Abstract
Method, systems, and devices for transportation and storage of items such as clothing are disclosed. An item storage system may have an item holder, which may be an item carrier, and a base onto which the item carrier is releasably attachable. The item carrier may have a cross-piece sized to hold and carry a first plurality of items across the cross-piece and a handle having a hand-graspable section between a far end and a near end that is attachable to the cross-piece. The cross-piece may have a plurality of partitions disposed along its length, at least one partition having a first compartment sized to secure a first item within the partition.
Claims
1. An item holding system, comprising: an item holder having a cross-piece extending generally straight and horizontally across the item holder, the cross-piece having a length from a near cross-piece end to a far cross-piece end, and having one or more partitions disposed along the cross-piece length from the near cross-piece end to the far cross-piece end, wherein the cross-piece has a first partition that is sized to contain at least one of the plurality of items therewithin, with: a first divider extending upwardly from a floor of the cross-piece, at least one portion of the first divider having a first selected height, and a second divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece, at least one portion of the second divider having a second selected height, and spaced a selected width on the cross-piece from the first divider; wherein the cross-piece has a mid-section between the first divider and the second divider and extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece a third selected height that is less than the first selected height and the second selected height; and a base arranged to have the item holder releasably positioned thereon or thereto and to receive and support the item holder, wherein the base has an upwardly facing surface thereof, wherein the upwardly facing surface is sized and arranged to be directly or indirectly releasably attachable to a downwardly facing surface of the cross-piece.
2. The item holding system of claim 1, wherein the one or more partitions are disposed on an upper surface of the cross-piece; wherein the first divider is attached to the cross-piece and extends upwardly from the upper surface of the cross-piece, wherein the first divider has a first surface facing the second divider and a first set of tiers along the first surface, with the first set of tiers having a first tier and a second tier, the first tier disposed between the cross-piece and the second tier; wherein the second divider is attached to the cross-piece, extending upwardly from the upper surface of the cross-piece, and spaced the selected width on the cross-piece from the first divider; wherein the second divider and the first tier have a first distance therebetween; wherein the second divider and the second tier have a second distance therebetween; and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.
3. The item holding system of claim 2, wherein the second divider has a second surface with tiers that face the first surface of the first divider and that correspond in position and height to the first tier and the second tier in the first set of tiers on the first surface of the first divider, with the first distance comprising a distance along the cross-piece between the first tier of the first surface and a corresponding first tier on the second surface, and with the second distance comprising a distance between the second tier of the first surface and a corresponding second tier on the second surface.
4. The item holding system of claim 2: wherein the first divider has a cross-section of a tiered pyramid, with tiers that decrease in width along the cross-piece across the first divider from a bottom tier at the cross-piece to a top tier; wherein the second divider has tiers that correspond in position, width, and height to the tiers on the first divider; wherein corresponding tier pairs on the first divider and the second divider have distance therebetween that increases based on a height of the corresponding tier pairs from the surface of the cross-piece, the distances between corresponding tier pairs defining spaces of increasing width above the upper surface of the cross-piece.
5. The item holding system of claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to the cross-piece, the handle with a far end, a near end that is attached or attachable to the cross-piece, and a hand-graspable section between the far end and the near end, the hand-graspable section being generally straight and elongated.
6. The item holding system of claim 5, wherein the hand-graspable section of the handle is disposable parallel to the cross-piece along at least a portion of the crosspiece.
7. The item holding system of claim 5, wherein the handle is releasably attachable to the cross-piece.
8. The item holding system of claim 5, wherein the hand-graspable section of the handle is disposable perpendicular to a plane that is defined by the cross-piece and a connector between the handle and the cross-piece.
9. The item holding system of claim 5, wherein the item holder has a rotatable connection of the handle relative to the cross-piece, with the rotatable connection arranged to allow rotation of the handle around a vertical axis extending through the cross-piece.
10. The item holding system of claim 9, wherein the rotatable connection is arranged to provide the user with a desired orientation of the handle relative to the cross-piece, with the desired orientation being selectable by the user.
11. The item holding system of claim 10, wherein the rotatable connection is arranged to move through a selected number of positions of the handle relative to the cross-piece.
12. The item holding system of claim 9, further comprising: a post arranged to be joined at the handle, a cam between the post and the cross-piece, the cam having a set of cam teeth extending outwardly around the cam's exterior circumference, the cam teeth being in number the selected number of positions of the handle relative to the cross-piece, and a flexible inset integrated into or fixed to the cross-piece, the inset having a series of inner arches being in number the selected number of positions of the handle relative to the cross-piece, and sized: to squeeze between the cam teeth and hold the cam in the inset in a selected angular position relative to the cross-piece when the cam is fitted into the inset, and to displace the position of the cam in the inset and hold the cam in the inset into a new angular position relative to the cross-piece when the handle is rotated around the vertical axis extending through the cross-piece.
13. The item holding system of claim 1, wherein the item holder further comprises a handle with a far end, a near end that is releasably attachable to the cross-piece, and a generally straight and elongated hand-graspable section between the far end and the near end of the handle, wherein the handle is sized and arranged according to ergonomic principles for hand-held transporting of the first plurality of items from one location to another location, and wherein the hand graspable section is arranged: to support a hand of a user grasping the handle and hand-carrying the item holder, and to slip into contact over and be releasably suspended from an element at the one location so that the item holder is caused to be releasably suspended from the element.
14. The item holding system of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a mount that is attachable to an article, said mount having: a mount arm to which the cross-piece is attachable directly or indirectly and that is attachable to the article.
15. The item holding system of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a stand having a leg with a near end and a far end, wherein one end of the cross-piece is releasably attachable directly or indirectly to the near end of the leg.
16. The item holding system of claim 15, wherein the stand further comprises a footing attachable to the far end of the leg and having a set of contact points that, when the footing is disposed on a surface, provides the leg with a multi-point contact with the surface.
17. The item holding system of claim 1, further comprising an item holder/base connection system with a first connector element and a second connector element complementary in size and arrangement to the first connector element, wherein the first connector element is arranged on a downwardly facing surface of the item holder and the second connector element is arranged on an upwardly facing surface of a support bar on the base; and wherein the first connector element and the second connector element are arranged to fit snugly together in a locking but releasable relationship.
18. The item holding system in claim 17, wherein the first connector element comprises a cavity in the downwardly facing surface of the item holder; and wherein the second connector element comprises a projection extending from the upwardly facing surface of the support bar and sized to fit snugly in the cavity.
19. The item holding system of claim 1, further comprising: a generally straight support bar with: a length from a near support bar end to a far support bar end, a downwardly-facing surface, and an upwardly-facing surface arranged to be releasably connectable to a complementarily arranged downwardly facing surface of the cross-piece; wherein the base is arranged to receive and support the item holder, wherein the base has an upwardly facing surface arranged to be releasably positioned on or to the downwardly-facing surface.
20. The item holding system of claim 19, wherein the support bar comprises a first support bar having a length from a near first support bar end to a far first support bar end; further comprising a generally straight second support bar having a length from a near second support bar end to a far second support bar end; and wherein the item holding system further comprises a generally straight support bridge arranged to releasably attach the first support bar to the second support bar along their lengths, with the support bridge: releasably attachable to the far first support bar end at the near support bridge end, and releasably attachable to the near second support bar end at the far support bridge end.
21. The item holding system of claim 9, further comprising a connection member between the cross-piece and the handle, the connection member having a series of flexible, flanged fingers extending downwardly into the cross-piece, wherein a selected finger has an outwardly extending flange at a bottom of the finger, and a retaining element with a protrusion formed on the outwardly facing surface of the finger above the flange, and a complementarily shaped recess in the cross-piece sized to receive the series of flexible, flanged fingers, wherein the fingers are arranged to flex into the recess and to expand therein and the retaining elements are arranged to press into the cross-piece to fit the connection member snugly and rotatably into the cross-piece to allow the handle to rotate around the vertical axis extending through the cross-piece when the connection member is pushed into the cross-piece.
22. The item holding system of claim 5, wherein the handle is sized and arranged according to ergonomic principles for hand-held transporting of the first plurality of items.
23. The item holding system of claim 22, wherein the hand-graspable section further comprises a bottom surface with an indentation sized to receive an element from which the item holder may be suspended.
24. The item holding system of claim 22, further comprising a handle hook disposed on the handle far end and extending downwardly toward the cross-piece, wherein the handle hook is sized and arranged to reduce slipping of the item holder off of an element from which the item holder may be suspended.
25. A method of holding items, comprising: a user holding and balancing a plurality of items across a cross-piece extending generally straight and horizontally across an item holder, and arranged to hold one or more items thereacross; releasably attaching the cross-piece to a support bar on a first base sized and arranged to support the item holder; transporting items on the cross-piece by hand from a first base at one location to a second base at another location; disposing one or more partitions along the cross-piece from a near cross-piece end to a far cross-piece end with one divider projecting and another divider, both extending upwardly from a floor of the cross-piece; disposing the plurality of items in the one or more partitions along the cross-piece from the one divider to the another divider, wherein a first partition of the one or more partitions has: a first divider with at least one portion of the first divider having a first selected height, the first divider extending upwardly from an upper surface of the cross-piece, and a second divider with at least one portion of the second divider having a second selected height and extending upwardly from the upper surface a selected partition width apart on the upper surface from the first divider, with the cross-piece having a mid-section between the first divider and the second divider and extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece a third selected height that is less than the first selected height and the second selected height; and wherein said disposing further comprises releasably securing a first item into the first partition between the first divider and the second divider; sizing the first partition to contain at least one of the plurality of items therewithin; attaching the cross-piece to or resting the cross-piece in the first base; removing the cross-piece from the first base and hand-carrying the cross-piece to the second base; and attaching the cross-piece to or resting the cross-piece in the second base.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising sizing the one or more partitions to snugly contain at least one of the plurality of items therewithin, wherein containing the at least one of the plurality of items further comprises snugly securing the at least one of the plurality of items in the one or more partitions.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the user holding and balancing further comprises the user grasping a handle connected to the cross-piece, wherein the handle further comprises a far end, a near end that is releasably attachable to the cross-piece, and a generally straight and elongated hand-graspable section between the far end and the near end of the handle, and wherein the grasping the handle further comprises the user grasping the handle by the hand-graspable section of the handle to hand-carry the cross-piece loaded with a first plurality of items thereacross; further comprising sizing and arranging the handle according to ergonomic principles for hand-held transporting of the first plurality of items from one location to another location; and further comprising sizing and arranging the hand graspable section: to support a hand of a user grasping the handle and hand-carrying the item holder, and to slip into contact over and be releasably suspended from an element at the one location so that the item holder is caused to be releasably suspended from the element.
28. The method of claim 25, further comprising positioning the item holder on a generally horizontal support bar on a base, the positioning further comprising releasably attaching the support bar to the cross-piece.
