Holder for small articles

Abstract

A holder for removably attaching an article to a surface is provided having a conformable member, a hook and loop fastener on the outer side of the member, and an adhesive surface on the inside of the member.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present invention is an improvement on the disclosure in U.S. Ser. No. 09/433,832 filed on Nov. 3, 1999, which was a Continuation in Part of application Ser. No. 09/382,345, filed on Aug. 25, 1999, both abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a holder for small articles and, more particularly, to a foam holder for receiving small, linearly elongated articles.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In the related art, there exists patents for holders for objects, such as cigarette lighters, in order to keep a cigarette lighter handy. Most of the devices in these patents provide a cavity whereby a cigarette lighter of the disposable type may be inserted for storage. Some of the patents provide a means for attaching the cigarette lighter to a cigarette pack holder case or directly to the side of a pack of cigarettes.

[0006] The present invention is unlike any of these inventions. It is a conformable member that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated object. The internal conduit formed by the member has a corrugated inner ridges about the interior surface for provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace pathways. The conformable member has the loop portion of a conventional hook and loop fastener embedded in a recess on its outer side. On the inner side is an adhesive layer that allows the member to be attached to an elongated object. The hook portion with a peel off adhesive backing is sold with it to allow it to be attached to any surface.

[0007] 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: 1 U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 5,788,479 Galanos et al. Aug. 4, 1998 5,630,503 Rhodes et al. May 20, 1997 5,088,684 Torras et al. Feb. 18, 1992 4,852,729 Conte Aug. 1, 1989 4,230,224 Weeks Oct. 28, 1980 4,223,784 Kaneyasu Sep. 23, 1980 D 370,301 Murphy May 28, 1996 4,205,367 Arnold, III May 27, 1980 4,262,682 Banyash Apr. 21, 1981 D 402,400 Pausinger Dec. 8, 1998 D 376,871 Sanchez et al. Dec. 24, 1996

[0008] Of some relevance is U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,224 issued to Weeks disclosing a combination cigarette and lighter case whereby a cigarette lighter holder is removably fastened to a cigarette case via hook and loop fasteners. However, the cigarette lighter case cannot be attached anywhere but the cigarette case.

[0009] Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which allows attachment of a small elongated article to any convenient surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for small articles.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which would enable one to always keep a disposable butane cigarette lighter handy.

[0012] Further objects of the present invention are to allow for use with pencils and writing implements, hairbrushes, razors, toothbrushes and other grooming items, lipsticks and cosmetic items, lighters, flashlights and sundry other similar articles.

[0013] It is feature of the present invention that the loop portion is on the holder to make it soft to hold

[0014] It is an advantage of the present invention that it can be made to fit many small, elongated articles.

[0015] It is another advantage of the present invention that its elastic properties allow it to firmly conform to a number of such articles.

[0016] It is yet another advantage of the present invention that with multiple hook components one can keep the holder in more than one location.

[0017] Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, the holder is equipped with a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro (TM) to aid in keeping the apparatus as well as the lighter handy. A conformable member supports the fastening means in a manner that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated object. The conformable member has the loop portion of a conventional hook and loop fastener embedded in a recess on its outer side. On the inner side is an adhesive layer that allows the member to be attached to an elongated object. The hook portion with a peel off adhesive backing is sold with it to allow it to be attached to any surface. In this fashion, the objects can be attached to any surface as heretofore described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for small objects according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown therein being used with a conventional butane cigarette lighter;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a front side elevational view thereof;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a rear side elevational view thereof;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;

[0024] FIG. 6 is bottom plan view thereof; and

[0025] FIG. 7 is front view of a hook fastening strip with the adhesive stripping still attached, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the FIGS. 1-7, wherein a holder for small articles 10 is disclosed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown removably attached to a surface 30. A conventional disposable butane cigarette lighter 12 is shown disposed within a conformable member 20. As best shown in conjunction with FIG. 2, the conventional disposable butane cigarette lighter 12 shown aligned for placement into the conformable member 20. The conformable member is affixed to a loop fastener strip 14, which is aligned with and attached onto a hook fastener strip 22. The hook fastener strip supports a hook fastener adhesive surface 24 on the inside of said conformable member 20.

