WO1998053722A1

WO1998053722A1 - Portable holder

Info

Publication number: WO1998053722A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/011465
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Strode; Joseph M. Savage
Original assignee: Jonathan Strode; Savage Joseph M
Priority date: 1997-06-02
Filing date: 1998-06-01
Publication date: 1998-12-03
Also published as: AU7722698A

Abstract

One embodiment of a portable holder is comprised of a body member formed as a shelf (12) with a first end (14) having a first lip (16). An attachment bracket (22) is adjustably attached to the body member to vary the angle of the shelf (12) relative to the attachment bracket (22). A knob (44) locks the shelf at a preferred angle relative to the attachment bracket (22). The attachment bracket (22), which may be fixedly attached to the body member, is a generally G-shaped member, having a pair of offset vertical members (24, 28) that are positionable onto a generally horizontal shelf and engage both the upper surface and the lower surface of the shelf and maintain the portable holder suspended thereon. The shelf (12) also has at least one leg (52) rotatably attached to the underside of the shelf (12); thereby allowing the shelf (12) to alternatively rest on a counter top.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

PORTABLE HOLDER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable holder that will removably attach to an existing shelf or counter in order to provide additional shelf space.

2. Background of the Prior Art

The utility of a portable holder to hold cook books, spice containers, food items, and the like is well known in the art. Such devices provide an extension of an existing shelf or counter and allow a person to place an object thereon for easy access while performing an activity such as cooking. This access is an invaluable aid to a cook or other individual.

Many extension devices have been proposed and generally fall into one of two broad categories. The first category, exemplified by U.S. patent 5,244,272 to Thompson, consists of a holder that is secured to the underside of a cabinet with the holder being positionable between a closed position stowed underneath the cabinet and an open position extended from the cabinet. The second category of shelf extension device, exemplified by U.S. patent 4,269,381 to Harms, consists of a holder member that is attachable to the top side of an existing shelf such as the bottom shelf of a cabinet. While both categories of shelf extension devices generally achieve their intended goal - providing a temporary additional item holder - they suffer from a drawback. Each category of device requires a permanent deviation to the existing point of contact. Either an entire bracket for the holder must be fixedly attached to the existing contact point or a contact device must be secured to the existing cabinet. In either case, a permanent deviation is being made to the existing fixtures. Many users will shy away from making such a permanent deviation and will forego use of a shelf extension device. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a device that will provide a temporary holder for placement of a book, spice containers, food items, and the like thereon, for securement within a kitchen or other similar environment. The device must be installable without making a permanent deviation to or mark upon the desired contact surface. The device should be of relatively simple design and construction and should be easy to use, requiring a relatively small amount of time to install and remove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable holder of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The portable holder is comprised of a body member and at least one attachment bracket attached to the body member. Each of the attachment brackets may be fixedly attached to the body member at any desired angle or may be rotatably attached, via an appropriate rotation mechanism, to the body member or may be swivelly attached, via an appropriate swivel mechanism, to the body member.

Each attachment bracket is a generally G-shaped member having a first vertical member and a second vertical member, offset from the first vertical member, joined by a joining member. The ends of the first vertical member and the second vertical member may be curled, padded, or otherwise have footers thereon to prevent damage to a contact surface. Various accessories such as a clock, a generally transparent cover, a writing utensil holder, a clip, a lamp and the like may be attached to the body member in appropriate fashion. The portable holder is positionable onto an existing shelf, such as the bottom shelf of a cabinet and is dimensioned in order to clear the downward extension of the shelf, if any. The device can hold a book (and has optional page holders), spice containers, food items, and the like. The device, which may be but need not be manufactured from coated wire mesh, is of straightforward design and construction utilizing known parts and manufacturing techniques. The device is quick and easy to install onto and remove from the desired location and leaves no permanent marks or impressions on the contact surface. The device provides substantial utility to a cook in the kitchen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of various embodiments of the portable holder of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the portable holder attached to a cabinet.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the portable holder articulatable through its various rotation positions.

Figure 4 is a side elevation view, partially sectioned, of the portable holder, with a page holder. Figure 5 is a top plan view of the portable holder. Figure 6 is a detail view of the page holder. Figure 7 is an exploded view of an angle adjustment mechanism usable with the portable holder of the present invention. Figure 8 is a rear elevation view of the portable holder. Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the portable holder dimensioned to fit onto a relatively thick holder.

Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the portable holder dimensioned to fit onto a relatively thin holder. Figure 11 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the portable holder of the present invention with a single continuos attachment bracket.

Figure 12 is a sectioned side view of figure 11. Figure 13 is a plan view of the portable holder utilizing a spring-loaded page holder and joined brackets.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a pair of joined brackets.

Figure 15 is a close-up view of the spring-loaded page holder. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the portable holder with various accessories attached thereto.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the portable holder with various embodiments of the body member.

Figure 18 is a side elevation view of the various embodiments of the body member and of the bracket. Figure 19 is a perspective view of a pair of attachment " brackets hingedly attached to each other.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of a pair of attachment brackets fixedly attached to each other. Figure 21 is a perspective view of the body member having sleeves attached.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the portable holder of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of a body member having a first end 14 and a second end 18. The body member may have any desired form such as the shelf 12 having a first lip 16 and a second lip 20, as best illustrated in figures 1-3, 5, 13, 16, and 21, a basket 112, a container 212, or a colander 312 as best illustrated in figures 17 and 18 or any other desired holder form.

At least one attachment bracket 22 is attached to the device 10. As seen, the attachment bracket 22 is generally G-shaped member and has a first vertical member 24 and a second vertical member 28 joined by a joining member 26. As understood, the attachment bracket may be of any appropriate shape such that is has one generally vertical member 24 and a second generally vertical member 28 generally facing toward the first vertical member in offset relation (and has a space therebetween for receiving the shelf SI or S2) . As seen in figures 9 and 10, the ends of the first vertical member 24 and the second vertical member 28 may be curled 34, or alternately, as seen in figures 2, 3, and 8, footers 36 may be placed on the ends of the first vertical member 24 and the second vertical member 28. The curled ends 34 or the footers 36 - which may be made from a soft material such as plastic, neoprene, rubber, and the like - protect the surface onto which they make contact.

A connector 30 may extend between two adjacent attachment brackets 22 for added strength. As seen in figure 19, a pair of brackets 22 may be hingedly attached to each other for appropriate positioning of the brackets 22, or as seen in figure 20, a pair of brackets 22 may be fixedly attached to each other.

As seen in figures 1 and 8, a plurality of attachment brackets 22 may be attached to the body member 12 in spaced apart relationship, or as seen in figures 11 and 12, the attachment bracket 22 may be one continuos member.

As seen in figure 9, each attachment bracket 22 may have relatively wide dimensions in order to accommodate a relatively thick holder SI that has a relatively long downward extension, or as seen in figure 10, each attachment bracket 22 may have relatively narrow dimensions in order to accommodate a relatively thin holder S2 that has a relatively short downward extension. As seen in figures 9-12, the body member 12 may be rigidly attached to each attachment bracket 22. The body member 12 may be attached to each attachment bracket 22 at an angle (as illustrated in figures 9, 11, and 12) or may be attached to each attachment bracket 22 in generally straight fashion (as illustrated in figure 10) . As further seen, the second vertical member 28 may be generally straight (as illustrated in figures 11 and 12) or may be generally curved (as illustrated in figures 9 and 10) and may be generally normal to the first horizontal member 26 (as illustrated in figures 11 and 12) or may be disposed at an angle relative to the first horizontal member 26 (as illustrated in figures 9 and 10) .

Alternately, the body member 12 may be rotatably disposed relative to the attachment bracket 22 (as illustrated in figures 2 and 3) . In order to achieve this rotatable disposition, a rotation connection means of any appropriate design known in the art will attach the body member 12 to the attachment bracket 22.