29. An item holder comprising: a cross-piece extending generally straight and horizontally across the item holder, wherein the cross-piece has a length from a near cross-piece end to a far cross-piece end, and one or more partitions disposed along the cross-piece length from the near cross-piece end to the far cross-piece end, wherein the cross-piece has a first partition with: a first divider extending upwardly from a floor of the cross-piece, at least one portion of the first divider having a first selected height, and a second divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece, at least one portion of the second divider having a second selected height, and spaced a selected width on the cross-piece from the first divider; wherein the cross-piece has one divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the near cross-piece end, and another divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the far cross-piece end; a handle connectable to the cross-piece, the handle with a far end, a near end that is attachable to the cross-piece, and a hand-graspable section between the far end and the near end; and a connection member between the cross-piece and the handle, the connection member arranged to attach the near end of the handle to the cross-piece and to allow rotation of the handle around a vertical axis extending through the cross-piece, wherein the connection member further comprises: a series of flexible, flanged fingers extending downwardly into the cross-piece, wherein a selected finger has an outwardly extending flange at a bottom of the finger, and wherein the retaining element has a protrusion formed on the outwardly facing surface of the finger above the flange, and a complementarily shaped recess in the cross-piece sized to receive the series of flexible, flanged fingers, wherein the fingers are arranged to flex into the recess and to expand therein and the retaining elements are arranged to press into the cross-piece to fit the connection member snugly and rotatably into the cross-piece to allow the handle to rotate around a vertical axis extending through the cross-piece when the connection member is pushed into the cross-piece.
30. An item holder comprising: a cross-piece extending generally straight and horizontally across the item holder, wherein the cross-piece has a length from a near cross-piece end to a far cross-piece end, and one or more partitions disposed along the cross-piece length from the near cross-piece end to the far cross-piece end, wherein the cross-piece has a first partition with: a first divider extending upwardly from a floor of the cross-piece, at least one portion of the first divider having a first selected height, and a second divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece, at least one portion of the second divider having a second selected height, and spaced a selected width on the cross-piece from the first divider; wherein the cross-piece has one divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the near cross-piece end, and another divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the far cross-piece end; a handle connectable to the cross-piece, the handle with a far end, a near end that is attachable to the cross-piece, and a hand-graspable section between the far end and the near end; and a connection member between the cross-piece and the handle, the connection member arranged to attach the near end of the handle to the cross-piece and to allow rotation of the handle around a vertical axis extending through the cross-piece, wherein the connection member between the cross-piece and the handle is arranged to attach the near end of the handle to the cross-piece through an aperture extending vertically through at least a portion of the cross-piece or through at least a portion of the near end of the handle, and to allow rotation of the handle around a vertical axis extending through the aperture; and further comprising a retaining element arranged to hold the handle snugly and rotatably onto the cross-piece when the handle and cross-piece are connected by connection member through the aperture wherein the aperture extends vertically through the at least a portion of the cross-piece; and wherein the cross-piece has a second complementarily shaped recess in the inwardly facing surface of the aperture, the second complementarily shaped recess sized and positioned to receive the retaining element.
31. The item holder of claim 30, wherein the retaining element further comprises a protrusion formed on the outwardly facing surface of the connection member, and wherein the second complementarily shaped recess is sized and positioned to receive the protrusion.
32. The item holder of claim 31, wherein the protrusion is retractable toward the interior of the connection member and when not retracted is deployable with spring force to hold the connection member within the second complementarily shaped recess.
33. The item holder of claim 32, wherein the retractable protrusion comprises a ring of retractable protrusions formed around a circumference around the outwardly facing surface of the connection member; wherein the second complementarily shaped recess comprises a ring of semi-circular depressions extending around the inwardly facing surface of the cross-piece aperture, with the ring of semi-circular depressions sized and shaped to fit and contain the ring of protrusions in the second complementarily shaped recess; and wherein the second complementarily shaped recess is further arranged to lock the connection member into a connective fit with the cross-piece when the connection member is twisted in a first twist relative to the cross-piece in a direction around the circumference of the outwardly facing surface of the connection member to contain the ring of protrusions into the ring of semi-circular depressions, and to unlock the connective fit when the connection member is twisted in a second twist relative to the cross-piece in the direction around the circumference of the outwardly facing surface of the connection member to remove the ring of protrusions from the ring of semi-circular depressions.
34. The item holder of claim 30, wherein the connection member further comprises one or more flexible flanges formed on and extending away from the outwardly facing surface of the connection member; and wherein the cross-piece has a first complementarily shaped recess in the inwardly facing surface of the cross-piece aperture, the first complementarily shaped recess sized and positioned to receive the one or more flanges; and wherein the flanges are arranged to flex inward toward a center of the connection member to allow the outwardly facing surface of the connection member to fit into the inwardly facing surface of the cross-piece aperture and then flex outward to extend beyond the outwardly facing surface of the connection member to fit snugly into the first complementarily shaped recess and to contain the one or more flanges within the cross-piece.
35. The item holder of claim 30, wherein the aperture extends vertically through the at least a portion of the cross-piece; wherein the connection member further comprises one or more flexible, flanged fingers extending downwardly from the connection member, wherein a selected finger has an outwardly extending flange at a bottom of the finger extending away from the outwardly facing surface of the connection member, and wherein a first complementarily shaped recess in the inwardly facing surface of the cross-piece aperture is sized and positioned to receive the one or more flexible, flanged fingers, wherein the fingers are arranged to flex and fit the connection member snugly into the first complementarily shaped recess and to contain the one or more flanged fingers within the cross-piece.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIGS. 1A-1-1A-4 are views of an exemplary item holder 100a configured as an item carrier 101a, with: FIG. 1A-1 being a side view of the assembled item carrier 101a having a connector 140a for connecting a handle 110 to a cross-piece 120 in a fixed connection 142a, with a hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 disposed parallel to the cross-piece 120, FIG. 1A-2A being a perspective view of the handle 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1, FIG. 1A-2B being an exploded view of the item carrier 101a showing the aperture 115, FIG. 1A-3 being a perspective view of the connector 140a shown in FIG. 1A-1, and FIG. 1A-4 being a side view of the cross-piece 120 arranged to receive the connector 140a shown in FIG. 1A-3;
(2) FIGS. 1B-1-1B-4 are views of an item holder 100b configured as an alternative exemplary item carrier 101b, with: FIG. 1B-1 being a perspective view of the item carrier 101b having a connector 140b for connecting a handle 110 to a cross-piece 120 in a fixed connection 142b, with a hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 disposed perpendicular to the cross-piece 120, FIG. 1B-2 being a perspective view of the handle 110 shown in FIG. 1B-1, FIG. 1B-3 being a perspective view of the connector 140b shown in FIG. 1B-1, and FIG. 1B-4 being a side view of the cross-piece 120 shown in FIG. 1B-1, also used in item carrier 101a shown in FIG. 1A-1;
(3) FIG. 1C is a more detailed side view of the cross-piece recess 121 in the cross-piece 120 shown in FIGS. 1A-4 and 1B-4;
(4) FIG. 1D is a more detailed side view of the complementary connection member 131 disposed below the post 130 shown in FIGS. 1A-3 and 1B-3;
(5) FIG. 2A is an exploded, perspective view of an item carrier 201a with a pivotable connection 242a between a handle 210a and a cross-piece 220a, the pivotable connection 242a arranged for modifying the orientation of the hand-graspable section 212a of the handle 210a relative to the cross-piece 220a;
(6) FIG. 2B-1-2B-4B are views of an item carrier 201b with an alternative pivotable connection 242b, with: FIG. 2B-1 being an exploded view of the item carrier 201b, FIGS. 2B-2A and 2B-2B being a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of the flexible inset 222b shown in FIG. 2B-1, FIGS. 2B-3A and 2B-3B being a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of the lower washer 226b shown in FIG. 2B-1, and FIGS. 2B-4A and 2B-4B being cross-sectional views of the connector 240b shown in FIG. 2B-1 when the item carrier 201b is assembled;
(7) FIGS. 2C-1-2C-5B are views of an item carrier 201c with another alternative pivotable connection 242c, with: FIG. 2C-1 being a side view of an assembled item carrier 201c having a pivotable connector 240c between a handle 210c and a cross-piece 220c, FIG. 2C-2 being a side view of the handle 210c of an unassembled item carrier 201c, FIGS. 2C-3A-2C-3C being a side view, a first perspective view, and a second perspective view, respectively, of the connection member 231c of the connector 240c, FIGS. 2C-4A-2C-4B being a first perspective view and a second perspective view, respectively, of a cross-piece 220c of an unassembled item carrier 201c, FIG. 2C-5A being a cross sectional view of an assembled item carrier 201c showing the shaped recess 221c, and FIGS. 2C-5B being a cross sectional detail view of the shaped recess 221c of FIG. 2C-5A;
(8) FIGS. 2C-6A-2C-6C are a side view, a first perspective view, and a second perspective view, respectively, of a model 251c of the material that was subtracted from the cross-piece during manufacturing of the shaped recess 221c;
(9) FIGS. 2D-1-2D-5B are views of an item carrier 201d with another alternative pivotable connection 242d, with: FIG. 2D-1 being a perspective view of an assembled item carrier 201d, illustrating the bottom of the cross-piece 220d, FIGS. 2D-2A and 2D-2B being a perspective view and top view, respectively, of the cross-piece 220d with an inset 222d fit into a recess 221d of the cross-piece, FIGS. 2D-3A and 2D-3B being a first perspective view and second perspective view, respectively, of the inset 222d, FIGS. 2D-4A-2D-4C being a side view, a perspective view, and a bottom view, respectively, of the connector 240d, FIG. 2D-5A being a cross-sectional view of an assembled item carrier 201d; and FIG. 2D-5B being a detail view of the connection member 231d shown in the cross-sectional view FIG. 2D-5A, with the connection member 231d fit into the recess 221d;
(10) FIGS. 3A-3E are views of alternative embodiments of connections between an item carrier handle and an item carrier cross-piece, with: FIG. 3A showing an exploded, perspective view of a handle-to-cross-piece cross connection 342a, FIG. 3B showing an exploded, perspective view of a handle-to-cross-piece star connection 342b, FIG. 3C showing an exploded, perspective view of a handle-to-cross-piece knurl connection 342c, FIG. 3D-1 showing an exploded, perspective view of a handle-to-cross-piece cross friction connection 342d, FIGS. 3D-2A-3D-2C showing more detail of an aperture 315d in a perspective view, a bottom view, and a top view, respectively, of the handle-to-cross-piece cross friction connection 342d, FIG. 3D-3A and FIG. 3D-3B showing more detail of the sprocket 328d shown in FIG. 3D-1, with FIG. 3D-3A showing a first perspective view and FIG. 3D-3B showing a second perspective view of the sprocket 328d, and FIG. 3D-4 showing a cross-sectional view of the center of the aperture in the near end 316d of the handle 310d in the item carrier 301d showing the wedge-shaped recesses into which the sprocket 328d may be inserted to create a friction fit of the sprocket within the aperture, and FIG. 3E showing a handle-to-cross-piece snap ring connection 342e;
