OBJECT SUPPORT WITH A MAGNETIZED SHEET ATTACHMENT

Abstract

A structure for attaching to a substantially vertical ferromagnetic surface comprises a flexible magnetized sheet and attached to the sheet, a holder for holding, supporting, or restraining one or more objects. In one preferred embodiment the holder is formed of semi-rigid material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a regular application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a) claiming priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1), of provisional application Ser. No. 60/828,526, previously filed Oct. 6, 2006 under 35 U.S.C. § 111(b).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to devices for supporting objects, particularly elongate objects, in a preferred position or orientation. More narrowly, the invention pertains to a device for safely holding an article such as a weapon in an upright leaning position.

People have for millennia, used shelves, racks, hooks, trays, supports, pouches, and other elements (collectively, “holders” hereafter) of various kinds to hold or support various objects. Many of these holders can be easily removed from the surface on which they are mounted.

A specific function requiring a particular holder design involves supporting elongated articles at a particular location and in a particular orientation. When so held, the holder should allow a user of the articles to easily retrieve the articles from the holder. Such problems arise in holding hunting rifles and shotguns (collectively, “weapons”) in a safe yet accessible manner.

Hunters typically employ a pickup truck or other vehicle when hunting game. A vehicle allows the hunter to easily access the hunting area and to easily remove larger game from the area.

Although it is not best practice, hunters sometimes lean their weapon against the tailgate or side of the vehicle used to carry them to the hunting area. Weapons, when leaned against a vehicle, are invariably oriented with the muzzle pointing upward because elementary weapon safety teaches that the muzzle of a weapon should never be pressed into the ground. Doing so may allow an obstruction to lodge in the bore. Even more importantly, a weapon, loaded or unloaded, should never be pointed in a direction where discharge will cause harm to a person or property.

In some cases, the hunter may lean a weapon against the vehicle within an angle formed by two components of the vehicle constrains the weapon from toppling to the ground. If a weapon is leaned against a smooth vehicle surface however, it is easy for the weapon's muzzle to slide along a surface of the vehicle and fall to the ground. When this happens with a loaded weapon whose safety is off or becomes turned off as a result of the fall, discharge of the weapon can occur. This event creates an extremely dangerous situation where occasionally an individual in the area is hit, injured, and even killed. It seems in view of reported accidents, that hunters do not always take the precautions necessary to assure that a leaned weapon will not topple to the ground.

Even if no risk of injury exists, the mere act of leaning a weapon against a vehicle may scratch or dent the sheet metal of the vehicle. A weapon typically weighs several pounds with much of the weight in the barrel, so unless the weapon is leaned very gently against the vehicle, the sheet metal can be scratched or dented. And the weapons themselves may be damaged or scratched in such a fall.

One product on the market that attempts to offer a solution to these problems has a rack that includes a tray portion mounting pairs of fingers, corresponding fingers being biased inwardly toward one another. Straps made of nylon or other appropriate material have clips that hook to and support the tray from the upper edge of a vehicle window. Means are provided to enable the tray portion to be maintained at an appropriate height. When mounted for use, the barrel of a weapon can be inserted between a pair of cooperating fingers or projections to be held in position.

Mounting this product on the upper edge of a window is a drawback for it. If the door on which the product is mounted is to be opened, weapons supported by the device must be removed to prevent them from falling. As in the case of leaning a weapon against the side of the vehicle, if a person inadvertently opens the door mounting this product, a supported weapon may discharge.

Another potential issue is ready accessibility for prompt withdrawal by a hunter. It might be that the fingers between which the barrel of a rifle is held might be too tightly biased toward one another. Consequently, damage could be occasioned upon the rifle, and, if the weapon must be promptly retrieved, delays can be occasioned.

