WO1985000274A1

WO1985000274A1 - Holder

Info

Publication number: WO1985000274A1
Application number: PCT/FI1984/000051
Authority: WO
Inventors: Veikko Matilainen; Annikki KEINÄNEN (heir of Keinänen, Alpo (decease; Timo KEINÄNEN (heir of Keinänen, Alpo (deceased)); Jyrki KEINÄNEN (heir of Keinänen, Alpo (deceased); Annamaija KAARTINEN (heir of Keinänen, Alpo (dece; Alpo KEINÄNEN (deceased)
Original assignee: Veikko Matilainen; Keinaenen Alpo
Priority date: 1983-07-04
Filing date: 1984-07-04
Publication date: 1985-01-31
Also published as: CH667982A5; AU570291B2; DE3490321C2; SE445513B; FI68758B; CA1219556A; GB2154857A; FI832452A0; AU3727685A; FR2548531B1; DK97585D0; SE8501047L; DE3490321T; SE8501047D0; JPS60501741A; FI832452L; FI68758C; GB2154857B; DK97585A; FR2548531A1

Abstract

A holder (1) which is intended for storing loose objects, such as skis or other sports articles, or tools. The holder (1) comprises a body part (2) and a number of fixing members (6) consisting of elastic, plate-like bodies bent to arcuate shape, and fixed by the aid of engaging members on their ends in a slot (4) or equivalent in the body part. The fixing members (6) are thereby located side by side and leaning with their sides against each other, and the object to be stored may be fixed in the holder (1) by pushing it in between two mutually adjacent fixing members. It is essential in the invention that inside each fixing member (6) bent to arcuate shape has been disposed a separate bracing member (7) consisting of an elastic body bent to arcuate shape and the sides of which lean against the inner sides of the fixing member to enhance the pressing force acting on the object fixed in the holder (1).

Description

Holder

The present invention concerns a holder which is intended for storing loose objects and which comprises a body part and a plurality of fixing members consisting of flexible, piate-like bodies bent to arcuate shape and which by the aid of engaging members on their ends have been fixed in a slot or equivalent in the body part in such manner that the fixing members are disposed side by side with their sides leaning against each other, whereby an object may be fixed in the holder by pushing it in between two mutually adjacent fixing, members.

A holder of said type has been disclosed in the Finnish Patent application No. 7.2486. A holder of this type is particularly appropriate to be kept on a table or attached on a wall, and a great variety of small things may be kept therein, especially tools and sports articles, but also for instance pens, knives, brushes, towels, garments, etc. The fixing of an abject in the holder is accomplished by pushing the object in between two mutually adjacent fixing members, whereby in the fixing members the sides are pressed closer together, that is, the space required for the object is provided from the free spaces between the sides of the fixing members.

The object of the present invention is to provide a holder in which the pressing force acting on the object kept therein has been so enhanced that the holder is suited for storing objects of larger size than before. The holder of the invention is characterized in that inside each fixing member bent to arcuate shape is placed a separate bracing member consisting of an elastic body bent to arcuate shape, the sides of which lean against the inner sides of the fixing member so that the bracing member increases the pressing force acting on the object fixed in the holder.

The holder of the invention is primarily intended to be fixed on the wall of a store-room, a closet or a shed for sports articles Particularly tools of large size, such as spades, rakes or equivalent, and skis, in particular wide slalom skis, are suited to be fixed in the holder. In addition, it is possible to modify the holder to serve as a ski rack to be mounted e.g. on the roof of a car.

The bracing member belonging as a part to the holder of the invention consists advantageously of a plate-like body bent to arcuate shape and having a length approximately 1/2-3/4 of the length of the plate-like body constituting the fixing member. The bracing member is preferably separate from the fixing member and fixed by the aid of engaging members an its ends, in the same slot in the body part of the holder as the fixing member.

The invention is described in the following more in detail by the aid of an example, referring to the drawing attached, wherein:-

Fig. 1 presents a holder according to the invention,

Fig. 2 presents the fixing member belonging to the holder of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 presents the bracing member belonging to the holder of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 is depicted a holder 1 according to the invention, intended particularly to be fixed on a wall, and which is suitable e.g. for storing skis or tools of large size. The holder 1 comprises an elongated body part 2 with holes 3 for fixing screws. The body part 2 has an elongated aperture 4 with flange-like borders 5 on its longitudinal sides, these borders holding in place the fixing members 6 and bracing members 7 of the holder. The ends of the body part 2 have been shaped into brackets 8, against which the outer sides of the outermost fixing members of the holder lean.

