Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided for storage of elongate articles in a vertical orientation, such as for storage of flexible esophageal dilators. The storage apparatus includes a gripping element of flexible material supported at a support frame. The gripping element includes receiving slots or apertures aligned with the spaced holes in the rigid panel. The support frame may include a rigid support panel with a pattern of spaced holes corresponding to respective ones of the receiving apertures of the gripping element. The gripping element grips and holds elongate articles at respective receiving apertures to suspend the articles in a vertical orientation. The elongate articles are retained in the gripping element until a user exerts a removal force on the article to retrieve it from the storage apparatus. The support frame may be disposed inside of a container, such as a cabinet or drawer.

Abstract: A magnetic holder for a funnel or other tool has a tapered, cylindrical shaft. One or more arms extend from the shaft, with a magnets secured to the ends of the arms. The shaft has a wider opening on one end, and a narrower opening on the other end. The funnel or tool may be inserted into the wider opening, while the narrower opening may optionally be capped. The shaft may have interior ribs. The holder, except for the magnets, may be formed of a molded polymer. In use, the magnetic holder may be magnetically attached to a planar surface.

Abstract: A vehicle has a door frame and a vehicle door assigned to the door frame, which door frame has a security compartment for holding valuables. The security compartment has a security compartment opening in the door frame. The vehicle door is movable between a closed first state and an open second state, wherein the security compartment is covered by the vehicle door in the first state, and wherein the security compartment is accessible via the door frame in the second state.

Abstract: A putter holding assembly for storing a putter golf club on a golf cart includes a tube for accommodating a handle of a putter golf club having a head of the putter golf club being exposed for gripping. A receiver is provided and the receiver is coupled to the tube. The receiver insertably receives the handle of the putter golf club when the handle of the putter golf club is inserted into the tube for storage. A pair of brackets is each positionable around the tube. Each of the brackets engages a structure on a golf cart for retaining the tube on the golf cart. A support is movably coupled to the tube and a towel is coupled to the support such that the towel is available to a golfer.

Abstract: A fishing rod holding apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a crossbar and one or more rod receivers affixed to the crossbar. Each of the rod receivers may be configured to receive a fishing rod. Further, the apparatus may include at least one bracket engaged with the crossbar and configured to engage a boat. The apparatus may additionally include an actuator engaged with crossbar and configured to rotate the crossbar to change an angle of the one or more rod receivers with respect to the vertical plane. A related boat and a related boat accessory operation method are also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle assembly component and a personal weather protector device holder having a device entrance opening provided in the vehicle assembly component. The personal weather protector device holder providing a device holding volume that receives a personal weather protector device through the device entrance opening. The device entrance opening includes an enlarged opening portion and a bridge opening portion that intersects the enlarged opening portion. The enlarged opening portion of the device entrance opening having a width that is greater than a width of the bridge opening portion.

Abstract: A rack to hold skateboards, longboards, scooters, motorcycle helmets, purses, umbrellas and other implements or accessories. The rack is adapted to be mounted on a wall or surface. The rack is formed of a lip extending from a rear support. The lip is formed of a series of rounded protrusions. Items to be held by the rack can be received over the protrusions. In one embodiment, each protrusion is angled at a predetermined angle from the front. This helps keep a received skateboard, scooter or other accessory at an appropriate angle such that the wheels or surface of the accessory will remain off an affixed wall to avoid damage to wall. The rack can also include a locking mechanism for locking adjacent protrusions. The rack is designed for safety by having rounded edges on all areas that protrude from the wall.

Abstract: A support structure is mounted beneath a shelf in a manner that defines a vertical axis, and a rack or wheel is mounted on the support structure for rotation relative to the support structure. Containers resiliently snap into circumferentially spaced C-shaped clips defined by the rack. On various embodiments, the support structure includes intermediate components that accommodate sliding and/or pivoting of the rack relative to the shelf, and/or a user may selectively remove the rack from the support structure. When the rack is mounted on the support structure, a user may rotate the rack relative to the support structure to alternatively rotate the containers to a forwardmost position relative to the shelf.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for holding and organizing articles that provides for easy addition of new holding elements to the system without the need to disturb existing system elements. The system includes holding “clips” that are deployable on the system “rail” by inserting a portion of the clip through a slot in the rail, at substantially any point along the length of the slot. The clip, upon being inserted into the rail, then lockingly engages the rail at substantially any point along the length of the slot.

Abstract: A storage device is provided for holding folding walkers in an arrangement provide easy access for cleaning, retrieval, adjustment, and repair. The storage device includes: an upper support component with horizontally-spaced J-hooks, and a lower support component with horizontally-spaced U-hooks. The J-hooks and U-hooks are arranged so that an upper portion (tube) of the frame of a folded walker can be engaged with a selected one of the J-hooks while a lower portion of the frame engages a selected U-hook and remains in place via gravity. A related method includes rotating hung walker frames to visually inspect, select, and then remove a selected one walker frame.

