Jar Holder

Abstract

A foldable holder for a jar that includes an attachment member coupled to an annular member such that each member is in a first plane in a first position and disposed in perpendicular planes in a second position. The annular member is adapted to engage ajar and is coupled to a cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to jar holder that converts to a use position from a flat storage position and includes a cover or lid.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Utility devices exist for assisting a user in holding ajar such that access is convenient. For example, in the context of fishing, many types of bait come in standard-size jars that either are kept in a tackle box, or, more conveniently, are kept in a pocket or worn on an article of clothing of the person who is using the bait.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,196 issued to Schwarze discloses a fishing-bait holder that includes a pair of lids for engaging bait jars at one end of a strap. At the other end, the strap attaches to a user's belt or belt loop through a snap hook disposed thereon. While this invention may be suitable for its intended use, the bulk of the two-lid design can make storage of the holder problematic. Moreover, engaging and disengaging one jar while another jar is attached to the second lid of the holder may be awkward, due to the shift in weight acting upon the strap.

Hence, it would be useful to have a jar holder that enables a user to conveniently carry a jar on the user's person while being a flat as possible to facilitate storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to a holder for a jar that can be folded between a flat position and a perpendicular position relative to the two main members of the holder. More specifically, the holder includes an attachment member, an annular member coupled to the attachment member and adapted to engage a jar, and a cover for the annular member. Preferably, the annular member and the attachment member are coupled by a hinge and contain components of a clasp such that each member may be joined together to form a configuration suitable for use in holding a jar.

In one embodiment of the invention, the annular member is threaded so that a given size of jar (e.g., a fishing bait jar) that is compatible with a screw-on lid may be engaged. The holder of the invention may also include a lid attached by a hinge to the annular member and an attachment member that comprises a clip.

In a method embodiment of the invention, a process for attaching a jar to an article includes providing a foldable jar holder having an attachment member, an annular member coupled to the attachment member and adapted to engage the jar, and a cover coupled to the annular member, wherein the annular member and the attachment member are coupled such that each member is in a first plane in a first position and disposed in perpendicular planes in a second position; engaging a jar within the annular member; and attaching the attachment member to an article.

Preferably, the method of the invention further includes the step of locking the foldable jar holder in the second position. The method also may further include the reverse process; i.e., detaching the attachment member from the article, removing the jar from the annular member, and placing the annular member and the attachment member in the first position or an unlocked position.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be forthcoming from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is bottom plan view of an embodiment of the invention in a storage position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the embodiment in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting steps in a method embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a locking mechanism for converting the holder of the invention from a storage position to a locked position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in the locked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to a new and improved holder for a jar that is convertible from an initially flat configuration (for shipping and storage purposes) to a second configuration that is ready for use. This allows the holder to be cast or molded as a flat object, which is simpler and more economical than manufacturing a complex three-dimensional jar holder.

Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 refers to a foldable jar holder that includes an attachment member 4, an annular member 6 that is adapted to engage a jar and that is coupled to the attachment member 4, and a cover 8 that is adapted to fit upon the top of the annular member 6. In this embodiment, the cover 8 is attached to the annular member 6 through hinge 10 to avoid the inconvenience of cover loss. However, the cover 8 may be coupled to the annular member 6 in other ways, such as through a tether (not shown) or simply by press-fit over the top of the annular member.

As is further shown in this view, the attachment member 4 and the annular member 6 are both flat, and, thus, occupy the same plane. In this position, the holder 2 may be stored or prepared for further use. If further use is desired, the holder 2 is folded along a hinge 10 located between the attachment member 4 and the annular member 6 such that the annular member and the attachment member are locked in a perpendicular position relative to each other (see description for FIGS. 4 and 5, below).

Turning to the cross-sectional view of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the attachment member 4 is more clearly seen to include clip members 14 and 16. The attachment member is constructed to permit the holder 2 to be attached to an article (such as a belt or belt loop; not shown) by securing the article between clip members 14 and 16.

Further detail is revealed about the area around the hinge 12 and within the annular member 6. While annular member 6 could be adapted to engage ajar in a number of ways, preferably, it contains a threaded portion 18 that interlocks with the threads of jars of a given size. Hence, the lid of a given jar is removed and the jar simply is screwed onto the threaded portion 18 of annular member 6. In the vicinity of the hinge 12, a clasp mechanism 20 preferably is located in order to reversibly lock the holder 2 into a position that is suitable for use on, for example, a fisherman's belt. The clasp mechanism 20 in this embodiment includes a receiver 22 and a tab 24. When the attachment member 4 is folded in the direction of arrow A, the receiver 22 is frictionally engaged by tab 24 such that the attachment member 4 now is perpendicular to the annular member 6. To transform the holder 2 from the perpendicular position the first (flat) position, the direction of force applied is reversed such that the clasp mechanism 20 unlocks.

