Flexible support apparatus
An improved support and closure arrangement includes a flexible strap and one or more locking heads. The flexible strap has a series of spaced apertures formed therein. A first group of apertures extending from one end and extending over at least half of the strap, the first group serving to allow for adjustably forming an overlapped portion of the strap. A second group of apertures extends from an opposing end of the strap. The locking member has a central post terminating at opposing ends with radially extending, axially aligned discs sized for locking engagement with the apertures of the strap. A third axially aligned disc positioned intermediately along the axis of the post and also radially extending therefrom separates the opposing end discs so that apertures on either end of the strap may be selectively and discretely engaged and disengaged from said discs. The locking member includes a central bore adapted to receive a screw or equivalent fastening member. The arrangement is used as a support by overlapping the strap and locking in place a pair of the first apertures to form a loop which functions as a primary anchor for the support, with the locking member serving to secure the loop to a support surface, the end opposite of the loop secured to the support surface at a position most conducive to stable supporting of an object. The locking heads are adaptable for use as anchoring members in a variety of applications.
The present invention relates generally to support devices and methods for supporting objects onto vertical surfaces. More particularly, it relates to an improved adjustable support device which can also function as a closure for doors, gates, etc.
Support apparatuses for attaching objects to a vertical surface are known in the art and typically comprise some type of bracket assembly with several rigid support members configured to form the dual functions of vertical support and object retention. While these devices are generally functional they suffer from several drawbacks. First, they tend to require complicated anchoring systems to support them to the wall or other support surface and thus tend to do some damage to the wall. Secondly, they are not particularly portable in that they must be carefully removed and disassembled and are also bulky. Also, they cannot be easily configured to reliably support irregularly shaped objects.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,885 issued to Polad discloses a device which has a flexible strap for containing a cable, with a flat rigid portion attached thereto for support on a vertical surface. The rigid portion includes a plurality of pegs sized to engage mating holes on the strap to adjust to the size of the cable to be supported. Polad suffers from the drawback in that the rigid portion is relatively bulky and cannot be collapsed for storage. Also, the vertical portion orients the strap to limit the position of the article to be supported to a position substantially perpendicular to the rigid portion.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus which includes a flexible strap and a locking head. The flexible strap has a series of spaced apertures formed therein. A first group of apertures extending from one end and extending over at least half of the strap, the first group serving to allow for adjustably forming an overlapped portion of the strap. A second group of apertures extends from an opposing end of the strap. A locking member has a central post terminating at opposing ends with radially extending, axially aligned discs sized for locking engagement with the apertures. A third axially aligned disc positioned intermediately along the axis of the post and also radially extending therefrom separates the opposing end discs so that apertures on either end of the strap may be selectively and discretely engaged and disengaged from said discs. The locking member includes a central bore adapted to receive a screw or equivalent fastening member. The arrangement is used as a support by overlapping the strap and locking in place a pair of the first apertures to form a loop which functions as a primary anchor for the support, with the locking member serving to secure the loop to a support surface, the end opposite of the loop secured to the support surface at a position most conducive to stably supporting an object.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus which can conform to irregularly shaped articles. It is an object of the invention to provide a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus which is compact and portable.
It is an object of the invention to provide a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus which includes a matching pair of rigid anchoring members.
It is an object of the invention to provide a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus wherein said anchoring members have at least two locking discs coupled by an axial post.
It is an object of the invention to provide a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus wherein the size of the locking discs is varied according to function.
It is an object of the invention to provide a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus which has opposing ends where one or both end can be self reinforced using the anchoring members.
It is another object of the invention to provide a flexible adjustable support and closure apparatus having anchoring members which can be used as primary supports for suspending objects onto a vertical surface.
Finally, it is a general object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
The present invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown in
The strap 20 is preferably made of rubber or other elastic material. High strength plastics or other flexible material may also be used. Preferred material for the strap 20 includes EPDM® or TPE® materials. The TPE® material may be used to create straps 20 in many different colors, which may be used for color-coding where, e.g., each size has a distinctive color. Two groups of apertures 24, 26 are formed extending from the opposing ends of the strap 20. A separate aperture 27 serves to allow for the formation of a single loop 25 of strap 20 using the anchoring member 12 to form an anchoring end 29 for the apparatus 10 as can be seen in
Referring particularly now to
The anchoring member 12, as shown in
A key aspect of the invention is the flexibility of the components of the apparatus 10 when used to support positioning objects on vertical surfaces. To that end, apparatus 10 can be applied, in various configurations, to accomplish multiple tasks. For example, a pair of anchoring members 12 may be deployed in laterally spaced relation to secure paintings, posters and other framed items in a standalone mode (without straps 20), with the space 39 between discs 38, 40 serving as a channel or groove within which cables attached to a framing member may be seated. Member 12 may also be used with a pegboard to hang articles. Members 12 may be used with straps 20 to hang objects from overhead (horizontal) supports. Thus it can be seen that the anchoring member 12 may be used as a general purpose anchoring member for supporting various types of articles onto vertical surfaces such as walls.
With particular reference now to
As mentioned above, the apparatus 10 may be configured for many uses, and can be adapted accordingly. Referring now to
Also as mentioned above, an anchoring member 112 with only two discs, 138, 140 may be used as shown in
The apparatus 10 may also be used as a closure as shown in
The apparatus 10 of the invention would be packaged with an assortment of anchoring members, at least two from each embodiment as described in connection with
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:
Claims
1. A support and closure apparatus comprising:
- a flexible strap having a plurality of spaced apertures formed therein;
- at least two anchoring members, each of said anchoring members having an outer sleeve and an inner fastening element, said outer sleeve formed of at least two discs connected by a hollow shaft sized to receive the fastening member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least two discs are axially aligned in spaced relation along said hollow shaft.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer sleeve includes three discs axially aligned in spaced relation along said hollow shaft.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein two of said discs have the same diameter and one of said discs has a relatively small diameter.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein all of said discs have substantially the same diameter.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 1, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 3, 2010
Inventor: John Joseph (Sacramento, CA)
Application Number: 12/292,932