(11) FIGS. 4A-4F are views of embodiments of partitions and components thereof on exemplary cross-pieces, with FIG. 4A showing a perspective view of a multi-partition cross-piece 420a with planar panels 412a extending from the upper surface 422a of the crossspiece, FIG. 4B showing a perspective view of a multi-partition cross-piece 420b with rods 414b extending from the upper surface 422b of the crossspiece, FIG. 4C showing a side view of a divider 412c with a planar surface 414c on a first side of the divider and a concavity 416c on a second side of the divider, FIG. 4D showing a side view of a divider 412d with a concavity 416d on both sides of the divider, FIG. 4E showing a side view of a divider 412e with a planar surface 414e on a first side of the divider and a tiered surface 416e on the second side of the divider, and FIG. 4F showing a side view of a divider 412f with a tiered surface 416f on both sides of the divider;
(12) FIGS. 4G-4K are views of alternative embodiments of upper surfaces of exemplary cross-pieces, with: FIG. 4G showing a side view of a grooved upper surface 422g of an exemplary cross-piece 420g, FIG. 4H showing a side view of a scalloped upper surface 422h of an exemplary cross-piece 420h, FIG. 4I showing a side view of a sinusoidal upper surface 422i of an exemplary cross-piece 420i, FIG. 4J showing a side view of a zigzag upper surface 422j of an exemplary cross-piece 420j, and FIG. 4K showing a perspective view of an upper surface 422k of an exemplary cross-piece 420k having a single partition that extends end to end across the cross-piece 420k;
(13) FIGS. 5A-5J are views of alternative embodiments of uses for an item carrier 501, with: FIG. 5A showing a side view of the item carrier 501 hanging from a hook 25a, FIG. 5B showing a side view of the item carrier 501 hanging from a closet rod 25b, FIG. 5C-1 showing a side view of the item carrier 501 hanging from a hanger bar 25c, which may be on the interior of a vehicle, with its handle 510 pointing toward the outside of the vehicle, FIG. 5C-2 showing a side view of the item carrier 501 hanging from the hanger bar 25c, with the handle 510 pointing to the interior of the vehicle, FIG. 5D showing a perspective view of an item carrier 501 hanging from a handle 25d of a laundry basket 20d, FIG. 5E showing a perspective view of an item carrier 501 slipped over a loop 25e on the top edge of a hamper 20e, FIG. 5F showing a perspective view of an item carrier 501 hanging from a horizontal rib 25f of a rolling laundry basket 20f, FIG. 5G showing a perspective view of an item carrier 501 hanging from a horizontal support rod 25g of a rolling laundry cart 20g, FIG. 5H showing a perspective view of an item carrier 501 hanging from a loop 25h on the rear of a backpack 20h, FIG. 5I showing a perspective view of an item carrier 501 hanging from the edge of a shelf 25i in a shelving unit 20i, and FIG. 5J showing a perspective view of an item carrier 501 hanging from a horizontal bar 25j on the frame of a walker 20j;
(14) FIGS. 6A-6F are views of embodiments of components of exemplary item holding systems of the current invention, with: FIG. 6A showing a side view of a stand 650a to which item holders may be releasably attached, FIG. 6B showing a side view of a stand 650b with an alternative footing, FIG. 6C showing a perspective view of a stand 650c with two legs, FIG. 6D showing a perspective view of a stand 650d with four legs and formed from two stands 650c, and further with a support bridge releasably attached end-to-end between the two cross-pieces of the stands 650c, and FIGS. 6E and 6F showing perspective views of hooks 652, 654 for attachment to legs of stands in exemplary item holding systems;
(15) FIGS. 6G-6K are perspective views of item holding systems having mounts that may operate as bases that may be attachable to another item to which an item carrier may be releasably attached, with: FIG. 6G showing an item holding system having a mount 650g which may be fitted onto a leg 37g or a frame bar 38g of a walker 30g, FIG. 6H showing an item holding system having a mount 650h which may be fitted to a vertical leg 37h or a shelf 38 of a shelving unit 30h; FIGS. 6I and 6J showing item holding systems having vertical mounts that may be attached to generally vertical surfaces such as walls, with the mount 650i of FIG. 6I being collapsible and the mount 650j of FIG. 6J being fixed, and FIG. 6K showing an item holding system 650k having a frame 680k for hanging an item holder to a ceiling or under a shelf, for example one on a wall or in a closet or shelving unit;
(16) FIGS. 7A-1-7D-2 are views of support bar-to-item holder connections, with: FIGS. 7A-1-7A-3 being views of a tongue and groove connection system, with FIG. 7A-1 being a perspective view of the components of an unassembled joinery system 700a, and FIGS. 7A-2, 7A-3 being a side view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an assembled joinery system 700a, FIG. 7B being a perspective view of an unassembled cross-piece/support bar stud/socket connection system 700b, FIG. 7C being a perspective view of an unassembled cross-piece/support bar cross-shaped stud/socket connection system 700c, FIG. 7D-1 being a side view of an unassembled cross-piece/support bar clip connection system 700d, and FIG. 7D-2 being a detail view of the panel 731d on either side of the support bar 730d;
(17) FIG. 8A is a perspective view of components of an unassembled locking click-in tongue and groove support bridge-to-support bar connection system 800;
(18) FIG. 8B is a side view of the locking click-in tongue and groove support bridge-to-support bar connection 800 shown in FIG. 8A positioned to be assembled into a locking click-in tongue and groove joint 890;
(19) FIGS. 9A-9G are views of alternative embodiments of connectors for support bridge/support bar, support bar/item holder, and item holder/support bridge connections combinations, with FIG. 9A being a perspective view of components of an unassembled snap connector system 960a with shared pegs, FIG. 9B being a perspective view of components of an unassembled first tongue and groove connector system 960b, FIG. 9C being a side view of a tongue component of a second tongue and groove connector system 960c, FIG. 9D being a side view of a groove component of a first tongue and groove friction fit connector system 960d, FIG. 9E being a perspective view of components of a second tongue and groove friction fit connector system 960e, FIG. 9F being a side view of an assembled hook and loop connector system 960f applied to a releasably attached cross-piece 920f of an item carrier 901f and a support bar 930f, and FIG. 9G being a side view of components of a magnetic connector system 960g.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(20) Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
(21) Item Holders
(22) An item holder 100 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1A-1 to 1A-4 of the accompanying drawings. The item holder 100 shown in FIG. 1A-1 is an item carrier 101a, which may be used for transportation of items by hand and for long-to-short-term storage of items such as clothing. The hand-held clothing carrier 101a may be used to keep hanger-held clothes, such as tee shirts, dress shirts, sports shirts, pants and skirts, hung up, organized and relatively unwrinkled as soon as they come out of the washer or dryer in the laundry room or at the laundromat. Referring to FIGS. 1A-1A and 1A-2B, the item carrier 101a may have a generally straight and horizontal cross-piece 120 having a length from a near cross-piece end 124 to a far cross-piece end 126 and sized to hold and carry a plurality of items across the length of the cross-piece 120 from the near cross-piece end 124 to the far cross-piece end 126. The cross-piece 120 may be sized to hold and balance a first plurality of items across the length of the cross-piece from the near cross-piece end 124 to the far cross-piece end 126 in one or more partitions disposed along the cross-piece length, with the balancing further comprising disposing the items along the cross-piece length in the one or more partitions. The cross-piece may have one divider 125 projecting extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 120 at the near cross-piece end 124, and another divider 127 extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the far cross-piece end 126.
(23) The cross-piece may also have a handle 110 and a post 130 that extends from the handle 110 to the cross-piece 120. The cross-section of the post, which may have any convenient shape, such as a circle, oval, or rectangle, may be left to the choice of the designer. The handle 110 may have a generally horizontal far end 114 that is free and a near end 116 that is connected to the post 130, which extends perpendicularly between the handle and the cross-piece 120. The handle may be designed according to ergonomic principles, with shape, materials, thickness, strength, replaceability, and cleanability features selected to make the handle as comfortable and convenient as possible to use. For example, the handle 110 may have a near end, a far end, and a hand-graspable section 112 that, as shown in many figures, including FIGS. 1A-1, 1A-2A, 1A-2B, 1B-2, 2A, 2B-1, 2C-1, 2D-1, 2A, 3B, 3C, 3D-1, 3E, and 5A may be generally cylindrical, straight, and elongated with softened or no edges, grooves, seams or corners. The hand-graspable section 112 may have an indentation 117 on its bottom surface 113 sized to receive a hand (not shown), a hook (as shown in FIG. 5A) on a wall, or a conventional closet rod (not shown).
(24) In certain embodiments, the indentation may have gentle finger grooving (not shown) to help the hand stay in place in the indentation, or to stop the handle from rolling off a hook or rod. In other embodiments, slippage may be further reduced and the grip improved by ensuring sufficient friction between the hand and handle, especially when the cross-piece is loaded with items. In certain embodiments, friction is increased by supplying the bottom surface 113 with an anti-slip surface, which may be applied to the indentation alone, the entire bottom surface 113, or even on the entire hand-graspable section.
(25) In certain embodiments, the anti-slip surface may be lightly knurled, or the indentation or hand-graspable section may be formed of or coated with a compressible material, for example, a textured rubber to promote a good grip and reduce the force used to hold the carrier in hand. Another suitable material is a low density polyethylene (LDPE), which may provide a soft finish that is comfortable to the touch. In other embodiments, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) may be used to provide a soft-touch grip. In other embodiments, a sticky material may be used to provide a graspable coating.
(26) The cross-piece may have a fixed or pivotable connection to the handle, at the choice of the designer. FIG. 1A-1 shows the hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 disposed parallel to the cross-piece 120. As disclosed below, FIG. 1B-1 shows an item holder 100 as an item carrier 101b with the hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 in an orientation disposed perpendicular to the cross-piece 120. Other embodiments of item carriers with the cross-piece pivotable relative to the handle are disclosed below, but any conventional pivoting system is also contemplated herein, the choice of which is left to the designer.
(27) Handle-to-Cross-Piece Connections
(28) In certain embodiments (not shown), the handle and the cross-piece of the item carrier may be integral. In other embodiments, for example in FIGS. 1A-1 to 1A-4, the handle may have a connector 140a to provide fixed connection 142a between the handle and the cross-piece. In FIGS. 1A-1 to 1A-4, the connecter 140a may have a post 130 positioned between a shaped connection member 131 fixable to the cross-piece 120 and a dovetail connection member 135a fixable to the handle 110.
(29) As shown in more detail in FIGS. 1C and 1n even further detail in FIG. 1D, the shaped connection member 131 is shaped to be complementary to a recess 121 in the cross-piece 120, the recess 121 having walls that are shaped to be complementary to the exterior shape of the connection member 131, so that the connection member 131 may be adhered into, clipped into, or otherwise be secured into the recess 121, thus fixing the post 130 to the cross-piece 120. The fixing of the connection member 131 to the cross-piece 120 may be releasable so that the handle 110 may be detached from or secured to the cross-piece at the user's convenience.
(30) The dovetail connection member 135a, also shown in detail in FIG. 1A-3, is shaped to be complementary to a complementary recess 115 (which may also be an aperture) in the bottom surface 119 of the near end 116 of the handle 110 (and, as shown in FIG. 1A-2B, which may also be an aperture through the handle 110. As shown in FIGS. 1A-2A, 1A-2B, the recess 115 is shaped to receive the dovetail member 135a. The dovetail connection member 135a may be fitted into and then adhered into or otherwise secured into the recess 115, thus forming a dove tail connection between the post 130 and the handle 110.
