Abstract:
An item holder, mountable by suction on a mounting surface, including a deformable body having a convex outer surface that is substantially free of protrusions, a concave inner surface, and an edge extending around the outer and the inner surfaces. The deformable body is shaped to form in the body an elongate void extending through the deformable body, between the concave inner surface and the convex outer surface, in a direction that is generally parallel to the mounting surface during use of the holder. The elongate void formed by the deformable body terminates at opposing openings including of a first opening opposite a second opening. The body also defines a suction portion needed for creating the suction between the body and the mounting surface. The holder also includes a link component extending into the first opening, through the elongate void, and out of the second opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to item holders and, more particularly, to portable item holders that vacuum mount to surfaces. 
         [0002]    Many conventional item holders, such as conventional key chains, include rings or cords that hold items. A user can temporarily store the holder on a wall by hanging the ring or cord on a hook extending from the wall. The hook may be mounted directly to the wall or mounted on a magnet or suction cup that can be removably attached to a corresponding surface. Other conventional item holders, such as most pictures frames, are designed to display an item on a wall. Such displaying holders must also be hung from a hook extending from the wall. Conventional item holders have many drawbacks. 
         [0003]    One drawback of conventional item holders is that they cannot be stored on vertical surfaces unless they are hung on a hook extending from the vertical surface. The hook-and-magnet or suction-cup devices described above are helpful but have limited convenience. For example, a hook-and-magnet device requires a ferrous surface. Thus, the device will not work where the surface is not ferrous. Whatever types of hooks are used, they need to be positioned in every location a user wants to store the key chain. Further, because the hooks required for hanging conventional item holders on a vertical surface are not part of the holders, the holders cannot be stored in many desired locations away from the usual mounting places unless the user takes the hook or hook-having device with them. For example, people cannot mount their key chain to a hotel room mirror unless they have their hook-supporting device with them. 
         [0004]    Further, changing a storing or displaying location of conventional item holders requiring hooks fixed to walls for hanging is often cumbersome. For example, nails or other types of hooks often need to be removed from walls when a user wants to rearrange their interior decoration. Removing hooks from walls results in holes and/or scars on the walls, which usually need to be repaired by filling and painting. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to an item holder mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a deformable body. The deformable body includes an outer surface and an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface. The deformable body further includes a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the outer surface and inner surface. The deformable body also includes a hole extending through the body between the outer surface and inner surface for holding an item during use of the holder. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the present invention relates to an item holder mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a deformable body. The deformable body includes an outer surface that is substantially free of protrusions and an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface. The deformable body further includes a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the outer surface and inner surface. The item holder further includes an appendage extending from a base adjacent the periphery to a tip opposite the base. The appendage has a hole therein for holding an item during use of the holder. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to an item holder mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a deformable body. The deformable body includes an outer surface and an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface. The deformable body further includes a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface. The item holder further includes an appendage extending from a base adjacent the periphery to a tip opposite the base. The item holder also includes a connector attached to the appendage for connecting the appendage adjacent the tip to a position on the holder adjacent the base to form a loop for holding an item during use of the holder. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. 
         [0008]    In still another aspect, the present invention relates to an item holder mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a deformable body. The deformable body includes an outer surface having a convex portion that is substantially free of protrusions and an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the convex portion. The deformable body further includes a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface. The item holder further includes a fastener attached to the outer surface of the body for attaching an item to the holder. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. 
         [0009]    In still yet another aspect, the present invention relates to an item holder mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a deformable body. The deformable body includes an outer surface and an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface. The deformable body further includes a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface. The item holder further includes an appendage extending from a base connected to the periphery to a tip opposite the base. The item holder also includes a base attached to the appendage for attaching an item to the holder. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the present invention relates to an item holder mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a deformable body. The deformable body includes an outer surface that is substantially free of protrusions and an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface. The deformable body further includes an edge extending around the body and a hole extending through the deformable body in a direction that is generally parallel to the mounting surface during use of the holder. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. 
         [0011]    In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to an item holder mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface. The holder includes a deformable body including an outer surface and an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface. The deformable body further includes an edge extending around the body and a protrusion extending from the body. The protrusion has a hole extending through the protrusion in a direction that is generally parallel to the mounting surface during use of the holder. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to Us actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. 
