WO2021260726A1

WO2021260726A1 - Adjustable holding assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2021260726A1
Application number: PCT/IN2021/050600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vipul Gupta
Original assignee: Vipul Gupta
Priority date: 2020-06-22
Filing date: 2021-06-22
Publication date: 2021-12-30

Abstract

A holding assembly (100) includes a holding means (110) and a first unit (102a) as well as a second unit (102b). The first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) are capable of pivoting around the holding means (110). Each of the first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) further includes a first free edge (102a1/102b1), a second free edge (102a2/102b2) and a locking mechanism (106) provided with the first free edge (102a1, 102b1) and the second free edge (102a2, 102b2). The first free edge (102a1) of the first unit (102a) and the first free edge (102b1) of the second unit (102b) are secured together via the locking mechanism (106) to form a first configuration. The second free edge (102a2) of the first unit (102a) and the second free edge (102b2) of the second unit (102b) are secured together via the locking mechanism (106) to form a second configuration.

Description

ADJUSTABLE HOLDING ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF INVENTION

[1] The present invention relates to a holding device/assembly and more particularly, to an adjustable holding assembly. BACKGROUND

[2] Baskets, containers or other holding units are essential components to carry as well as store various objects or products required in our daily lives. The said products and/or objects may be utilized by an individual at various places like in office, house, factories, during travelling etc. [3] Depending upon the size of the products and/or objects, different sizes and/or shapes of such holding units may be employed. Thus, as a drawback, a user is mostly required to purchase different holding units depending on the intended use.

[4] In order to overcome the said problem, many adjustable holding units have been devised. However, most of such units involve various sections or compartments that can hold differently sized products or are foldable in order to make the holding unit portable. None of the conventional holding units aid in altering the size of the holding unit.

[5] Hence, there is a requirement for a size adjustable basket which can be resized to hold different objects and/or products.

SUMMARY [6] The present invention relates to a holding assembly. The holding assembly includes a holding means and at least two units i.e a first unit as well as a second unit. The first unit and the second unit are capable of pivoting around the holding means. Each of the first unit and the second unit further includes a first free edge, a second free edge and a locking mechanism provided with the first free edge and the second free edge. The first free edge of the first unit and the first free edge of the second unit are secured together via the locking mechanism to form a first configuration. The second free edge of the first unit and the second free edge of the second unit are secured together via the locking mechanism to form a second configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [7] The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale.

[8] FIG. 1 depicts a holding assembly 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[9] FIGs. la and lb illustrate a second configuration and a first configuration of the holding assembly 100 respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[10] FIGs. 2a and 2b depict a first unit 102a and a second unit 102b of the holding assembly 100 respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[11] FIG. 3 shows the locking mechanism 106 of the holding assembly 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[12] FIG. 4 illustrates the attachments means 108 of the holding assembly 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[13] Prior to describing the invention in detail, definitions of certain words or phrases used throughout this patent document will be defined: the terms "include" and "comprise", as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term "or" is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases "coupled with" and "associated therewith", as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have a property of, or the like; Definitions of certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

[14] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments" unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "including," "comprising," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to" unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a," "an," and "the" also refer to "one or more" unless expressly specified otherwise.

[15] Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[16] In accordance with the present disclosure, a holding assembly is disclosed. The holding assembly of the present invention is an adjustable assembly that is capable of being easily arranged in two or more sizes. In an embodiment, the holding assembly of the present invention is structured in a way that the holding assembly includes two configurations i.e. a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration includes reduced depth as compared to the depth of the second configuration, however the first configuration has an increased width compared to the width of the second configuration.

[17] The holding assembly of the present invention includes a plurality of units. In an embodiment, the units may have different shapes such that the edges of the shapes have compatible dimensions. Alternately, the units may have same shape with different dimensions. The said units are provided with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes at least two complementary sections, i.e. a first section and a second section. Each of the units may include either the first section or the second section in a way that the said units are assembled together to form the first configuration or the second configuration at a given time. [18] The units are structured in a way that they pivot along the axis of a holding means. The units are rotated in an anti-clockwise direction or a clockwise direction for changing the holding assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice-versa.

[19] Referring to figures, FIG.l illustrates a structural framework of the holding assembly 100 of the present invention. As stated above, the holding assembly 100 is employed for holding and/or storing various products and/or objects depending on the requirement of a user.

[20] The holding assembly 100 may attain one or more configurations according to the storage or carrying space required by the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the holding assembly 100 attains a first configuration (FIG. la) or a second configuration (FIG. lb) as described below.