Abstract: A toothbrush holder enclosure is provided which includes a three parts: a back plate, a resilient clamp and a front cover. The back plate and front cover form a housing. The clamp part has an inverted “U” shape and is made of a resilient material giving it a springy property. The clamp is shaped to urge two clamp arms towards one another in order for the clamp to grip a toothbrush. Two rollers at the tips of the clamp arms engage a toothbrush head inserted in the clamp as the clamp is spread apart from the clamped position to a deviated state. With the toothbrush inserted, the rollers exert pressure on a neck of the toothbrush to hold the toothbrush fast in place. The rolling engagement action of the rollers permits gripping toothbrushes having heads fitted with rubber sides.

Abstract: A storage system includes a track supported by a base that mounts onto a downwardly facing side of a horizontal shelf. An axle is slidable along the track, and a wheel is rotatably connected to the track via the axle. The wheel defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced C-clips that releasably snap about cylindrical containers.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for securing a vertically disposed elongated cylindrical support member to a vertically disposed post or the like. The bracket assembly includes an upper bracket and a lower bracket. The upper bracket includes upper and lower plate members having uniquely designed openings formed therein. The lower bracket includes upper and lower plate members with the upper plate member of the lower bracket having a uniquely shaped opening formed therein. A clamping means is also provided on the lower plate member of the upper bracket and on the upper plate member of the lower bracket.

Abstract: A mounting system includes a first wall mount and a second wall mount. The first wall mount includes a first protruding flange having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a slot defined by an upper edge that intersects with the top edge of the protruding flange, a lower edge that intersects with the front edge of the protruding flange, a coupling edge that couples the upper edge to the lower edge. The second wall mount including a second protruding flange having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a slot defined by an upper edge that intersects with the top edge of the protruding flange, a lower edge that intersects with the front edge of the protruding flange, and a coupling edge that couples the upper edge to the lower edge. Sporting equipment can be deposited in the slots in at least two different configurations.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for displaying, storing and fixturing snowboards and glider type boards vertically either on the wall or supported from a floor stand. The device allows the quick and easy loading of a board and manipulating or adjusting the board's position. The device has multiple points or surfaces of contact, located on both sides of an elongated board placed in the device, which said points or surfaces may be cushioned, compliant and frictional so as to prevent board damage and to aid in supporting the edges of the board. The contact points provide frictional forces and horizontal vector forces which are the result of the downward gravitational vector force and slight downward movement developed by the weight of the board itself as it is transferred through the multiple contact surfaces.

Abstract: The storage device for an umbrella includes a quiver-shaped receiving housing (1, 30) provided with an opening (2) at one end for the umbrella (3) and a base wall (4, 34) at another end remote from the one end; a mounting device (18) including a base plate (19) and a mounting pillar (20) having a flange and arranged substantially at right angles to the base plate; and a joint (13) pivotally connecting the receiving housing (1,30) with the mounting means (18) so that the receiving housing (1,30) is pivotable from a stowed-away position (P1) into a swiveled-out position (P2) for insertion and removal of the umbrella (3). The joint (13) has a swivel axis (SA) about which the receiving housing (1,30) pivots and the swivel axis (SA) extends transversely to a receiving housing longitudinal axis (15). This joint (13) is arranged on a side of the base wall (4, 34) opposite from a receiving housing interior and hingedly connects a fixing bolt (14a) to the base wall (4, 34).

Abstract: An umbrella rack for motor vehicles, including a casing defining a chamber and having a plurality of top holes in communication with the chamber, a plurality of telescopic sockets respectively mounted in the top holes of the casing for holding an umbrella respectively, a sliding water tray mounted in the chamber of the casing for collecting water from the umbrellas being mounted in the top holes of the casing, and a mounting device adapted for securing the casing to the backrest of a vehicle chair.

Abstract: A holder for supporting an umbrella. The inventive device includes tip mounting assembly securable to a support surface for receiving a tip of a closed umbrella. A handle mounting assembly is securable to the support surface for receiving a handle of the umbrella to support the umbrella relative to the support surface for storage and drying of the umbrella.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench-rack comprises a hanging body and two retaining bodies. The hanging body is provided with a plurality of locking holes. Each of the two retaining bodies is provided on a rear surface thereof with a plurality of threaded holes for fastening the retaining body to the hanging body by bolts engageable with the threaded holes and the locking holes. The two retaining bodies are provided respectively on a front surface thereof with a plurality of retaining slots in which the ring wrench, the double-ended wrench and the combination wrench are held securely. The retaining slots are provided respectively with an opening and a hooked body serving to prevent the wrench from slipping out of the retaining slot in which it is held.