         [0012]    In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of using an item holder including a deformable body having an outer surface, an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface, a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface, and a hole extending through the body between the outer surface to the inner surface. The method includes connecting an item to the holder so that the item at least partially fills the hole. The method further includes positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface while the body is in an undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface. The method also includes moving the body to an actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. In addition, the method includes demounting the body from the mounting surface by moving the body out of its actuated shape thereby breaking the seal and suction. Moreover, the method includes using the item after the demounting step and without repositioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface or moving the body to its actuated shape before using the item. 
         [0013]    In still yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of using an item holder including a deformable body having an outer surface, an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface, and an appendage extending from the body having a hole therein. The method includes connecting an item to the holder so that the item at least partially fills the hole. The method further includes positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface while the body is in an undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface. The method also includes moving the body to an actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. In addition, the method includes demounting the body from the mounting surface by moving the body out of its actuated shape thereby breaking the seal and suction. Moreover, the method includes using the item after the demounting step and without repositioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface or moving the body to its actuated shape before using the item. 
         [0014]    In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of using an item holder including a deformable body having an outer surface, an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface, an appendage extending from a base adjacent the periphery to a tip opposite the base, and a connector attached to the appendage for connecting the appendage adjacent the tip to a position on the holder adjacent the base to form a loop. The method includes connecting an item to the loop and positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface while the body is in an undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface. The method further includes moving the body to an actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. The method also includes demounting the body from the mounting surface by moving the body out of its actuated shape thereby breaking the seal and suction. In addition, the method includes using the item after the demounting step and without repositioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface or moving the body to its actuated shape before using the item. 
         [0015]    In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of using an item holder including a deformable body having an outer surface, an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface and a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface. The body further has a hole extending through the body in a direction that is generally parallel to a mounting surface during use of the holder. The method includes connecting an item to the holder so that the item at least partially fills the hole. The method further includes positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface while the body is in an undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface. The method also includes moving the body to an actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. In addition, the method includes demounting the body from the mounting surface by moving the body out of its actuated shape thereby breaking the seal and suction. Moreover, the method includes using the item after the demounting step and without repositioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface or moving the body to its actuated shape before using the item. 
         [0016]    In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of using an item holder including a deformable body having an outer surface, an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and outer surface. The holder further includes a protrusion extending from the body having a hole extending through the protrusion in a direction that is generally parallel to a mounting surface during use of the holder. The method includes connecting an item to the holder so that the item at least partially fills the hole. The method further includes positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface while the body is in an undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface. The method also includes moving the body to an actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface. In addition, the method includes demounting the body from the mounting surface by moving the body out of its actuated shape thereby breaking the seal and suction. Moreover, the method includes using the item after the demounting step and without repositioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface or moving the body to its actuated shape before using the item. 
         [0017]    Other aspects of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a top plan of an item holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of the item holder taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  shown in an undeformed shape adjacent a mounting surface. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross section of the item holder of  FIG. 2  shown in an actuated shape secured to the mounting surface. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top plan of an item holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a top plan of an item holder according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top plan of an item holder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a top plan of an item holder according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a top plan of an item holder according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the item holder taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8  shown in an undeformed shape adjacent the mounting surface. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a cross section of the item holder of  FIG. 9  shown in an actuated shape secured to the mounting surface. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a top plan of an item holder according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is cross section of the item holder taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  shown in an actuated shape secured to the mounting surface. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a cross section of the item holder according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention having a releasable fastener. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a cross section of an item holder according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention shown in an actuated shape secured to the mounting surface. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a cross section of an item holder according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention shown in an actuated shape secured to the mounting surface. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a cross section of an item holder according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention shown in an actuated shape secured to the mounting surface. 
       
    
    
       [0034]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Referring to the figures, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a portable item holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention is designated in its entirety by reference number  10 . The item holder  10  has a flexible or deformable body  12  including an outer surface  14 , an inner surface  16 , and a periphery  18  extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and the outer surface. The flexible body  12  does not include appendages extending from the periphery  18 . For example, the flexible body  12  does not include release taps commonly extending from peripheries of conventional suction cups. Although the flexible body  12  may include other materials without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the body includes a resinous thermoplastic such as polyvinyl chloride. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the outer surface  14  may include a convex portion  20 . The inner surface  16  includes a concave portion  22  opposite the outer surface  14 . For embodiments in which the outer surface  14  includes the convex portion  20 , the concave portion  22  of the inner surface  16  may be opposite the convex portion. The outer surface  14  may be substantially free of protrusions such as the central knobs protruding from outer surfaces of conventional suction cups. In one embodiment, the convex portion  20  is substantially free of 15 protrusions. The flexible body has a thickness T measured between the outer surface  14  and the inner surface  16 . The thickness T may vary throughout the flexible body  12  or be generally constant. For example, the thickness T may vary from a maximum thickness of between about 0.25 inch and about 0.1 inch in a central region  24  of the convex and/or concave portions  20 ,  22  and a minimum thickness of between about 0.08 inch and about 0.04 inch adjacent the periphery  18 . In one embodiment, the flexible body  12  has a constant thickness T of between about 0.13 inch and about 0.08 inch. 
