Patent Application
20070261322
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an under cabinet hook and, more particularly, to a hook assembly that is mounted to the bottom panel of a kitchen cupboard for hanging various things, such as bananas.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As is known in the art, bananas emit a harmless gas that causes other fruits to ripen quickly and spoil. Also, it is known in the art that hanging bananas will keep them fresher for a longer period of time before they turn brown and spoil. Thus, various fruit baskets and other devices are known in the art, such as the banana tree basket, that provide a hook for hanging bananas separately from other fruit.
The known banana hanging devices are typically some type of stand that includes a base portion that sits on the kitchen counter, an arm that is coupled to and extends up from the base portion, and a hook that is mounted to the arm opposite to the base portion that the bananas hang from. The stand can take up a considerable amount of counter space. Because kitchen counter space is generally valuable real estate, it would be desirable to provide a device that allows bananas to hang, but conserves kitchen counter space.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a hook assembly is disclosed that has particular application for hanging bananas. The hook assembly includes an elongated base portion that can be of any shape and design for any particular kitchen. A bolt is mounted to one end of the base portion and extends therefrom. A hook is mounted to an opposite end of the base portion to which the bananas hang from. The bolt is inserted through a hole in a bottom panel of a kitchen cupboard so that it extends therethrough. A nut is threaded to the end of the bolt extending through the bottom panel to secure the hook assembly to the cupboard. In one embodiment, the nut is a T-shaped nut including spikes that dig into the bottom panel to securely hold the hook assembly in place.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a hook assembly for hanging bananas is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses. For example, the hook assembly of the invention has particular application for hanging bananas. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the hook assembly of the invention can be used for hanging other things.
Most kitchens include a series of kitchen cupboards mounted to the wall above a kitchen counter, where space is provided between a bottom panel of the kitchen cupboard and the counter to allow the counter to be accessible. Kitchen cupboards and counters incorporate various designs, materials, shapes, etc. for individual preferences. The present invention proposes a hook assembly 10 that is mounted to a bottom panel 12 of a kitchen cupboard from which things can be hung, such as bananas 36.
In this embodiment, the top end 16 of the base portion 14 includes a cup-shape. A threaded bolt 20 is rigidly secured to the base portion 14, and extends from the end 16, as shown. A hook 22 is rigidly mounted to the bottom end 18 of the base portion 14, and extends therefrom. The hook 22 can be secured to the base portion 14 in any suitable manner, such as by threading an end of the hook 22 into the wood of the base portion 14. The hook 22 can be made of any suitable material, such as steel or aluminum, and can be any suitable size for the purposes described herein. In this embodiment, the hook assembly 10 is intended to hang the bananas 36, but can be used to hang anything the homeowner desires.
The bolt 20 is used to mount the hook assembly 10 to the bottom panel 12. A hole 24 is drilled through the bottom panel 12 at any suitable location. The hook assembly 10 further includes a nut 26 that holds the hook assembly 10 to the bottom panel 12. In this embodiment, the nut 26 is a T-nut including a top plate 28 and a cylindrical portion 30. A threaded bore 32 extends through the top plate 28 and the cylindrical portion 30 and has a diameter that accommodates the threaded portion of the bolt 20. Further, the top plate 28 includes a series of symmetrically disposed spikes 34, here four, that extend down from the top plate 28 around the cylindrical portion 30, as shown. In other embodiments, the nut 26 can be less elaborate, such as a simple nut, to perform the same function.
The homeowner will drill the hole 24 in the bottom panel 12 to a diameter that accommodates the diameter of the cylindrical portion 30, but is smaller than the diameter of the top plate 28. The homeowner will then push the nut 26 into the hole 24 so that the spikes 34 dig into the top surface of the bottom panel 12. While holding the nut 26, the homeowner will then thread the bolt 20 into the threaded bore 32 until a top edge of the top end 16 pushes against the bottom surface of the bottom panel 12. By tightening the base portion 14 to the bottom panel 12, the spikes 34 will further dig in to the top surface of the bottom panel 12 and rigidly securing the hook assembly 10 thereto. The homeowner can then use the hook 22 to hang the bananas 36 and gain back valuable counter space.
The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