[21] The holding assembly 100 may include various components which may be assembled in a pre-defined manner to assist a user to hold/carry/store one or more objects. The components may include one or more of, a unit (102a, 102b described below), a holding means 110, a locking mechanism 106, etc.

[22] The holding assembly 100 of the present invention includes a plurality of units. Though the holding assembly 100 may include multiple units, the below description suggests the use of two units. An embodiment of the present disclosure as depicted in FIG. 1, the holding assembly 100 includes a first unit 102a and a second unit 102b.

[23] The first unit 102a and the second unit 102b may be made of one or more materials including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, iron, wood, plastic, etc. The first unit 102a and second unit 102b may be made up of same or different materials.

[24] The first and the second units 102a, 102b may include a cut-out pattern or may be in the form of a solid sheet, etc. The first and the second units 102a, 102b may be made from a conventional method depending upon the material used. For example, if the units are made of metal, techniques such as wire bending, sheet forming, pipe bending, etc. maybe used. In case the material is wood, molded wood, wood machining, forming wood, etc. may be used while in case of plastics, molding may be used. In an embodiment, the first and the second units 102a, 102b are made by braiding of strands 104 of pre-defined material as disclosed above. Alternately, the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b are formed of plurality of relatively rigid strands 104. The said strands 104 may be braided together to form a mesh or a grid like structure. The strands 104 are braided in a manner that the wires 104 intersect at various points. The strands 104 may be coupled to each other at the said intersections via one or more methods including welding, gluing, moulding, machining, etc.

[25] The first and the second units 102a, 102b may be completely or partially coated with one or more materials including paints, water-proof materials etc. to make the holding assembly 100 sturdy and possibly waterproof.

[26] Each of the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b may include a three dimensional structure having a predefined shape. The pre-defined shape may be a conventional shape known in the art, for example, rectangle, square, triangle, etc. In an embodiment, the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b are rectangular cuboidal structures (FIGs. 2a and 2b) without two side edges assembled together to form an open rectangular box as shown in FIGs. la and lb.

[27] In the exemplary embodiment as depicted in FIGs. 2a and 2b, the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b have similar structures. The first unit 102a and the second unit 102b may include at least one pair of free edges i.e. a first free edge and a second free edge. In an embodiment, the first unit 102a includes a first free edge 102al and a second free edge 102a2. The second unit 102b includes a first free edge 102bl and a second free edge 102b2.

[28] In the depicted exemplary embodiment, each free edge (102al, 102a2, 102bl or 102b2) may include three sides arranged in a U-shape. Alternately, the free edges may be shaped as a triangle, oval, etc. The dimensions of the first free edge 102al of the first unit 102a may be compatible with the dimensions of the first free edge 102bl of the second unit 102b. Similarly, the dimensions of the second free edge 102a2 of the first unit 102a may be compatible with the dimensions of the second free edge 102b2 of the second unit 102b.

[29] In an embodiment, the parallel sides of the U-shaped free edge 102al of the first unit 102a may be longer than the parallel sides of the U-shaped free edge 102a2 of the first unit 102a.

[30] The above structure and dimensions of the first free edges 102al, 102bl and the second free edges 102a2, 102b2 of the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b help in easy assembly of the first and the second units 102a, 102b to attain the first configuration or the second configuration. [31] In the first configuration, the first and the second units 102a, 102b are assembled in such a way that the sides of the first free edge 102al lie adjacent to the sides of the first free edge 102bl as shown in FIG. 2b. In the second configuration, the sides of the second free edge 102a2 lie adjacent to the sides of the second free edge 102b2 as shown in FIG. 2a. As evident from the figures, owing to the difference in length of the sides of the two free edges, the holding assembly 100 in the first configuration includes reduced depth than the holding assembly 100 in the second configuration.

[32] In order to hold the positions of the first as well as the second units 102a, 102b at the first and the second configuration, the first as well as the second units 102a, 102b may be provided with a locking mechanism 106. The locking mechanism 106 may be any conventional coupler such as a spring lock, a wire lock, a mechanical lock, a magnetic lock, a plastic lock, etc. In an embodiment, the lock mechanism 106 includes at least one pair of a latch 106a and a hook 106b.

[33] The latch 106a is structured to couple with the hook 106b. The latch 106a and the hook 106b may be provided with the first unit 102a or the second unit 102b. In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the latch 106a is provided at the first free edges 102al, 102bl and the second free edges 102a2, 102b2 of the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b. Unlike the latch 106a, the hook 106b may be provided near the first free edges 102al, 102bl and the second free edges 102a2, 102b2. Although the number of latches 106a and the hooks 106b may vary, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes two pairs of the latch 106a and the hook 106b to hold the holding assembly 100 together.

