WO2002003840A1

WO2002003840A1 - Suspension system and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2002003840A1
Application number: PCT/DK2001/000388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Poul Toft
Original assignee: Vikan A/S
Priority date: 2000-07-06
Filing date: 2001-06-07
Publication date: 2002-01-17
Also published as: DK200000225U4; AU2001263781A1

Abstract

Suspension system (1) for handles, comprising a first plate (2), said first plate (2) comprising a rear (3) and a front (4), said rear (3) comprising at least one securing means (5) for mounting of the suspension system (1), and said front (4) comprising an upper limit (6), a lower limit (7), at least two side limits (8) and a projecting surface (9), said projecting surface (9) extending substantially between the two opposite side limits (8) and being divided into at least two side surfaces, a first side surface (9') and a second side surface (9''), hereby providing an opening for the placing of the handle. In the breadth direction, measured between the sida limitations (11) of the side surfaces, each of the side surfaces (9', 9'') will decrease stepwise in a direction away from their connection with the front (4) of the first plate. There is hereby achieved a suspension system which can be used for the hanging of handles with different diameters, and which due to its construction will also be easy to clean. The suspension system is thus suitable for use in places/areas where great demands are placed regarding hygiene.

Description

SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND USE THEREOF

The invention relates to a suspension system for handles, comprising a first plate which comprises a rear and a front, said rear comprising at least one securing means for mounting of the suspension system, and said front comprising an upper limitation, a lower limitation, at least two side limitations and a projecting surface, said projecting surface extending substantially between the two opposite side limitations and being divided into at least two side surfaces, a first side surface and a second side surface, hereby providing an opening for the placing of the handle.

The invention also relates to the use of the suspension system.

In connection with the production of suspension systems, it is known to configure them in such a manner that the suspension system is produced either with the view of being able to hang the handle via a hole provided therein, including hooks, or with the view of being able to hang the handle in accordance with a certain diameter .

These suspension systems thus do not meet the requirement that the suspension system shall be easy to clean and/or that the same suspension system can be used for handles of different diameters.

From US patent no. 4,134,499 there is known a suspension system of the kind mentioned in the introduction, which comprises a rear and a front. On the front there are provided two separate side walls, a vertical side wall and a side wall sloping downwards towards the vertical side wall to provide an almost U-shaped opening for the placing of a handle. On the sloping side wall there is provided a groove for the placing of a turn- able, slotted rubber roller, whereby the rubber roller can move along the wall.

The securing of the handle is thus established by the handle being placed between the side walls in an upwards-directed movement. The handle will hereby partly rest against the vertical side wall and partly be locked by friction between the handle and the rubber roller. The rubber roller hereby assumes a position on the sloping side wall corresponding to the diameter of the handle. The suspension system can thus be used for handles of all diameters.

Partly due to the slotted rubber roller and partly due to the provision of the groove, the construction of the suspension system is difficult to clean, and a collection of materials of different character can occur, whereby the construction is not suitable for places/areas where a high degree of hygiene is demanded.

The object of the present invention is thus to provide a suspension system which is not encumbered with the above-mentioned disadvantages, and where the suspension system is easy to clean, at the same time that it can be used for handles with different diameters.

This object is achieved with a suspension system of the kind disclosed in the introduction, and also where each of the side surfaces in the breadth direction, measured between the side limitations of the side surfaces, decrease stepwise in the direction away from their connection with the front of the first plate.

The suspension system thus functions by the handle with a given diameter being placed between the two side surfaces with a forwardly-directed movement. Where the sides comprise edge coating, the securing of the handle will be optimised due to the friction between the edge coating and a possible coating on the handle, where also by virtue of the friction the handle can be placed at any desirable height.

By providing a suspension system according to the invention and as further disclosed in claims 2 and 3, it is achieved that a uniform suspension system can be established by the coupling together of several individual suspension systems.

By providing a suspension system according to the invention and as further disclosed in claims 4 and 5, an expedient embodiment is achieved, so that the suspension system can not only be used for handles with different diameters, but also where the insertion of these creates a linear contact surface and herewith a greater friction surface between the handle and the suspension system, whereby a stable suspension system is established.