         [0036]    The flexible body  12  is deformable between an undeformed or default shape, shown in  FIG. 2 , and an actuated shape, shown in  FIG. 3 , to mount the holder  10  by suction or vacuum on a generally smooth and generally non-porous mounting surface  26 . The holder  10  may be secured to mounting surfaces  26  having various attitudes. For example, the holder  10  may be mounted on an upward facing or downward facing horizontal mounting surface  26 . The holder  10  may also be mounted on a vertical surface  26  or on a generally upward or downward facing surface that is angled between horizontal and vertical. Mountability of the holder  10  on a downward facing surface may be limited when the holder is holding heavy and/or bulky items with respect to the size of the flexible body  12 . A mounting strength of the holder  10  depends in part on the size, shape, and material of the body  12  and characteristics of the mounting surface  26 , such as smoothness and porosity. 
         [0037]    The mounting surface  26  must include a surface area that is at least as large as an area the flexible body  12  spans when it is in its actuated shape. To mount the holder  10  on the mounting surface  26 , the inner surface  16  of the flexible body  12  is positioned adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its default shape, as shown in  FIG. 2 . By positioning the flexible body  12  in this way, a cavity  28  is formed between the body  12  and the mounting surface  26 . Then the flexible body  12  is moved to its actuated shape (i.e., causing the inner surface  16  to conform to the mounting surface), as shown in  FIG. 3 , thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface  26  and forcing fluid such as air out of the cavity  28  to create the suction between the body and the mounting surface. The suction created within the sealed cavity secures the body  12  to the mounting surface  26 . As the flexible body  12  is deformed toward the actuated shape, reflex or spring forces are created in the body between the convex and concave portions  20 ,  22  that act to return the body to its default shape. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the flexible body  12  must be sized and shaped so forces created by the suction balance with or are greater than the sum of the reflex forces created in the body and any loading on the body to create and maintain the connection between the body and mounting surface  26 . 
         [0038]    The periphery  18  of the flexible body  12  may have various sizes and shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention, as long as the suction between the holder  10  and the mounting surface  26  can be created and maintained as described above. For some periphery  18  shapes, the reflex forces in the body  12  must be reduced in places to ensure secure mounting of the holder  10  on the mounting surface  26 . One way to reduce reflex forces is by selectively changing body  12  thickness T. For example, the thickness T of the flexible body  12  may taper from a maximum thickness adjacent the central region  24  of the convex and concave portions  20 ,  22  to a minimum thickness adjacent the periphery  18 , as described above, to reduce reflex forces. 
         [0039]    It is contemplated that reflex forces can also be reduced by varying the material or material properties of the flexible body  12  between the central region  24  and the periphery  18 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the holder  10  in which the periphery  18  is shaped as a cardiod. The periphery  18  may be symmetric, such as circular, square, or oval, or non-symmetric. In one embodiment, the periphery  18  is non-circular. Other exemplary periphery  18  shapes include those corresponding to articles of clothing such as a shirt or shoe, structures such as a house, a vehicle such as a car, boat, or airplane, and articles of natures such as a fruit, flower, tree, person, or animal. Also, the body  12  may be colored as desired. For example, the cardiod-shaped holder  10  shown in  FIG. 1  may be red and a tree-shaped holder (not shown) may be green and/or brown. 
         [0041]    The flexible body  12  includes a hole  30  extending through the body from the outer surface  14  to the inner surface  16  for holding an item  32  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) during use of the holder  10 . The holder  10  may include a link  34  extending through the hole  30  for attaching the item  32  to the holder  10  or the item may be connected directly to the flexible body  12  through the hole during use of the holder. In one embodiment, the item  32  includes the link  34  for connecting it to the body  12  through the hole  30  and in another embodiment both the item and the holder  10  include links for connecting the item and holder together during use of the holder. 
         [0042]    The holder  10  may include various types of links  34  without departing from the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the link  34  includes a ring, such as a conventional key ring, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The link  34  may be sized and shaped in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a ring link  34  may have a diameter of between about 0.18 inch and about 1.5 inches. 