The fixing members 6 belonging to the holder 1 are elastic plate like bodies, preferably made of plastic, which in the holder are bent to arcuate shape as seen in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, a loose fixing member 6 is presented in top view. Those parts of the fixing member 6 which form its outside when it is bent have elongated eminences 9 provided to the purpose of increasing the friction of rest between the fixing members and the object inserted therebetween, and thus to aid in keeping the object in place. The ends 10 of the fixing member 6 have been designed to be engaging members, comprising notches 11 which fit together with the flange-like borders 5 of the aperture in the body part 2.

The bracing members 7 belonging to the holder are likewise elastic, plate-like bodies made preferably of plastic and inserted in the holder after bending to arcuate shape, as seen in Fig. 1. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the fixing members 6 and the bracing members 7 have been so arranged in the holder that inside each fixing member is disposed a bracing member, its outer sides leaning against the inner sides of the fixing member. The function of the bracing members 7 is to enhance the pressing force acting on the object in the holder between the fixing members 6.

In Fig. 3 is presented a loose bracing member 7, in top view. The bracing member 7 comprises a rather rigid central part 12 having greater thickness than any other parts of the bracing member; parts 13 on both sides thereof, which when the bracing member is bent to arcuate shape constitute its sides; and ends 14 which have been shaped into engaging members similarly as the ends 10 of the fixing members 6. It is thus understood that the ends 14 of the bracing member 7 have notches 15 which fit onto the flange-like borders 5 of the aperture in the body part of the holder.

The fixing members 6 and bracing members 7 affixed to the body part 2 are characterized in that they are stressed against each other and are able to move in the longitudinal direction of the body part. In the case depicted in Fig. 1, the holder comprises five fixing members 6 with bracing members 7 disposed therein, but by increasing the stress between the fixing members and the bracing members it would be possible to accommodate even more fixing members and bracing members in the same body part 2. The attaching of the fixing and bracing members to the body part 2 is carried out by first placing the members one within the other, both bent to arcuate shape, so that their ends 10,14 are in register, by arranging free space in the aperture 4 in the body part 2 for the members to be mounted, by placing the members in said space in transversal position, and finally turning the members so that the notches 11,15 an their ends become locked with the flange-like borders 5 of the aperture. Detaching the fixing member 6 and the bracing member 7 therewithin from the body part 2 of the holder is carried out by equivalent steps in reversed order.

Fixing an object to be stored in the holder 1 is simply accomplished by inserting the object between the sides of two mutually adjacent fixing members 6. Since at the fixing of the object the sides of the fixing members 6, and those of the bracing members 7 therein, are urged closer to each other and are in addition free to move the whole length of the aperture 4, with reference to the body part 2, it is possible to place in the holder solitary objects even of very large size. The removal of an object which is in the holder is accomplished simply by pulling It out.

It is obvious to a person skilled i n the art that various embodiments of the invention are not confined to the example presented but may vary within the scope of the claims following below. For instance, the aperture 4 in the body part 2 of the holder may be narrower than shown, or it may be replaced by one or more rail-like members on which the engaging members of the fixing members 6 and bracing members 7 may lock. The shape and length of the bracing members 7 in proportion to the length of the fixing members 6 may also vary, although the length of the bracing members is preferably about 1/2-3/4 of the length of the fixing members when the members are loose as in Figs 2 and 3. The shape of the entire holder and the number of fixing and bracing members belonging thereto, and consequently the intended use of the holder, may also vary. It is thus possible in accordance with the principles of the invention to construct storing and transport stands e.g. for plate-like bodies of large size, such as glass panes, in which the plates are clamped on several sides in the interspaces of fixing and bracing members as taught by the invention.

Claims

C l ai ms

1. A holder (1) intended for storing loose objects and comprising a body part (2) and a plurality of fixing members (6) consisting of elastic, plate-like bodies bent to arcuate shape and fixed by the aid of engaging members (11) on their ends (10) in a slot (4) or equivalent in the body part in such manner that the fixing members are placed side by side and lean with their sides against each other, the object being fixable in the holder by pushing it in between two mutually adjacent fixing members, characterized in that inside each fixing member (6) bent to arcuate shape has been provided a separate bracing member (7), consisting of en alastic body bent to arcuate shape and its sides leaning against the inner sides of the fixing member so that the bracing member enhances the pressing force acting on the body inserted in the holder (1).

2. A holder (1) according tα claim 1, characterized in that the bracing member (7) consists of a plate-like body bent to arcuate shape and having a length about 1/2-3/4 of the length of the platelike body constituting the fixing member (6).

3. A holder (1) according tα claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bracing member (7) consists of a body separate from the fixing member (6) and by the aid αf engaging members (15) on its ends (14) fixed in the same slot (4) in the body part (2) as the fixing member.