(31) In FIG. 1A-3, the dovetail member 135a may be disposed on the connector 140a to fit into the dovetail recess 115 so that the hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 is oriented parallel to the cross-piece 120. It will be seen, with reference to FIGS. 1B-1-1B-3, the item holder 100 may be used in another illustrative but not necessarily preferred embodiment of an item carrier 101b in which an alternative fixed connection 142b may be provided so that the hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 is oriented perpendicular to the cross-piece 120.
(32) In the illustrative but not necessarily preferred embodiment of the item carrier 101b shown in FIGS. 1B-1-1B-3, the item carrier 101b may be formed of the same handle 110 and cross-piece 120 used in the item carrier 101a shown in FIGS. 1A-1; alternatively, any other suitable hand and cross-piece may be used. The carrier 101b may also have a fixed connection 142b in which the hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 may be oriented perpendicular to the cross-piece 120. The fixed connection 142b may be formed by disposing a connector 140b between the near end 116 at the top end of the connector 140b and the top surface of the cross piece 120.
(33) As shown in more detail in FIG. 1B-3, the post 130, used in the connector 140a shown in FIGS. 1A-3, may also be used in the connector 140b. Alternatively, the shape of the post may have any convenient shape. At its upper end, the post may be connected to or integral with a dovetail member 135b that may be fitted into and then adhered into or otherwise secured into the dovetail recess 115 of the handle 110. The post 130 at its lower end may also be connected to or integral with the shaped connection member 131 used in the connector 140a, or that may be shaped as preferred by the designer to secure the connector 140b to the cross-piece 120.
(34) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B-3, the connection member 131 may be arranged to be complementary to the recess 121 in the cross-piece 120. As in the item carrier 101a, the recess 121 may have walls that are shaped to be complementary to the exterior shape of the connection member 131, so that the connection member 131 may be adhered into, clipped into, or otherwise be secured into the recess 121, thus connecting the post 130 into the cross-piece 120.
(35) A comparison of the connector 140a in FIG. 1A-3 and the connector 140b of FIG. 1B-3 shows that, in the connector 140a, the orientation of the dovetail member 135a is offset relative to the post 130 by 90 degrees from the orientation of the dovetail member 135b relative to the post 130 in the connector 140b, while the recess 115 into which the dovetail member 135a fits in the item carrier 101a has the same shape and orientation as the recess 115 into which the dovetail member 135b fits in the item carrier 101b. The perpendicular offset of the dovetail member 135b causes the handle 110 to be offset perpendicularly to the cross-piece 120 in the item carrier 101b.
(36) In alternative embodiments, some examples of which are disclosed below, the item carrier may be provided with a pivotable connection so that the hand-graspable section 112 of the handle 110 may be moved into any desired orientation relative to the cross-piece 120. For example, the dovetail member 135b may be rotatably fixed to the post to allow for rotation of the cross-piece around the length-wise axis of the post 130, so that the dovetail member, while secured between the post and the handle, may be rotated relative to the post to allow the user to position the cross-piece relative to the handle at an angle that is convenient to the user.
(37) In alternative embodiments, the connection member may be provided with a pivotable connection so that the post may be moved into any desired orientation relative to the cross-piece. For example, the connection member may be arranged to be rotatably fixed to the post to allow for rotation of the cross-piece around the length-wise axis of the post 130, so that, when the connection member is secured into the recess, the cross-piece may be rotated relative to the post to any convenient angle.
(38) In another example, the connection member may be provided with a rounded exterior surface which is symmetric around the length-wise axis of the post 130 so that, when the connection member is secured into the recess 121, the connection member may be rotatable within the recess to allow the user to position the cross-piece relative to the handle at any convenient angle.
(39) In another illustrative but not necessarily preferred embodiment, an item carrier 201a shown in FIG. 2A may have a pivotable connection 240a to allow the handle 210a to operate as a swing hook for modifying the orientation of the handle 210a relative to the cross-piece 220a. For example, the connection 240a may be arranged to orient the handle 210a parallel to the cross-piece 220a to start and then to orient the handle 210a perpendicular to the cross-piece, or to orient the handle 210a relative to the cross-piece at any angle therebetween.
(40) In the item carrier 201a in FIG. 2A, a pivotable connector 240a may be disposed between a handle 210a and a cross-piece 220a to provide the item carrier with a pivotable connection 242a so that the item carrier 201a may be used in different angular configurations. For example, the handle may be perpendicular to the cross-piece when the item carrier hung in an automobile, and then adjusted to be parallel to the cross-piece when the item carrier is hung in a closet. In addition, a user may pivot the handle into whatever orientation is comfortable when carrying the loaded item carrier in front of his body or slung over his shoulder.
(41) As shown in FIG. 2A, the handle 210a may have a hand-graspable section 212a with a far end 214a that is free and a near end 216a that is contiguous with or integral to a top edge 234a of a hollow tube 230a, which extends downward from the near end 216a to a bottom edge 236a of the tube resting on or attached to the cross-piece. The hand-graspable section 212a may have an aperture 215a extending from the bottom surface 219a of the section 212a to the upper surface of the section 212a on or near its near end 216a. The aperture 215a may be sized and positioned to engage the top edge 234a of the hollow tube 230a and through which access may be had to the hollow 238a of the tube 230a.
(42) A pin 250a may be sized with a diameter sufficient to fit inside the tube 230a. In certain embodiments, the pin diameter may be sized to allow the tube 230a to rotate around the pin 250a. The pin may have an attachment mechanism such as a male screw thread 252a at the pin bottom end 256a, and a nailhead 258a at its top end 254a. The nailhead 258a may be sized to extend over the top edge of the aperture 215a of the handle 210a and thus to contain the pin within the tube 230a and the tube against the hand-graspable section 212a when the pin 250a is inserted bottom end first through the aperture 215a and tube 230a and into the cross-piece 220a.
(43) The pin may be provided with a length sized to allow the pin to extend from the top edge of the aperture 215a of the handle 210a to the tube bottom edge 236a of the tube 230a, with the male screw thread 252a exposed beyond the tube bottom edge 236a, when the pin 250a is inserted through the handle 210a and into the hollow of the tube 230a. The male screw thread 252a may then be used to secure the pin 250a to the cross-piece 220a through an aperture 221a in the upper surface of the cross-piece 220a, with sufficient leeway to allow the handle to pivot relative to the cross-piece and with sufficient tautness to cause, by operation of friction, the item carrier 201a to remain in the orientation desired by the user. Alternatively, the tube 230a may be fixed to the handle 210a but held lightly against the cross-piece 220a so that the tube may rotate around the pin 250a and thus move the handle relative to the cross-piece.
(44) Another illustrative but not necessarily preferred embodiment of an item holder is an item carrier 201b shown in FIGS. 2B-1-2B-4B, which has a connector 240b providing a pivotable connection 242b in which the item carrier 201b may be moved through a selected number of positions of the handle relative to the cross-piece. The connector 240b may have a post 230b arranged to be joined at its upper end to the bottom surface 219b of the near end 216b of the handle 210b. The connector 240b may have a cam 231b serving as a connection member, the cam integrated into or fixed to a lower end of the post 230b, with the cam arranged to fit snugly into a flexible inset 222b integrated into or fixed to a recess 221b in the cross-piece 220b.
(45) The cam 231b may be generally circular in cross-section with a bottom surface and a set of cam teeth 235b extending outwardly around the cam's exterior circumference. As shown in FIGS. 2B-2A and 2B-2B, the flexible inset 222b may be formed of a generally circular ring with a circumference sized to fit snugly into the recess 221b and an inner circumference 223b that has a series of inner arches 225b that are attached at each of their ends to the inner circumference 223b and that are spaced around the inner circumference. The inset 222b has the same number of arches 225b (in this embodiment, four arches) as the number of teeth in the cam 231b (in this embodiment, four cam teeth), and the arches 225b are sized to squeeze between the cam teeth 235c when the cam is fitted into the inset, thus holding the cam firmly into the inset.
(46) An upper washer 224b shown in FIG. 2B-1 may be sized to fit into the recess 221b below the cam/inset combination and provide the combination with a smooth surface upon which to rest, and a lower washer 226b, shown in FIG. 2B-1 and in more detail in 2B-3A and 2B-3B, may be sized to fit into the recess 221b below the upper washer. As shown in FIGS. 2B-4A and 2B-4B, the lower washer may have an aperture into which a pin or screw 228b may be fit and extend through the center of the upper washer and the inset, and driven into the bottom surface of the cam to secure the connector to the cross-piece.
(47) In operation, as the handle is turned relative to the cross-piece, the upper washer 224b provides the connector 240b with a smooth surface upon which to rotate. The rotation exerts pressure on the bendable plastic arches, which flex to allow them to exit the recesses between the cam teeth into which they are squeezed and to pass with friction over the cam teeth and settle into the recesses adjacent to the recesses of their original positions (in this embodiment, in which the cam has four cam teeth, the pivot displaces the position of the cam by 90 degrees), where through operation of friction the squeezed arches hold the handle 210b into its new angular position relative to the cross-piece.
(48) Another illustrative but not necessarily preferred embodiment of an item holder is item carrier 201c shown in FIGS. 2C-1-2C-5B. As shown in FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2, the item carrier 201c may have a connector 240c that provides an alternative pivotable connection 242c. As shown in FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2, the connector 240a, disposed between a handle 210c and a cross-piece 220c, may have a post 230c arranged to be joined at its upper end to the bottom of the near end 216c of the handle 210c. The connector 240c may have a connection member 231c integrated into or fixed to a lower end of the post 230c.
(49) The connection member 231c, shown in more detail in FIGS. 2C-3A-2C-3C, may have a series of flexible, flanged fingers 234c extending downwardly to connect to complementarily shaped recess 221c in the cross-piece 220c shown in FIGS. 2C-4A, 2C-4B. As shown in FIGS. 2C-3A-2C-3C, a flanged finger 234c (which may be formed of a flexible plastic) may have an outwardly extending flange 236c at the bottom of the finger 234c, and have a retaining element 235c, which may be a protrusion that is formed on the outwardly facing surface of the finger above the flange. In certain embodiments such as the connection member 231c shown in FIGS. 2C-3A-2C-3C, the protrusion may be semi-spherical. In other embodiments, the retaining element 235c may be a button pin (also known as a tubing button), which may be retractable into the interior of the connection member and when not retracted to is deployable with spring force to hold the connection member to the cross-piece.
