SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A HANDBAG HOLDING APPARATUS AT RESTAURANTS

Abstract

A system and method directed to a solution to an ongoing problem that all women have when dining out, by providing a spring-loaded, temporary pole to be quickly and easily installed under a dining table, a tall bar table or the bar counter, then locked into place. It can be adjusted and removed with the same ease as installed. The pole itself is meant to be shared and can be placed between two women to accommodate their handbags. The hardware itself is designed to suspend 3 different styles of the most popular purses sold: a clutch/pocketbook, cross body purse (with a long strap) and a shoulder handbag.

Claims

1. A handbag securing system, the handbag securing system comprising: a spring loaded pole, wherein the spring loaded pole has one or more accessory mounts that have a flat surface with an aperture, wherein the flat surface extends into two convex surfaces that curve towards the spring loaded pole.

2. The handbag securing system of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded pole has a first rod that is movable within a second rod to compress a height of the spring loaded pole.

3. The handbag securing system of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded pole has a first rod that is movable within a second rod to extend a height of the spring loaded pole.

4. The handbag securing system of claim 2, wherein the spring loaded pole has a locking system to lock a position of the first rod relative to the second rod.

5. The handbag securing system of claim 3, wherein the spring loaded pole has a rubber top.

6. The handbag securing system of claim 4, wherein the spring loaded pole has a base or larger size than a middle of the spring loaded pole.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. The handbag securing system of claim 1, wherein the two convex surfaces extend upward into two concave surfaces that extend away from the spring loaded pole.

13. The handbag securing system of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded pole has an outside diameter 1? to 1? inches.

14. The handbag securing system of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded pole has a height of 28-30 inches, 36 inches, or 40-42 inches.

15. A method of securing a handbag under a table, the method comprising: positioning a spring loaded pole under the table; compressing the spring loaded pole a height to position against an underside of the table; contacting the spring loaded pole with the underside of the table with a rubber top; contacting the spring loaded pole with a ground surface with a rubber bottom; hanging the handbag on one or more accessory mounts connected to the spring loaded pole; and positioning the handbag on a flat surface of the one or more accessory mounts, wherein the flat surface has an aperture positioned through the spring loaded pole, wherein the flat surface extends upward into two convex surfaces that curve towards the spring loaded pole, wherein the two convex surfaces extend upward into two concave surfaces that extend away from the spring loaded pole.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, which are meant to be illustrative but not restrictive as to the scope of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the handbag securing system.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the handbag securing system placed under a table.

[0009] FIG. 3 is another view of the handbag securing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features.

[0011] Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

[0012] Exemplary is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect described in this document as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects.

[0013] Throughout the drawings, like reference characters are used to designate like elements. As used herein, the term coupled or coupling may indicate a connection. The connection may be a direct or an indirect connection between one or more items. Further, the term set as used herein may denote one or more of any item, so a set of items, may indicate the presence of only one item, or may indicate more items. Thus, the term set may be equivalent to one or more as used herein.

[0014] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments described herein. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skills in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

[0015] In reference to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the handbag securing apparatus 100 is illustrated in accordance with the present invention to be positioned under a table 200. This device is meant to be used when space is limited at the table while dining, for example: if four individuals sit at a four top, space is limited for a woman's handbag, perfect for large groups dining out. It should be noted that multiple handbag securing apparatuses 100 may be placed under a single table however one can easily be inserted between two people to be shared.

[0016] Handbag securing apparatus 100 may include a spring loaded pole 110 with two or more cylinders that slide and move over the next such that spring loaded pole 110 may be positioned and secured under a table or other apparatus at a restaurant or other type of establishment. In one or more non-limiting embodiments the outside diameter of spring loaded pole 110 may be approximately 1? to 1? inches in diameter. However, this is non-limiting and may be any suitable size depending on the circumstances and type of handbags that need to be secured. Spring loaded pole 110 may come in various lengths such as but not limited to 28 to 30 inches for the standard dining table, 40 to 42 inches for a tall bar table, and 36 inches for a bar counter.

[0017] Spring loaded pole 110 may have tension rods that may be hollow or semi hollow each with a capped end such as a smaller rod 111 and larger rod 112, as illustrated in FIG. 3 with a high-tension spring 113 affixed to one end of smaller rod 111 or between parts of smaller rod 111 and placed inside larger rod 112 where it is affixed to one end of the larger rod and extendable from other end of larger rod whereby smaller rod 111 may extend out or be moved from larger rod 112 when the spring is uncompressed.

