US3559934A

US3559934A - Universal holder

Info

Publication number: US3559934A
Application number: US796810A
Authority: US
Inventors: Venita R Jensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-02-05
Filing date: 1969-02-05
Publication date: 1971-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-02

Abstract

This invention relates to holders and more particularly to those adapted to be used as card or menu holders. It comprises essentially a stand with a ring affixed thereon, and a swivel clip slidably engaged with said ring and movable universally about said ring for retaining cards, menus and the like in any desired position. This device is an ideal holder for memos and notes.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Venita R. Jensen 9110 Rayford Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. 90045 [21] Appl. No. 796,810 [22] Filed Feb. 5, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [54] UNIVERSAL HOLDER 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 248/121, 40/1 1; 248/316, 248/452 [51] Int. Cl G091 19/00 [50] Field oi'Search 248/469,

451,452,453,459, 316, 316.3, 316.5, 121;40/11, 11A,l6.4,16.6;2l1/45,120,124;24/243P,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 363,525 5/1887 Lipp 40/11 574550 I/1897 Lodge 24/243 1,178,237 4/1916 Keating 211/45 2,048,519 7/1936 Rose 211/124 2,435,174 1/1948 Bell 24/139 2,518,157 8/1950 Malpas 248/453 2,596,302 5/1952 Squyres 248/452 3,079,724 3/1963 l-larvel et a1. 248/316 3,343,683 9/1967 Wheeler .1 211/124 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,805 9/1897 Great Britain 40/11 288,015 4/1928 Great Britain 40/11 409,829 5/1934 Great Britain 248/452 537,563 3/1922 France 24/139 670,778 4/1929 France 24/139 Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Herzig & Walsh ABSTRACT: This invention relates to holders and more particularly to those adapted to be used as card or menu holders. It comprises essentially a stand with a ring affixed thereon, and a swivel clip slidably engaged with said ring and movable universally about said ring for retaining cards, menus and the like in any desired position. This device is an ideal holder for memos and notes.

UNIVERSAL HOLDER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is a decorative holder. and more particularly one having a clip engaged on a ring so as to allow the clip to be universally adjusted to various positions. The holder comprises essentially a body which may take the form of a pedestal with a ring attached to the upper end thereof and a swivel clip having an opening through which the ring passes, being rotatable about the part of the ring that passes through the opening, as well as slidable along the ring.

It is an object of this invention to provide a holder having a clip for holding cards and the like. the clip being mounted so that it may be adjusted universally to a variety of positions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway view of the pedestal, ring, and clip; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention with arrows showing the direction of movement of the clip between an opened and closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the body of the holder is shown as a pedestal designated by the numeral 10. It may be made of plastic, wood, metal or the like. Preferably it is made of wood worked on a lathe to be shaped so as to provide a decorative design. A washable latex paint is preferred on the spindle not only for its attractive appearance but also for the ease with which it may be cleaned of food and the like when the holder is used on restaurant tables, breakfast tables and the like.

Pedestal is provided with hole 14 along the main axis thereof to receive vertical extension 19 of wire ring 20. This ring 20 is preferably made of bright metal such as copper or brass and preferably is of an elliptical or egg-shape as may best be seen in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 also shows to best advantage the configuration of swivel clip 22 which is a French clothespin. It is formed by a single piece of wire wound around ring 20 at the middle portion of the wire to form a coil 24 with free ends that are shaped to form

upper jaw portions

26 and 28 that form a pair of triangular shaped configurations for retaining cards, menus and the like therebetween. These free ends are further shaped to form lower loop portions designated by

numerals

30 and 32 best seen in FIG. 3.

The wire-forming swivel clip 22 is covered throughout its length by a plastic coating illustrated in FIG. 2 to help prevent corrosion of clip 22 particularly around the upper portions of

jaws

26 and 28.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 is very simple. Swivel clip 22 moves easily in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about ring 20 and is then slidable about the ring to any desired position. Once swivel clip 22 is in the desired position on ring 20,

loops

30 and 32 are then pinched together between the thumb and forefinger of either hand to retract upper

horizontal portions

26 and 28 away from each other so that the desired item to be held within the holder may be placed therein. FIG. 1 illustrates card 33 clasped between

upper portions

26 and 28 in a horizontal position. Release of pressure on

loops

30 and 32 allows the natural resilience of swivel clip 22 to bring

upper portions

26 and 28 together, thereby clasping card 33 or any other item to be held therebetween. It is not necessary to alter the position of clip 22 on ring 20 in order to release the card or memo held between

upper jaws

26 and 28. This may be accomplished from any location merely by pinching together

loops

30 and 32.