         [0043]    In another embodiment (not shown), the link  34  includes a flexible member, such as a linked chain, a nylon, plastic, or metal cord, or a flexible strap, connected to the body  12  through the hole  30  for holding the item  32  during use of the holder  10 . The holder  10  may be used to hold a variety of items  32  without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example,  FIGS. 2 and 3  show the holder  10  holding a key. Other exemplary items  32  include flashlights, cards such as a credit or identification cards, pagers, picture frames, charms, calendars, and clips such as those that can be releasably connected to a belt loop (not shown). 
         [0044]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the hole  30  must be formed in a portion of the flexible body  12  that is not needed for maintaining the suction that secures the item holder  10  to the mounting surface  26  during use of the holder. This material, which is not needed for suction, is referred to as an extra portion of the flexible body  12  herein. If the extra portion is too short relative to the item  32  and/or link  34 , the item and link will interfere with mounting the holder  10  on the mounting surface  26  or may undesirably demount the holder after it had been secured to the mounting surface by pushing the holder away from it. The size of the extra portion and hole  30  location can be measured in various ways. For example, one characteristic that may be considered is a maximum clearance Δ (shown in  FIG. 2 ) between the hole  30  and the mounting surface  26  while the holder  10  is secured to the mounting surface. In an embodiment in which the body  12  has a maximum length L B  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of between about 2.1 inches and about 2.8 inches, the body is configured so that the maximum clearance Δ is between about 0.25 inch and about 0.44 inch. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, larger and smaller flexible bodies  12  of the same shape generally have maximum clearances Δ that are larger and smaller, respectively. A larger maximum clearance Δ may be required for holding bulkier items  32  and/or links  34 . However, for some embodiments of the holder  10  including or used in combination with certain items  32  and/or links  34 , the holder can hold very bulky items with little or no increase in required maximum clearance Δ. 
         [0045]    Hole  30  location may also be characterized with respect to distances between the hole and other portions of the body  12 . For example, a designer of the holder  10  may consider a length L H  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) extending between the hole  30  and the cavity  28  (or “hole-to-cavity length”) formed during mounting of the device  10  on the mounting surface  26  before deformation of the body for mounting. In one embodiment, the body  12  is configured so that the hole-to-cavity length L H  is between about 0.25 inch and about 1.25 inches. A designer of the holder  10  may also consider the maximum length of the body L B  and a length L C  between a center  35  of the central region  24  and the hole  30  (or “center-to-hole length”). Although the flexible body  12  may have other maximum lengths L B  without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the flexible body has a maximum length of between about 2 inches and about 3 inches. Although the flexible body  12  may have other center-to-hole lengths L C  without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the body has a center-to-hole length of between about 0.5 inch and about 1.5 inches. Additional variables that may be considered during holder  10  design are the size and shape of the link  34  and/or item  32 . As described above, the holder  10  may include or be used in combination with links  34  and/or items  32  of various sizes and shapes. 
         [0046]    Through experimentation and calculation, a designer of the holder  10  may identify relationships amongst characteristics of the holder including the maximum clearance Δ, the size and shape of the link  34 , the maximum body length L B , the hole- to-cavity length L H , and the center-to-hole length L C . For example, a designer may identify relationships between the maximum body length L B , the size of the link  34 , and the center-to-hole length L C . For a holder  10  according to one particular embodiment including a body  12  made of polyvinyl chloride having a maximum length L B  of about 2.75 inches and including or used in combination with a ring-shaped link  34  having a diameter of between about 0.25 inch and about 1.5 inches, one preferred center-to-hole length L C  is about 1.125 inches. For a holder  10  according to another particular embodiment including a body  12  made of polyvinyl chloride and having a maximum length L B  of about 2.75 inches, but including or used in combination with a smaller link  34 , such as a link having a size similar to a size of a conventional safety pin (e.g., having a maximum width of between about 0.0625 inch and about 0.25 inch), one preferred center-to-hole length L C  is about 0.75 inch. As another example, for a holder  10  according to a particular embodiment including a body  12  (e.g., a body having a periphery shaped as an apple) made of polyvinyl chloride having a maximum length L B  of about 2.125 inches and including or used in combination with a ring-shaped link  34  having a diameter of between about 0.25 inch and about 1.5 inches, one preferred center-to-hole length L C  is about 0.875 inch. For a holder  10  according to yet another particular embodiment including a body  12  made of polyvinyl chloride, having a maximum length L H  of about 2.75 inches, and including or used in combination with a link  34  having a size similar to the size of a conventional safety pin, one preferred center-to-hole length L C  is about 0.75 inch. 
