in use, attached to a light switch housing, but this aspect of the invention is not limited to the holder in use or in combination with the light switch housing.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a holder as described above, in combination with a light switch; wherein the light switch has at least one threaded bore to be aligned with the least one threaded bore of the intermediate element of the holder, and there is a switch operating control which can extend through the aperture of the intermediate element.

With such a combination, there is preferably further provided at least one threaded fastener to secure the holder to the light switch.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a holder as described above, in combination with a light switch; wherein the light switch has at least one threaded bore which is aligned with the least one threaded bore of the intermediate element of the holder, a threaded fastener passes through the or each aligned bore and threaded bore to secure the holder to the light switch, and the light switch has at least one operating control which passes through the aperture of the intermediate element.

Preferably, the light switch is provided on a surface and the portion of the holder which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force, has an end region which is adjacent the surface.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a method of attaching a holder as described above to a light switch, the light switch comprising a housing and a cover plate, and the housing having: a threaded bore which is aligned with a bore of the cover plate for the housing, a threaded fastener which passes through the bore of the cover plate and is screwed into the threaded bore of the switch housing to secure the cover plate to the housing; and a switch operating control projecting from the cover plate; wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) unscrewing the threaded fastener from the threaded bore of the switch housing and removing the threaded fastener from the bore of the cover plate; (ii) placing the intermediate member of the holder over the cover plate with the bore of the intermediate member aligned with the bore of the cover plate, and the switch operating control passing S through the aperture of the intermediate member; and (ii) passing a threaded fastener through the bores of the intermediate member and the cover plate, and screwing the threaded fastener into the threaded bore of the switch housing to attach the cover plate and the overlying holder to the switch housing.

Obviously if there is a plurality of threaded fasters, each of them is removed -or as many as is necessary to permit the holder to be secured to the light switch.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a holder in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a light switch being prepared for attachment of the holding; Figure 3 shows the holder being positioned over the light switch; Figure 4 shows the holder being attached to the light switch; FigureS is a side view of the holder, attached to the light switch; Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a holder in accordance with the invention, attached to a light switch; and Figure 7 is a side view of a second alternative embodiment of a holder in accordance with the invention, attached to a light switch.

Referring now to Figure 1, a holder 1 comprises an elongate member of plastics, such as acrylic sheet. This has a lower element 2, and intermediate element 3 and an upper element 4. Adjacent the lower edge of the lower element 2, is provided a row of three hooks 3. These have been formed by cutting around part of the shapes of the hooks, and bending them forwards to leave apertures 6 in the sheet. At the upper end of the lower element 3, on either side a portion 7 has been bent forwards. These portions provide support for a writing element 8 extending S horizontally across the holder.

The intermediate element 3 is provided with a rectangular central aperture 9 and a pair of bores 10, one on either side of the central aperture 9. The holder is adapted to be connected to a light switch housing (27, Figure 5) using the bores 10, the housing being provided with a cover plate 11 (Figure 2) from which a pair of switch operating members 12 protrude, the aperture 9 being of a shapes and size to let the operating members pass through.

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 5, the upper element 4 is inclined rearwardly, and terminates in a forwardly directed lip 13. On the upper element is mounted a pad 14 on which a person can write.

Figures 2 3 and 4 show the procedure for attaching the holder 1 to the light switch housing. Firstly, a screw driver 15 is used to unscrew fastening screws which pass through bores 16 in the cover plate 11, which attach the cover plate to the switch housing 27 by being screwed into bore indicated by line 28 in Figure 5.. Then the holder is positioned with the bores 10 in the intermediate element 3 aligned with the bore 16 of the cover plate, and the aperture 9 over the switch operating members 12. Finally, slightly longer fastening screws are used to secure the holder 1 to the cover plate 11 and the switch housing by screwing to threaded bores 28.

Figure 5 shows the holder 1 attached to the cover plate 11, which is secured to the housing 27 by means of screws passing through the bores in the cover plate and the holder and into bores 28 in the housing. The housing is mounted inside a wall 17 which in this case provides a flat vertical surface.

The intermediate element 3 of the holder 1 is held away from the surface of wall 17 by the height of the cover plate 11. The upper element 4 is inclined rearwardly to touch the surface of the wall 17 when no correspondence is held, and terminates in the forwardly directed portion 13. The lower element 2 is also inclined rearwardly in this embodiment.

As shown in Figure 5, a key ring 18 is hooked over one of the hooks 5, and carries one or more keys 19.

At the upper end of the holder, items 20 of correspondence such as letters in envelopes have been pushed down between the upper element 4 and the surface of the wall 17, where they are gripped by the upper element 4. In this case, the items of correspondence also rest on the upper part of the cover plate 11.

