Patent Application
20240188733
The present disclosure relates to a holder. The holder may be beneficial in displaying records, record covers, or other art on a wall. The holder may be advantageous by easily allowing for content to be located therein by spacing an upper member from a lower member while remaining mounted to a supporting surface, such as a wall.
Record holders are quite common in retail and residential settings. These record holders allow for individuals to store records for later use and place record covers on display. Some holders focus on storing as many records or record covers as possible while others focus on predominantly displaying a single record or record cover.
Record holders exist today which allow for a record to be fitted in between two retaining channels. These channels are sometimes statically affixed relative to one another. This can cause issues with varying sizes and tolerances in record cover designs. Some holders can be adjusted to accommodate different heights but require removal of the holder from a wall to make the adjustment. Additionally, it can be cumbersome to insert and remove records or record covers from these holders. The records must be slid in from the side into the retaining channels (e.g., record cover remains parallel to the wall and slid in via the side into both channels at once). If a user has multiple holders on display on a single wall, adjacent holders block or at least complicate the insertion of a record into a record holder.
Thus, what is needed is a record holder which can be easily adjusted to allow for insert of a record or record cover from a front side. What is needed is a record holder which can accommodate varying sizes and tolerances of records or covers. What is needed is a record holder which can aesthetically display a record or records. What is needed is a record holder which can cooperate with other record holders to display a collection of records or record covers.
The present disclosure relates to a holder for displaying content, the holder comprising: a) an upper member having an upper channel along at least a portion of a top peripheral edge; b) a lower member having a lower channel along at least a portion of a bottom peripheral edge; wherein the lower channel is located opposite from the upper channel; wherein a distance from the lower channel to the lower channel forms a holding gap configured to receive the content for display; and wherein the upper member is moveable relative to the lower member or vice-versa such that the upper channel moves further away from the lower channel or vice-versa and the holding gap is increased in size. The present disclosure relates to a holder for displaying content, the holder comprising: a) an upper member having: i) an upper channel along at least a portion of a top peripheral edge, wherein the upper channel is a substantially c-shaped channel; ii) one or more upper guide channels formed in a rear of the upper member; b) a lower member having: i) a lower channel along at least a portion of a bottom peripheral edge, wherein the lower channel is substantially a c-shaped channel; ii) one or more lower guide channels formed in a rear of the lower member and concentrically aligned with the one or more upper guide channels of the upper member; iii) a main body between the lower guide channel and the upper guide channel; c) one or more guide members at least partially located within the one or more guide channels and which bias the upper member toward the lower member, the lower member toward the upper member, or both, wherein the one or more guide members include: i) one or more guides located within the one or more guide channels; ii) one or more guide stops which retain the one or more guides statically affixed within the one or more upper guide channels and/or the one or more lower guide channels; iii) one or more biasing devices within the one or more lower guide channels and/or the one or more upper guide channels which provide a biasing force such as to bias the upper member toward the lower member, the lower member toward the upper member, or both; wherein the lower channel is located opposite from the upper channel; wherein a distance from the lower channel to the lower channel forms a holding gap configured to receive the content for display; wherein the upper member is moveable relative to the lower member and/or vice-versa such that the upper channel moves further away from the lower channel and/or vice-versa and the holding gap is increased in size; and wherein the main body has a circular planar shape which has a width greater than a width of the upper channel and the lower channel.
The present teachings provide for a holder which can be a record holder. The holder can be easily adjusted to accommodate a record or record cover by moving an upper member away from a lower member, lower member away from an upper member, or both. By allowing movement of the upper and/or lower member relative to the other, a record or record cover can be placed into the holder from the front of the holder as opposed to the size. Due to the ability to change the distance between the upper and lower members, the record holder can accommodate varying sizes and tolerances of records or covers. The holder by allowing insertion from a front, allows for a number of holders to be mounted adjacent and in close proximity to one another and records or record covers to be inserted therein within interfering with one another (e.g., not being able to access the side of one record holder by an adjacent holder obstructing access). The holder, by having smaller channels and the upper and lower sides provides for a large viewing space and minimal interference with the front of a record or record cover, providing for an aesthetic display.
The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the present teachings, its principles, and its practical application. The specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the present teachings. The scope of the present teachings should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.
The present disclosure relates to a holder. The holder may function to hold and display one or more records, record covers, other musical covers, artwork (e.g., painting, photograph), the like, or any combination thereof. The term “record” may be used hereinafter to refer to specifically a record or a record, record holder, musical cover, artwork, or the like. The holder may be referred to as a record holder. The record holder may be moveable from a closed position to an open position, from an open position to a closed position, or both. The record holder may be moveable between the closed position and the open position while remaining affixed to a wall. The record holder may be advantageous in allowing a user to place and/or remove a record, record cover, or the like while being affixed to a wall. The record holder may include an upper member, lower member, upper channel, lower channel, guide member, biasing devices, mounting features, the like, or any combination thereof.
The holder includes a lower member. The lower member functions as a holding support for the record, record cover, or the like. The lower member may function to statically affix the record holder to a supporting surface (e.g., wall). The lower member may have any suitable shape. The lower member may have a cross-section and/or planar shape which is at least partially trapezoidal, circular, semi-circular, triangular, square, pentagonal, rectangular, parallelogram, rhombus, ovular, the like, or any combination thereof. The shape may refer to the lower member as a whole, a main body area of the lower member, a channel of the lower member, or any combination thereof. For example, a main body of the lower member may have a circular shape, square shape, or any other while the channel area has a trapezoidal, rectangular, or other dissimilar shape. The lower member may have a cross-section shape which is reciprocal with, mates to, or continues the shape of an upper member. The lower member may include a main wall, a lower channel, one or more mounting features, one or more guide channels, or any combination thereof. The lower member may have a main wall. The main wall may be adjacent to, below, be integral with, form part of, or be the same as the main body. The main wall may have one or more mounting features. The main wall may have a lower channel projecting therefrom.
The holder includes a main body. The main body may function as the part of the holder which cooperates with a support surface to affix the holder to the support surface, such as via one or more mounting features. The main body may function to form a rear support for a record and/or record cover to rest upon. The main body may function to provide an aesthetically appealing surface of the holder when the holder is empty and void of a record and/or record cover therein. The main body may have a cross-section and/or planar shape which is at least partially trapezoidal, circular, semi-circular, triangular, square, pentagonal, rectangular, parallelogram, rhombus, ovular, the like, or any combination thereof. The main body may have a design substantially reciprocal and/or similar to the shape of a record and/or record cover.
The holder includes a lower channel. The lower channel may function to support and/or retain a portion of a record, record cover, or the like. The lower channel may retain a lower edge or bottom of a record. The lower channel may have a shape reciprocal with or otherwise suitable for retaining a record therein. The lower channel may have a shape reciprocal with a lower edge of a record, record holder, or the like. For example, the lower channel may have a substantially linear shape, such as to support a lower edge of a substantially square or rectangular record or other cover. For example, the lower channel may have a substantially arcuate shape, such as to support a lower edge of a record or other circular shaped artwork. The lower channel may have a three-dimensional shape which allows for easy insertion of a record from a front side of the record holder. The lower channel may be substantially c-shaped. The lower channel may be formed by the main wall, supporting wall, lip, or a combination thereof. The lower channel may include a supporting wall. The supporting wall may project outward from a lower edge of a main wall. The supporting wall may project orthogonally from the main wall. The lower channel may include a lip. A lip may project orthogonally from the supporting wall. A lip may project toward an upper member, upper channel, upward, opposite the direction of gravity, or any combination thereof.
The holder includes an upper member. The upper member functions as a holding support for the record, record cover, or the like. The upper member functions to cooperate with a guide member, one or more biasing devices, a lower member, or a combination thereof to adjust a holding gap. The upper member may be configured to move away and toward the lower member such as to increase and decrease the size of the holding gap. It is also contemplated that the upper member may remain static while the lower member may move, or both members may be moveable. The upper member may have any suitable shape. The upper member may have a cross-section shape which is at least partially trapezoidal, circular, semi-circular, triangular, square, pentagonal, rectangular, parallelogram, rhombus, ovular, the like, or any combination thereof. The upper member may have a cross-section shape which is reciprocal with, mates to, or continues the shape of a lower member. The upper member may include a main wall, an upper channel, one or more guide channels, or any combination thereof. The upper member may have a main wall. The main wall may have an upper channel projecting therefrom.
The holder includes an upper channel. The upper channel may function to support and/or retain a portion of a record, record cover, or the like. The upper channel may retain an upper edge or top of a record. The upper channel may prevent a record from tipping or falling out of the record holder. The upper channel may have a shape reciprocal with or otherwise suitable for retaining a record therein. The upper channel may have a shape reciprocal with an upper edge of a record, record holder, or the like. For example, the upper channel may have a substantially linear shape, such as to support an upper edge of a substantially square or rectangular record or other cover. For example, the upper channel may have a substantially arcuate shape, such as to support an upper edge of a record or other circular shaped artwork. The upper channel may have a three-dimensional shape which allows for easy insertion of a record from a front side of the record holder. The upper channel may be substantially c-shaped. The upper channel may be formed by the main wall, supporting wall, lip, or a combination thereof. The upper channel may include a supporting wall. The supporting wall may project outward from an upper edge of a main wall. The supporting wall may project orthogonally from the main wall. The supporting wall may project substantially parallel to a supporting wall of a lower channel. The upper channel may include a lip. A lip may project orthogonally from the supporting wall. A lip may project toward a lower member, lower channel, downward, in a same direction of gravity, or any combination thereof. A lip of the upper channel may project in a direction parallel to a lip of a lower channel.
The holder includes a holding gap. The holding gap may function to retain a substantially portion of a record, record cover, or the like. The holding gap may function to adapt in size to allow for easy insertion of a record, record cover, or the like. The holding gap may be formed as a distance between an upper channel and lower channel. The holding gap may be formed as the distance between the supporting wall of an upper channel and the supporting wall of a lower channel. The holding gap is configured to decrease and increase in size. The holding gap may increase in size by moving the upper member, upper channel, or both away from the lower member, lower channel, or both. The holding gap may decrease in size by moving the upper member, upper channel, or both toward the lower member, lower channel, or both. The upper member may be moved relative to the lower member by pulling, sliding along one or more guides, being biased by one or more biasing devices, the like, or any combination thereof.
The holding gap may have a distance and/or height. The height may be measured as the interior distance between the opposing supporting walls of the upper and lower channels. The height may be sufficiently to retain a record cover and/or record therein without damaging either. A typical record cover for a 12 inch record is approximately 12.5 inches wide by 12.5 inches tall. Thus, the height may be 12.5 inches or greater when the holder is in a closed position. The height may be about 12.5 inches or greater, about 12.75 inches or greater, about 13 inches or greater. The height may be about 15 inches or less, about 14.5 inches or less, about 14 inches or less, about 13.75 inches or less, or even about 13.5 inches or less. The height (otherwise known as the upper and lower channels) may or may not apply some compression about the upper and lower edges of a record holder. If a height of the holding gap is greater than a height of a record, the upper and/or lower lips of the upper and lower channels may aid in retaining the record holder and/or record within the holding gap, prevent falling forward and out of the holder, or both. This is a key difference is compared to most compression style holders, such as that of commonly referred to selfie stick for smart phones, as this compression fit which holds the phone into the selfie stick would result in damage to a record cover. The holding gap may be able to be increased in size by moving into the open position. The holding gap may be increased in size by about 0.25 inches or greater, 0.5 inches or greater, 0.75 inches or greater, or even 1 inch or greater when expanding the holder from the closed position to the open position. The holding gap may be increased in size by about 2 inches or less, about 1.5 inches or less, or even about 1.25 inches or less when expanding the holder form the closed position to the open position.
The holder also includes a lip gap. The lip gap may be the distance between the top edge of the lip of the lower channel and the bottom edge of the lip of the upper channel. In the closed position, the lip gap may be smaller than the height of a record holder, record, and/or the like. In the open position, the lip gap may be smaller, equal to, or even greater than a height of a record holder, record, and/or the like. But by expanding into the open position, the record holder and/or record is able to be inserted from a front of the holder into the holding gap. The lip gap may be about 0.1 inches or greater, about 0.25 inches or greater, about 0.5 inches or greater, or even about 0.75 inches or greater smaller than the height holding gap. The lip gap may be about 2 inches or less, about 1.5 inches or less, or even about 1 inch or less smaller than the height of the holding gap. In other words, each lip may have a height of about 0.1 inches or greater, 0.2 inches or greater, 0.3 inches or greater, or even about 0.35 inches or greater. Each lip may have a height of about 1 inch or less, about 0.8 inches or less, about 0.6 inches or less, or even about 0.5 inches or less.
The holder may include one or more mounting features. The mounting features may function to retain the holder to a supporting surface, retain one or more portions of the holder static while one or more other portions move, offset a wall of the holder to allow for clearance from a supporting surface, the like, or any combination. The one or more mounting features may be part of an upper member, lower member, or both. The one or more mounting features may be part of a member which remains static as opposed to being moveable. For example, the one or more mounting features may be part of a lower member. By being part of a lower member, the lower member may be statically affixed to a supporting surface while allowing for an upper member to be moveable relative to the lower member. The one or more mounting features may include one or more bosses, openings, fasteners, mounting pads, adhesives, or the like. For example, the rear of a main body may include one or more mounting pads integrally formed thereon. The mounting pads may function to receive (e.g., have affixed thereon) one or more adhesive strips. For example, Command™ strips may be adhered to the mounting pads to provide a temporary means of affixing the holder to a supporting surface. One or more bosses may be part of a lower member, upper member, or both. The one or more bosses may outwardly project from a main wall of a lower member. The one or more bosses may project toward the supporting surface. The one or more bosses and/or mounting pads may have a height such as to offset the main wall of the upper member, lower member, or both from the supporting surface. Height may be measured as a distance from a rear surface of a main body toward the opposing surface of the boss and/or mounting pad. One or more openings may pass through a wall of the upper member, lower member, or both. The one or more openings may function to allow one or more fasteners to pass therethrough. The one or more openings may pass through the one or more bosses. One or more fasteners may include any fastener suitable for mounting the holder to a support surface. One or more fasteners may include one or more threaded fasteners, non-threaded fasteners, or both. For example, one or more bolts and/or screws may pass through the one or more openings and into the support surface.
The holder may include one or more guide channels. One or more guide channels may function to translate along one or more guides, allow for movement of one member (e.g., upper) relative to another member (e.g., lower), house one or more guide members, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more guide channels may have any size and/or shape which may allow for one or more guide members to at least partially reside therein, one or more biasing devices to reside therein, movement along one or more guides, or any combination thereof. One or more guide channels may be located at a rear, side, or even front of one or more members (e.g., upper, lower). One or more guide channels may be located along a rear of an upper member, lower member, or both. One or more guide channels may be affixed and/or integral (e.g., molded of the same material) with one or more members. One or more guide channels may have a shape which substantially reciprocal to the shape of one or more guides. One or more guide channels may have a shape which is substantially cylindrical, rectangular prismed, triangular prismed, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more guide channels may be hollow. The one or more guide channels may have a hollow pass through extending along a portion or all of their length. The hollow pass through may house a guide. The one or more guide channels may include a single guide channel or a plurality of guide channels. A plurality of guide channels may include two or more guide channels. For example, two guide channels may be symmetrically placed at a rear of the upper and lower members. The one or more guide channels may be divided into one or more upper guide channels and one or more lower guide channels. The upper guide channels may be part of an upper member. The lower guide channels may be part of a lower member. The upper guide channels may be aligned with (e.g., concentric, axially centered) with the lower guide channels. Alignment may allow for a guide member to easily extended through both.
The holder may include one or more guide members. A guide member may function to allow for movement of one member relative to another member, limit movement to axial translation, or both. A guide member may be at least partially located within one or more guide channels. A guide member may be located in one or more upper guide channels and lower guide channels. A guide member may be configured to remain statically affixed to one or more upper guide channels or lower guide channels while allowing for translation of one or more lower guide channels or upper guide channels relative thereto. The one or more guide members may include one or more guides, guide stops, retainers, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more guides may reside within one or more guide channels. One or more guides may have a shape substantially reciprocal with a hollow interior of a guide channel. The one or more guides may be substantially rod-shaped. The same number of guides may be present as guide channels. For example, there may be two guides. The one or more guides may include one or more guide stops. One or more guide stops may be formed as one or more heads of the one or more guide stops. The head may have a width larger than the guide and an opening of a guide channel. The head may abut with an exterior of the guide channel to affix the guide therein. A plurality of guides may be joined via a guide stop. A guide stop may extend from one guide to an opposing guide. The guides may project substantially orthogonally from the opposing ends of the guide stop. A guide stop may distance the guides. The guide stop may have a shape similar to the shape of the guides. The guides and guide stop may be formed as a single unitary component. A guide stop may also function to restrict movement of the guide member relative to the guide channels. The ends of the one or more guides may be engaged with one or more retainers. One or more retainers may function to retain one or more biasing devices affixed to the guide member. One or more retainers may be engaged via one or more threads, a friction fit, or the like to the one or more guides. For example, the ends of each guide may include a threaded portion. The threaded portion may mate with a retainer which includes a threaded interior.
The holder may include one or more biasing devices. One or more biasing devices may function to bias one or more members toward one or more other members. One or more biasing devices may bias an upper member toward a lower member, lower member toward an upper member, or both. One or more biasing devices may bias the holder into a closed position from an open position. The one or more biasing devices may include any biasing device capable of biasing one member toward the other member. One or more biasing devices may reside within and/or about one or more guide channels, about one or more guides, or both. One or more biasing devices may be retained in place via one or more retainers. One or more biasing devices may include one or more springs, elastomeric materials, or both. One or more springs may include one or more compression springs, extension springs, torsion springs, and/or the like. For example, one or more compression springs may be located about one or more guides and located within the one or more guide channels. One or more elastomeric materials may include rubber, silicone, and/or thermoplastic elastomers. For example, one or more elastomeric materials may include a rubber sleeve. The rubber sleeve may be located about the one or more guides and within the one or more guide channels.
The present teachings relate to a method of inserting a record cover and/or record into a holder. The holder may be the holder according to the disclosure. The method may include mounting a holder to a support surface. Mounting may utilize one or more mounting features as disclosed herein. Mounting may include affixing a main body or other portion of a lower member, or even the upper member, to a support surface via one or more mounting features. The method may include expanding the holder into an open position from a closed position. Expanding may include pulling (e.g., user grasping and pulling) an upper member away from a lower member, a lower member away from an upper member, or both. The pulling may provide a force greater than the biasing force of one or more biasing devices such as to overcome the biasing force. The method may include placing a record, record cover, and/or the like into the holder. Placing may include inserting from the front of the holder. The method may include placing a record, record cover, and/or the like into a holding gap of the holder, onto a lower channel, onto a supporting wall of a lower channel, or a combination thereof. The method may include closing the holder back into the closed position. Closing the holder may include removing the pull force from the upper member, the lower member, or both such that the biasing force is once again applied and biases one member toward the other.
Any numerical values recited in the above application include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value, and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints.
The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about +/−10° or less, about +/−5° or less, or even about +/−1° or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about +/−0.01° or greater, about +/−0.1° or greater, or even about +/−0.5° or greater. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about +/−10% or less, about +/−5% or less, or even about +/−1% or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about +/−0.01% or greater, about +/−0.1% or greater, or even about +/−0.5% or greater.
The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components, or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components, or steps.
Plural elements, ingredients, components, or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component, or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component, or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components, or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component, or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components, or steps.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/386,989, filed on Dec. 12, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63386989 | Dec 2022 | US |
