Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Patent
1996-07-15
1998-10-06
Chen, Jose V.
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
2482057, 2482058, 2482062, 248362, F16B 4700
Patent
active
058165479
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
THIS INVENTION relates to a temporary fixing means which can be used to support objects on a smooth surface.
Examples of a form of fixing means which constitutes prior art to the invention comprises "fridge" magnets which are used domestically to support messages and the like on metallic surfaces. The difficulty with fridge magnets however relates to the necessity that the surface to which they are applied must be formed of a magnetic material. In addition, their capacity to retain objects is dependant on the strength of the magnet used. Furthermore when an item is located between the fridge magnet and the surface the cupacity of the fridge magnet to retain the item in position is reduced.
It is an object of this invention to provide a fixing means which can be applied to a smooth surface formed of any material and which is capable of retaining one or more articles on that surface.
Accordingly the invention resides in a fixing means comprising a support adapted to be engageable with a surface and which is capable of removal from the surface, a support portion provided on the support, a resilient retention means formed of a resiliently flexible sheet material fixed to the support portion to extend to at least one side of the support, said retention means having at least two bearing portions being angularly spaced from each other and which each comprise a linear surface extending radially from the support, said sheet material being contoured between the linear surfaces to be able to bias the linear surfaces into engagement with the surface when the support is applied to the surface.
According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the contour of the retention means comprises a fold which extends radially from the support intermediate of the linear surfaces.
According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the support comprises a suction cup.
According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the retention means is substantially transparent.
The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of several specific embodiments. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which;
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention in the unattached state;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the attached state;
FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the one embodiment of FIG. 1 in the attach state;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the one embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the one embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment with a ring applied around the boss;
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment; and
FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an application of the embodiment.
The embodiment as shown at FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a fixing means which is to be utilised in holding objects onto a smooth surface. One particular application of the embodiment comprises a fixing means for retaining objects such as a sheet of paper to a white board whereby a number of fixing means of the embodiment may be used to support the top of a sheet which is supported from a white board.
The embodiment comprises a support in the form of a suction cup 11 which is provided with a support portion in the form of a central outwardly extending boss 12 having an enlarged outer end 13.
The retention means 14 of the embodiment comprises a substantially triangular piece of transparent resilient sheet material. The material may comprise celluloid, a suitable plastics material or any like material. The apex 15 of the triangular piece of material is formed to be substantially part circular and is substantially concentric with the suction cup 11 whereby its outer perimeter extends beyond the outer perimeter of the suction cup 11.
An aperture 16 is provided in the region of the apex 15 of the triangular shape and is configured such that it can be snugly engaged with the boss 12 and in becoming so engaged will resiliently pass over the enlarged head 13 to be retained in position between the enlarged head 13 and the suction c
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Chen José V.
White Rodney B.
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