[0027] The conformable member 20 is constructed of a foam or nylon material having a spongy, flexible texture but is otherwise durable. It is a conformable member that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated object. Conventional injection molding processes would be suitable for manufacturing the member 20. Linearly aligned along the outer surface of the conformable member 20 is a receiving channel 16 that extends the entire length of the member 20. Within this receiving channel 16 is affixed the loop fastener strip 14. An internal conduit 18 is formed by the member 20, and a plurality of spaced corrugated inner ridges 26 radially about the interior surface for provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace pathways 28.

[0028] The loop fastener strip 14 is attached recessed such as to appear embedded in the outer surface of the member 20. The loop fastener strip 14 has a loop fastener adhesive 32 opposite a loop fastener element 34 of a conjunctive hook and loop fastener. Loop fastener strip 14 is specially formed therefor for engagement with a hook fastener strip 22.

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a front view of a hook fastener strip 22 for attachment to a surface 30 with the adhesive stripping still attached. The hook fastener strip 22 is formed in a similar manner as the loop fastener strip 14, with a hook fastener adhesive 42 opposite a hook fastener element 44. The hook fastener adhesive 42 is designed to be permanently affixed to mounting surface 30. The mounting surface 30 may be any surface where it is desirable to conveniently place a lighter. Typically, the hook and loop fasteners (more commonly known as Velcro(TM)) are attached to lighter 10 and surface 30 by peeling back an adhesive strip revealing a self sticking surface on the strip.

[0030] The loop fastener 14 would be applied at the factory placed into recess 16, while hook fastener strip 22 would come in the same package with the adhesive strip still on. Additional hook fastener strips 22 would be available at a nominal additional cost. In this fashion, one could put hook fastener strip 22 on any surface or several surfaces if desired.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a front side view of the present invention, where it may be possible to emboss or imprint an advertising logo or the user=s name on the side.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a rear side view the present invention showing the loop fastener strip permanently affixed to the side embedded in recess 16.

[0033] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A holder for removably attaching an article to a surface, comprised of:

a holder, said holder constructed of a conformable member having an inner surface and an outer surface and forming an internal conduit within the inner surface;

a plurality of spaced corrugated inner ridges formed radially about said inner surface for provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace pathways;

means for removably attaching said holder to a mounting surface, said means in physical communication with said outer surface; and

adhesive means for affixing said holder to an article, said adhesive means in physical communication with said inner surface;

and wherein said adhesive conformable member can be disposed about an outer surface of an article.

2. The holder for removably attaching an article to a surface of claim 1, wherein said means for removably attaching said holder to a surface is comprised of a loop fastener strip embedded in a recess specially formed therefor on one side of said holder for engagement with a hook fastener strip permanently affixed to said surface.

3. The holder for removably attaching an article to a surface of claim 2, wherein said attachment means comprises hook and loop fasteners.

4. A holder for small articles comprising:

a conformable member that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface of a small, elongated object, said conformable member having an internal conduit formed by the member and a plurality of spaced corrugated inner ridges radially about an interior surface for provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace pathways;

a receiving channel linearly aligned along an outer surface of the conformable member that extends the entire length of the member;

a loop fastener strip affixed within said receiving channel such as to appear embedded in the outer surface of the member, a hook fastener strip for attachment to a surface by adhesive, said hook fastener strip for affixing to said loop fastener strip.

5. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said small, elongated object is capable of being a disposable cigarette lighter.

6. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said conformable member is constructed of a foam material having a spongy, flexible texture but is otherwise durable.

7. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said conformable member is capable of being formed by an injection molding process.

8. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said loop fastener strip comprises a loop fastener adhesive opposite a loop fastener element specially formed therefor for engagement with a hook fastener strip.

9. The holder for small articles of claim 4, wherein said hook fastener strip comprises a hook fastener adhesive opposite a hook fastener element.