US2333254A

US2333254A - Towel holder

Info

Publication number: US2333254A
Application number: US386677A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jonathan S Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-04-03
Filing date: 1941-04-03
Publication date: 1943-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1960-11-02

Description

Nov. 2, 1943. 5, JONES 2,333,254

TOWEL HOLDER Filed April 3, 1941 Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOWEI: FOLDER Jonathan S. Jones, Oak Park, Ill. A plication April 3, 1941, Serial No. 386,677

7 Claims. (01. 24-155) This invention relates to a holder for towels or like articles, the towel or the like merely being inserted by pressing the towel inwardly of the holder.

Previous towel holders of the above type while The present invention has for its principal ob- I ject means for supporting the towel whereby a relatively great amount of pulling must be exerted on the towel to release it from the holder but at the same time the towel may be inserted in the holder with practically no effort at all.

Furthermore, the invention has for an additional object the provision of a support having an opening provided therein, with a resilient flap so arranged with respect to an engaging edge of the towel receptacle or frame that the towel may be inserted easily by pushing it into the receptaclebut is prevented from being removed downwardly except by exerting a relatively hard pull on the towel; the towel may be released easily either by pulling upwardly on the towel or by manually depressing the rubber member inwardly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a receptacle having an opening therein, with a rubber tongue or disc positioned behind the opening, and a rigid backing element behind the rubber member so as to maintain a relatively great amount of pressure against a flange of the receptacle whereby to permit easy insertion of a towel or the like, but preventing the towel from being removed downwardly except by a relatively hard pull to release it from co,- operating edges on the receptacle and rubber tongue or disc.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a towel or the like holder having a body portion provided with an Opening which is covered substantially by a flap member or tongue, the flap member or tongue having an end spaced a relatively short distance away from a supporting edge or flange of the receptacle or holder whereby a towel or other article .to be supported by the holder is impinged between the lower edge of the flap or disc and the rigid edge of the co-operating receptacle flange.

A still further object is the provision of a towel or the like holder of the character above described inwhich the towel is held by a wedging action against downward pull.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates selected embodiments of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail front elevational view of a towel holder and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail rear plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail front view of another form of towel holder and embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of .the device shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. .6 is .a detail sectional view on the line 6.6 of Fig. 4.

The particular towel holder shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a relatively circular body I', having a flat front 2. The front .2 is cut away to provide an opening 3 of substantially the size and shape disclosed in Fig. 1. The body v,l may be made of metal, plastic, Bakelite, .or other suitable .material and includes an annular integral depending flange or :apron .4. The apron A is relatively narrow as indicated .at :5 in Fig. 2, and relatively wide as indicated at 6v in that figure, whereby the body when applied in position on .a wall assumes an angular position, .as .clearlyshown in Fig. 3. integral attaching ears I may be formed on the rim or apron 4 to re,- ceive fastening me ns for securing the device in position on a support .8, Fig. 3.

Aiiexible rubberr-like tongue 5 is positioned behind the front surface I and ,covers practically th entir a a fzt op in 3 c p at t nd n wh re .196 mmw'i ee ih bo t edge -;l l of the holderor .bodyto provide a r ela tively narrow slot or opening J 2. The provision of th d o t e Wbb-QEHKBM HD an the co-operating edge .ll of the body provides co-operating surfaces or locking jaws to secure a towel [3, Fig. 3, in position. A backing plate 14 is arranged ,beh'indfthe rubberglike member .9 and extends, downwardly predetermined dis tance into the opening as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 3 to stiffen somewhat the flexible member Sandtoladd ,acerta in amount .of rigidityth tc tightly against the under surface of the top 2. The towel I3 is adapted to be positioned by tucking in anend or edge thereof in the manner shown in Fig. 3 so that a part or end of the towel will extend inwardly of the locking edge H on the body and be engaged by the locking edge III of the rubber-like member 8. When the towel is inserted the rubber-like member yields easily to permit quick and easy insertion of the towel but when it is'attempted to be withdrawn, the edges l and Hwillcause the towel to be impinged between these locking surfaces and thereby maintain the towel in proper position; and while the towel may be removed by pulling on the towel, a relatively strong pull must be provided to release the towel from between the I edges of the locking jaws l0 and III The backing plate l4 may be secured in position behind the rubber-like member 9 in any well known manner, such as by riveting, soldering, or the like. If desired, the body I may be provided with spaced apart upper and lower openings l and IE to receive fastening devices l1 and I8, respectively, for fastening .the holder to a wall or other support8. The rubber member 9 is preferably made considerablylarger than the opening 3, as shown in Fig. 2, so asto prevent the rubber-like member 9 from being pulled out through the opening 3 when a severe strain or hard pull is applied to the towel. The provision of the rubber-like member Sand its 'co-operating backing member l4 allows a towel to be easily inserted in position because of the flexibility of the rubber-like member 9,'but prevents the towel from being withdrawn unless an extremely hard pull is applied to the towel. The towel may, however, be very easily and quickly removed by pressing inwardly on the member 9'so as to release the towel between the locking edges land II.

