US3241795A

US3241795A - Self-holding device

Info

Publication number: US3241795A
Application number: US354703A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruce J Frye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-25
Filing date: 1964-03-25
Publication date: 1966-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-22

Description

March 22, 1966 B FRYE 3241395 SELF HOLDING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 ini 26 INVENTOR. BRuc-E I FR ya March 22, 1966 B. J. FRYE &2413795 SELF-HOLDING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FILE'. .ZD

INVENTOR. Eki/CE J' FRVE United States Patent O 3,241,795 SELF-HOLDING DEVICE Bruce J. F'ye, 1806 Longview Drive, New Brighton 12, Minn. Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 354,703 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-28) This invention relates to improvement in a product -comprisng an article holding device particularly adapted to be self supporting by being removably self adhesive. More particularly the invention herein relates to an article holding member having a side having a non-Sticky or non-tacky surface structure which has a removable pressure responsive self adhesive characteristic of unlimited duration and the load carried by said member is centered substantially centrally of said side.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide an improved releasable self supporting article holding device.

It is another object of this invention to provide an article holding device which is removably adhesive to a smooth substantially non porous surface.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an article holding device arranged and constructed to have one surface portion thereof having a non-tacky removably self adhesive surface having an adhesive characteristic of unlimited duration with respect to a smooth surface leaving no residue upon removal and being arranged to have the load carried thereby substantially centered relative to said adhesive surface.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of applicant's device in front elevation in Operating position;

FIG. 2 is a View in vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 as indcated;

FIG. 3 is a View similar .to FIG. 1 showing a modification;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 as indcated;

FIG. 5 is a View in front elevation on `an enlarged scale of another modification of applicanfis device with portions thereof shown in dotted line;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 as indcated;

FIG. 7 is a View in front elevation of another modification of applicanfs device;

FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 7 on an enlarged scale showing article holding means in connection therewith;

FIG. 9 is a view in vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8 as indcated;

FIG. 10 is a View in horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 7;

FIG 11 is a top plan view of another modification of applicant's device showing the same in Operating position;

FIG. 1'2 is a View on an enlarged scale in vertical section taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11 as indcated;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 taken in perspective on an enlarged scale showing applicant`s device in Operating position; and

FIG. 14 is a view taken in vertical section on line 14-14 of FIG. 13 as indcated.

Referring to the drawings and with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 13 and 14, a preferred embodiment of applicant's device is shown and is indicated generally by the reference character 10. Applicant`s device comprises a main body portion 12 which may be otherwise "ice forme-d but which is here disclosed formed of a flexible relatively soft :sheet of plastic material such as of poly- Vinyl chloride, and having a polished side forming a back or undersurface 13. A chief characteristic of this material is that said polished surface will adhere to another polished surface and will adhere most effectively to a clean polished or smooth nonporous surface. Said surface has been found to have especially good adherence to a surface such as of glass or tile and thus said back surface 13 forms a non-tacky removable pressure sensitive adhesive surface having an adhesive characteristic of unlimited duration. Under such conditions said body member 12 in adhering to a polished nonporous surface has been found *o have substantial load hearing capacity.

The particular characteristic of relatively soft polyvinyl chloride as above set forth has been disclosed in applicants Patent No. 3,098,272, dated July 23, 1963. Within the disclosure herein however, the applicant sets forth specific improvement in the disclosed product or device over what is shown in said patent.

Said body portion 12 has been found to have substantial load hearing Capacity in a specific .type of application. Any separation of an edge of peripheral portion of the body portion 12 from the surface to which it is adhering will negative its load hearing capacity and said portion will readily come free from the supporting surface. Thus the perimeter portion of said body portion has very limited load hearing capacity. However it has been found that when a load is .applied centrally of said body portion 12 or if applied directly to an area spaced inwardly of the perimeter of said body portion, then said body portion has a very substantial load bearing capacity of unlimited duration. The maximum load bearing Capacity of said body portion 12 is utilized with a centrally applied load.

Overlying the upper half of the outer surface or upper surface of said body portion 12 is a sheet of flexible material ,16 of substantial tensile strength indicated here as being a sheet of plastic material which is secured to said body portion 12 as by bonding or fusing by means well known in the art Extending centrally transversely from the lower edge portion 17 of said sheet of material 16 is a tab or flap member 19. It is within the scope of the invention herein to have said tab member secured to said body portion 12 in various other ways, such as by being directly integral therewith as by fusing or bonding.

Various article holding means may be made integral with said tab member. In the instant embodiment a hook member 20 is shown overlying said tab member 19 and having a reinforcing plate member 21 underlying said tab and being secured thereto through said tab mernber by a rivet 22.

operation Tto be put into use, the body portion 12 will be pressed against a suitable surface 24, such as a surface of glass or tile, first wiping said surface clean. Pressure applied against substantially the whole upper surface of said member 10, such as by moving the ball of the thumb thereover, is all that is required for good adherence. The member 10 is then ready for immediate use. Any desired article may be hung onto or secured to the hook member 20.