         [0047]    A designer may also identify specific exemplary relationships between the center-to-hole length L C , the size of the link  34 , and the maximum clearance Δ, A holder  10  according to a particular embodiment including a body  12  made of polyvinyl chloride having a center-to-hole length L C  of between about 1 inch and about 1.125 inches and including or used in combination with a ring-shaped link  34  having a diameter of about 1.125 inches has a maximum clearance Δ of between about 0.3125 inch and about 0.4375 inch. According to another particular embodiment, a holder  10  including a body  12  made of polyvinyl chloride and having a center-to-hole length L C  of between about 1 inch and about 1.125 inches, but including or used in combination with a link  34  having a size similar to the size of a conventional safety pin, also has a maximum clearance A, of between about 0.3125 inch and about 0.4375 inch. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the holder  10  may include a message  36  displayed on the outer surface  14  of the flexible body  12 , on the inner surface  16  of the body, and/or between them. Various types of messages  36  may be displayed on or in the flexible body  12  for various reasons without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, words, logos, and/or art may be displayed on or in the flexible body  12  for aesthetic and/or communication purposes. The message  36  may be secured to or formed in the body  12  in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the message  36  may be printed on the outer surface  14  or inner surface  16  of the body  12 . The message  36  may also be printed on a label adhered to the outer surface  14  and the label may be fully or partially opaque, translucent, and/or transparent as desired. It is contemplated that the message  36  may be formed using material of the flexible body  12  by, for example, molding, melting, etching or engraving the message into the outer surface  14  of the body. The message  36  may be colored as desired and, as described above, the flexible body  12  may be colored as desired. The shape of the body  12 , the color of the body, the message  36 , and the color of the message may be selected to relate to each another as desired. For example, in one embodiment (not shown), a golf ball inspired holder has a generally circular periphery, a message including actual dimples or a rendition of dimples printed or otherwise displayed on the outer surface of the body, and a white body. 
         [0049]    The item holder  10  may be used in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. To use the holder  10 , a user connects the item  32  to the holder by way of the hole  30  in the flexible body  12  and mounts the holder on a generally smooth and generally non-porous mounting surface  26 . As described above, the item  32  may be connected to the flexible body  12  directly by way of the hole  30  or connected to the body by way of one or more links  34 . Exemplary uses of the holder  10  include storing and/or displaying items  32  on a home refrigerator or mirror between uses of the items. The user can also store and/or display items  32  on a smooth surface  26  at work or elsewhere between uses of the item. A benefit of the present invention is flexibility to relocate the holder  10  on generally any smooth and non-porous mounting surface  26  as desired. For this reason, the holder  10  is said to be portable. 
         [0050]    The holder  10  may be used to hold an item  32  usable after the holder is removed from the mounting surface  26 . For example, the holder  10  can be used to hold a key, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which may be used to open a lock after the holder is demounted from the mounting surface  26 . The holder  10  may also hold an item  32  that is used for reasons other than display while the holder is secured to the mounting surface  26 . For example, the holder  10  may hold a writing pen (not shown) attached to the flexible body  12  of the holder by a type of link  34  that is long enough to allow use of the pen on a nearby writing surface while the holder is secured to the mounting surface  26 . 
         [0051]    As describe above, securing the holder  10  to the mounting surface  26  includes positioning the inner surface  16  of the flexible body  12  adjacent the mounting surface while the body is in its default shape thereby forming the cavity  28  between the body and the mounting surface. Then, the flexible body  12  is moved to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface  26  and forcing fluid such as air out of the cavity  28  to create a suction between the flexible body and the mounting surface. Sealing the suction between the flexible body  12  and the mounting surface  26  secures the body to the mounting surface. To demount the flexible body  12  from the mounting surface  26 , for example to relocate the holder  10  on another smooth mounting surface or for using the item before remounting the holder, the body is moved out of its actuated shape thereby breaking the seal and suction. To break the seal and move the body  12  out of its actuated shape, the user may move or pull on a portion of the periphery  18 , on the item  32 , or on the link  34 . The item  32  may be used for its intended purpose while the item is secured to the mounting surface  26  by the holder  10  or after the holder has been demounted and before the holder has been remounted to the mounting surface by repositioning the inner surface  16  of the flexible body  12  adjacent a mounting surface and moving the body to its actuated shape. To hold heavier and/or more bulky items  32 , the holder  10  may need to be mounted on the surface  26  with the extra portion having the hole  30  oriented generally downward to avoid having a weight of the items pull on the periphery  18  too much to undesirably disengage or preclude mounting of the holder. For lighter and less bulky items, the holder  10  may be mounted with the extra portion having the hole  30  oriented in any direction. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  shows an item holder  40  according to another embodiment of the present invention including an appendage  44  extending from a base  46  connected to a periphery  48  of the body to a tip  50  opposite the base. The appendage  44  has a hole  52  therein for holding the item  32  and/or link  34  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) during use of the holder  40 . The appendage  44  is extra material added to the body for, at least in part, holding the item  32 . The appendage  44  may have various sizes and shapes  10  without departing from the scope of the present invention. The appendage  44  should be sized and shaped so the item  32  and/or link  34  attached to the appendage do not interfere with the ability of the holder  40  to maintain suction against the mounting surface  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). For example, if the appendage  44  is too small relative to the item  32  and/or link  34 , the item and/or link will interfere with mounting the holder  40  on the mounting surface  26  or may undesirably demount a mounted holder by pushing the holder away from the mounting surface. 
