WO2005096902A1

WO2005096902A1 - Container holding device

Info

Publication number: WO2005096902A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/011524
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Feldman; David Ortiz
Original assignee: The Buzz Group Llc
Priority date: 2004-04-05
Filing date: 2005-04-05
Publication date: 2005-10-20

Abstract

A container holding device having a backpiece with an opening, the backpiece configured with a slide drawing teeth and an upper portion positioned on the backpiece, the upper portion configured to slide on the backpiece from a first position to and end position. The container holding device is also configured to have at least two engagers connected to the upper portion, the engagers configured to engage the teeth, at least a part of the engagers extending through the opening, and at least one button positioned in the upper portion, the at least one button configured to move the engagers from an engaged position locking the upper portion to the backpiece to a desengaged position.

Description

CONTAINER HOLDING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container holding device. More specifically, the present invention provides a device to securely fasten a container which internally contains articles, such as a tissues, so that the articles may be removed from the device and the container without obstruction.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Containers are used to house a variety of materials which are either difficult to store efficiently or to house materials which are easily damaged by the outside environment. Containers which perform this housing function come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Often, however, the shape of the container precludes easy storage in the area where the internal materials are to be used. Large tissue boxes, for example, often require a large amount of desk or shelf space while performing little overall function. To use less valuable storage space, therefore, many users store the container in a generally more remote or less desirable storage space, freeing the valuable desk or shelf space. While this activity frees the valuable desk or shelf space, the remote storing hampers the easy ability to access the materials stored in the container.

There is need to provide a container storage device that will allow the container to be efficiently stored such that the materials housed inside the container can be easily obtained.

There is a further need to provide a device which will securely fasten the container for frequent use while not damaging the internal materials.

There is a still further need to provide a device to secure the container in an attractive manner to encourage use of the internal materials. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container storage device that allows the container to be stored such that the materials inside the container can be easily dispensed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which will securely fasten the container for frequent use while not damaging the internal materials.

It is still further object to provide a device to secure the container in an attractive manner to encourage use of the internal materials while using limited valuable storage space. The objects of the present invention are achieved as shown and described.

The invention provides a container holding device. The device has a backpiece with an opening, the backpiece configured with a slide with teeth and an upper portion positioned on the backpiece, the upper portion configured to slide on the backpiece. The device also has engagers connected to the upper portion, the engagers configured to engage the teeth, at least a part of the engagers extending through the opening and at least one button positioned in the upper portion, the at least one button configured to move the engagers from an engaged position locking the upper portion to the backpiece to a disengaged position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figure 1 , a front view of a container holding device 10 is illustrated. The container holding device 10 has a backpiece 12 which extends to a lower portion 28. The lower portion 28 is flared with respect to the backpiece 12 such that the overall depth of the lower portion 28 is greater than the backpiece 12. The lower portion 28 may be flared such that the overall thickness of the lower portion 28 is arc shaped with the ends having a smaller thickness than a center of the lower portion 28. The difference between the depth of the backpiece 12 and lower portion 28 allows a container of a desired depth to be incorporated into a volume 30 defined by the exterior perimeter of backpiece 12, a lip 14 of the lower portion 28 and a upper lip 22 of an upper portion 18. The lip 14 of the lower portion 28 and the upper lip 22 of the upper portion 18 may be flat or formed in another configuration, such as smooth or with a jagged configuration as examples. The surface of the backpiece 12 may be configured with a surface to limit or prevent motion of a stored container. The surface may be a stubble surface, a series of ridges or other configuration. The lip 14 and the upper lip 22 may also be configured with a series of bumpers or protrusions which would provide a surface which would limit slip of the container. The bumpers or protrusions may be configured from rubber, for example. The bumpers or protrusions may be attached to the lip 14 and the upper lip 22 through an adhesive.

An upper portion 18 is positioned on the backpiece 12 in a configuration that allows the upper portion 18 to move in relation to the backpiece 12. The upper portion 18 may be configured with an upper protrusion 50 which increases the overall thickness of the upper portion 18 relative to other non-upper protrusion sections. The upper protrusion section 50 may be configured with sufficient thickness to allow the insertion of buttons 24, 26 into the upper portion 18. The upper protrusion section 50 may be a separate piece from the upper portion 18 or may be molded, as an example, as a single piece. Motion of the upper portion 18 relative to the back piece 12 is allowed through actuating the upper portion 18 through buttons 24, 26 which allow the upper portion 18 to be engaged and disengaged relative to the backpiece 12. The upper lip 22 of the upper portion 18 may be either cut or formed to allow for the traveling of the backpiece 12 inside the upper portion 18. The upper portion 18 may be formed such that the junction of the upper lip 22 to the backpiece 12 in the fully open position, limits any gaps between the upper lip 22 and the backpiece 12, thereby presenting a flush appearance. The upper lip 22 may also be configured with a material in the cut out section such that gaps are limited when the upper portion 18 is engaged in the fully down position. The top 54 of the upper portion 18 may also be cut or formed such that the backpiece 12 can traverse through the top 54 when the upper portion 18 is placed in a down or engaged position.