The entire load 'being hung onto said hook member 20, such as the work piece or article 15, may be looked upon as being centered along the central upper secured edge portion of said tab member 19. The effect of the load on the member 10 and more specifically on the main body portion 12 is indicated in FIGS. 13 and 14.. Thus the load is applied centrally of said body portion 12. It is noted that at the point where the direct efiect of the load is felt there is a tendency of a slight pulling away of the body portion 12 from the supporting surface 24 within the small area indicated by the reference character 14. This occurs when the load approaches the maximum holding Capacity of said body portion 12, The holding principle of said body portion 12 or more specifically of the side 13 is not fully understood. It is believed that there is a partial vacuum created and that at least some molecular adhesion is present. The small area 14 which is indicated as tending to pull away from said supporting surface 24 is for all practical purposes pulling against a vacuum and that this area does not appear to increase in extent with the passage of time.

Applicant's holding member when on the order of one and one-half inches square in size has been found to support a weight of fifteen pounds for an unlimited period of time. When it is desired to remove the member 10, it is necessary only to raise a small peripheral portion and the whole device will readily come free. There is no adhesive residue to clean away and the adhesive elfect or characteristic of said side 13 does not appear to diminish through use.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a modification of applicant`s device is shown and is indicated generally by the reference character 25. Said device 25 comprises a main body portion 26 identical to said body portion 12 and has bonded or fused thereto in a manner well known in the art a rigid plate member 27 substantially smaller in size than said body portion 26 and is Situated centrally thereof. Integral and rigid with said plate member 27 and projecting therefrom is an article holding member 28 shown here to be in the form of a hook. Said member 28 however may be variously fornred.

The use of this device is obvious from the description thereof and from the use described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Said 'member 25 is shown in connection with the supporting surface 24.

Another modification of applicanfs device is shown in FIGS. and 6 and is indicated generally by the reference character 30. Said modified device 30 mounted on the supporting surface 24 comprises a main body portion 32 identical in Construction to the body portion 12 hereinbefore described,

Overlying said main body portion 32 is a member 33 here shown in the form of a sheet of suitable plastic material bonded or fused to said underlying portion 32 and comprising a lower portion 34 and an upper portion 35 having a separation therebetween and having said separation coupled by a pair of horizontally disposed

web portions

36 and 37 spaced inwardly at their remote ends from the side edge portions of said main body portion 32 and being spaced apart therebetween at their adjacent end portions. Said Web portions as 'indicated in FIG. 6 are integral with said

portions

34 and 35 but are free from attachment with said underlying body portion 32. It is within the scope of the invention herein that said web portions may be directly integral with said underlying body portion 32.

An article holding member 39 here indicated as being a hook is shown carried by said

web portions

36 and 37. Said hook member is shown having

ears

41 and 42 underlying said web portions and being supported thereby.

The use of this modification of applicant's device is believed obvious from the description thereof and from the description of the use of the first embodiment above described.

With reference to FIGS. 7-10, a modification of applicanfs device is shown being indicated generally by the reference character 40 'which is shown mounted upon the supporting surface 24.

Said device 40 comprises a main body portion 41 identical to said body portion 12 having spaced

Overlying portions

42 and 43 of suitable plastic sheet material bonded or fused thereto and being separated centrally vertically the'eof as illustrated. Said separated portions are joined by a web 44 of relatively narrow width integral with the spaced adjacent edge portions of said

portions

42 and 43 and being free of the underlying body portion 41.

Said web is adapted to support an article holding member of suitable Construction which in the present embodiment is shown in the form of a spring loaded clip 45 having a reversely curved rear plate portion 46 forming a clamp which is disposed or clamped over said web 44 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The application or use of this modification of applicant`s device is believed to be clearly indicated from the description thereof taken in view of the first embodiment above described.

A final modification of applicant's device is indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12 hearing the general reference character 50 Overlying supporting surface 24 and is shown to be substantially triangular in form having a main body portion 51 identical except for configuration with said body portion 12 first above described.

Overlying said body portion 51 and bonded or fused thereto is a member 52 of suitable plastic sheet material having a triangular web portion 53 centrally thereof. Said web portion has integral with said sheet member 52 side or leg portions 56 and 57 spaced inwardly 'from the respective outer edge portions of the corresponding sides of said member 52 and having its side 58 free and spaced inwardly from the corresponding side of said member 52. Said portion 53 thus in the form of a web integral with said portion 52 forms a pocket with said underlying body portion 51. Said free side 58 forms an opening into said pocket into which may be received a portion of an article such as a corner of a sheet member 55.

Thus, for example, four of the members 50 suitably arranged could very readily support a window or wall sign by simply receiving and supporting the corners thereof.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a very simply constructed self adhesive article holding device which has proved to be Very effective and successful in commercial use.