By providing a suspension system according to the invention and as further disclosed in claim 6, a greater friction is achieved between the handle and the suspension system, whereby the handle can more easily be placed and/or hung in a firm manner, while at the same time a hygienic coating is provided.

By providing a suspension system according to the invention and as further disclosed in claim 7, it is achieved that the suspension system has minimum contact and is spaced with the suspension surface, whereby the cleaning of same becomes possible and easy. The integration will result in a production-friendly construction, where joints with the risk of the collection of dirt and the like are eliminated. By providing a suspension system according to the invention and as further disclosed in claims 8 and 9, it is achieved that an edge in which dirt and/or water can collect does not arise between the projecting surface and the front. Moreover, the construction will be able to be moulded in one piece, whereby a production-friendly construction is achieved.

By providing a suspension system according to the invention and as further disclosed in claim 10, it is achieved that water or other cleaning agents on the suspension system and/or the handle can run away both from the upper side and the under side, whereby a dry suspension system and dry handles are maintained. Moreover, the handle will be able to be placed more easily, and greater resilience is achieved in the material against forces and/or pressure effects which arise in the insertion/removal of the handle.

The invention also relates to a use of the suspension system, mainly for handles coated with plastic elastomers for mounting in areas/places where a high degree of hygiene is demanded, for example hospitals and abattoirs.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a suspension system according to the invention,

fig. 2 shows the suspension system from fig. 1 seen from above,

fig. 3 shows the suspension system from fig. 1 seen from the side,

fig. 4 shows the mounting of a suspension system according to the invention, fig. 5 shows the combination possibilities of a suspension system according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a suspension system 1 according to the invention, comprising a first plate 2 consisting of a front 4 and a rear 3, and a surface 9 projecting to the front.

On the rear 3 of the first plate, two securing means 5 are provided for the mounting of the suspension system 1. These comprise substantially two rectangular, axis-parallel plates which extend substantially along the whole of the rear 3 in a direction at right-angles to the limitation of the upper limit 6 and the lower limit 7 on the front 4 of the first plate. The securing means 5 are placed symmetrically around a first centre-line L lying centrally between the side limits 8,8 of the front, and around a second centre-line I lying centrally between the side limits 8,8 of the front and the first centre-line L

The projecting surface 9 is disposed uppermost on the front 4 of the first plate and extends substantially between the two side limits 8,8 of the front. The projecting surface 9 comprises two side surfaces, a first side surface 9' and a second side surface 9", which are provided symmetrically between the side limits 8,8 of the front, and which are formed by a cut-out symmetrically around the line L, said cut-out diverging stepwise away from the front 4. Each of the side surfaces 9',9" comprises side limits 10, where these are formed symmetrically around the centre-line of the side surfaces, said centre-line being coincident with the second centre-line I.

Figure 2 shows a suspension system 1 according to the invention seen from above, comprising the projecting surface 9 and the securing means 5. The projecting surface 9 comprises two identical side surfaces, a first side surface 9' and a second side surface 9". The side surfaces 9',9" are formed by side pieces 11 which extend substantially parallel with the second centre-line and with decreasing distance to this measured out towards the tip. The side surfaces 9',9" decrease stepwise in relation to the front 4 of the first plate (see fig. 1), where the transition 13 between the side pieces is rounded-off in the form of a quarter circle. The transition 14 between the two side surfaces 9',9" is rounded-off in a semi-circular manner and is symmetrical around the line L.

For the establishing of elastic, yielding and hygienic side surfaces, the side pieces 11 as well as the rounded-off transitions 13 are coated with a thermoplastic elastomer, for example SEBS (Styrene Ethylene Butadiene Styrene), where the thermoplastic elastomers will form a plane, tight film towards the outside. However, other thermoplastic elastomers can also be used. The coating of the thermoplastic elastomers is not shown in the drawing.

The transition 14' between the projecting surface 9 and the side limit 8 of the front is rounded-off in the form of a quarter circle, and with the coupling together of several suspension systems will form the same semi-circular rounding-off as between the two side surfaces 9',9" (see fig. 5).

Figure 3 shows a suspension system 1 according to the invention seen from the side, comprising the projecting surface 9, the front 4 and the rear 3 comprising the securing means 5.