The buttons 24, 26 may be configured in an overall rectangular configuration for insert into the upper protrusion section 50. The buttons 24, 26 may also be formed in another configuration such as non-limiting round, oval and square shapes. Although illustrated as a set of two buttons, a single button actuating the engagers 36 may also be used. The buttons 24, 26 may also be configured with a button surface 56 that enhances friction to allow easy actuation. The button surface 56 maybe a stubble configuration, a ridged surface or the surface may be configured with a material increasing tactile friction, such as rubber. Additionally, the button surface 56 may have indentations corresponding to finger hold positions. The buttons 24, 26 and/or the button surface 56 may have a different color than the rest of the device 10 to allow a user to easily identify the buttons 24, 26 for actuation.

A surface 20 is positioned on the upper portion 18 to allow signage, writing or other forms of information to be positioned on the upper portion 18. The surface 20 may be positioned on the upper portion 18 in an elevated configuration relative to a lower portion 32 of the upper portion 18 to allow surface 20 to be more visible to an observer. The surface 20 may also be configured to be recessed allowing placement of articles into the recess. The lower section 28 may also be configured with a surface to allow attachment of signage. The surface 20 may formed or created to allow the desired signage, writing or other form of information to be directly incorporated into the surface. The surface 20 may also be formed to allow the attachment of a sticker or other similar unit to attach the writing to the upper portion 18. Additionally the signage, writing or other form of information, as well as the surface 20 itself, may be colored differently compared to the rest of the device 10 to allow for an eye catching overall design.

Although the container holding device 10 is illustrated in Figure 1 as generally egg- shaped, other configurations are available, including square and rectangular as non- limiting alternate configurations. The overall configuration of the device 10 may limit or eliminate sharp corners thereby limiting user safety concerns.

As provided in Figure 1, the upper portion 18 is illustrated in an engaged position. The upper portion 18 is positioned such that the upper lip 22 of the upper portion 18 is at a minimum distance relative to end 34. According to the height of the container to be retained, the distance between the engaged position of the upper portion 18 and the end 34 may be modified such that a wide or narrow opening is created.

Referring to Figure 2, a back view of the container holding device 10 is illustrated. A series of two guideways 42 channel the upper portion 18 to an engaged position. A pair of engagers 36 connected to the upper portion 18 are configured to engage respective teeth 40 on slides 48. The engagers 36 are connected to the upper portion 18 through the use of screws 46. The engagers 36 may also be molded or formed in a single piece with the buttons 24,26. The engagers 36 are biased such that the engagers 36, in an "at rest" position, engage the teeth 40. The engagers 36 are configured such that when they engage teeth 40, the upper portion 18 may not be moved in a direction away from end 34 without depressing the corresponding buttons 24, 26 thus locking the upper portion 18 in a relative position to the backpiece 12. The engagers 36 can be when the buttons 24, 26 are depressed.

The engagers 36 are also configured to extend through opening 44 in backpiece 12 to engage the teeth 40 of the slides.

The teeth 40 of the illustrated embodiment are configured in a direction slanted toward end 34. Through this configuration, the upper part 18 may be slid down on the backpiece 12 to a desired distance between the lip 14 and the upper lip 22. The upper part 18 may not be moved in a direction away from the end 34 without depressing the buttons 24, 26. The teeth 40 may be positioned, as well as the corresponding teeth of the engagers 38, such that one set of teeth 40 may be oppositely configured than the other set of teeth 40. The configuration would therefore always require depressing buttons 24, 26 to allow movement in either a down/engaged position and an up/disengaged position.

Member 48 provides a structural support to the lower section 28 thereby allowing a relatively stiff lower section 28 minimizing overall flexure under load. Although illustrated as a cross member, other non-limiting examples include posts or bars.

The lower section 28 may also be configured with stands 52 which are configured to interface with a wall surface or mounting plate. The stands 52 may be configured to have an overall height equal to the depth of the entire lower section of the device 10. As a result, the lower section 28 may interface with the wall at multiple contact points allowing a stable placement on the wall. The illustrated configuration provides 4 contact points, however more or less stands 52 may be used. The ends of the stands 52 may be coated or formed from a slip-resistant materials, such as rubber, to provide superior contact between the device 10 and the wall surface.

The device 10 may also be attached to a surface, such as a wall, through the use of an adhesive strip or mechanical attachment. The device 10 may also be configured with an integral magnet to allow the device 10 to be attached to a metallic surface. The device 10 may be formed of plastic, for example, by injection molding.

Figure 3 illustrates a top perspective view of the device 10. Buttons 24, 26 are placed in the protrusion section 50 to allow a user to actuate the engagers 36 to slide the upper portion 18 over the backpiece 12. Top 54 may be configured with arcs 60 to provide a smooth exterior between the top 54 and the flanks 62 of the upper portionlδ. Other configurations are possible, wherein the arcs 60 may be configured as angular surfaces for a different visual appearance. In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to the specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device as illustrated and described.

2. A container holding device comprising: a backpiece with an opening, the backpiece configured with a slide drawing teeth; an upper portion positioned on the backpiece, the upper portion configured to slide on the backpiece from a first position to and end position. at least two engagers connected to the upper portion, the engagers configured to engage the teeth, at least a part of the engagers extending through the opening; and at least one button positioned in the upper portion, the at least one button configured to move the engagers from an engaged position locking the upper portion to the backpiece to a disengaged position.