US3766960A

US3766960A - Portable device

Info

Publication number: US3766960A
Application number: US00243364A
Authority: US
Inventors: Laughlin J Mc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-11
Filing date: 1972-04-11
Publication date: 1973-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-23

Abstract

A portable device for creating decorative spatial effects in homes or the like. One or more elongated strips with rotatably attached U-shaped clips in longitudinal spaced relationship is provided. By stringing cord continuously from clips in one strip to clips in another strip which is spaced apart, an inexpensive and visually aesthetic room divider can be developed.

Description

United States Patent McLaughlin, Jr. Oct. 23, 1973 1 PORTABLE DEVICE 643,737 2/1900 Adams..... 160/327 x 319,057 6/1885 Bickley 256/21 UX [76] lnvenm" MLaughlim 5546 377,444 2/1888 Watrous... 47 47 x Karen-Blame New Carrollmn, 2,987,299 6/1961 Kneen 256/32 x Md. 20784 [22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1972 Primary ExaminerMervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan [21] App! 243364 Att0rney-Herbert Cohen [52] US. Cl 160/405, 160/327, 161/7 TRAC [51] Int. Cl A47g 5/00 [57] ABS T [58] Field of Search 160/405, 383, 382, A Portable device for creating decorative Spatial 160/391, 371, 332, 399, 327, 328, 329, 400, facts in homes or the like. One or more elongated 351 1 17 25 32 33 34 24; 47 45 4 strips with rotatably attached U-shaped clips in longi- 47; 31 7 2 4 2 tudinal spaced relationship is provided. By stringing cord continuously from clips in one strip to clips in an- 56] R f r Cited other strip which is spaced apart, an inexpensive and visually aesthetic room divider can be developed.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PORTABLE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to portable devices useful in decorating rooms and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art The art is replete with devices designed for use as room dividers, wall panels or as space filling decorations. One well known device is the conventional room divider screen mounted between a pair of upstanding poles. Such dividers can be formed of hinged sections to provide a dressing or undressing area. Alternatively, a plurality of screens can be permanently joined together to subdivide a large space into one or more smaller spaces. Decorative panels comprising fllligreed members, hand painted members or the like are also used in connection with the aforesaid screens.

The aforesaid devices are also generally portable. However, even when disassembled to its smallest dimension the devices are relatively large, e.g., 12-24 inches wide by 60-84 inches long and are awkward to handle, or transport. Moreover, one generally purchases such devices already finished which means there is little, if any, creative challenge to the purchaser other than where to locate the device.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a portable device which is efficient in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture and offers unlimited creative challenge in decorating walls, subdividing space and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reuseable decorative device which can be easily assembled and disassembled for shipping purposes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a decorative device which can be supplied in kit form.

These and other objects will be readily apparent from the drawing and the detailed description which follows.

Briefly, the objects of this invention are achieved by providing an elongated strip member having a plurality of aligned U-shaped clips which are spaced apart. The clips are secured to the strip member in a manner which permits rotation of the clips. Means for mounting the strip member on a wall floor, ceiling, or pole are provided. The clip is designed to receive cord or the like at its lower portion. In one preferred embodiment, namely, as a space divider, a pair of strip members are securely mounted vertically in spaced relationship with the clips of one strip member facing inwardly towards the clips of the other strip member. Cord is strung from strip member to strip member in continuous fashion until all of the clips are used. The Z-shaped pattern created forms an eye-appealing design at a cost which can be surprisingly low.

It will be understood that although the main emphasis of this invention is directed at space dividers, numerous variations are contemplated using the concepts and means disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, are fragmentary perspective views illustrating the present invention in various finallyassembled positions;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view of the elongated strip member with cord disposed in one of the clips; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a variation of the clip structure illustrating a restricted opening for hindering removal of the cord placed in the clip and also anelongated aperture for varying the spacing between clips.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention is generally designated as 10.

In the fragmentary elevational view of FIG. 4 there is illustrated the portable device 10 in a partially exploded representation. Device 10 comprises an elongated strip member or standard 12 which carries a plurality of vertically aligned clips 14 adapted to receive a continuous cord 16 in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The standard 12 is preferrably formed of a one-piece resilient metal such as aluminum or plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride or the like. A composite structure comprising an inner metal element 18 with a plastic backing 20 can also be advantageously employed. The material is not critical, however, and the standard need only to have sufficient strength to carry the clips 14 and the stress imposed by the cord tension. The standard 12 should also be flexible enough to conform to contoured surfaces, if so desired. 'ivlounting apertures 13 are provided at numerous positions in the standard 12.

A plurality of generally U-shaped clips 14 are carried by the standard 12 by fasteners 22 projectingthrough communicating openings 24, 26 provided in each clip and standard, respectively.

