Storage and retrieval of objects can often be conveniently accomplished by attaching the object to a support member and allowing the objects to hang down from the support member under the influence of gravity. However, engaging and disengaging the object from the support member can be inconvenient and require both attention and focused dexterity to accomplish. For example, a towel may be hung over a hook for storage. To hang the towel on the hook, a relatively precise amount of the towel must be placed over the hook to engage the towel with the hook. If not enough of the towel is engaged with the hook, the weight of the towel will pull the small amount of fabric off the hook and allow the towel to fall to the ground. If a user attempts to engage too much of the towel into the hook, the bulk of the fabric cannot be forced into the hook and the towel falls on the floor. Even if the towel successfully hangs from the hook, particular attention on the removal of the towel from the hook is required. For example, removal of the towel from the hook cannot typically be accomplished by simply jerking downward on the towel. This downward motion simply engages the towel more firmly in the hook and/or damages the hook. Similarly, attempting to remove the towel from the side can be ineffective and result in damage to the hook. In most cases, to successfully remove the towel from the hook, the towel must be lifted upward off the hook. This motion is often inconvenient from the position or location of the user.
Similar problems occur when textiles, such as a towel, are engaged with a rod, To hang a towel from a rod, one side of the towel is threaded over the rod until an approximately equal amount of the towel is hanging from both sides of the rod. Often this is a two handed operation, with an upper hand grasping the edge of the towel and threading it over the rod, and a second hand reaching under the rod to grip the towel and pull it over the rod. The correct amount of towel must hang from each side of the rod for the towel to remain in place. If too much of the towel hangs on any one side, the towel will fall on the ground, Removal of the towel from the rod can be difficult, particularly when the bulk of the towel jams between the rod and the surface supporting the rod, preventing its removal.
A variety of other systems and methods for hanging flexible textiles and fabrics have been proposed and used. In some implementations, clips may be used to connect the textiles to a support member, However, clips require two hands to be used, one to open the clip and the other hand to force the towel into the clip. In other implementations, a textile such as a towel may include a flap that buttons around a rod. In this case, the towel becomes semi-permanently connected to the support member. To remove the towel, both hands and a significant amount of attention must be used to unbutton the flap and remove the towel. This type of connection is often used for kitchen towels hung from an oven door handle. In addition to being inconvenient, this type of connection can be unsafe. For example, if a small child grabs the towel and pulls on it, the oven door may open, exposing the hot interior. Additionally, if a user working in the kitchen has the misfortune of becoming tangled in the towel, the towel does not simply slide off the oven door handle. Instead, because the towel is secured to the oven handle, the entangled user may be jerked or tripped by the towel.
Thus, current methods for attaching flexible textiles, fabrics or other similar objects to support members can be both inconvenient and ineffective in allowing the textile to be securely connected to a support member while still remaining easily removable from a wide range of angles.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various examples of the principles described herein and are a part of the specification. The illustrated examples are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.
The principles described below allow a textile to be securely connected to a support member while still allowing the textile to be removed from a variety of angles and without danger that the textile will snag on the support member during removal. In general, one or more resilient gripping members are connected to the textile. The resilient gripping member grips the support member and secures the textile in place. To remove the textile from the support member, the user simply pulls on the textile from any direction and the resilient gripping member opens to release the support member. In some examples, the resilient gripping member is bi-stable, with a stable open position and a stable closed position.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present systems and methods. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, systems and methods may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples.
The principles below describe a resilient gripping member for hanging a textile from a support member. The resilient gripping member secures the textile to the support member to prevent the textile from falling off. This resilient gripping member can have a variety of configurations, including a resilient spring, such as a bi-stable ribbon spring, that is attached to the textile. The resilient gripping member closes around the support member to secure the textile in place. When the textile is to be removed, the textile is pulled and the resilient gripping member opens to release the textile from the support member. When not in use, the resilient gripping member can be wrapped around the textile to keep the textile securely folded and presentable. Figure (Insert figure number for new drawing) shows the folded position of the textile assembly. In this example, the textile has been rolled up from the side opposite the resilient gripping member as shown in Figure (#). The resilient member is closed around the rolled towel to secure it in place.
In one embodiment, the resilient gripping member (105) has an open and closed state. For example, the resilient gripping member (105) may be a bi-stable ribbon spring. Bi-stable ribbon springs are formed from a variety of materials, such as metals and plastics. Bi-stable ribbon springs have two stable states: a first state where the ribbon spring is straight along its length and curved along its width and a second state where the ribbon spring is curved along its length and straight across its width. Other types of resilient gripping members (105) that exhibit an open state and a closed state could also be used, These other types of resilient gripping members may be stable in one or more open or closed states.
The resilient gripping member (105) can be connected to the textile (115) in a variety of locations. The location of the resilient gripping member (105) may be selected according to the particular design and usage of the textile.
Although the support member shown in the previous figures is described as a horizontal rod, such as the handle to an oven door, the support member could be a vertical rod, such as a refrigerator door or a hook, a peg, or other support member.
The resilient gripping member may be formed in a variety of ways. In one example, the resilient gripping member is formed by placing a bi-stable spring in a pouch and then connecting the pouch to the textile.
These pouches can be removable or permanently attached to the textile. For example, the pouches may be sewn or adhered to the textile. In other examples, the pouches may be attached to the textile in such a way that the pouch can be removed. This can be accomplished using a variety of other means, including buttons, snaps, hook-and-loop fabric, or other appropriate method. Because the bistable spring and/or pouch can be removed from the textile, the textile can be separately cleaned if desired.
If desired, the textile can be removed in a variety of ways. In one example, the textile is removed simply by pulling the textile out of the jaws with sufficient force to spread the jaws apart. The teeth and jaws can be designed to securely grip the textile but to prevent the textile from tearing when the textile is removed. In other examples, the textile may be moved sideways out of the teeth.
A variety of other connection schemes could be used to connect the resilient gripping member to the textile. For example, the connector (910) could include a knob that is forced through a slit in the textile. In other examples, the connector and textile could be snapped or buttoned together. In some embodiments, the resilient gripping member could be connected to the textile using magnetic force.
The textile is then used for its intended purpose (step 1010). After use, the user returns the textile to its support member by spreading the resilient gripping member to an open position. For example, if the anchor member is a bi-stable spring, the user straightens the bi-stable spring to its straight configuration. The user then places the resilient gripping member over the support member (step 1020) and closes it over the elongated member, rod, or appliance handle to hang the textile from the support member (step 1025). As shown above in
The principles and methods described above could be used to connect the textile assembly to a wide range of objects for a variety of purposes.
When the textile assembly is no longer in use, the resilient gripping members can secure the textile in a folded position. This provides a convenient and compact method for storing the textile assembly.
The preceding principles describe methods to secure a variety of textile objects to a support member. A resilient gripping member connects the textile object to the support member and eliminates the need for the user to equally balance the textile on either side of an elongated member, making the textile easier to hang. The characteristics of this device make the textile easier to remove, easier to hang, and easier to store than other devices already in use.
The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe examples of the principles described. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit these principles to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/489,531, by Randall West et al., filed on May 24, 2011, and entitled “Secure Grip for Hanging a Small Towel,” which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61489531 | May 2011 | US |