One version of the present invention in large part solves these problems of the prior art. The present invention safely supports a weapon leaned against a vehicle in a manner allowing easy access to the weapon. At the same time, the invention is easy to attach to and detach from a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A structure for attaching to a substantially vertical ferromagnetic surface comprises a flexible magnetized sheet and attached to the sheet, a holder for holding, supporting, or restraining one or more objects. In one preferred embodiment the holder is formed of semi-rigid material. dr

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting device in accordance with the present invention attached to a vehicle and supporting a number of weapons.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of the apparatus, some parts being shown in phantom.

FIG. 3 is a top elevation view of a second embodiment of the apparatus, some parts being shown in phantom.

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation view of a portion of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a portion of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detail of a corner of the FIG. 4 view.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a modified mounting device in accordance with the present invention attached to a vehicle and supporting a number of elongate objects.

FIG. 8 shows the invention configured as a magnetically mountable shelf.

FIG. 9 shows the invention configured as magnetically mountable pouches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a holding structure 2 forming one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Structure 2 includes a rectangular sheet 10 of magnetized material which mounts holder 2 on a convenient substantially vertical ferromagnetic surface. (“Ferromagnetic” in this context means that the surface comprises sheet iron, an iron alloy such as steel, or other material having a relatively low magnetic reluctance.) Such magnetized sheet material comprising sheet 10 is commonly available as a flexible sheet, which for this application is preferably in the range of approximately 0.01 inches-0.06 inches (0.025-0.15 cm.) thick. The attractive magnetic force between a ferromagnetic sheet surface and sheet 10 is preferably in the approximate range of 0.5-1.0 lb./in.² when the surfaces of the ferromagnetic surface and sheet 10 make full contact with each other.

The term “sheet” has the dictionary definition here of “a portion of something that is thin relative to its length and breadth.” The term “flexible” is intended here to mean that sheet 10 is able to substantially conform flexibly and relatively inelastically to a surface having a wide range of radii of curvatures, including large radii of curvatures, such as a vertical surface of a typical vehicle. As a practical matter, this means that the term “a wide range of radii of curvatures” includes radii of curvatures that are in the range of perhaps 0.75″ to infinity. At any rate, sheet 10 should not crack when flexed or bent during normal use. “Inelastic” in this context means that sheet 10 can be bent into a variety of shapes, and when so bent, will not tend to return to an original shape or to generate restoring force when so bent.

It goes without saying that for certain purposes, far lower flexibility may be suitable. For example, attaching holding structure 2 to a surface having a radius of curvature smaller than say, 10 ft. is unlikely because most vehicle sides have only gentle contours.

As seen in FIG. 1, when structure 2 is in use, the sheet 10 adheres by magnetic force to a vertical ferromagnetic surface 12 of a vehicle 14, for illustrative purposes, shown as a pickup truck. Typically, nearly all vertical surfaces on the body of a vehicle such as vehicle 14 are ferromagnetic. The sheet 10 can thus magnetically adhere to nearly any relatively flat vertical door or other surface on a vehicle 14 or at any other convenient vertical surface location on the vehicle.

A rack 16 in the form of an elongate bar adhesively attached to a bottom edge of magnetic sheet 10, functions as a holder for the embodiment of FIG. 1. Recall that a “holder” was defined above as comprising a shelf, rack, hook, tray, support, pouch, or other element intended to retain an object in a preferred location or orientation.

FIG. 1 illustrates rack 16 as having, when structure 2 is positioned for use on a vehicle 14, a long dimension with a generally horizontal orientation. For the application shown, preferably a semi-rigid material such as rubber or plastic foam forms rack 16. The material forming rack 16 preferably is flexible enough to closely conform to the contours of a vehicle 14 vertical surface when mounted as shown in FIG. 1, and adhering thereto under the magnetic attractive force between the vehicle 14 surface and the magnetized sheet 10.

“Semi-rigid” also implies that the material forming rack 16 preferably is rigid or stiff enough to deflect only slightly under light force tending to bend or shear the material. Further, the material forming rack 16 should not easily spall or shed particles. Many types of closed cell foam and dense sponge rubber are suitable for this purpose. Generally, the rack 16 material should be of the type that, after removing a deflecting force, returns to the approximate shape before the deflection occurred. Those with even minimal engineering skills will be able to select suitable materials with little or no effort.

