Abstract:
A suspension device for an item comprises a base member and a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is mounted for sliding movement relative to the base member and is adapted to clamp a pouch. A method of suspending such a pouch includes the steps of opening the clamping assembly, placing the pouch in the clamping assembly and simultaneously closing and sliding the clamping assembly into the housing such that the pouch is suspended from the clamping assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority from provisional patent Application No. 60/429,764 filed on Nov. 27, 2002. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to pouches, and more particularly, to a method and device for suspending pouches.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0003]    The use of pouches for the storage of items is well known. Such pouches are used to store a variety of articles, from food to general household items including everything from craft supplies to children&#39;s toys. Generally, such pouches can be characterized by the presence or absence of integral resealing apparatus. Pouches that do not include any integral resealing apparatus typically require a separate sealing member, such as a wire twist-tie, to seal the pouch. Often, the separate sealing member is lost or is not readily available to a user, and hence, the pouch is usually not properly sealed and/or is knotted by the user. In the latter case the subsequent untying of the pouch can be problematic or impossible as a practical matter. Pouches that include integral resealing apparatus overcome these problems but have other potential disadvantages, particularly those pouches that require a user to pinch and run his finger and thumb over closure strips of the pouch. Specifically, when sealing such a pouch, the user may not be able to readily determine whether the pouch has been fully closed.  
           [0004]    Regardless of the pouch type, a pouch that is not sealed readily allows the contents of the pouch to spill out unless the pouch is carefully arranged and handled. In addition, many different types and shapes of articles are often stored in such pouches, causing the pouches to be irregularly and/or differently shaped. When such pouches are placed together in a confined space, such as a cupboard, cabinet, drawer, shelf, refrigerator or the like, a disorganized condition can develop, preventing a user from easily locating a particular pouch. Further, as a user is attempting to locate a particular pouch, the pouch may be jostled, thereby causing one or more pouches to fall off a supporting surface to the floor, resulting in breakage of the pouch and/or the articles stored therein and/or spilling of contents. Also, the pouches are usually placed on top of one another, leading to an inefficient use of space. Still further, when pouches are stacked on top of each other in an unconfined location, the pouches tend to slide out of the stacked configuration and into a disorganized state. Pouches stacked on top also tend to conceal the contents of the pouches below.  
           [0005]    Attempts have been made to address the foregoing problems through the use of rack systems that suspend one or more pouches each from an open end thereof, thereby allowing the remainder of each pouch to hang freely below the rack regardless of the contents of the pouch.  
           [0006]    Lemke, U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,949 discloses a clamping hanger for food bags. The hanger is used in conjunction with a snack bag, such as a potato chip bag, where one end of the bag is open and has no integral closing device. The clamping hanger includes a clamping member defining a slit that has a width narrower than the combined thicknesses of the walls of the snack bag. A user slides the open end of the bag into the slit and the bag is frictionally retained therein.  
           [0007]    Nocek et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,522 discloses a bag storage device. The device is designed for use with a non-slider type reclosable bag having interlocking profiles that have a greater thickness than the combined thicknesses of the side panels of the bag. The storage device comprises a member defining a slot that is narrower than the thickness of the interlocked profiles but wide enough that it will freely receive the combined thicknesses of the side panels of the bag. Furthermore, the slot has a length that is substantially as long as the bag. When the bag is inserted into the slot such that the profiles are disposed above the slot, the profiles engage the portions of the member forming the slot and support the bag.  
           [0008]    Similarly, Baglio, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,854,530 and 4,854,530 disclose a hanger system for non-slider type reclosable bags including a holding device having a plurality of pairs of spaced rails or fingers. The rails or fingers of each pair are spaced apart to define a slot having a width less than the thickness of interlocking profiles of the bags but greater than the combined thicknesses of side panels of the bags. Each of a number of bags may be slid into a corresponding slot with the profiles of the bag above the slot such that the profiles are brought into contact with the rails or fingers and are supported thereby.  
           [0009]    Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,957 discloses a storage system for non-slider type reclosable bags. The patent discloses a variety of rack systems for use with reclosable plastic bags. All of the rack storage systems disclosed in the patent utilize a plurality of slots each having a width less than the thickness of the interlocking profiles but greater than the combined thicknesses of the side panels of the bag. The rack systems disclosed include cylindrical, vertical and horizontal systems, all including a plurality of slots for holding multiple bags.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a suspension device for an item comprises a base member and a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is mounted for sliding movement relative to the base member and is adapted to clamp an item.  