It Will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicant's invention which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended clai'ms.

What is claimed is:

1. A holding device of the type described comprising a body portion of fiexible material having one side thereof naturally self adhesive and forming a unitary unbroken surface removably adhesive with respect to a smooth surface, said body portion being adapted to form an air seal about its peri'meter relative to a supporting surface,

a member integral with the other side of said body portion having engagement therewith substantially centrally thereof with respect to said body portion taken as a whole,

said member comprising a pair of web portions having spaced adjacent ends and having side portions integral with said body portion forming horizontally disposed sleeves, and

an article holding means comprising a hook member having oppositely eXtending ear portions of relatively short lengths respectively carried by said sleeves and said ear portions are centrally located transversely of said body portion.

2. A holding device of the type described comprising a body portion of flexible material having one side thereof naturally self adhesive and forming a unitary unbroken surface removably adhesive with respect to a smooth surface, said body portion being adapted to form an air seal about its perimeter relative to a supporting surface,

a member integral with the other side of said body portion having engagement therewith at a central portion thereof With respect to said body portion taken as a whole,

said member comprising a Web having a pair of opposed side portions thereof integral with said body portion and having the portion between said side portions free from said body portion forming a sleeve, and

an article holding means carried by said sleeve.

3. A holding device of the type described comprising a body portion of flexible material having one side thereof naturally self-adhesive and forming a unitary unbroken surface removably adhesive With respect to a smooth surface, said body portion being adapted to form an air seal about its perimeter relative to a supporting surface,

a member integral with the other side of said body portion having engagement with a portion thereof spaced inwardly from the perimeter of said body portion taken as a whole,

said member comprising a flap having one end portion integral with said body portion and having a free hanging portion,

said integral portion being positioned substantially centrally of said body portion, and

an article holding means carried by said member.

4. A holding device of the type described comprising a body portion of flexible material having one side thereof naturally self-adhesive and forming a unitary unbroken surface removably adhesive with respect to ,a smooth surface, said body portion being adapted to form an air seal about its perimeter relative to a supporting surface,

said member comprising a Web having spaced portions integral with said body portion centrally thereof and a portion thereof free of said body portion therebetween, and

an article holding means carried by said free portion.

5. A holding device of the type described comprising a body portion of flexible material having one side thereof naturally self-adhesive and forming a unitary unbroken surface removably adhesive With respect to a smooth surface, said body portion being adapted to forim an a-ir seal about its perimeter relative to a supporting surface,

a member integral With the other side of said body portion having engagement With a portion thereof spaced inwardly from the perimeter of said body portion taken as a whole, and

said member comprising a web having spaced portions integral with said body portion centrally thereof and a portion thereof free of said body portion therebetween.

6. A holding device of the type described comprising a body portion of flexible material having one side thereof naturally self-adhesive and forming a unitary unbroken surface removably adhesive with respect to a smooth surface,

said body portion being adapted to form an air seal about its perimeter relative to a supporting surface,

a member integral with the other side of said body portion having engagement therewith in areas spaced inwardly from the edges of said body portion,

at least one portion of said member being free of said body portion in an area centrally located With respect to said body portion, and

article holding means carried by said free portion.

References Cited by the Examine' UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,148 2/1893 Turck 24-67 1,826,0 37 10/1931 Allen 248-28 1,863,430 6/1932 Woerner 40-158 1,976,607 10/1934 Engel 40-158 2,008,019 7/1935 Horlick 24-67 2,l4l,983 12/1938 HaWie 24-250 2,7 24,5 68 11/ 1955 Rabinovitch 248-29 2,765,998 10/1956 Engert 248-29 3,052,436 9/ 1962- Margulis 248--28 3,098,272 7/1963 Frye 24-67 FOREIGN PATENTS 353,857 6/1961 Switzerland.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, P''mary Exam'ner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Exa-m'ner.

Claims

1. A HOLDING DEVICE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING A BODY PROTION OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING ONE SIDE THEREOF NATURALLY SELF ADHESIVE ADN FORMING A UNITARY UNBROKEN SURFACE REMOVABLY ADHESIVE WITH RESPECT TO A SMOOTH SURFACE, SAID BODY PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO FORM AN AIR SEAL ABOUT ITS PERIMETER RELATIVE TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, A MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION HAVING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY THEREOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY PORTION TAKEN AS A WHOLE, SAID MEMBER COMPRISING A PAIR OF WEB PORTIONS HAVING SPACED ADJACENT ENDS AND HAVING SIDE PORTIONS INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY PORTION FORMING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SLEEVES, AND AN ARTICLE HOLDING MEANS COMPRISING A HOOK MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITELY EXTENDING EAR PORTIONS OF RELATIVELY SHORT LENGTHS RESPECTIVELY CARRIED BY SAID SLEEVES AND SAID EAR PORTIONS ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BODY PORTION.