The sheet 10 surface facing away from rack 16 should have a coefficient of friction sufficient to support structure 2 when subjected to substantial shear loading when attached to a smooth slippery surface, such as a freshly waxed or wet vehicle surface. Many rubber-based sheets 10 provide appropriate coefficients of friction without the necessity of applying a friction coating. Again, specifying an appropriate material and surface texture for sheet 10 is easy for someone with minimal engineering skills.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate a rack 16 having a portion with a cross sectional taper, as at 18. The taper extends and narrows from lines 19 spaced from and parallel to sheet 10 toward the surface of rack 16 remote from sheet 10, and shown as face surface 27. The tapered portion has formed therein, a series of bores or apertures 20 with axes 25 (see FIG. 5) oriented substantially parallel to the plane of sheet 10, and substantially perpendicular to lines 19, i.e. the length. Each bore 20 is approximately cylindrical and has a slot 22 extending from the aperture 20 through to the face surface 27. An individual bore 20 and the associated slot 22 collectively form a holding or retention feature in rack 16 that restrains movement of an object interacting with that holding feature.

Each bore 20 may be in the approximate range of 1.5-2.5 in. in maximum dimension perpendicular to axes 25, with an approximately circular cross section. Bores 20 need not all have identical cross section shapes or dimensions. Adjacent bores 20 may have center to enter spacings in the range of 3-5 in., and sufficient to allow space between weapons restrained in adjacent bores 20.

Slots 22 extend from each of the bores 20 to face plane 27 to allow a user to press a weapon's barrel into a bore 20 by deflecting adjacent portions of rack 16. Slots 22 may have widths from perhaps less than half the maximum dimension of the intersecting bore 20, up to a width substantially equal to the maximum bore dimension. In this latter case, a bore 20 serves no more purpose than to form the bottom surface of the associated slot 22. In this case, the slot 22 and bore 20 merge to form a single bore.

Where the design envisions deflection of the rack 16 material adjacent slots 22, relief slots 23 are desirable to allow for lower defection forces when pressing a weapon barrel into a bore 20. Relief slots 23 may be in the approximate range of 0.25-0.75 in. and extend to or slightly across lines 19. Where slot 22 and bore 20 have substantially identical maximum widths, relief slots 23 may not be necessary. Relief slots 23 may also serve to support small diameter elongate items such as fishing rods.

The FIG. 6 detail view shows an adhesive layer 30 that bonds rack 16 to sheet 10. Adhesive 30 should strongly adhere to both the rack 16 material and sheet 10.

The materials forming sheet 10, rack 16 and adhesive layer 30 will preferably be unaffected by temperature extremes, moisture, and substantial bending, since these conditions are likely to occur during normal use of structure 2.

In use, structure 2 will typically be attached to the side of a vehicle 14 with the long dimension of rack 16 approximately horizontal. A weapon 24 or other elongated implement is inserted through a slot 22 to support weapon 24 in a maintainable and generally vertical orientation. The vertical position of holder 2 ideally places rack 16 at a height near the weapon's breach when the butt 28 of the weapon is resting on the ground. The spacing from lines 19 to sheet 10 ideally is great enough to prevent contact between the weapon muzzle and the vehicle 14 side. This will avoid damage to the vehicle side when a weapon is inserted into the retention feature.

As can be seen, elongated implements are easy to insert into and withdraw from the rack portion 16 through the slot 22 affording communication between a bore 20 and the face plane 19 of rack 16.

The foam or other material selected forming rack 16 should have a coefficient of friction so that the barrel 26 of a weapon 24 or other structure would not easily slip relative to the rack portion 16.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus in side section. It is important that rack 16 securely attaches to the magnetic sheet 10. The glue or epoxy forming layer 30 must adhere strongly to both the rack 16 material and sheet 10.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus. In this embodiment, the rack 16 has a generally contoured and less angular shape. In all other respects, however, functioning occurs in a similar manner.