Figure 7 illustrates an example of an appropriate rotation connection means for connecting the body member 12 to the attachment bracket 22. As seen, a tube member 38 (having female threading that is not illustrated) and having a notched end 40 is attached to the attachment bracket 22. A star washer 42 is fixedly attached to the body member 12. A knob 44 is threadably received within the female threading of the tube member 38. A washer 46 and a lock washer 48 may be interposed between the knob 44 and the tube member 38. Rotation of the knob 44 will cause the star washer 42 to engage the notched end 40 of the tube member 38 and will cause a likewise rotation of the body member 12 relatively to the attachment bracket 22 while a counterrotation of the knob 44 will cause a likewise counterrotation of the body member 12. Once rotated into desired position, the body member 12 will maintain its position until repositioned by the knob 44. Other rotation mechanisms can be employed within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Furthermore, the bracket 22 may be swivelly attached to the body member. This may be accomplished by providing at least one sleeve 54 on the body member and a corresponding post 56 on the attachment bracket 22 (or vice versa) with the post 56 being received within the sleeve 54 and allowing the body member to swivel with respect to the attachment bracket 22. If the post 56 is removably received within its sleeve 54, this arrangement also permits removal of the body holder without the need to remove the bracket 22. As seen in figures 1, 4, and 6, at least one page holder 50 can be optionally attached to the body member (when the body member is in the form of a shelf 12) . Each page holder 50 is rotatably secured to the first lip 16 and is rotatable into and away from the body member and may be spring-loaded as illustrated in figures 13 and 15. Alternately, the page holder 50 may be attached to either side of the body member 12 and may be rotated laterally into the body member 12 in order to hold a page of a book open.

As seen in figures 1-3 and 5, at least one leg 52 is rotatably attached to the underside of the body member 12. The legs 52 are capable of being folded out in order to securely position the device 10 onto a counter top.

A plurality of accessories, such as a lamp 58, a clip 60, a generally transparent cover 62, a clock 64, a writing utensil holder 66, and the like may be attached to the body member . In order to utilize the portable holder 10 of the present' invention, the device 10 is positioned onto a generally horizontal holder member SI or s2 such that the first vertical member 24 and the second vertical member 28 of the attachment bracket 22 engage the top side and the bottom side of the shelf SI or S2 respectively. The attachment bracket 22 is appropriately dimensioned so that that it clears any downward extension of the shelf SI or S2. Once positioned, the end of the first vertical member 24 engages the top of the shelf SI or S2 while the end of the second vertical member 28 engages the bottom of the shelf SI or S2 and thereby holds the device 10 securely thereon. The body member may be rotated into its desired angle (if rotation capability is provided) or swiveled into place (if swivel capability is provided) and objects, such as books, spice containers, or food items are positioned onto the body member. In order to remove the device 10 from the shelf SI or S2, the device 10 is gently lifted and moved laterally outwardly and removed from the holder SI or S2. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

WE CLAIM

1. A portable holder for temporary attachment to a cabinet or counter comprising: a body member; and at least one generally G-shaped securement bracket, each having a first vertical member with a third end extending downwardly, a second vertical member with a fourth end extending in generally opposite direction to the first vertical member in offset alignment, and a connecting member connecting the first vertical with the second vertical member, attached to the second end.

2. The portable holder as in claim 1 further comprising a second lip attached to the second end.

3. The portable holder as in claim 1 wherein a pair of the brackets are hingedly attached to one another.

4. The portable holder as in claim 1 wherein a pair of the brackets are fixedly attached to one another.

5. The portable holder as in claim 1 wherein the body member is rotatably attached to the securement bracket.

6. The portable holder as in claim 1 wherein the body member is fixedly attached to the securement bracket.

7. The portable holder as in claim 1 further comprising at least one page holding means, rotatably attached to the first lip, for holding a page of a book introduced onto the body member.

8. The portable holder as in claim 7 wherein the at least one page holding means is spring-loaded.

9. The portable holder as in claim 1 further comprising at least one page holding means, rotatably attached to the body member, for holding a page of a book introduced onto the body member .

10. The portable holder as in claim 1 further comprising at least one leg rotatably attached to an underside of the body member .

11. The portable holder as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the third end or the fourth end is curled.

12. The portable holder as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the third end or the fourth end is padded.

13. The portable holder as in claim 1 further comprising: at least one sleeve attached to the body member; and

5 at least one post, one each attached to a respective one of the at least one bracket, received within a respective on of the at least one sleeve.

14. The portable holder as in claim 1 further comprising at least one accessory attached to the body member.

10 15. The portable holder as in claim 14 wherein the at least one accessory is selected from the group consisting of a writing utensil holder, a clock, a lamp, a clip, and a generally transparent cover.