The projecting surface 9, comprising the first side surface 9' and the second side surface 9", is placed uppermost on the front 4, whereby the transition between these becomes smooth. The projecting surface 9 has the same thickness along the whole of its extent away from the front 4, and it forms an obtuse angle with the front 4. This will give rise to a de-stressing in the material, whereby the formation of cracks with many insertions and removals of the handle is reduced, and will also prevent the collection of water or the like on the top of the surface 9.

The end 15 on the projecting surface 9 furthest away from the front 4 comprises an upper inclined plane 16 and a lower inclined plane 17. The upper inclined plane 16 forms an acute angle with the front 4, while the lower inclined plane 17 forms an obtuse angle with the front 4. Together with the lower inclined plane 17 and the projecting surface 9, the upper inclined plane 16 constitutes a passageway for e.g. water, which via the said angles will prevent e.g. water from running down over the front 4 and/or the positioned handle after passage from the lower inclined plane 17. After possible cleaning, the water will hereby run more quickly away, whereby a quickly-drying suspension system is achieved.

The shape of the securing means 5 respectively follows the angle of the projecting surface with the front 4 and respectively its lower limit 7. Possible pronounced transitions are hereby eliminated between the projecting sur- face 9, the first plate 2 and the securing means 5, which could otherwise give rise to accumulations of water, dirt etc.

Figure 4 shows the suspension system 1 according to the invention mounted on a wall. The mounting of the suspension system 1 can be effected on any kind of wall, and can be placed as desired. A handle is seen hung in the suspension system.

Figure 5 shows how a single suspension systems 1 according to the invention can be coupled together to form a suspension system in which several handles can be hung.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Suspension system (1) for handles, comprising a first plate (2), said first plate (2) comprising a rear (3) and a front (4), said rear (3) comprising at least one securing means (5) for mounting of the suspension system (1 ), and said front (4) comprising an upper limit (6), a lower limit (7), at least two side limits (8) and a projecting surface (9), said projecting surface (9) extending substantially between the two opposite side limits (8) and being divided into at least two side surfaces, a first side surface (9') and a second side surface (9"), hereby providing an opening for the insertion of the handle, said suspension system being innovative in that measured between the side limits (10) of the side surfaces in the breadth direction, each of the side surfaces (9', 9") decreases stepwise in the direction away from their connection with the front (4) of the first plate.

2. Suspension system (1 ) according to claim 1 , which is innovative in that the side surfaces (9',9") are formed symmetrically between the side limits (8) of the front.

3. Suspension system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, which is innovative in that the side limits (10) of the side surfaces are formed symmetrically between the centre-lines of each side surface.

4. Suspension system (1 ) according to any of the foregoing claims, which is innovative in that the side limits (10) are formed by means of side pieces (11 ) which extend substantially parallel with the centre-line of the side surfaces and with decreasing distance to said centre-line.

5. Suspension system (1 ) according to claim 4, which is innovative in that the side pieces (11) are connected to each other by a partly circular side piece.

6. Suspension system (1 ) according to claim 4 or 5, which is innovative in that the side pieces (11 ) are coated with thermoplastic elastomer.

7. Suspension system (1) according to any of the foregoing claims, which is innovative in that the securing means (5) comprise at least one substantially rectangular plate which is integral with the rear (3), said plate(s) extending substantially along the whole of the rear (3) in an orientation corresponding to the limitation of the upper limit (6) and the lower limit (7) on the front (4) of the first plate.

8. Suspension system (1) according to any of the foregoing claims, which is innovative in that the projecting surface (9) is placed substantially uppermost on the front (4) of the first plate.

9. Suspension system (1 ) according to any of the foregoing claims, which is innovative in that the projecting surface (9) comprising side surfaces (9', 9") constitutes an integrated part of the first plate (2).

10. Suspension system (1 ) according to any of the foregoing claims, which is innovative in that the projecting surface (9) comprising side surfaces (9', 9") comprises an under side (12) which forms an angle greater than 90° with the front (4) of the first plate.

11. Use of the suspension system (1 ) according to any of the foregoing claims for handles coated with plastic elastomer for mounting in areas/places where a high degree of hygiene is demanded.