FIGS. 1 and 3-5 illustrate a rack 16 having five bores 20, but any appropriate number can be employed by the invention. The number of apertures 20 and the weight of articles to be maintained therein will, however, depend, to some extent, upon the degree of magnetic attraction between sheet 10 and a vehicle 14 surface. The greater the total weight of the supported articles, the stronger the attraction necessary. In many cases, sheet 10 provides a magnetization force in the approximate range from 0.6-1.4 MGOe (4.8-11.1 kJ/m³).

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the invention, configured as a shelf 40. A magnetized sheet 10′ is for attaching to a vertical, substantially flat, ferromagnetic surface. A shelf element 32 attaches at or near the bottom edge of sheet 10′, and on which objects may be placed for storage or deployment. A thickened portion 43 of sheet 10′ resists flexing of sheet 10′ under load. Triangular brackets 37 maintain the angular relationship between shelf element 32 and sheet 10′ when element 32 is carrying a load. The shelf element 32 may be designed to have some flexibility about an axis normal to shelf element 32.

FIG. 9 shows the invention embodied as structure 50 comprising a pouch 56 mounted on a magnetized sheet 10″ approximately midway between top and bottom edges of sheet 10″. Structure 50 may be usefully attached to a laundry appliance 53 to hold laundry products without occupying additional space in the room.

It might seem that a pair of more powerful rigid magnets carried on a support bar and with flux paths to concentrate the flux in the ferromagnetic sheet material, is a preferable design to this invention. Two reasons, neither of which is at all obvious, suggest this may not be true. The more powerful magnets may locally, magnetically saturate the ferromagnetic sheet, limiting the holding force, and actually provide inferior support. If the holding force of such an alternative design is sufficient for a particular purpose, the fact that the force is concentrated over a relatively small area may either scratch the finish on the vertical surface, or perhaps even distort the surface.

It will be understood that this disclosure, in many respects, is only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, material, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention.

It will be understood that this disclosure, in many respects, is only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, material, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is as defined in the language of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A structure for attaching to a vertical ferromagnetic surface, comprising

a) a flexible magnetized sheet; and

b) attached to the sheet, a holder for objects.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises an elongate bar attached to the sheet and having a long dimension, said bar having at least one holding feature for restraining movement of an object.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the holding feature comprises at least one bore within the rack, said bore substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet and substantially perpendicular to the long dimension of the rack.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the rack has associated with least one bore, a slot extending between said bore and a face of the rack facing generally away from the sheet.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the slot has a width within the range of approximately half the maximum dimension of the intersecting bore and the maximum bore dimension.

6. The structure of claim 4, wherein the rack includes at least two bores and an area between two bores having a relief slot, said relief slot extending from the face toward the sheet.

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the rack comprises semi-rigid material selected from at least one of the group of semi-rigid foam and semi-rigid plastic.

8. The structure of claim 6, including a layer of adhesive bonding the flexible magnetized sheet to the semi-rigid material.

9. The structure of claim 4, wherein the rack comprises semi-rigid material selected from at least one of the group of semi-rigid foam and semi-rigid plastic.

10. The structure of claim 4, including a layer of adhesive bonding the flexible magnetized sheet to the semi-rigid material.

11. The structure of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises at least one of a shelf, rack, hook, tray, support, and pouch.

12. The structure of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises at least one of a shelf, rack, and support.

13. The structure of claim 12, wherein the holder is mounted on the sheet at a point spaced from an upper edge of the sheet.

14. The structure of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a shelf mounted near a bottom edge of the sheet.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein the shelf is flexible about an axis normal thereto.

16. The structure of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a shelf, and includes at least one support attached between a point on the shelf near to an end thereof and attached to the sheet at a point spaced from the shelf.

17. The structure of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a pouch mounted on the sheet substantially midway between top and bottom edges of the sheet.

18. The structure of claim 1, wherein the sheet has flexibility allowing inelastic bending within a range of radii of curvatures without damaging the sheet.