Abstract: A one-piece umbrella holder for a collapsed umbrella formed as a tubular member with first and second ends. The ends of the tubular member are structured to hold the collapsed umbrella loosely enough so that a user can push it through the ends but tightly enough so that it does not jar loose in ordinary use whether mounted horizontally, vertically or at an angle. The tubular member is open between the ends with a strip connecting the ends.

Abstract: An umbrella container equipped in an automotive vehicle and used to store therein an umbrella for a vehicle passenger. The umbrella container is comprised of a cylindrical casing disposed between the inner and outer panels of a rear fender of the vehicle. The casing is formed at its one end with an umbrella entrance. A cylindrical umbrella support member is slidably disposed inside the casing to be displaceable within a certain range in the longitudinal direction of the casing. The umbrella support member is biased toward the umbrella entrance by means of a constant force spring. The umbrella support member can be selectively locked at a plurality of positions in the casing longitudinal direction upon insertion of the umbrella by means of a multiple state locking mechanism, thereby making possible to store a variety of umbrellas of different lengths.

Abstract: An article holder for mounting articles on interior surfaces of a vehicle. The article holder includes a support member shaped to conform in a releasable manner to the article. The article holder includes a mounting means which is removably insertable into a fastening member mountable in an interior fabric surface of the vehicle. The fastening member is removably insertable through the fabric on the door, headliner or carpeting or floor of the vehicle.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an umbrella holder which comprises an elongate casing, a tip holder axially movably disposed in the casing and having a catch portion by which a tip portion of an umbrella is caught upon insertion of the umbrella into the casing through an umbrella inlet opening of the casing, a biasing structure for biasing the tip holder toward the umbrella inlet opening, a locking device for locking the tip holder at a desired position relative to the elongate casing, and an unlocking device for disabling the locking device when the tip holder is rotated in a given direction about the axis thereof.

Abstract: An improved umbrella support for use in vehicles and especially adapted for receiving folding umbrellas wherein the support includes a mounting plate and a trough member projecting from the mounting plate and extending substantially diagonally across the mounting plate for receiving a folded umbrella. A back side of the mounting plate defines indicia or a template for simplifying installation of the support in various types of vehicles.

Abstract: A bracket for storing an elongated object, particularly an umbrella, within a closed vehicle. The bracket comprises a pair of cradle type hooks, for retaining the desired object, and a corresponding pair of mounting arms. The cradle type hooks being connected by cross bar member. The bracket is mounted within the vehicle by sliding the mounting arms between the trim molding and the headliner.

Abstract: A wall-mountable umbrella holder comprising a hollow, essentially tubular casing having an opening at upper end and a perforated pan-like member connected at lower end for receiving and supporting a collapsed umbrella, means provided on the casing for mounting the casing against a wall, and a cup-shaped member threadedly detachably connected to the bottom of the perforated pan-like member whereby all of the perforations through the pan-like member are directed into the cup-shaped member, so that the water from a moistened umbrella disposed in the casing can drain through the perforations into the cup-shaped member for ready removal. The casing is preferably made up of two telescopic sections frictionally sliding one inside the other so that the length of the casing can be manually adjusted to various umbrellas. The pan-like member is provided with means for ventilation in order to insure air-drying and prevent mildew or mold.

Abstract: A holder is described designed to securely mount a hand shovel on various different kinds of equipment. The holder includes a pair of channel iron brackets mountable at spaced locations on the equipment. A first one of the brackets includes a slot for receiving the handle of the shovel adjacent its scoop, a pair of apertures on opposite sides of such slot for receiving a padlock or the like to close the open end of such slot, and a tongue extending angularly upward from the bottom of the slot to prevent removal of the shovel from the slot by passing the shovel handle longitudinally through the slot. The second channel iron bracket has an opening for receiving the free end of the shovel handle and maintaining it in place. A neoprene gasket circumscribes the opening to prevent the handle from contacting the metal edge of the opening and being damaged.

Abstract: A one-piece club holder for attachment to a vehicle door has a closed-end ring-shaped socket at its lower end and a transversely extending, U-shaped clamp at its upper end connected by a narrow strip having holes therethrough for fasteners to secure it to the inside of the vehicle door. Midway of the ends the strip has a portion widened on an arc to pass partially around the club, the widened portion being progressively widened toward the lower end to pass halfway around the club. The bracket is adapted to be fastened to the inner side of the door at its opening side at an angle of from 30.degree. to 45.degree. from the vertical so that the upper end of the club is available to be grasped for removal immediately when the door is opened.