Flexible bags – Lifting or suspending element – Hanging element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-16
2001-06-05
Foster, Jim (Department: 3728)
Flexible bags
Lifting or suspending element
Hanging element
C206S581000, C383S119000, C446S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241388
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a suspendable holder for articles. More specifically, the articles held by the holder may include toiletries. The holder also may be foldable and portable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Holders for articles such as toiletries are well known in the art. Rigid plastic and wire shower caddies are examples of toiletry holders that are common place and well known. A recognized problem with these caddies is that they are not easily foldable or portable, and do not hold toiletries in their original containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,531, to Lighten, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a portable shower kit. It utilizes a pair of containers, each of which can be opened. In addition, the containers can be folded and attached to one another. The entire kit is adaptable for hanging. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,683, to Poole, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a hanging shower caddy that is in the form of an attaché case. When opened, various toiletry articles are removably displayed and arranged in fastened form for use by the user. Another hanging shower toiletries kit is disclosed by Lindsey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,141, which is incorporated herein by reference. The kit disclosed in Lindsey is a plastic soap dish onto which appendages have been added for holding toiletries such as a razor, a mirror, and several bottles. An aperture on the soap dish also provides means for holding a drinking cup.
Although the prior art patents as disclosed address the problem of transporting toiletries, none of the prior art patents enable the user to utilize soap, shampoo, lotion containers and the like in their original forms and sizes. Rather, the prior art patents require the user to transfer the toiletry item from the prepackaged container into the containers provided by the caddy. In addition, all of the prior art caddies are rigid and bulky. Moreover, the prior art patents do not disclose bath and shower caddies that are adaptable for holding unusual items associated with bathing, such as bath toys for use by children or by adults bathing children.
Therefore, a need remains for a portable article holder that is suspendable, lightweight, foldable, water resilient, mildew proof, capable of holding toiletries in their original containers, and adaptable for holding unusual bathing items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a portable holder for articles comprised of a container having four sidewalls and a bottom panel which, in combination, define a cavity or container into which various articles may be placed. Each of the four sidewalls has a top portion, a bottom portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion. The portable holder also comprises a suspension means. The articles that may be held by the holder include bathing items, including toiletries and bath toys. The holder may be foldable and the bottom panel may contain perforations. In addition, the cavity contains a divider.
The holder may be made of any flexible or rigid material that will support the articles placed inside. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable holder for articles contains sidewalls that are made of vinyl. Preferably, the vinyl is soft and clear. At least two of the four sidewalls are adapted to include or receive a stiffener in the form of a flat sheet-like panel. In one such example, two of the sidewalls contain fixed stiffeners, which are located at the top portion and bottom portion of each sidewall. The sidewalls containing fixed stiffeners are located opposite one another. In addition, two sidewalls may be adapted for retractable stiffeners. These sidewalls do not contain fixed stiffeners. The retractable stiffener is located at the top portion of the sidewall. The two sidewalls adapted for retractable stiffeners are located opposite one another.
Retractable stiffeners are stiffeners that can be manipulated in such a manner that they may provide stiffening in one instance and then be manipulated so that the amount of stiffening is reduced or withdrawn. The retractable stiffeners can reduce or withdraw the amount of stiffening by enabling the stiffener to be withdrawn, to be drawn back inward, pushed outward, to fold up, to shrink back, to rotate around a hinge, to rotate around a joint, to pivot, to fold, and the like.
Preferably, the retractable stiffener may be comprised of a hinge or of a removable stiffener. If the retractable stiffener is comprised of a hinge, the hinge enables the sidewall to be folded inward when the hinge is not engaged and to be opened in a stiff manner when the hinge is engaged. Alternatively, the hinge could be folded outward.
When the retractable stiffener is a removable stiffener, each of the sidewalls adapted for a removable stiffener also may comprise a pocket. In such an embodiment, the removable stiffener may be insertable into and removable from the pocket.
Typical stiffeners include any sufficiently rigid flat lamina or panel which, when incorporated into the container sidewalls or when inserted into a sidewall pocket, lends form to the receptacle and ensures that it will remain in an open mode. The stiffener may be fabricated from any suitably firm and water impervious material as for example, plastic, wood, or rust-proof metals such as stainless steel or ceramic and the like; however, plastics derived from thermoplastic polymers such as Plexiglas® are preferred. Alternatively, the stiffeners may be fabricated from laminated materials as, for example, laminar layers of vinyl or a plurality of layers of the material of which the sidewalls are made. Also, in another embodiment, the holder can include a combination of stiffeners. For example, the sidewalls containing fixed stiffeners may be made of a plurality of layers of vinyl, or a plurality of layers of the material of which the sidewalls are made, while the stiffeners on the sidewalls adapted for retractable stiffeners are made of Plexiglas®.
The suspension means may be comprised of at least one cord, which is attached to at least one sidewall. The suspension means may also include at least one suction means, which is attachable to at least one of the sidewalls. The suspension means may also include the combination of at least one cord and at least one suction means. In addition, the cord may be made of a material, which may belong to a group consisting essentially of vinyl, nylon, cotton, polyester, hemp, rubber and plastic. Alternatively, the cord may be made of metal, which could be in a chain, and which may belong to a group consisting essentially of nickel, stainless steel, aluminum and nickel-plated metal.
The suspension means of the portable holder for articles of the current invention may further comprise at least one hook, which is attachable to the cord and may be attached to a fixture onto which the container may be suspended. In addition, the holder may have at least two cords, wherein each cord may further comprise a ring. The rings are attachable to at least one of the hooks in a manner whereby the suspension length of cord is shortened.
Attached to at least one sidewall of the portable holder is an exterior pouch whose lower portion includes a plurality of perforations to provide drainage means. Also included, on the same or a different sidewall, are ringlets arranged in series to provide holding means for a toothbrush or similar type item.
The holder of this invention is particularly suitable for use in a bathing area since it may be suspended onto a fixture of a bathtub, shower, sauna, hot tub, Jacuzzi®, pool, or the like, including the feeder line of a shower head, or to a soap dish, towel rack, shower curtain rod, door, faucet, rail, protrusion, or a wall or similar support.
The portable holder for articles of the current invention is waterproof and mildew-proof. After use, it may be wiped dry.
The portable holder for articles of the current invention may further comprise a storage pouch, in which the holder may be stored or transported,
Foster Jim
Joseph W. Molasky & Associates
LandOfFree
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