[34] In an embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism 106 is provided at the center of the first free edges 102al, 102bl and the second free edges 102a2, 102b2 of the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b. [35] Further, the first and the second units 102a, 102b include an attachment means 108 for coupling the holding means 110 (described later). The attachment means 108 is so structured that it not only couples the holding means 110 with the first and second units 102a, 102b but also allows smooth rotation of the first and the second units 102a, 102b in order to change the configuration of the holding assembly 100 from one to another. [36] The attachment means 108 may include two parts. As shown in FIG. 2a & 2b, the attachment means 108 is a circular structure having a semi-circular cavity 108a on one unit 102a/102b while a protrusion 108b disposed on other unit 102b/102b. The protrusion 108b is structured in such a way that it seats within the cavity 108a and is capable of sliding within the same. Considering an exemplary embodiment, the first unit 102a includes the cavity 108a while the second unit 102b includes the protrusion 108b. The protrusion 108b slides within the cavity 108a when the units 102a, 102b are rotated.

[37] Each of the circular structure includes an opening for attaching and securing the holding means 110. As shown in FIG. 4, the holding means 110 is in seated within an opening 108cl of the attachment means 108 of the first unit 102a. The holding means 110 is further secured with the help of a screw 10 which mates with holding means 110 while passing through an opening 108c2 of the second unit 102b.

[38] Although the attachment means is specifically elaborated having a structure as aforesaid, any other type/structure of the attachments means is also within the scope of the present invention.

[39] The holding means 110 of the present invention acts as a holder which aids the user to carry the holding assembly 100 with ease and comfort. In addition to the aforesaid, the holding means 110 acts as a pivot for the rotation of the first unit 102a and/or the second unit 102b.

[40] The holding means 110 may include a pre-defined structure and shape. The shape and structure of the holding means 110 may be such that the user is easily able to carry the holding assembly 100 and is easily able to change the configurations of the holding assembly 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the holding means 110 is a rod shaped structure. The holding means 110 may be made of any pre-defined material such as polymer, metal, wood, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the holding means 110 is made of wood.

[41] The holding means 110 of the present invention includes a first end 110a and a second end 110b. The first end 110a and the second end 110b of the holding means 110 are separately engaged in the openings 108cl, 108c2 disposed on the attachment means 108 of the first and the second units 102a, 102b.

[42] The above disclosed components are assembled in a manner to result in the holding assembly 100 which is sturdy, portable and adjustable. The above described holding assembly 100 is assembled in an easy manner. The user may decide the configuration of the holding assembly 100 based upon the objects to be carried. For example, if the user opts for the first configuration, the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b are rotated. The rotation is performed around the holding means 110 in such a manner that the first free edge 102al and the first free edge 102bl are placed adjacent to each other. The said units 102a, 102b are then aligned together and subsequently are secured together using the lock mechanism 106. Likewise, if the user opts for the second configuration, the first unit 102a and the second unit 102b are rotated in such a manner that the second free edge 102bl and the second free edge 102b2 are placed adjacent to each other. The said units 102a, 102b are aligned together and subsequently held in place using the lock mechanism 106.

[43] The provisions provided in the holding assembly 100 as described above allow the user to easily adjust the size of the holding assembly 100 between either of the two configurations i.e. the first or the configuration depending upon the objects that are to be carried.

[44] The above-described preferred embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the present invention, any modification within the spirit and principles of the present invention, made by the equivalent replacement, improvement, etc., should be included in the protection of the present invention within the range.

Claims

AIM:

1. A holding assembly (100) comprising a holding means (110); and at least two units including a first unit (102a) and a second unit (102b), the first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) being capable of pivoting around the holding means (110), each of the first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) including a first free edge (102al, 102bl); a second free edge (102a2, 102b2); and a locking mechanism (106) provided with the first free edge (102al, 102bl) and the second free edge (102a2, 102b2); wherein the first free edge (102al) of the first unit (102a) and the first free edge (102bl) of the second unit (102b) are secured together via the locking mechanism (106) to form a first configuration, wherein the second free edge (102a2) of the first unit (102a) and the second free edge (102b2) of the second unit (102b) are secured together via the locking mechanism (106) to form a second configuration.

2. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) are rectangular cuboidal shaped.

3. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) include meshed structures.

4. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one of the first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) include an attachment means (108) for coupling the holding means (110).

5. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first unit (102a) and the second unit (102b) include solid panes.

6. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holding means (110) include a rod.

7. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism (106) includes a latch (106a) and a hook (106b).

8. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first configuration includes a reduced depth as compared to depth of the second configuration.

9. The holding assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first configuration includes an increased width as compared to width of the second configuration.