           [0011]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, a suspension device for a pouch includes a housing and a clamping assembly slidable along a linear path with respect to the housing wherein the clamping assembly has a first clamping member and a second clamping member. The second clamping member is movable with respect to the first clamping member and is adapted to clamp the pouch therebetween.  
           [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a suspension device for a pouch includes a housing having first, second, and third pairs of elongate recesses and a clamping assembly slidable along a linear path with respect to the housing. The clamping assembly includes a first clamping member having a grasping portion and guide portion comprising first and second pairs of guide members respectively disposed in the second and third pairs of elongate recesses. The clamping assembly further includes a second clamping member having a flexible guide rail disposed in the first pair of elongate recesses.  
           [0013]    According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for suspending a pouch includes the steps of providing a clamping assembly mounted for sliding movement in a housing and adapted to clamp the pouch. The method further includes the steps of opening the clamping assembly, placing the pouch in the clamping assembly, and simultaneously closing and sliding the clamping assembly into the housing such that the pouch is suspended from the clamping assembly.  
           [0014]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a suspension device according to the present invention having a pouch suspended therefrom;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a trimetric view of the housing of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the suspension device of FIG. 1 with the clamping assembly extended outwardly from the housing;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the suspension device of FIG. 4;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the first clamping member of FIG. 4;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a rear end elevational view of the first clamping member of FIG. 5;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the second clamping member of FIG. 4;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the second clamping member of FIG. 4;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the suspension device of FIG. 1 with the clamping assembly retracted into the housing;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 5;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the second clamping member of FIG. 4;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the suspension device of FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, enlarged, front elevational view of a portion of the suspension device of FIGS. 1 and 13;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the second clamping member attached to the first clamping member;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a fragmentary isometric view of the device of FIG. 1; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 17 is a bottom elevational view of the housing of FIG. 1 with the clamping assembly removed therefrom.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a suspension device  22  includes a base member  24  and a clamping assembly  26 . The suspension device  22  is used to suspend a pouch  28  preferably with one or more items  29  contained therein. The base member  24  and clamping assembly  26  are constructed of a thermoplastic material but other materials may be employed.  
         [0033]    The base member  24  suspends the clamping assembly  26  and comprises a housing  30  having mounting member  31  and first and second side walls  32 ,  34  depending from the mounting member  31 , thereby defining a channel  36 .  
         [0034]    As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and  17 , the mounting member  31  includes at least one mounting hole  38 , and preferably three mounting holes  38   a - 38   c  and a tab  40 . Each mounting hole  38   a - c  preferably has an oval or round shape or may comprise a slot. The tab  40  is disposed at one end  42  of the mounting member  31  and preferably has a triangular shape and extends into the channel  36 .  
         [0035]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second side walls  32 ,  34  include a first pair of elongate recesses  43 ,  44 , a second pair of elongate recesses  45 ,  46 , and a third pair of elongate recesses  47 ,  48 . The recess  43  is defined by first and second flanges or rails  49 ,  50  that extend outwardly from an inner surface  51  of the first side wall  32 . The flanges or rails  49 ,  50  include sloped portions  52 ,  53 . The recess  45  extends into the side wall  32  from the inner surface  51  thereof. The recess  47  extends into the side wall  32  from an outer surface  58  thereof. The recesses  43 ,  45 , and  47  are all parallel to the mounting member  31 .  
         [0036]    In like fashion and as seen in FIG. 3, the recesses  44 ,  46 , and  48  extend in a direction parallel to the mounting member  31 . The recess  44  is defined by third and fourth flanges or rails  59 ,  60  that extend outwardly from an inner surface  61  of the side wall  34 . The flanges or rails  59 ,  60  include sloped portions  62 ,  63  (FIG. 5). The recess  46  (FIG. 3) extends into the inner surface  61  whereas the recess  48  extends into an outer surface  65  of the side wall  34 .  
         [0037]    The recesses  43 ,  45 , and  47  and the rails  49 ,  50  are mirror images of, but otherwise identical to, the recesses  44 ,  46 , and  48  and the rails  59 ,  60 , respectively. The recesses  44 ,  46 , and  48  are aligned top-to-bottom with the recesses  43 ,  45 , and  47 , respectively, such that the recesses  43 - 46  are disposed above lower ends  66 ,  67  of the side walls  32 ,  34 , respectively, and the recesses  47 ,  48  are disposed at the lower ends  66 ,  67 .  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIGS.  4 - 6 , the clamping assembly  26  includes a first clamping member  68  and a second clamping member  70  movable with respect to the first clamping member  68 . The first clamping member  68  includes an elongate body  72  having a top portion  74 , a grasping portion  76  at one end  78 , and a guide portion  80  in sliding engagement with the second and third pairs of elongate recesses  45 - 48  (As seen in FIG. 16). The grasping portion  76  includes walls  84  defining an opening  85  wherein a user may grasp the walls  84  and move the clamping assembly  26  in and out of the housing  30  or hold the first clamping member  68  in position while moving the second clamping member  70  as noted in greater detail hereinafter.  