(50) The connection member 231c may be arranged to fit snugly into a complementary element in or on the cross-piece 220c. For example, the complementary element may be a flexible inset such as the inset 222b shown in use in FIG. 2B-1 in the item carrier 201b. Alternatively, and as shown in FIGS. 2C-5A-2C-5B, the connection member 231c may be arranged to fit snugly into a complementarily shaped recess 221c, which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2C-4A-2C-4B, and 2C-5A-2C-5B, may have an inner surface 222c that is shaped to be complementary with the outer circumferences of the sections of the connection member 231c along the length of the connection member, with the inner surface 222c arranged to receive and secure the connection member 231c. For example, the inner surface 222c may have a ridge 223c, which is complementary in height, width, and size to a flange of the finger 234c, and a ring 225c around the circumference of the inner surface 222c, with the ring 225c having a semi-circular cross-section and being sized and shaped to fit and contain the ring of retaining elements 235c.
(51) In operation, when the connection member 231c is pushed into the complementarily shaped recess 221c, the fingers flex to fit the connection member 231c snugly into the complementarily shaped recess 221c, with the flanges tucked under the ridge 223c, and with the ring of retaining elements 235c fit into and contained within the ring 225c, with the fingers rotatable within the ring 225c, allowing the handle to pivot around the cross-piece, thus providing the item carrier 201c with a pivotable connection 242c between a handle 210c and a cross-piece 220c.
(52) The connection member 231c and complementarily shaped recess 221c may be manufactured using any conventional process, including without limitation molding or selective removal of material from the cross-piece 220c. FIGS. 2C-6A-2C-6C shows one embodiment of a model of the material that may be subtracted from the cross-piece during manufacturing of the complementarily shaped recess 221c, with the outer circumference of the model 251c matching the outer circumferences of the sections of the connection member 231c along the length of the connection member to complement the inner surface 222c arranged to receive and secure the connection member 231c.
(53) In another embodiment, instead of a ring 235c around the circumference of the inner surface 222c, the circumference of the inner surface may have a ring of semi-circular depressions that are sized and shaped to fit and contain the set of retaining elements 235c. In operation, when the connection member 231c is pushed into the complementarily shaped recess and the fingers flex to fit the flanges tucked under the ridge 223c, the retaining elements 235c fit snugly into the complementarily shaped depressions, providing the item carrier with a fixed and locking connection between a handle and a cross-piece. Further, with a twist, the connection member 231c may be locked into place in the cross-piece 220c, and with another twist, the member may be unlocked and pulled out of the cross-piece.
(54) Another illustrative but not necessarily preferred embodiment of an item holder is item carrier 201d shown in FIGS. 2D-1-2D-5B. As shown in FIG. 2D-1, the item carrier 201d may have a connector 240d providing another alternative pivotable connection 242d between a handle 210d and a cross-piece 220d. As shown in FIGS. 2D-4A-2D-4C, the connector 240d may be arranged at its upper end to be joined or integral with the bottom of the near end 216d of the handle 210d.
(55) The connector 240d may have a connection member 231d, which is further arranged to be joined with an inset 222d fitted into or integral with the cross-piece 220d. The connection member 231d, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2D-4A-2D-4C and shown fit into cross-piece 220d in the cross-sectional views FIGS. 2D-5A-2D-5B, may have an upper portion with a lower surface having a series of retaining elements 235d disposed thereon in a circle near or at the edges of the lower surface of the upper portion. The elements may be protrusions formed on the lower surface. In certain embodiments such as the connection member 231d, the protrusions may be semi-spherical. In other embodiments, the retaining elements 235d may be a button pin (also known as a tubing button), which may be retractable into the interior of the connection member and when not retracted to is deployable with spring force to hold the connection member within the inset 222d (described below). The lower surface also may have flexible, flanged fingers 234d downwardly extending therefrom, with the fingers arranged in a circle interior to the circle of protrusions 235d. A finger 234d may be formed of a flexible plastic and have an outwardly extending flange 236d, for example on its lower end.
(56) The inset 222d, shown in more detail in FIGS. 2D-3A and 2D-3B, which may be integrated into or fixed to the recess 221d, may be generally tubular in shape, with a circumference sized to fit into a recess 221d in the cross-piece 220d. The inset 222d further may have an upper surface 223d with semicylindrical cutouts 225d disposed in a circle around its upper surface. The cutouts 225d may be complementary in size, shape and position with the protrusions 235d on the lower surface of the upper of the connection member 231d. The inset 222d further may have a length sized to accommodate the length of the fingers from the lower surface of the upper portion of the connection member 231d to the flanges 236d.
(57) The cross-sectional view of the assembled item carrier 201d, illustrated in FIGS. 2D-5A, 2D-5B, shows the inset 222d fit into the recess 221d of the cross-piece 220d and the connector 240d fit into the recess 221d, with the protrusions 235d fitting into the semicylindrical cutouts 225d of the inset 222d and with the flanged fingers 234d tucked under the lower edge of the inset 222d.
(58) FIGS. 3A-3E are views of item carriers with alternative exemplary connectors between handles and cross-pieces. FIG. 3A shows an item carrier 301a featuring a handle-to-cross-piece cross connection 342a with a cross shaped aperture 315a extending through the near end 316a of the handle 310a of the item carrier, and a cap screw 350a (shown in FIG. 3A with its threaded shaft 352a shortened to simplify illustration of the connection 342a) that is arranged to screw into an aperture 326a in a box 322a attached to or integral with and positioned on the top surface of a cross-piece 320a. The box 322a may have a sprocket 328a with a cross-section that is shaped and sized to be complementary with the cross shaped aperture 315a.
(59) In operation, the cap screw 350a is inserted into the aperture 315a and tightened into the box 322a until the sprocket 328a is fitted into the hole 315a. The handle-to-cross-piece cross connection 342a may be fixed when the box 322a and sprocket 328a are adhered to the cross-piece 320a, and the connection may be made pivotable by loosening the screw, separating the handle, rotating a selected increment, replacing and reattaching the screw. The angle of the handle relative to the cross-piece may be modified by loosening the cap screw, lifting the handle off of the sprocket, and fitting the sprocket into the cross-shaped aperture with the teeth of the sprocket fitted in the indentations in the cross-shaped aperture in a different alignment. Further, the connection 342a may be pivotable when the box 322a and/or the sprocket 328a are rotatably attached to the cross-piece 320a to allow the cross-piece to pivot around the cap screw 350a. In certain embodiments, the pivotable connection may be made fixed by screwing the cap screw 350a firmly into the cross-piece box 322a.
(60) FIG. 3B shows an item carrier 301b featuring a handle-to-cross-piece star connection 342b which is similar in design and operation to the handle-to-cross-piece cross connection 342a of the item carrier 301a, with a difference between them being that the aperture 315b and complementary sprocket 328b have star-shaped cross-sections instead of cross-shaped cross-sections. As with the connection in the item carrier 301a, the connection in item carrier 301b may be made pivotable by loosening the cap screw 350b, separating the handle, rotating a selected increment, replacing and reattaching the screw.
(61) FIG. 3C shows an item carrier 301c featuring a handle-to-cross-piece knurl connection 342c which is similar in design and operation to the handle-to-cross-piece cross connection 342a of the item carrier 301a, with a difference between them being that the aperture 315c is circular in cross-section and the complementary element 328c, which may be a nut, on the cross-piece 320c is a knurled nut having a circular cross-section that is complementary in shape, size, and position to the cross-section of the aperture 315c. The knurls, which may be rolled into the material of the outer surface 327c of the nut in any conventional pattern of straight, angled or crossed lines, is provided on the outer surface 327c of the nut 328c to improve the grip of the nut 328c to the inner surface of the aperture 315c when the nut is disposed in the aperture. For even further improved gripping, the inner surface 317c of the aperture 315c may also be knurled. As with the connection in the item carriers 301a, 301b, the connection in item carrier 301c may be made pivotable by loosening the screw, separating the handle, rotating a selected increment, replacing and reattaching the screw.
(62) FIG. 3D-1 shows an item carrier 301d featuring a handle-to-cross-piece cross friction connection 342d having an aperture 315d extending through the near end 316d of the handle 310d of the item carrier and a cross-shaped sprocket 326d that is disposed atop a bar 329d that extends vertically from a box 322d attached to or integral with and positioned on on the top surface of a cross-piece 320d. Although it is not necessary, the bar may be cylindrically shaped. Further, its length may be at least as long as the length of the aperture 315d. It will be understood that the number of teeth on the sprocket 326d will be at the discretion of the designer, but, as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3D-3A and 3D-3B, the sprocket 326d is cross-shaped and therefore has four sprocket teeth 328d extending around its circumference. Further, in this embodiment, the sprocket teeth 328d may have downwardly extending tapered sides along the length of the sprocket teeth, with the radial width of a sprocket tooth being greater at the upper surface of the sprocket tooth than at its bottom surface.
(63) The aperture 315d, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3D-2A-3D-2C and 3D-4, may have a bottom portion that may have a length that is less than or equal to the length of the bar 329d. The bottom portion may be a cross-shaped cuttout shaped to be complementary with the upper surface of the sprocket 326d and sized to receive the sprocket and bar, allow the bar to rotate therein and allow the bar and sprocket to pass therethrough.
(64) The aperture 315d may also have an upper portion that is open to the top surface of the handle and is a cutout with a circular upper edge having a circumference sized to encompass the upper surface of the sprocket 326d, and with a length that is at least as long as the length of a sprocket tooth 328d. The lower edge of the support portion, which is adjacent to the upper edge of the bottom portion, has the same shape as the cross-shaped cuttout in the bottom portion. The wall of the upper portion between its lower edge and its circular upper edge may be shaped as follows: It is complementary with the cross-shaped cuttout of the bottom portion to extend the cross-shaped cuttout the entire length of the aperture 315d; and It is also complementary with the sides of the sprocket 326d, albeit offset by 45 degrees from the complementary cross-shaped cuttout in the upper portion so that the wall portions complementary to the sprocket teeth 328d are disposed between the arms of the cross-shaped cutout.
(65) In embodiments in which the sprocket teeth have tapered sides, the wall portions complementary to the sprocket teeth may be tapered as well. Further, the walls of the upper portion of the aperture 315d may have a serrated surface, arranged to provide a snug frictional fit of the sprocket teeth within the upper portion when the sprocket is fit into the aperture.
(66) In operation, referring to FIGS. 3D-2A-3D-2C and 3D-4, the sprocket 326d may be inserted into the aperture 315d from the bottom surface 319c of the near end 316d, and through the aperture 315d until the sprocket teeth are positioned above the upper surface of the aperture 315d. A user may secure the sprocket so extended into the aperture by twisting the sprocket 45 degrees relative to the aperture and pulling or pushing the sprocket down into the upper portion so that the sprocket teeth fit snugly into the teeth shaped recesses in the upper portion's interior wall.
(67) Throughout use, the connection in item carrier 301d may be made pivotable by pushing or pulling the sprocket up from the aperture, rotating the sprocket in increments of 90 degrees, and pushing the sprocket back into the aperture to secure the sprocket teeth against the wall of the aperture. The handle may be removed from the cross-piece by pushing or pulling the sprocket up from the aperture, rotating the sprocket by 45 degrees, and pushing the sprocket back into and then out of the aperture to remove the sprocket from the handle.
(68) FIG. 3E shows an item carrier 301e featuring a handle-to-cross-piece snap ring connection 342e that is made pivotable by turning the handle against friction. The item carrier 301e may have a cylinder or tube 328e that extends vertically from a box 322e attached to or integral with and positioned on the top surface of a cross-piece 320e. The top portion of the tube 328e (which may be a rod, a post, or any convenient shape) has a groove 323e spaced a selected distance from the edge of the tube 328e. The item carrier also has an aperture 315e extending through the handle 310e of the item carrier, with the aperture 315e sized to receive the tube 328e below the groove 323e within it. In addition, the handle-to-cross-piece snap ring connection 342e has a snap ring 313e sized to surround and fit into the groove 323e.
(69) In operation, the tube 328e may be inserted into the aperture 315e so that the groove 323e is disposed above the top surface of the handle 310e. The snap ring 313e then may be secured around the groove, preventing the tube 328 from slipping out of the recess 315e, thus securing the tube 328e within the aperture and securing the cross-piece to the handle. Because the tube is rotatable within the aperture, the cross-piece 320e is also rotatable around the handle 310e.
(70) Other embodiments of connectors are contemplated, such as one in which a ratchet component may be used to click the connector into different configurations to change the orientation. Such connectors are useful in embodiments of the item carrier for which multiple orientation settings are desired.
(71) Cross-Pieces
(72) Turning to FIGS. 4A-4K, the cross-piece of an item carrier may be designed with several alternative upper surfaces upon which items may be hung and carried across the cross-piece. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an exemplary generally straight and horizontal cross-piece 420a having an aperture 428a to receive the connection to the item carrier handle (not shown) and a plurality of partitions 410a disposed along its length, which extends from a near cross-piece end 424a to a far cross-piece end 426a. The cross-piece 420a may have one divider 425a projecting extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420a at the near cross-piece end 424a, and another divider 427a extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the far cross-piece end 426a. The partitions may be provided to keep items such as clothing on hangers distributed across the cross-piece to minimize shifting across the rail (keeping the weight of the items balanced across the item carrier and minimizing shifting make the items easier to carry).
(73) A partition 410a may have dividers such as walls 412a (also referred to herein as divider walls) which may be formed of flat panels 414a, and a mid-section 411a between a pair of dividers 412a, with at least one portion of the first divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece a first selected height, with at least one portion of a second divider extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece a second selected height, and with a mid-section 411a extending between the first divider and the second divider and extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece a third selected height that is less than the first selected height and that is less than the second selected height. A partition 410a may be sized so that the mid-section has a length that is slightly greater than or approximately the width of an item so as to secure the item within a partition 410a. A partition 410a may also be sized so as to secure multiple items between its walls.
(74) FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an exemplary generally straight and horizontal cross-piece 420b having an aperture 428b to receive the connection to the item carrier handle (not shown), and with partitions 410b having dividers such as walls 412b formed of rods 414b extending upward from an upper surface 422b of the cross-piece 420b, which extends from a near cross-piece end 424b to a far cross-piece end 426b. The cross-piece 420b may have one divider 425b projecting extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420b at the near cross-piece end 424b, and another divider 427b extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the far cross-piece end 426b.
(75) Rods are useful dividers because multiple items may be easily draped over rods. Rods may operate as hooks for hanging items that does not typically get hung on hangers, for example, bras, underwear, purses, and belts.
(76) FIG. 4C is a perspective view of an exemplary divider wall 412c having a plane 414c on a first side and a concavity 416c on the second side. Divider walls 412c are well adapted to contain items in a partition. The concavity of the divider wall 412c shapes the partition defined by the walls 412c and the crosspiece upper surface so that the partition's opening is narrower than its middle, and its floor is narrower than its middle. In operation, items disposed within the partition are contained more securely within the partition. They are wedged into the partition more strongly by gravity and are more unlikely to slip out of the partition should the crosspiece be tilted off of horizontal alignment. Further, when the divider walls are formed of a flexible, bendable material, the dividers wall may bend apart to receive an item and to bend back to shape to capture the item more snugly in the partition. FIG. 4D is a perspective view of an exemplary divider wall 412d with a concavity 416d on both sides of the wall 412d so as to define a partition that is a more pronounced narrowing of the partition on its floor and at its opening to contain the items even more securely than the partitions of FIG. 4C. Providing concave surfaces of both sides of a divider wall 412d may improve the divider wall's ability to contain items within a partition.
(77) FIG. 4E is a perspective view of an exemplary divider wall 412e with a plane 414e on a first side and tiers 416e on its second side. The tiers are sized to cause the distance across a partition to increase from a bottom tier at the upper surface of a cross-piece to a top tier so that items of varying widths may be securely contained in a partition. In addition, the decreasing distance across a partition as an item is guided into a partition may catch the item more securely into the partition.
(78) FIG. 4F is a perspective view of an exemplary divider wall 412f with tiers 416f on both sides of a divider wall 412f. Providing a partition with tiered walls 412f on both faces may improve the divider wall's ability to contain items within the partition. Partitions formed of tiered dividers have tiers that increase in width across the cross-piece from a bottom tier at the cross-piece to a top tier, with tiers 416f on a divider 412f on one side of a partition corresponding in position, width, and height to tiers 416f on the wall on the other side of the partition. Thus, the distance between corresponding tier pairs increases to form spaces of increasing width across the partition, with the shortest distance between tiers at the surface of the cross-piece. The pyramids formed by the tiers may be useful in accommodating hangers of varying widths.
(79) It may be noted that the tiers need not be formed of straight surfaces such as those in FIG. 4F. The cross-pieces shown in FIGS. 1A-4, 1B-4, 1C, 2B-4B, and 7A-2 have tiered dividers in which the some of the tier surfaces are curved. Such tiered dividers form partitions that are particularly effective in securely containing hangers of varying widths, especially when the dividers are formed of a material that is pliable or has some elasticity, such as rubber, silicone, or neoprene, allowing the hangers to press into the sides of a partition.
(80) It is the designer's choice how to organize partitions and dividers along the cross-piece. The partitions may be of uniform or varying widths to accept hangers of varying widths or clothes of varying thicknesses. The partitions may be sized to accept one or multiple hangers as well. It is not necessary for each of the dividers on a cross-piece to be of the same type, nor is it necessary for all the partitions to be the same size. The designer may select to incorporate multiple lengths of partitions and multiple types of dividers to accommodate desired functionalities. For example, the dividers on the cross-piece need not be the rods, panels, or tiered walls described above; instead, the upper surface of a cross-piece may have multiple types of recesses to function as partition mid-sections and protrusions to function as partition dividers to contain items onto an upper surface of a cross-piece.
(81) Cross-pieces may have upper surfaces formed with grooves, scallops, waves, and zigzags with varying width and depth characteristics to hold different size hangers or items and to enhance control of the clothes while carrying them. FIG. 4G shows a grooved upper surface 422g of an exemplary cross-piece 420g with one divider 425g projecting upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420g, and another divider 427g extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420g; FIG. 4H shows a scalloped upper surface 422h of an exemplary cross-piece 420h with one divider 425h projecting upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420h, and another divider 427h extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece; FIG. 4I shows a sinusoidal upper surface 422i of an exemplary cross-piece 420i, with one divider 425i projecting upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420i, and another divider 427i extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420i; and FIG. 4J shows a zigzag upper surface 422j of an exemplary cross-piece 420j, with one divider 425j projecting upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420j, and another divider 427i extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420j. Further, as shown in FIG. 4K, a cross-piece 420k may have a single partition that extends end to end across the upper surface 422k of the cross-piece 420k, with the single partition formed by one divider 425k projecting upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece 420k at the near cross-piece end 424k, and another divider 427k extending upwardly from the floor of the cross-piece at the far cross-piece end 426k.
(82) No matter the style of partition that is selected by the designer for the cross-piece, in certain embodiments, the cross-piece may be supplied with anti-slip features to prevent the items being transported thereon from shifting on the cross-piece and to maintain the balance of weight across the cross-piece. The materials and ergonomic features described above for providing an anti-slip surface for the hand-graspable section may be also applied to the cross-piece.
(83) In use, the item carrier 100 may be filled with items that are draped over the cross-piece, hung from at least one hook (not shown) on the cross-piece, or suspended on hangers which are hooked over the cross-piece. A user may load a cross-piece with desired items such as clothing on hangers, distributing the items' weight and bulk across the cross-piece as is convenient to the user. When dividers are organized on the cross-piece to form partitions of varying widths, the user may load the items so that an item of a selected width is loaded into a correspondingly wide partition on the other side of the cross-piece. Further, when a second partition is defined with at least one tiered divider, the user may load a second item into the second partition with a tiered divider with less concern for the width of the second item because the tiered divider provides the second partition with a variety of widths. The user may hand carry the item carrier to another location, or hook it to another carrier, or suspend the item carrier from another organizer for longer-term storage of the items.
(84) Transporting and Mounting Item Holders
(85) Turning to FIGS. 5A-5J, the hand-graspable section 512 of a handle 510 of an item carrier may have a cross-piece-facing lower surface 513 with a handle indentation 517 sized to receive any suitable article-carrying holder, such as a hand, a hook 25a on a wall 20a (FIG. 5A), a conventional closet rod 25b in a closet 20b (FIG. 5B) (the rod may be round or any other shape in cross section, or a hook or hanger bar 25c on the interior of an automobile (FIGS. 5C-1, 5C-2). Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the far end 514 of the hand-graspable section 512 may extend downwardly toward the cross-piece 120. The downward extension of the far end 514 forms a handle hook 519 to reduce the opportunity that the item carrier will slip off of an element upon which it had been hung, for example, off of a shelf or slot (such as shown in FIGS. 5D-5J) or off of a hanger bar 25c such as one on the interior of an automobile (shown in FIG. 5C-1 with the handle hook 519 pointing out to the exterior of the car, and in FIG. 50-2 with the handle hook 519 pointing to the interior of the car.
(86) The handle recess 517 or handle hook 519 may also be used to deploy the item carrier from the side of or a hook, handle, or loop on or structural member of a myriad of article-carrying holders, including but not limited to a laundry basket (FIG. 5D, showing an item carrier 501 slipped over a handle 25d of the basket 20d), hamper (FIG. 5E, showing the item carrier slipped over a loop 25e on the top edge of the hamper 20e), rolling laundry basket (FIG. 5F, showing the item carrier 501 slipped over a horizontal rib 25f of the basket 20f), rolling laundry cart (FIG. 5G, showing the item carrier 501 slipped over a hanging rod 25g of the cart 20g), a backpack (FIG. 5H, showing the item carrier 501 slipped over a loop 25h on the rear of the backpack 20h), standing shelves (FIG. 5I, showing the item carrier 501 slipped over the edge of a shelf 25i of the standing shelves 20i), and a walker (FIG. 5J, showing the item carrier 501 slipped over a horizontal bar 25j on the frame of a walker 20j).
(87) Item Holding/Storage Systems
(88) An item holder or an item carrier may be used for more than transporting items. They may also be used to hold items in short-term storage or in longer-term storage when they are made a part of an item holding system 600a (also known as an item storage system). In further embodiments, the base may have a support bar, which may be a generally horizontal arm, upon which the item holder may be supported. In certain embodiments, the support bar may be permanently affixed to the base; in other embodiments, it may be releasably attachable to the base so that it may be used as a support bar in another base.
