US20120304896A1

US20120304896A1 - Furnituretop backstop device

Info

Publication number: US20120304896A1
Application number: US13/153,441
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith Webb, SR.; Angela Webb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-05
Filing date: 2011-06-05
Publication date: 2012-12-06

Abstract

The present invention is a furnituretop backstop device to use on a raised horizontal surface of a piece of furniture that includes a vertical wall backing that is in contact with a wall, a horizontal overlap surface that is fitted between the furniture and the wall that is perpendicularly attached to the vertical wall backing and a plurality of bolts inserted into the furniture to balance and support the horizontal overlap surface. There is also a plurality of hooks or rings that are inserted into the wall to hold and support the vertical wall backing and one or more slits to allow any electrical cords or wires to run through the furnituretop backstop device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

Dressers and other pieces of furniture with a raised horizontal flat surface are commonly used as a stand for a variety of items such as colognes, perfumes, lotions, picture frames, and jewelry boxes and it is easy for these objects to fall behind the furniture, which can be extremely inconvenient especially for elderly or disabled individuals. Currently there are limited alternatives to the manual method of moving furniture to retrieve fallen items from the furniture that can avoid the hassles of heavy lifting, broken or damaged items and excessive time and effort spent retrieving objects.
The present invention generally relates to a backstop device. More specifically, the invention is a furnituretop backstop device.
It is an object of the invention to provide a furnituretop backstop device that prevents items from failing behind furniture while they are set on top of a raised horizontal surface of the furniture.
It is an object of the invention to provide a furnituretop backstop device that prevents the need to move furniture to retrieve items that have fallen off of the raised horizontal surface of the furniture.
What is really needed is a furnituretop backstop device that prevents items from failing behind furniture while they are set on top of a raised horizontal surface of the furniture that prevents the need to move furniture to retrieve items that have fallen off of the raised horizontal surface of the furniture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front side perspective view of a furnituretop backstop device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
The phrase “in one embodiment” is utilized repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
FIG. 1 illustrates a front side perspective view of a furnituretop backstop device 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The furnituretop backstop device 100 includes a vertical wall backing 110, a horizontal overlap surface 120, a plurality of bolts 130 and a plurality of hooks or rings 140. The furnituretop backstop device 100 acts as a backstop to prevent items that are placed on a raised horizontal surface RHS of a piece of furniture F from failing behind the piece of furniture F. The furniture F can be a dresser or any other suitable piece of furniture with a raised horizontal surface RHS that has items placed on the raised horizontal surface RHS that can potentially fall off of the furniture F.
The vertical wall backing 110 is in contact with a wall W and is approximately 3 inches high, although the vertical wall backing 110 may be other suitable heights. The horizontal overlap surface 120 provides a landing panel that is fitted between the furniture F and the wall W that is in the range of 1-6 inches wide, although other suitable widths may also be utilized. The horizontal overlap surface 120 is perpendicularly attached to the vertical wall backing 110 forming the furnituretop backstop device 100. The bolts 130 are inserted into a back lip BL on each side S of the furniture F to balance and support the horizontal overlap surface 120. The hooks or rings 140 are inserted into the wall W to hold and support the vertical wall backing 110. One or more slits 150 can also be provided on the vertical wall backing 110 to allow and accommodate any electrical cords or wires to run through.
The furnituretop backstop device functions by utilizing a wooden panel which hooks and flushes to a wall and provides a landing panel that is fitted between the furniture and the wall. By providing a stable structure onto which items can lay in the event that they falloff the furniture, these items can easily be retrieved with minimum effort or damage to the objects. Easy to assemble and use, the vertical wall backing will have incision slits on the panel through which wires can be looped, such as for lamp cords, a telephone, alarm clock, or radio.
The furnituretop backstop device is approximately in the range of 35 inches to 65 inches wide, 3 inches high and has a landing panel that protrudes outward in the range of 1-6 inches. The furnituretop backstop device is made of plastic or relatively lightweight wood and comes in an assortment of colors in order to match existing home decors or environments.
While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims

1. A furnituretop backstop device to use on a raised horizontal surface of a piece of furniture, comprising:

a vertical wall backing that is in contact with a wall;

a horizontal overlap surface that is fitted between said furniture and said wall that is perpendicularly attached to said vertical wall backing;

a plurality of bolts inserted into said furniture to balance and support said horizontal overlap surface; and

a plurality of hooks or rings that are inserted into said wall to hold and support said vertical wall backing.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said vertical wall backing is approximately 3 inches high.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal overlap surface is in the approximate range of 1 to 6 inches wide.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is made of plastic.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is made of lightweight wood.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said furniture is a dresser.

7. A furnituretop backstop device to use on a raised horizontal surface of a piece of furniture, comprising:

a vertical wall backing that is in contact with a wall;

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said vertical wall backing is approximately 3 inches high.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein said horizontal overlap surface is in the approximate range of 1 to 6 inches wide.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein said device is made of plastic.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein said device is made of lightweight wood.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein said furniture is a dresser.

13. The device according to claim 7, wherein said vertical wall backing has one or more slits to allow any electrical cords or wires to run through.

14. A furnituretop backstop device to use on a raised horizontal surface of a dresser, comprising:

a vertical wall backing that is in contact with a wall;

a horizontal overlap surface that is fitted between said dresser and said wall that is perpendicularly attached to said vertical wall backing;

a plurality of bolts inserted into said dresser to balance and support said horizontal overlap surface; and

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said vertical wall backing is approximately 3 inches high.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein said horizontal overlap surface is in the approximate range of 1 to 6 inches wide.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein said device is made of plastic.

18. The device according to claim 14, wherein said device is made of lightweight wood.

19. The device according to claim 14, wherein said vertical wall backing has one or more slits to allow any electrical cords or wires to run through.

20. The device according to claim 14, wherein said furnituretop backstop device is in the approximate range of 35 to 65 inches wide and 3 inches high.