[0018] Smaller rod 111 is then pushed into the larger rod 112, causing the spring to compress. Larger rod 112 may then be fitted with a special gasket or crimped slightly on one end to prevent smaller rod 111 from leaving the inside of the larger rod completely. Because the spring is compressed, the spring pushes out against one end of larger rod 112 and one end of smaller rod 112, creating tension to push against the underside of the table to apply pressure against the table to keep the spring loaded pole secured under the table.

[0019] In one or more non-limiting embodiments smaller rod 111 and larger rod 112 may be telescopic with an inner component and outer component whereby the outer component may move relative to the inner component or vice versa as illustrated in FIG. 3. The upward motion of the outer component relative to the inner component shortens the member whilst a downward motion of the outer component relative to the inner component lengthens the member. The member may have an adjusting mechanism or latch mechanism to adjust the height of the members and then secure the height such that the user may adjust the height of the system to accommodate for varying table heights. Members may have a twist locking system. Members may have a push button mechanism that releases a latch mechanism onto a disengaged position whereby the outer component of the extension body may freely move relative to the inner component in a linear telescopic motion.

[0020] Top side 131 and bottom side 132 of spring loaded pole 110 may be of a gripping surface material or any adhesive wherein the material prevents slippage between spring loaded pole 110 and the underside of table 200. Top side 131 and bottom side 132 may be of a larger perimeter and area to provide further support for spring loaded pole 110. The coverage area of the material may be an externally applied adhesive coating or the material may be impregnated within the top platform itself. In one or more non-limiting embodiments this gripping surface material may be a flexible rubber head for attaching underneath the table and a rubber base for grip and balance.

[0021] Spring loaded pole 110 may have a locking mechanism 140 to support the weight of the handbags where the pole will be locked at a specific elevation until the locking mechanism is disengaged including clamps, hinges, or latches. In some non-limiting embodiments spring loaded pole 110 may be locked via a locking pin that is inserted into a receiving element of the outer rod through an axial section, and into the inner rod or vice versa. Inner rod is thereby secured into the outer rod, though inner rod is allowed to twist and then slidably move within the outer rod until twisted again.

[0022] One or more accessory mounts 150 may be fastened to spring loaded pole 110, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Accessory mounts 150 may be bent or flexed such that accessory mounts 150 will support the weight of the retained electronic products or accessories without deforming from the chosen configuration unless enough force is applied by the user. Accessory mounts 150 may have a central aperture 151 utilized to be positioned over spring loaded pole 110 and fastened to spring loaded pole 110 by any number of fasteners such as latches, hinges, or adhesive whereby they may be permanently fastened or removably connected.

[0023] Accessory mounts 150 may be symmetrical (or in other embodiments asymmetrical) with a flat surface 152 having the aperture 151. The flat surface 152 may extend upward into two convex portions 154 that extend inward into spring loaded pole 110. Convex portions 154 then extend upward into two concave portions 156 that extend outward from spring loaded pole 110 whereby a gap is formed between convex portions 154 and spring loaded pole such that any number of articles may be placed into the gap. As illustrated there may be multiple accessory mounts 150 that are positioned at different heights of spring loaded pole 110 with different shapes and orientations to receive different handbags and apparatuses.

[0024] In some non-limiting embodiments accessory mounts 150 may have a gooseneck arm. The gooseneck arm may be a spring made of a high-strength steel to provide strength and flexibility and soft galvanized iron wire that is compressed into the gaps of the spring to provide stiffness and to hold accessory mounts' 150 position. As such, the user connects the hook of accessory mounts 150 to the location chosen, thereby securing accessory mounts 150 in place where it is ready to retain a hand bag purse or other accessory.

[0025] During use an employee of the restaurant or a user may position spring loaded pole 110 under a table 200. The employee or user may then extend spring loaded pole 110 by compressing the first rod to the second to a height such that the spring causes the first rod to move away from the second rod to push against an underside of the table. The employee or user may then initiate the locking mechanism to lock spring loaded pole 110 at a specific elevation. The user then may hang a handbag on one or more accessory mounts 150 connected to spring loaded pole 110. They may also place any other objects or apparatuses such as a doggie bag on flat surface 152 of accessory mounts 150. When the user wishes to leave, the user may remove the handbag and the apparatus from accessory mounts 150. When the employee or user wishes to remove spring loaded pole 110 they may disengage the locking mechanism and compress spring loaded pole 110 such that it may then be pulled out from under the table.

[0026] The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications suited to the use contemplated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the below claims.