         [0039]    With specific reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the guide portion  80  includes a pair of openings  86   a ,  86   b  (FIG. 6), and first and second pairs of guide members  87   a ,  87   b  and  88   a ,  88   b , respectively. The first pair of guide members  87   a ,  87   b  and second pair of guide members  88   a ,  88   b  are disposed in the second elongate recesses  45 ,  46  and third elongate recesses  47 ,  48 , respectively (as seen in FIG. 16). The guide members  87   a  and  88   a  are preferably mirror images of the guide members  87   b  and  88   b , respectively. When the clamping assembly  26  is moved outwardly relative to the housing  30  to a first extreme position as seen in FIG. 5, the first pair of guide members  87   a ,  87   b  contact inner end surfaces  89   a  and  89   b  (FIG. 3) partly defining the recesses  45 ,  46 . This contact prevents the clamping assembly  26  from moving outwardly and disengaging from the housing  30  in a first direction.  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the second clamping member  70  includes a pin  90  disposed in the openings  86   a ,  86   b  respectively. The second clamping member  70  further includes an arm portion  92  and a stop member  93  having a cam portion  95  and a stop surface  96 . A plate member  98  attaches the stop member  93  to the arm portion  92 . The second clamping member  70  is capable of pivoting about the pins  90  relative to the first clamping member  68  within a range of motion relative to the first clamping member  68 . (The extremes of the range of motion are seen in FIGS. 4 and 15). As seen in FIG. 10, when the second clamping member  70  is disposed on the first clamping member  68 , the former is disposed at a first angular limit of zero degrees relative to the latter. Additionally, as seen in FIGS. 5, 11, and when the clamping assembly  26  is moved outwardly relative to the housing  30 , the cam surface  95  contacts the tab  40 , thereby causing the second clamping member  70  to rotate relative to the first clamping member  68 . Continued outward movement of the clamping assembly  26  relative to the housing  30  causes the stop surface  96  to move into contact with a further surface  97  whereupon the second clamping member  70  is disposed at a second angular limit of 30 degrees relative to the first clamping member  68 . FIGS. 9, 12, and  14  illustrate the second clamping member  70  in greater detail. The arm portion  92  includes flexible guide rails  103 ,  104  and first and second inner jaw portions  105 ,  106  surrounded by first and second outer jaw portions  107 ,  108  with two gaps  109 ,  110  spaced therebetween. As seen in FIG. 13, the inner jaw portions  105 ,  106  and flexible guide rails  103 ,  104  either engage or are spaced very close to the top portion  74  of the first clamping member  68  when the second clamping member  70  is disposed at the first angular limit.  
         [0041]    As seen in FIGS.  12 - 14 , the flexible guide rails  103 ,  104  are mirror images of one another (i.e., symmetric with respect to a center line) and further include integral first and second grooves  111 ,  112  that are triangular in shape and spaced equidistantly from edges  114 ,  116  of the grade rails  103 ,  104 . As the clamping assembly  26  is moved into the housing  30  ends  117 ,  118  (FIG. 9) of the guide rails  103 ,  104 , respectively, slide against the sloped portions  52 ,  62  and are deflected or bent downwardly into the first pair of elongate recesses  43 ,  44 . More specifically, as seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, a dimension A measured from a center line  122  of the guide member  88  to a center line  123  of the flexible guide rail  103 , before deflection of the guide rail  103 , is slightly greater than a dimension B measured from a center line  124  of the elongate recess  44  to a center line  125  of the elongate recess  44 . (Because the recesses  43 ,  45 , and  47 , the rails  49 ,  50  and the guide members  87 ,  89  are mirror images of the recesses  44 ,  46 , and  49 , the rails  59 ,  60  and the guide members  88 ,  90 , there are corresponding dimensions A and B on the side of the device  22  opposite that shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.) Thus, the sloped portions  52 ,  62  of the flanges or rails  49 ,  50  guide the ends  117 ,  118  into the recesses  43 ,  44 . Continued insertion of the clamping assembly  26  into the housing  30  eventually causes the full lengths of the guide rails  103  and  104  to rotate about the grooves  111  and  112 , respectively, and flatten out, thereby forcing the second clamping member  70  downwardly relative to the first clamping member  68 .  
