Patent Application
20100187384
The present invention relates, in general, to a support device for use in supporting at least one predetermined foldable member and, more particularly, this invention relates to a support device which is attachable to a predetermined vertical structure, such support device being for supporting at least one predetermined foldable member, such at least one predetermined foldable member including, but not limited to items such as blankets, bed spreads, comforters, throws, afghans, quilts, rugs, curtains, drapes, furniture covers, and the like.
Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, foldable covering members, such as bedspreads, comforters, quilts, throws, afghans, blankets, throw rugs, furniture covers and the like, are generally well known in the prior art. However, after making a bed, tidying a room, or when preparing for sleep, many people find they have extra covering members, such as decorative quilts and throw blankets with no convenient place to put them. Moreover, temperatures change throughout the year, and it is often necessary to lessen the amount of blankets on a bed, daybed, couch, futon, etc. A lot of space in a room can be taken up by extra bedding and covering members. Many people throw the covering member or members on a chair, on the floor, or on the edge of furniture, such as a bed. If an individual attempts to clean up, he or she is often forced to store the extra items in a cedar chest, in the back of a closet, on a high shelf, in an attic, in a basement, and other inconvenient places that are hard to reach, and not easily accessible.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: May, U.S. Pat. No. 1,606,587, discloses a display rack for holding comforters and blankets. The rack is mounted within a cabinet and includes a plurality of horizontal arms.
Klein, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,528, discloses a storage rack which hangs on the upper edge of a base cabinet door. A pair of hanger brackets fit on the door edge and are constructed to accommodate the plain edge of a flush mounted door or the stepped edge of a recessed cabinet door. Hooks on the inside parts of the brackets receive mounting fixtures used to attach storage devices such as baskets, trays, shelves, paper towel holders, food wrap dispensers, towel hooks or towel bars.
Coleman, U.S. Design Patent No. D274773, discloses the ornamental design for a rack for quilts, blankets, and spreads.
Ma, U.S. Design Patent No. D327589, discloses the ornamental design for a quilt rack.
Ferber, et al, U.S. Publication No. 20060113264, discloses a quilt rack to hang and display quilts on flat wall surfaces so as to support and frame the displayed quilt and produce a more pleasing and appealing display while protecting the quilt from drooping or sagging. Such quilt rack requires a four inch fabric pocket on the back of the quilt, and that, along with the rack, produces a uniform support over the length of the quilt eliminating wrinkles, droops, sags or uneven portions on the fabric surface.
The present invention provides a support device for supporting at least one predetermined foldable member. Such support device includes a pair of bracket members for being mounted on a predetermined vertical structure a predetermined distance apart. A securing means is operably connected to each bracket member and engageable with such predetermined vertical structure for securing each of such bracket members to such predetermined vertical structure. A support rod is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. Such support rod includes a first end and a second end and is releasably supported in a substantially horizontal position by such bracket members while such support rod supports such at least one predetermined foldable member releasably thereon.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a convenient easy to reach device for use in supporting foldable members such as bedding, comforters, bedspreads, rugs, draperies, and the like, which may be attached to a predetermined vertical structure such that when a person wants to store such items he or she can remove them from their positions within a room and conveniently support them on such device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device for use for use in supporting extra bedding, such as quilts, comforters, afghans, blankets, and bedspreads in an out of the way location such as behind a door, on a wall, etc. thereby freeing up space in a room and lessening the bulk of bedding on a bed.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting bed coverings which is easy and inexpensive to install.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a decorative support device for supporting at least one foldable member, such decorative support device being attachable to a predetermined vertical structure such as a door, a wall, a cabinet, and the like; such decorative support member having an aesthetic appearance.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an easy to install support device which takes up little space and can be used to support quilts, decorative blankets, throws, afghan, throw rugs, and other foldable members.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to
A support device, generally designated 10, for supporting at least one predetermined foldable member 12 is provided. Such predetermined foldable member may be a type of bedding, such as a comforter, quilt, bedspread, blanket, sheets, afghan, and the like. Such predetermined foldable member may also be curtains, drapes, a rug, a throw, a furniture cover, etc.
Such support device 10 includes a pair of bracket members 11 for being mounted on a predetermined vertical structure 22 a predetermined distance apart. Such predetermined vertical structure may be a door, a wall, a cabinet, etc., upon which such bracket members may be mounted.
A securing means 18 is operably connected to each bracket member 11 and engageable with such predetermined vertical structure 22 for securing each of such bracket members 11 to such predetermined vertical structure 22.
A support rod 26 is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. Such support rod includes a first end 31 and a second end 33 and is releasably supported in a substantially horizontal position by such bracket members 11 while such support rod 26 supports such at least one predetermined foldable member 12 releasably thereon. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such first predetermined material is a metal. Preferably such metal is at least one of aluminum, steel, wrought iron, and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such bracket members 11 include a pair of plate members 16 each manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape for being mounted on such predetermined vertical structure 22. It is presently preferred that such second predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such second predetermined material is a metal. Preferably such metal is at least one of aluminum, steel, wrought iron, and a combination thereof. It is presently preferred that such plate members 16 are substantially flat.
Such bracket members 11 further preferably include a pair of hook members 14, each manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape and including a hooked portion at a front end thereof, each hook member 14 being attached at a rear end thereof perpendicularly to a predetermined one of such plate members 16. It is presently preferred that such third predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such third predetermined material is a metal. Preferably such metal is at least one of aluminum, steel, wrought iron, and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such securing means 18 is a screw type securing means 24 and each plate member 16 includes at least one aperture disposed there through at a predetermined location for receiving such screw type securing means 24. It is presently most preferred that such plate members 16 each include two apertures disposed there through, a first one of each of such apertures disposed through a first end of such plate member 16 and a one of each of such second apertures disposed through a second opposite end of such plate member 16.
According to another embodiment, as illustrated in
It is presently preferred that such support rod 26 is substantially straight. It is further presently preferred that each end of such support rod 26 is formed as a hook. Furthermore, it is presently most preferred that such support rod 26 includes first 42 and second 44 outwardly extending portions connected to each hooked end thereof at first ends thereof and a substantially straight middle portion 32 connected to each first and second outwardly extending portion at second ends thereof. It is meant that each end of such support rod is bent in a predetermined manner such that when such support rod 26 is disposed on such hook members 14 a substantially straight middle portion 32 of such support rod 26 is extended a predetermined distance from at least one of such hook members 14, such predetermined vertical structure 22, such plate members, such ends of support rod and a combination thereof. According to one embodiment, such support rod 26 is telescoping as illustrated in
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/147,585 filed Jan. 27, 2009.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61147585 | Jan 2009 | US |