The clip 14 can be formed of metal or plastic and is capable of rotating about the securring fastener 22. In this manner, a greater degree of freedom is achieved for creating new designs which appear natural and not constrained. Moreover, the rotatable clip reduces stress concentration and/or wear of the cord 16 which rests on the bottom of the U portion of the clip 14. To better retain the cord 16 in the clip, the upper end portion 28 of the clip 14 is inwardly bent to constrict the opening between the

legs

30, 32 of the clip 14.

A variation in the clip is shown in FIG. 5. Here clip 14 is provided with bulbous upper end portion 28' which can be located at either leg 30', 32', or both, to constrain the inadvertant removal of the positioned cord 16. The clip 14' is also sufficiently flexible to enable legs 30 32' to be opened further than normal. Also provided in the clip 14' is an elongated slot 24' for adjusting the linear space between adjacent clip members. Generally, however it is preferred to maintain the clip 14' at substantially equal distances from each other. a

The cord 16 according to the present invention is meant to include rope, string, filaments or the like made of either natural or synthetic material, or a combination thereof. For instance, one highly attractive combination comprises a colored polypropylene rope with metallic threads interwoven with the plastic filaments. Sufficient cord is provided to enable continuous stringing or looping between clips oppositely positioned (FIG. 1) or between a clip and a single hook (FIGS. 2, 3).

The portable device of the present invention can be utilized in unlimited ways, for example, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated one preferred embodiment in use, namely, as an area divider. Here, a pair of standards 12 spaced 36 inches from each other are separately vertically mounted onto the wall 42 and a wooden post 48. Although the standards are shown to extend from the ceiling to a point above the floor, it will be appreciated that the standard could easily be carried to the floor and the planter construction 50 eliminated.

Once the standards 12 are positioned in the manner shown in FIG. 1, the cord 16 is continuously looped from the clip of one standard to its counterpart clip on the other standard until all of the clips are utilized with the cord forming an eye-pleasing geometric pattern. The end of the cord could be knotted or brought around the last clip and secured to itself by crimping ring or similar fastener.

In FIG. 2, an abstract triangular pattern is illustrated which is readily formed by attaching the standard 12 to the floor 44. An eye hook 52 is mounted in the ceiling 54 above the standard 12. The cord 16 is continuously looped from clip to hook and back to the next adjacent clip until all the clips are utilized. Various decorative objects, plants or the like could be supported by the resulting form of FIG. 2.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 except that the standard 12 is formed to fit adjacent walls 46, 46'. An interesting corner treatment is effected by looping the cord 16 through each standard clip and the hook 56 mounted in the ceilmg.

An important aspect of this invention is in providing the various components, as described hereinabove, as in a kit form so that purchasers having a desire to create interesting decorative and functional effects can readily do so at a relatively low cost.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not to be construed as being limited by the illustrative embodiments. It is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed. Such embodiments are within the ability of one skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: l. A device for creating various wall and spatial effects, in combination, comprising:

an elongated standard formed of flexible material capable of conforming to planar and contoured surfaces and provided with spaced openings along the length thereof for mounting on a supporting surface; said standard including a plurality of substantially U- shaped clips rotatably secured to said standard in a predetermined spaced relationship, each clip including a pair of flattened, parallel, upstanding legs, the lower portions of each leg being joined at their lower edges by an arcuate portion for receiving a cord therein, one of said legs having an opening for receiving means for securing said clip to said standard, the other leg formed at its upper portion with means for constricting the opening between said legs to retain said cord therein; and a cord of predetermined thickness movably disposed between said legs of said U-shaped clip and of pre determined length to permit said cord to be continuously strung at least through said clips of said standard with spaced apart means for receiving said cord, whereby a predetermined spatial effect is created.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said spaced apart means for receiving said cord comprises a second standard constructed substantially identical to said first mentioned standard.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said spaced apart means for receiving said cord comprises an eye hook.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein'saidmeans for constricting the opening between said leg is integrally formed with said clip and comprises an inwardly directed bent portion extending from the tip of the outer leg of said clip.

Claims

1. A device for creating various wall and spatial effects, in combination, comprising: an elongated standard formed of flexible material capable of conforming to planar and contoured surfaces and provided with spaced openings along the length thereof for mounting on a supporting surface; said standard including a plurality of substantially U-shaped clips rotatably secured to said standard in a predetermined spaced relationship, each clip including a pair of flattened, parallel, upstanding legs, the lower portions of each leg being joined at their lower edges by an arcuate portion for receiving a cord therein, one of said legs having an opening for receiving means for securing said clip to said standard, the other leg formed at its upper portion with means for constricting the opening between said legs to retain said cord therein; and a cord of predetermined thickness movably disposed between said legs of said U-shaped clip and of predetermined length to permit said cord to be continuously strung at least through said clips of said standard with spaced apart means for receiving said cord, whereby a predetermined spatial effect is created.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for constricting the opening between said legs is integrally formed with said clip and comprises an inwardly directed bent portion extending from the tip of the outer leg of said clip.