         [0042]    Any method for mounting the suspension device  22  to a surface including but not limited to the methods shown in FIG. 17 may be used. A user can drive a shank of a nail or screw through the mounting holes  38  into a surface to which the suspension device  22  is attached. Mounting holes could alternatively be provided in side walls  32 ,  34  of the housing  30 , in which case the housing  30  could be mounted to a vertical (or other) surface by fasteners of any suitable type. Additionally or alternatively, any type of adhesive such as silicone adhesives, epoxy adhesives, and the like, or other fastening means (hook and loop fasteners, double-sided tape, etc.) could be used to secure the suspension device  22  to a surface in any orientation. Alternatively, a hook and/or one or more clips may be adhered or otherwise secured to the housing  30  to hang or secure the device  22  to or from a support structure, such as a cabinet or closet shelf, a refrigerator shelf, a refrigerator, wire rack or the like.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIG. 4, once the device  22  is mounted, a pouch  28 , preferably containing items  29  therein, may be suspended from the housing  30 . The user holds the grasping portion  76  and pulls the clamping assembly  26  out of the housing  30 . The guide portion  80  slides along a linear path defined by the elongate recesses of the housing  30  until the cam portion  95  contacts the tab  40 , whereupon a cam surface  95   a  of the cam portions  95  contacts a ramp surface  40   a  of the tab  40 . Continued outward movement of the clamping assembly  26  causes the cam surface  95   a  to slide up on the ramp surface  40   a  of the tab  40 , thereby pivoting the second clamping member  70  upwardly away from the first clamping member  68 . Eventually, each of the first guide members  87   a ,  87   b  contacts the inner surfaces  53 ,  64  of each side wall  32 ,  34  whereupon further outward movement is prevented. As seen in FIG. 11, and as noted in greater detail above, the stop surface  96  prevents movement of the second clamping member  70  beyond the second angular limit of thirty-degrees with respect to the first clamping member  68 . The user places an open end  140  of the pouch  28  over the top portion  74  of the first clamping member  68  and pushes the clamping assembly  26  into the housing  30   a  short distance, thereby spacing the surface  95   a  from the surface  40   a . The user then pushes the clamping assembly  26  along the linear path into the housing  30  whereby the flexible guide rails  103 ,  104  contact the sloped portions  52 ,  62  and are deflected downwardly as noted above to secure the open end  140  within the clamping assembly  26  and thereby suspend the pouch  28  from the housing  30 .  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0044]    As should be evident, one may use single or ganged multiple suspension devices that are secured to a vertical support surface, a horizontal support surface or a non-horizontal and non-vertical support surface in any configuration and/or orientation desired by the user. In the use of a non-horizontal support surface multiple pouches may be maintained in a desired arrangement including side-by-side, (i.e., a shingled arrangement) and cascading (i.e., an arrangement where the bags are disposed one above the other and either touching or not touching one another).  
         [0045]    The suspension device of the present invention can be made from any suitable rigid material such as plastics, glass, metal, wood and similar substances. The only important features of the materials of construction are that they be relatively rigid, be inexpensive, and can be readily formed into a desired shape. Suitable plastic materials include polypropylene, polyethylene, styrene, nylon and a wide variety of other similar homopolymers and copolymer materials. Any suitable molding technique can be used to form these devices, including injection molding, and thermoforming. The suspension devices can be formed in multiple parts that are snapped or pressed together or glued or fused together during manufacture and assembly.  
         [0046]    The suspension device allows a user to address a variety of home storage problems. First, the suspension device enables a user to store and organize pouches to fully utilize available storage space. For example, in a refrigerator, closet, pantry, or the like, the present invention allows a user to hang pouches from the underside of a shelf, cabinet, overhanging counter or other support surface thus freeing up shelf space for the storage of other items. This type of use also ensures that the pouches are clearly in view and always in the same location, thus increasing the likelihood that any perishable food will be utilized before spoilage occurs.  
         [0047]    Another advantage of the present invention is to ensure a seal of the pouch that is being used so that the contents will remain safely and securely within the pouch. This advantage is especially useful in relation to food storage since the food within the pouch will remain fresh longer if it is sealed from the surrounding environment. This type of use also gives the advantage that users with diminished manual dexterity are more easily able to utilize open pouches.  
         [0048]    Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out the same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved.