Horizontally supported planar surfaces – With structural installation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-16
2001-08-14
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
With structural installation
C211S119001, C248S219200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273005
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document No. 472,518 filed on Apr. 13, 2000. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shelving for bathrooms and, more particularly, to a public restroom shelf.
2. Description of the Related Art
While public restrooms provide their users with services and supplies to take care of their personal needs, they do little else. Perhaps the biggest complaint of users' of public restrooms is the lack of horizontal surfaces onto which they can place small personal objects. This problem is most prevalent in restrooms that are part of large public gatherings such as sporting events, entertainment shows and the like. At these gatherings, people are forced to hold items such as beverage cups, food and the like in their hands, balance them on top of fixtures, or set them on the floor. Not only are these solutions messy, they are unsanitary as well. This problem also arises in restrooms in office buildings, schools and the like where one needs to set a cellular phone, notebook, pad of paper, book or similar item and there is no space. In these conditions, the person is forced to hold such items under their chin or arms while using the bathroom.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a storage location for small, personal items can be provided in public restrooms. The development of the public restroom shelf fulfills this need.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. The following patents disclose the design and function of a bathroom shelf: U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,880 issued in the name of Kuntz; U.S. Pat. No. D 358,733 issued in the name of Paul; U.S. Pat. No. D 339,260 issued in the name of Hillard et al.; U.S. Pat. No. D 274,023 issued in the name of Boroch; U.S. Pat. No. D 267,059 issued in the name of Thompson; and U.S. Pat. No. D 248,702 issued in the name of Baldini;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,966 issued in the name of Kuntz describes freestanding, sheet metal bathroom shelves.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,907 issued in the name of McKee discloses a towel rack convenience shelf.
U.S. Pat. No. D 381,539 issued in the name of Lee describes the ornamental design for a decorative bathroom corner shelf and bathroom tissue concealer.
U.S. Pat. No. D 329,158 issued in the name of Tuzi discloses the ornamental design for a bathroom corner shelf unit.
Consequently, a need has been felt for providing a device which allows for greater ease of use and increased comfort while using a pubic restroom in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a public restroom shelf which provides a location to set small personal objects and alleviates the need to hold objects under a chin or arms.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which can be used over urinals or in toilet stalls.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device which can hold drinks, keys, cell phones, notebooks, papers and other hand-held items.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device which can be utilized in various environments such as sport arenas, office buildings, restaurants and schools.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device being more sanitary which prevents less chance of spreading and contracting germs and diseases.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which can be used in residential bathrooms as well.
Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a public restroom shelf is disclosed so as to provide a means by which a storage location for small, personal items can be provided in public restrooms.
The public restroom shelf is a small shelf, approximately 6 inches by 4 inches, for use over a urinal or in a toilet stall in a public restroom. It is intended for the placement of personal items such as beverages, cellular phones, keys, and similar hand-held items. As such, a larger version may be applicable for institutional use, such as schools and public buildings. The invention is made of either plastic or metal in a manner suitable for the environment found in a public restroom. The invention would attach directly to the piping as provided as part of the urinal water piping. It is envisioned that the invention may be attached to the wall or stall divider using common, well-known attachment means such as wall anchors or sheet metal screws. Such designs allow the invention to be easily replaced if it is damaged or vandalized.
The use of the public restroom shelf provides a device which allows for greater ease of use and increased comfort while using a pubic restroom in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 248702 (1978-08-01), Baldini
patent: D. 267059 (1982-11-01), Thompson
patent: D. 274023 (1984-05-01), Boroch
patent: D. 329158 (1992-09-01), Tuzi
patent: D. 339260 (1993-09-01), Hillard et al.
patent: D. 358733 (1995-05-01), Paul
patent: D. 381539 (1997-07-01), Lee
patent: 2979211 (1961-04-01), Fritzel
patent: 3342343 (1967-09-01), Youlden
patent: 4870907 (1989-10-01), McKee
patent: 5540159 (1996-07-01), Anderson
patent: 5623880 (1997-04-01), Kuntz
patent: 5638966 (1997-06-01), Kuntz
patent: 5664748 (1997-09-01), Speece et al.
patent: 5996506 (1999-12-01), Woytovich
Anderson Jerry
Cuomo Peter M.
Gugliotta John D.
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