(89) With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the base onto which the item holder 601a may be releasably attachable may be a stand. As shown in FIG. 6A, the item holder 601a may be an item carrier such as the item carrier 101a of FIG. 1A-1 for transporting items such as clothing, and the base 605a may be a stand 650a, described below. Alternatively, as is shown in FIG. 6B, the item holder 601b may be a cross-piece 420k shown in FIG. 4k, the cross-piece 120 also as shown in FIG. 1A-1 (with no handle or with the handle of an item carrier removed), or the item holder 100a for holding items along its length, and a base 605b, which may be a stand 650b, described below.
(90) As shown in FIG. 6A, the stand 650a may have a generally vertical leg 640a, a support bar 630a connected to the leg 640a at the leg's upper end 644a and to which the item holder 601a may be connected, and a footing 660a connected to the leg 640a at the leg's lower end 646a.
(91) In certain embodiments, the cross-piece, item holder, item carrier, or support bar may have leg fittings, such as fittings 771, 772 shown in FIGS. 7A-1 and 7B into which or over which a leg may be fit snugly. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A, the leg 640a may be hollow, such as a tube of any desirable cross-section; and the fitting on the support bar 630a may fit snugly into the hollow of the leg 640a. The leg 640a may be extensible to a plurality of lengths. For example, the leg 640a may be made of sections 643a-1, 643a-2, and 643a-3 that telescope to provide the leg 640a with a plurality of lengths. In certain embodiment, the cross-piece, item holder, or item carrier may be secured to the leg directly with screws, clips, or other fasteners. In other embodiments, the cross-piece, a support bar is temporarily attached to a leg, and an item holder or item carrier may be tightened to the support bar with screws or other fasteners. In other embodiments, the support bar 630a may be permanently attached to the base, for example, with gluing or by welding or soldering.
(92) In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, a stand 650b may have a generally vertical leg 640b, a footing 660b connected to the leg 640b at the leg's lower end 646b, and a support bar 630b pivotably connected to the leg 640b at the leg's upper end 644b such that in one configuration the support bar 630b may be disposed generally parallel to and flat against the leg (so that the support bar, when not in use to hold a cross-piece, may be folded up against the leg for ease of storage). In another configuration, the support bar 630b may be flipped over the upper end 644b and disposed generally horizontal to the leg 640b with a near end 632b of the support bar 630b disposed against the surface of the leg 640b. In another embodiment (not shown), a support bar may be attachable to a base leg with any other conventional attachment, including a collapsible support bracket that may be connected to both the support bar and leg and provide additional locking support to the support bar when the support bar is disposed perpendicularly to the leg.
(93) Returning to FIG. 6A, the leg 640a may have a lower end 646a attachable to a footing 660a to form a free-standing rack. A footing may be any component that supports the weight of the rest of the item storage system and maintains its stability. It may be a heavy object, such as a weighted object, or a wide element that distributes the weight of the system over a wide area, or an object that provides a multi-point footing contact with the surface upon which the base 605a stands. The footing 660a shown in FIG. 6A is a weighted cylinder attached to the lower end 646a of the leg 640a. The footing 660b shown in FIG. 6B may be a tripod having a three-legged support that extends from the lower end 646b of leg 640b.
(94) In certain embodiments, the base may have multiple legs. As shown in FIG. 6C, a base 605c may have a first leg 671 and a second leg 672. The stand may be a floor stand, with the far end of the first leg disposable at or near a floor. The length of the leg and the width of the base will be at the option of the designer, with a slender stand and tall legs forming a butler stand or valet stand, or with shorter legs creating a table top item storage system.
(95) In FIG. 6C, the first leg has an upper end 674-1 and a lower end 676-1, and the second leg has an upper end 674-2 and a lower end 676-2. A support bar 630c may be attachable between the upper end 674-1 of the first leg and the upper end 674-2 of the second leg. The support bar 630c is similar in configuration to support bar 630a, modified to attach to both legs. In certain embodiments, the legs 671, 672 may be hollow and the support bar 630c may have a leg fitting at either end that that fits snugly into or over the legs. Alternatively, the support bar 630c may be attachable to the legs with any other conventional attachment. One embodiment of the support bar 630c, which is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 7B has leg fittings 771, 772 extending downward from each end that are sized to fit snugly into the hollow of a base leg, such as legs 671, 672, respectively.
(96) A footing may be attachable to the lower end 676-1 of the first leg and the lower end 676-2. The footing 660c shown in FIG. 6C has stabilizing bars 661, 662 attached perpendicularly to the lower end 676-1, 676-2. respectively. Although it is not necessary to do so, the footing 660c has a footing connector 663 attached between and extending coplanar to stabilizing bars 661, 662. FIG. 6C also shows a small item-holding hook 652, shown in greater detail in FIG. 6E and a large item-holding hook 654, shown in greater detail in FIG. 6F, that may be attachable to the base 605c for hanging items that does not typically get hung on hangers, for example, bras, underwear, purses, and belts. The hooks 652, 654 may be hollow and slide over a leg 640a to attach to the base with a frictional fit or to sit atop a protrusion such as a button pin on the outside of the leg. A hook may also sit atop a stretchable O-ring that snugly fits over a leg 671. The O-ring may be formed of rubber or other suitable material and is adjustable along the length of the leg to a desired height, which may be selected by a user. The hooks may also attach to the leg with screws or other fasteners, or more permanently attach to the leg, for example, with gluing or by welding or soldering.
(97) In certain embodiments, multiple stands may be attached together to form a larger stand. As shown in FIG. 6D, two stands 650c may be attachable to form a larger stand 650d, with the stands 650c attachable to each other by a support bridge 670 attached end-to-end between the support bars 630c of the stands 650c. In certain embodiments, a cross-piece, item holder, or item carrier may operate as a support bridge. In other embodiments, a support bridge may operate as a support bar to which a cross-piece, item holder, or item carrier may be releasably attached. As shown in FIG. 6D, the support bars 630c are arranged to bear an item holder, and so may the support bridge 670d. The item holders that may be attached to the larger stand 650d may be of the same type or, as shown in FIG. 6D, the item holders may be of different types. For example, the item holders in FIG. 6D are a cross-piece 420k having a single partition that extends end to end across the cross-piece 420k, an item carrier 100 with a cross-piece 120 connected to a handle 110, and a cross-piece 420a (shown in FIG. 4A with panel divider walls).
(98) In other embodiments, the base of an item holder system may be a mount that is attachable to another support, device, or appliance. For example, as shown in FIG. 6G, a walker mount 650g may have a support bar 652g, which may be a generally horizontal arm, to which a cross-piece may be directly or indirectly attached, and a mount arm 656g that is permanently fixed or temporarily fixable to the walker 30g.
(99) The mount arm 650g may be a pliable tubular element or have any other convenient shape that may snap over or otherwise be secured to a walker leg 37g for a mount arm vertical orientation, or snap over or otherwise be secured to a horizontal bar such as a frame bar 38g of the walker 20j for a mount arm vertical orientation.
(100) As shown in FIG. 6H, a shelf mount 650h may be connected to a conventional shelving unit such as a shelving unit 30h. The shelf mount 650g may also have a support bar 652h, which may be a generally horizontal arm, to which an item holder may be releasably attached, and a pliable tubular mount arm 652h having a semi-circular cross section. In embodiments in which the mount arm is generally vertical, the mount arm may be secured onto a shelf support 37h for example a clipping system. In embodiments in which the mount arm is generally horizontal, the mount arm may be clipped over and so secured onto a shelf 38h.
(101) Further, instead of connecting the item holder to a free-standing base or hanging the item carrier on a hook, closet rod, shelf, slot, or bar, an item holder may be releasably attached to a mount, such as a wall mount, door mount, shelf mount or ceiling mount. FIG. 6I shows a mount 650i that may be used as a wall mount, with the mount 650i having a foldable angle bracket 680i with a support bar 682i, which may be a generally horizontal arm, pivotally connected by a pivot pin 684i to a mount arm 686i of the angle bracket 680i, with the mount arm being generally vertical and attachable, for example, by a bolt (not shown), to a wall or other surface. The pivot allows the support bar 682i to fold up against the wall when the angle bracket is not in use as the item holder mount.
(102) FIG. 6I shows the cross-piece of the item holder 610i resting in a box forming a recess on the upper surface of a support bar 682i, but it may be understood that in certain embodiments the cross-piece may simply rest on the top surface of a support bar, or it may be releasably secured in any conventional manner to the support bar, such as with magnets, clips, snaps, or a hook and loop system such as a VELCRO fastener systems available from VIL Ltd. of London, UK, or the support bar and item holder may be releasably attachable using one of the cross-piece/support bar connection systems described below.
(103) FIG. 6J shows an alternative wall mount 650j to which an item holder 610j may be attached. The wall mount 650j may have an angle bracket 680j with a support bar 682j rigidly connected or integral to a mount arm 686j which may be generally vertical and also may be attachable, for example, by one or more bolts 684j, to a wall or other surface. FIG. 6J shows the cross-piece of the item holder 610k resting on the top surface of the support bar 682j, but it may be understood that, as above described, in certain embodiments the cross-piece may be releasably secured in any convenient manner to the support arm 682j.
(104) In certain embodiments, an item holder may be releasably connectable to a ceiling or shelf mount. FIG. 6K shows an item holding system mount 650k featuring a frame 680k having a pair of vertical sides 686k attached to a generally horizontal mount arm 688k attachable to a ceiling or shelf using any conventional manner, such as clips or bolts to drive into the ceiling or shelf. In certain embodiments (not shown), the pair of vertical sides 686k may constitute the mount arm, attachable to a shelf, ceiling, or a rod or disposable over a shelf or rod with clips or hanger hooks disposed on an upper end of each vertical side 686k.
(105) The ceiling/shelf mount 650k may also feature a support bar 682k connected end-to-end to the bottom ends of the vertical sides 686k. In certain embodiments, such as the ceiling/shelf mount 650k, the support bar 682k may be attachable to a cross-piece of an item holder 601k, or it may be a separate element to which another support bar may be releasably attached. In other embodiments, the support bar may be permanently affixed to the vertical sides 686k; in another embodiment it may be removable from the vertical sides 686k so that it may be used as a support bar in another base. In still further embodiments, the vertical sides have end attachments to which a cross-piece or support bar may be releasably attached.
(106) In most of the bases described above, generally horizontal support bars are releasably or permanently attached to generally vertical mount arms. Alternatively, the mount arm may be secured to any suitable article or element of an article and to which the support bar may be adjustably attached, no matter the orientation of the support bar to the element of the article to which the support bar is attached. The base may also have a locking element to secure the support bar into the desired orientation relative to the mount arm to maintain a preferred orientation of the cross-piece. Further, it may be understood that in certain embodiments, instead of having a support bar, a base may have a mount arm with a releasable clipping/locking system to attach a support bar thereto so that a support bar may be attached to the mount arm.