The towel holder shown in Figs. 4 to 6,.inclusive, embodies the same principles as the structure previously described as'regards Figs. 1 and 3. However, instead of making an inclined body, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the depending flange or apron 4 is of the samesize throughout so that the body I assumes a relatively cylindrical form. Instead of providing the relatively shield shaped opening shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the holder disclosedin Figs. 4 to 6 has a circular opening 29 behind which a relatively circular rubber-like member 2| is mounted.- .Thecirculan flexible rubber-like member 2|. is relatively disc-shaped. The bottom edge'of the disc 2| is spaced somewhat from the edge'of the body to provide a locking jaw 22 on the end of the rubber-like member which co-operates with a locking Jaw 23 on the body I, there being a slight opening 24 provided between the said jaws. The purpose of the lock- 7 ing jaws 22 and 23- is identical in all respects with that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3. A backing plate [4 is also provided for the purpose of adding rigidity to the flexible rubber-like disc 2|.

The aims and purposes ofthe construction disclosed in Figs. 4 to-6 are identical with those disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, the only difference between the two structures being in the shape of the openings, the aprons, and perhaps therubber-like members. 1

The invention provides an extremely inexpensive, simple device for supporting a towel or other similar article, allowing the article to be instantly and readily applied without any efiort but preventing the towel from becoming accidentally displaced or dislodged when arelative amount of strain or pull is applied to the towel; However,

when it is intentionally desirable to remove the towel, the same may be instantly released by pressing inwardly on the rubber-like member.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit 'of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A towel or the like holder comprising a body member having a substantially rigid front face provided with an opening therein, said opening being arranged to provide an edge of rigid material around at least the lower portion of the opening, a flap member arranged on the rear side of said front face and substantially closing said opening, said flap member being supported at its upper end and being resiliently urged into contact with the rear side of said front face, said flap member having a lower edge terminating a spaced distance above the bottom of said opening and cooperating with said rigid edge of the opening to provide locking jaws for clamping anarticle such as a towel, and said rigid edge of said opening having a shape converging-downwardly towards the bottom of the opening to provide for clamping an article by wedging action against downward pull. v

2. A towel or the like holder comprising a. substantially rigid body member having a side wall and a frontface provided with an opening therein, a one-piece flexible rubber-like member secured at its upper end behind the front face and substantially covering said opening, the lower edge of the rubber-like member being spaced a slight distance from an upstanding flanged edge of the body, the lower portion of the opening being of generally curvedcontour whereby the said edges are adapted for co-operation to lock an article such as a towel between said edges against downward pull by a wedging action.

3. A towel or the like holder comprising a substantially rigid body member having a side wall and a front face provided with an opening therein, a one-piece flexible rubber-like member secured at its upper end behind the front face and substantially covering said opening, the lower edge of the rubber-like member being spaced a slight distance from an upstanding flanged edge of the body, the lower portion of the opening being of generally curved contour whereby the said edges are adapted for co-operation to lock an article such as a towel between said edges against downward pull by a wedging action, and a rigid backing member. arranged behind the flexible member and extending a predetermined distance downwardly into the opening of the front face to normally maintain the flexible member tightly against the rear side of the front face of the body and tending to add rigidity to said flexible member.

4. A towel or the like holder comprising a body having a side wall and a surface adapted to engage a supporting surface and to be attached thereto, a front face inclined at an angle with respect to theattaching face of the body whereby the holder when applied to a'flat surface will have its front face inclined at an'angle, said front face being provided with an opening, a one-piece flexible rubber-like member secured. at its upper end behind said front face and substantially covering said opening, but ,havingits bottom edge spaced a predetermined distance from an upstanding bottom edge of the body formed by the body material surrounding said opening whereby co-operating locking jaws are provided between said edges to receive and grip a towel therebetween against downward pull, and a backing member arranged behind the upper portion of said flexible member and securely fastened to the under side of the front face.

5. A towel or the like holder comprising a body having a side wall and a surface adapted to engage a supporting surface and to be attached thereto, a front face inclined at an angle with respect to the attaching face of the body whereby the holder when applied to a fiat surface will have its front face inclined at an angle, said front face being provided with an opening, a one-piece flexible rubber-like member secured at its upper end behind said front face and substantially covering said opening, but having its bottom edge spaced a predetermined distance from an upstanding bottom edge of the body formed by the body material surrounding said opening whereby co-operating locking jaws are provided between said edges to receive and grip a towel therebetween against downward pull, and a backing member arranged behind said flexible member and securely fastened to the under side of the front face, said backing member extending entirely across said opening and downwardly a predetermined distance below the upper edge of the opening.

6. A towel or the like holder comprising a body having a side wall and a surface adapted to engage a supporting surface and to be attached thereto, a front face inclined at an angle with respect to the attaching face of the body whereby the holder when applied to a flat surface will have its front face inclined, said face having an opening shaped substantially in the form of a shield whereby inwardly extending side edges of the body face converge toward the bottom of the opening, a one-piece rubber-like member secured at its upper end behind the face and substantially covering the opening, the lower edge of the member being spaced slightly from the converging lower edges of the material of the body at the bottom of the opening to form co-operating locking jaws for securing a towel by wedging action against downward pull, and a locking member behind the rubber-like member to render rigidity to the rubber-like member.

7. A towel or the like holder comprising a substantially rigid body member having a side wall and a front face, said front face being provided with an opening, said opening being of such shape as to provide inwardly extending side edges on the body face which generally converge towards the bottom of the opening, a one piece rubber-like member secured at its upper end behind the face and substantially covering the opening, the lower edge of said member being spaced slightly from the converging lower edges of the material of the body at the bottom of the opening to form co-operating clamping jaws for securing a towel by wedging action against a downward pull, and a relatively rigid plate member behind the upper portion of the rubber-like member to render rigidity to the rubber-like member.

JONATHAN S. JONES.