Preferably, the attachment member and the annular member are formed from a single piece of material. Also preferably, the material used is rigid plastic, and the clasp is integrally formed within the attachment member and the annular member material.

As is shown in the flow diagram of FIG. 3, the invention includes a method for attaching ajar to an article. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the process of: (32) providing a foldable jar holder having an attachment member, an annular member coupled to the attachment member and adapted to engage a jar, and a cover coupled to the annular member, wherein the annular member and the attachment member are coupled such that each member is in a first plane in a first position and disposed in perpendicular planes in a second position; (34) engaging the jar within the annular member (such as through complementary threads located on the jar and the annular member; and (36) attaching the attachment member to an article. At any point during the above process, the annular member and the attachment member are placed in the second (perpendicular) position.

When a user is finished with the holder, the process is then reversed. In any order, the reverse process involves detaching the attachment member from the article; removing the jar from the annular member; and placing the annular member and the attachment member in an unlocked position. To facilitate storage, the unlocked position preferably would be flat (i.e., the attachment member and the annular member are substantially in the same plane).

Turning to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a holder 40 of the invention is shown in a first position P1. Towards one end of attachment member 42, a hinge 43 connects attachment member 42 to annular member 44 and lid 46. Disposed near hinge 43 is an integrally formed clasp having interlocking members 48 and 50, which reversibly lock the holder into a perpendicular position (for example, P2 of FIG. 5).

Thus, as depicted in FIG. 5, a holder 56 of the invention locked into the perpendicular position (P2) and having attachment means 58 including clip members 60 and 62, annular member 64, and cover 66 are especially useful in holding jar 70 in a convenient location, thereby providing ready access to the content of the jar.

Various modifications are possible within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A holder for ajar, comprising:

an attachment member;

an annular member coupled to the attachment member and adapted to engage a jar; and

a cover coupled to the annular member;

wherein the annular member and the attachment member are coupled such that each member is in a first plane in a first position and disposed in perpendicular planes in a second position.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said annular member is threaded.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein said cover is a lid attached by a hinge to said annular member.

4. The holder of claim 1, wherein said attachment member comprises a clip.

5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment member and the annular member are formed from a single piece of material that is foldable at a hinge to transform said holder between said first position and said second position.

6. The holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment member and the annular member are locked into said second position through a clasp.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein said clasp is integrally formed within said attachment member and said annular member.

8. The holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment member and the annular member are formed of rigid plastic.

9. A holder for a jar, comprising:

an annular member having a threaded portion to engage a jar and a lid coupled to a top of the annular member; and

an attachment member coupled to the annular member;

wherein the annular member and the attachment member are coupled such that each member is in a first plane in a first position and are reversibly locked in perpendicular planes relative to each other in a second position.

10. The holder of claim 9, wherein said attachment member comprises a clip.

11. The holder of claim 9, wherein the attachment member and the annular member are formed from a single piece of material that is foldable at a hinge to transform said holder between said first position and said second position.

12. The holder of claim 9, wherein the attachment member and the annular member are reversibly locked into said second position through a clasp.

13. The holder of claim 12, wherein said clasp is integrally formed within said attachment member and said annular member.

14. The holder of claim 9, wherein the attachment member and the annular member are formed of rigid plastic.

15. A method for attaching a jar to an article, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a foldable jar-holder having an attachment member, an annular member coupled to the attachment member and adapted to engage said jar, and a cover coupled to the annular member, wherein the annular member and the attachment member are coupled such that each member is in a first plane in a first position and disposed in perpendicular planes in a second position;

(b) engaging a jar within said annular member; and

(c) attaching said attachment member to an article.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a), (b), or (c) further includes locking said foldable jar-holder in said second position.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a) includes providing a foldable jar-holder having an attachment member and an annular member that are formed from a single piece of material that are bendable at a hinge to convert said holder between said first position and said second position.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the order of steps (b) and (c) are interchangeable.

19. The method of claim 15, further including the steps:

(d) detaching said attachment member from said article;

(e) removing said jar from said annular member; and

(f) unlocking said annular member and said attachment member from the second position.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein steps (d)-(f) are performed in any order.