(107) Cross-Piece/Support Bar Connections
(108) An item holder's cross-piece may be releasably connectable to a support bar of a base by any conventional joinery system for releasably attaching two pieces together. One such connection system is a tongue-and-groove joinery system 700a (also known as a mortise and tenon system) shown in detail in FIG. 7A-1-7A-3. FIG. 7A-1 shows a cross-piece 720a having a rectangular cavity 722a (also referred to as a groove or a mortise) in its downwardly facing surface 724a, and a support bar 730a having a projection 732a (also referred to as a tongue or a tenon) on its upwardly facing surface 734a that is complementary in size and arrangement to the cavity 722a in the cross-piece 720a. The projection 732a is sized to fit snugly into the cavity 722a when the surfaces 724a, 734a are brought into contact with each other. As shown in FIG. 7A-2, the joinery system 700a may also be used to releasably attach a cross-piece and a support bridge, such as the support bridge 670 shown in FIG. 6D. In other embodiments, the cavity may be in the support bar and the projection in the cross-piece.
(109) In other embodiments, a series of studs (having any convenient geometry) and complementary sockets may provide the releasable cross-piece/support bar connection. For example, FIG. 7B shows a cross-piece/support bar connection stud/socket system 700b in which a cross-piece 720b has a set of cavities or sockets 722b in its downwardly facing surface 724b, the studs in the illustrative but not necessarily preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 7B being circular in cross-section; and a support bar 730b has a set of studs 732b of circular cross-section on its upwardly facing surface 734b, with the studs complementary in cross-section, size, and arrangement to the sockets 722b in the cross-piece 720b. When the surfaces 724b, 734b are brought into contact with each other, the studs 732b may be positioned to fit snugly into the sockets 722b.
(110) FIG. 7C shows a cross-piece/support bar cross-shaped stud/socket connection system 700c which is similar in design and operation to the cross-piece/support bar connection system 700b, with a difference between them being that the cross-piece/support bar connection system 700c has a cross-shaped socket 722c rather than the set of circular sockets 722b, and it has a cross-shaped stud 732c rather than the set of circular studs 732b. As before, in other embodiments, the sockets of FIGS. 7B, 7C may be in the support bar and the complementary studs in the cross-piece.
(111) Another embodiment of a cross-piece/support bar click connection system 700d is shown in FIG. 7D-1, in which a cross-piece 720d may have a pair of grooves 722d, one on each end 721d of the cross-piece 720d, and a bottom surface 724d. The cross-piece/support bar clip connection system 700d also has a support bar 730d with a panel 733d on each end 731d of the support bar 730d, upwardly extending from the upper surface 734d of the support bar and with an inwardly-facing flange 732d on the top edge of each panel 733d. The flanges 732d, shown in more detail in FIG. 7D-2, may be complementary in thickness and position to the grooves 722d in the cross-piece 720d so that, when the surfaces 724d, 734d are brought into contact with each other, the panels are pushed upward along the ends of the cross-piece 720d until the flanges 732d reach the grooves 722d and click into the grooves.
(112) Support Bridge to Support Bar Connections
(113) A support bar may be releasably connectable to a support bridge end-to-end. As noted above, a cross-piece, item holder, item carrier, or another support bar may operate as a support bridge. The support bridge-to-support bar connection may be made by any conventional system for releasably attaching two pieces together. One such connection system 800, involving a locking click-in tongue and groove joint 890, is shown in detail in FIGS. 8A, 8B.
(114) The support bridge-to-support bar connection system 800 has a support bar 830 and a support bridge 870 that may be joined end-to end with the locking click-in tongue and groove joint 890. At least one end 831a, 831b of the support bar 830 may have a groove extending front to almost the rear side surface of the support bar; and at least one end 871a, 871b of the support bridge 870 may have a tongue extending front to back, with the tongue shaped to be complementary with the groove. The embodiment of FIGS. 8A, 8B shows grooves disposed in both ends 831a, 831b and tongues disposed in both ends 871a, 871b, with a groove 832b, 832a, sized and arranged to receive and contain a tongue 872a, 872b respectively, and, except for the heights of the tongues and grooves as described below, with the tongues 872a, 872b complementary in shape with the grooves 832b, 832a, respectively.
(115) The upper, bottom, front and rear surfaces of the support bridge 870 generally may form a rectangular prism, with certain of the edges rounded off, with the surfaces of the ends 871a, 871b forming parallel planes, and with the upper, front and rear surfaces of the support bridge 870 (including the upper, front and rear surfaces of the tongues 872a, 872b) being generally planar. In addition, referencing the tongue 872b (with recognition that, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, the tongue 872a has the same geometry as the tongue 872b), the rear surface of the tongue 872b may extend from the upper surface of the support bridge a selected distance to a point 874b, and the bottom surface of the tongue may extend from the point 874b at an incline downwardly toward the front surface of the support bridge. Finally, rectangular cutouts 837a, 837b are cut from the bottom corners of the tongues 872a, 872b, respectively.
(116) As noted above, the grooves 832a, 832b of the support bar 830 are complementary in length and depth to the length and depth of the tongues 872b, 872a, respectively, of the support bridge 870. Referencing the groove 832b (with recognition that, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, 8B, the bottom edge of the groove 832b is complementary in shape to the bottom edge of the tongue 832a, including the slight downward rear-to-front angle of the bottom edge of the tongue and also including an upwardly extending lip 837a on the front surface of the support bar 830 that is complementary in height, length and depth to the cutout 877b. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the locking tongue and groove joint may be embodied in several ways. In the embodiment shown FIGS. 8A, 8B, the tongue is disposed on the support bridge and the groove is disposed in the support bar. Alternatively, the tongue may be disposed on the support bar and the groove may be disposed in the support bridge.
(117) In addition, in the embodiment shown FIGS. 8A, 8B, the upper surface of the tongue is coplanar with the upper surface of the support bridge, and the support bar groove is contained within the end 831a of the support bar, rendering the groove upper surface lower than the support bridge upper surface 838, which makes the support bridge upper surface not coplanar with the support bar upper surface when the tongue is fit into the groove. Alternatively, a designer may choose to make the upper surface of the support bridge coplanar with the upper surface of the support bar by disposing the tongue lower in the end of the support bridge and disposing the groove such that the tongue upper surface is lower than the upper surface of the support bridge.
(118) Returning to the embodiment in FIGS. 8A, 8B, the groove 832b also is provided with a greater height within the support bar 830b than the height of the tongue 872a on the upper surface of the support bridge. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, the support bar 830 and support bridge 870 are joined by inserting the tongue 872a into the groove 832b to the length of the groove 832b. When the tongue 872a has been fully inserted into the groove 832b, the tongue 872a may be pushed downward into the groove 832b, clicking the tongue into the groove behind the lip 837b, thus locking the support bridge into the support bar. Upon joinder of the support bridge and support bar, the front surface of the support bar 830 is coplanar with the front surface of the support bridge 870.
(119) Other Suitable Connections
(120) Any conventional systems for connection of support bar/support bridge, support bar/item holder, and item holder/support bridge combinations may be used to join the elements of the systems described herein, so long as the materials of such systems are suitable for use in the systems described herein. For example, suitable connection systems include but are not limited to the following joinery systems: A shared pegs snap connector system 960a, as shown in FIG. 9A, has a snap connector component 970a with shared pegs 972a on one end, and a complementary receiving component 980a for the snap connector with shared peg holes 982a on one end and that are complementary and arranged to receive the pegs 972a when the ends of the components 970a, 980a are disposed against each other. A tongue and groove connector system 960b as shown in FIG. 9B, has a tongue component 970b on one end, in which the tongue 972b has a generally rectangular shape with three teeth extending outwardly from the edge on each side of the tongue, and a groove component 980b with a groove 982b on one end, with the groove 982b being complementary and arranged to receive the tongue 972b when the ends of the components 970b, 980b are disposed against each other. A second tongue and groove connector system 960c, as shown in FIG. 9C, has a tongue component 970c with a tongue 972c on one end, in which the tongue has a generally rectangular shape with teeth extending outwardly from the edge on each side of the tongue. A friction fit connector system 960d, as shown in FIG. 9D, has a tongue component 970d with a tongue 972d, in which the tongue 972d has rough edges to enhance the friction fit. A tongue and groove friction fit connector system 960e, as shown in FIG. 9E, has a tongue component 970e with a tongue 972e on one end, in which a tongue 972e has a series of longitudinal ribs to provide a friction fit in the groove component 980e, which has a groove 982e that is complementary and arranged to receive the tongue 972e when the ends of the components 970e, 980e are disposed against each other. A hook and loop connector system 960f, as shown in FIG. 9F, has one or more hook and loop connectors 962f, such as the VELCRO fastener systems available from VIL Ltd. of London, UK, to provide or reinforce the connection of support bar/support bridge, support bar/item holder, and item holder/support bridge combinations, shown in FIG. 9F as applied to the cross-piece 920f of an item holder 901f and a support bar 930f. A magnetic fastener system 960g, as shown in FIG. 9G, has a magnet 972g disposed on one connector component 970g and an element 982g formed of a material that is attracted to magnets and that is disposed on a second connector component 980g, with the element 982g arranged to join with the magnet 972g when the components 970g, 980g are disposed against each other, for providing or reinforcing the connection of support bar/support bridge, support bar/item holder, and item holder/support bridge combinations, with the magnetic connection particularly suitable for when the components are brought together with one atop the other.
(121) It may be seen that the embodiments described herein for transportation and storage of items disclosed here may be used to greatly improve the convenience of transporting items such as clothing from one location to another, and to keep such items organized and unrumpled for short or long periods of time. The systems, devices, and methods for organizing, transporting, and storing items create new storage location and transportation options due to their flexibility for fitting into spaces that may not be normally considered available for temporary or longer-term storage. They increase the ability to transport items from various convenient temporary storage locations to other locations using ergonomically designed carriers that can be sized for persons with differing physical sizes and abilities. They provide storage capacity flexibility using interconnecting components, and provide the ability to integrate common existing item hangers and common storage systems into new systems, devices, and methods for organizing, transporting, and storing items, essentially enhancing control of items when being carried.
(122) One of skill in the art will appreciate that the above-described stages may be embodied in several ways. Although the disclosed components have been described above as being separate units, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that functionalities provided by one or more units may be combined. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, one or more of units may be optional and may be omitted from implementations in certain embodiments. For example, it may be understood that several of the embodiments disclosed herein in which item carriers are used may be formed using a cross-piece without the handle (and vice versa). Further, mounts may be developed for the item holders in which the mount lacks a support arm, with the item holder cross-piece releasably attachable to the vertical arm of the mount.
(123) In addition, while the embodiments above have been described with reference to transporting and storing clothing, it is to be understood that the systems, devices and methods described herein are not limited to transporting and storing clothing. Instead, the embodiments described herein may be used to transport or store any materials, especially such as are required for use and then temporary storage until the end of a project, such as any gardening equipment, sporting goods, home improvement or cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, electrical cords, rope, wires or jewelry.
(124) The foregoing descriptions have been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the invention to the precise forms or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. For example, the described implementations may be implemented in a variety of materials, sizes and shapes, and be arranged differently than the figures illustrate. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