The embodiment of Figure 6 is identical to the first embodiment, save that the holder 21 is modified by the removal of portions 7 from lower element 2, and their replacement by identical elements 22 at the upper end of intermediate element 3. In the same manner as portions 7, these serve to support a writing implement 8.

The embodiment of Figure 7 is a further modification of the embodiment of Figure 6.

The holder 23 is modified in that the upper element 24 no longer projects rearwardly but extends vertically. The space 26 behind upper element 24 can be used to store packets or the like, which will not slip down because of the upper surface of the switch cover plate. The lower element 25 is modified so that it normally sits closer the surface of the wall, but can be bent forwards resiliently.

Thus the items of correspondence 20 are gripped between this element and the surface of the wall.

The embodiment of Figure 8 is another modification of the embodiment of Figure 6.

The holder 27 is identical to that of Figure 6, save that the lower element 28 is no longer angled towards the wall, but is completely straight and extends vertically, as a continuation of the intermediate element 29. This modification can also be used with the embodiment of Figure 5, for example.

In the embodiments of the invention there are provided holders for correspondence, keys, a writing implement and a notes pad. The holders can be located readily on a light switch.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A holder for articles which is adapted to be mounted on a light switch, comprising: (i) an intermediate element to be attached to the switch, the S intermediate element having at least one bore to receive a threaded fastener to be screwed into a threaded bore of the switch, and the intermediate element having an aperture through which a switch operating control of the switch can pass; (ii) an upper element which projects upwardly from the intermediate element; and (iii) a lower element which projects downwardly from the intermediate element; wherein at least one of the upper and lower elements has at least one forwardly facing projection for holding an article, and at least one of the upper and lower elements has a portion which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force.
2. A holder for articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein a forwardly facing projection forms a hook onto which an item can be hung.
3. A holder for articles as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of hooks are provided in arrow adjacent a lower end of the holder.
4. A holder for articles as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a forwardly facing projection forms or a ledge on which an article can be placed.
5. A holder for articles as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a forwardly facing projection forms a receptacle into which an article can be placed.
6. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of horizontally spaced projections are provided between which an elongate article can be supported.
7. A holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein one projection is provided on the left hand edge of the holder and another projection is provided on the right hand edge of the holder.
8. A holder as claimed in claim 601 7 wherein the spaced projections are such as to be capable of supporting a writing implement.
9. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, having a defined region on S which notes can be written.
10. A holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the defined region is one on which a pad of paper can be positioned.
11. A holder as claimed in claim 10, wherein a pad of paper is provided on the defined region.
12. A holder as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the upper element has a portion which is inclined rearwardly and the defined region is on that rearwardly inclined portion.
13. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upper and lower element that has a portion which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force, terminates in a forwardly inclined part.
14. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate, lower and upper elements are integral parts of a single member.
15. A holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the member is elongate.
16. A holder as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the member is of plastics material.
17. A holder as claimed in claim 16, wherein the resilient force for the portion which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force, is provided by the resilience of the plastics material.
18. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the forwardly facing projection for holding an article is provided by a portion which is integrally formed with the part of the holder from which it projects.
19. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate element has a spaced pair of bores to receive respective threaded fasteners to be screwed into threaded bores of the switch.S
20. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with a light switch; wherein the light switch has at least one threaded bore to be aligned with the least one threaded bore of the intermediate element of the holder, and there is a switch operating control which can extend through the aperture of the intermediate element.
21. A holder as in combination with a light switch, as claimed in claim 20, wherein there is further provided at least one threaded fastener to secure the holder to the light switch.
22. A holder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19, in combination with a light switch; wherein the light switch has at least one threaded bore which is aligned with the least one threaded bore of the intermediate element of the holder, a threaded fastener passes through the or each aligned bore and threaded bore to secure the holder to the light switch, and the light switch has at least one operating control which passes through the aperture of the intermediate element.
23. A holder in combination with a light switch, as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light switch is provided on a surface and the portion of the holder which is inclined rearwardly and can be moved forwardly against a resilient force, has an end region which is adjacent the surface.
24. A method of attaching to a light switch a holder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19, the light switch comprising a housing which has: a threaded bore which is aligned with a bore of a cover plate for the housing, a threaded fastener which passes through the bore of the cover plate and is screwed into the threaded bore of the switch housing to secure the cover plate to the housing; and a switch operating control projecting from the cover plate; wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) unscrewing the threaded fastener from the threaded bore of the switch housing and removing the threaded fastener from the bore of the cover plate; (H) placing the intermediate member of the holder over the cover plate with the bore of the intermediate member aligned with the bore of the cover plate, and the switch operating control passing through the aperture of the intermediate member; and (ii) passing a threaded fastener through the bores of the intermediate riiember and the S cover plate, and screwing the threaded fastener into the threaded bore of the switch housing to attach the cover plate and the overlying holder to the switch housing.