Another factor essential to retaining swivel clip 22 in a selected position on ring 20 is the shape of ring 20 itself. The egg-shape or modified ellipse which is best seen in FIG. 2 is preferred for maintaining swivel clip 22 in a relatively vertical position. However, a more circular configuration can be used rather than the relatively straight side of the modified eggshape to retain the clip in a more horizontal position.

Referring to the modified form of the invention in FIG. 4, pedestal 10 is the same as described in FIGS. 1 through 3 designated by numeral 10 and having hole 14 provided axially therein. Rectangular frame 42 is configured to provide depending portion 43 insertable in hole 14. Frame 42 is a single metal band shaped to provide

horizontal base members

46 and 47. Depending portion 43 is formed of vertical downward extensions of

base portions

46 and 47. Frame 42 is further shaped to provide

vertical members

48 and 50 extending upwardly from

base members

46 and 47 respectively to the opposite ends of top horizontal member 58.

Clip 60 is a conventional clothespin composed of two half pieces 62 and 64 held together by resilient biassing means 66. This biassing means comprises coil 68 and a pair of outwardly extending arms, one of which is designated by numeral 70, while the other cannot be fully seen in the view illustrated in this FIG. These arms are provided with right angle bends. Numeral 74 designates such a bend on the arm that cannot be fully seen in this view. Bend 74 is shown fitted into slot 76 of piece 62.

Pieces 62 and 64 are provided with aligned hemispherical openings for rotatable engagement with horizontal member 58 of frame 42. These hemispherical openings divide pieces 62 and 64 into jaw portions designated generally by numeral 78 and pinchable portions generally designated by numeral 80.

Pieces 62 and 64 in the region of the jaw portions 78 are provided with oppositely facing hemispherical depressions that together form opening 82 between the closed jaws 78. Opening 82 also defines one side of

rounded portions

84 and 86 of pieces 62 and 64, respectively, that serve to clasp the card or menu between the jaws 78.

Referring now to pinchable portions of FIG. 4, numerals 62 and 64 are pieces provided with outward sloping pinchable extensions that create a V-shaped space therebetween to allow these pinchable portions 80 to be squeezed together pivoting around coil 68 as jaws 78 are retracted from each other. Release of pinchable portions 80 allows resilient biassing means 68 to close jaw portions 78 bringing

rounded areas

84 and 86 into contact.

The rotatable engagement of clip 60 about horizontal member 58 allows the clip to assume almost any position for holding cards, menus and the like.

From the foregoing those skilled in the art will readily understand the nature and utility of the invention and the manner in which it realizes the objects and advantages set forth in the foregoing.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A decorative holder comprising a body having an upper surface and a base surface, said body having an aperture in said upper surface thereof, a frame having the form of a ring and having two ends, one of said ends being vertical and affixed in said aperture of said upper surface, and a clip adopted for holding cards carried by said frame, said clip having an opening through which the frame passes, and said clip being rotatable about the part of the frame that passes through the opening and slidable along the frame.

2. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said ring has a generally elliptical shape.

3. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said ring has a generally circular shape.

4. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said clip is a French clothespin comprising a plastic-coated wire wound about the frame in the middle of said wire to form a coil leaving two free ends which are configurated to form jaw portions and pinchable loop portions on opposite sides of said coil.

the coil configurated to form upper jaw portions for retaining cards, menus and the like therebetween and lower loop portions pinchable so as to retract said upper jaw portions from each other, said wire being of adequate guage and consistency to provide resiliency to hold said jaw portions together

Claims

2. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said ring has a generally elliptical shape.

3. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said ring has a generally circular shape.

5. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said clip is formed of a conventional clothespin comprising wooden halves held together by resilient biassing means.

6. A holder as in claim 1 wherein said clip is formed of a single wire wound at its middle around the said frame to form a coil with free ends of the wire extending from opposite ends of the coil configurated to form upper jaw portions for retaining cards, menus and the like therebetween and lower loop portions pinchable so as to retract said upper jaw portions from each other, said wire being of adequate guage and consistency to provide resiliency to hold said jaw portions together.