         [0053]    The size of the appendage  44  can be measured in various ways. In one embodiment, the appendage  44  is configured so that the hole  52  can be separated from the mounting surface  26  by a maximum clearance (similar to the maximum clearance A shown in  FIG. 3 ) of between about 1 inch and about 3 inches while the holder  40  is secured to the mounting surface. The maximum clearance depends in part on the maximum length of the appendage L A . Although the appendage  44  may have other maximum lengths L A  without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the appendage has a maximum length that is between about 10% and about 100% of a maximum length L B  of the body. For example, in a particular embodiment, the appendage  44  has a maximum length L A  of between about 0.2 inch and about 2.5 inches and the body  12  has a maximum length L B  of between about 2 inches and about 2.5 inches, In one embodiment, the appendage  44  has a maximum length L A  that is at least 10% of a maximum length L B  of the body. The maximum clearance of the holder  40  may be generally proportionate to the maximum length L A  of the appendage  44 . For example, an appendage having a length LA that is greater than 2.5 inches could have a maximum clearance greater than about 3 inches in some proportion to the increase in appendage length above 2.5 inches. As a particular example, a holder  40  including an appendage  44  having a maximum length L A  of about 5 inches may have a maximum clearance of about 5.5 inches. 
         [0054]    Although the appendage  44  may have other masses without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the appendage has a mass that is between about 1% and about 22% of a total mass of the body. For example, in a particular embodiment, the appendage  44  has a mass of between about 0.06 gram and about 1.25 grams and the body  12  has a mass of between about 5.9 grams and about 6.25 grams. Further, although the appendage  44  may have other weights without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the appendage has a weight that is between about 1.4% and about 23% of a total weight of the body. For example, in a particular embodiment, the appendage  44  has a weight of between about 0.0002 pound and about 0.003 pound and the body  12  has a weight of between about 0.013 pound and about 0.014 pound. In one embodiment, the appendage  44  has a weight that is at least about 1% of the total body weight. Also, although the appendage  44  may have other volumes without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the appendage has a volume that is between about 1% and about 21% of a total volume of the body. For example, in a particular embodiment, the appendage  44  has a volume of between about 0.007 cubic inches and about 0.127 cubic inches and the body  12  has a volume of between about 0.621 cubic inches and about 0.748 cubic inches. 
         [0055]    As with previously described embodiments, the holder  40  according to this embodiment may have various shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention.  FIG. 5  shows a holder  60  including a flexible body  62  and an appendage  64 . The appendage  64  extends from a generally circular periphery  66  of the body  62  and has a hole  68  for holding the item  32  and/or link  34  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ).  FIG. 6  shows a holder  70  including a body  72  and an appendage  74 . The appendage  74  extends from a periphery  76  shaped as a house and includes a hole  78  for holding the item  32  and/or link  34 .  FIG. 7  shows a holder  80  including a body  82  and an appendage  84 . The appendage  84  extends from a periphery  86  shaped as an apple and has a hole  88  for holding the item  32  and/or link  34 . Just as the appendage  84  extends from an apple stem portion  90  of the holder  80  in  FIG. 7 , holders having other shapes may have an appendage extending from an extended portion of those shapes. For example, an appendage may extend from a trunk of an item holder having a periphery shaped as an elephant, from a tail of an item holder having a periphery shaped as an airplane, or from a stem of an item holder having a periphery shaped as a flower (not shown). 
         [0056]    The peripheries  76 ,  86  of the holders  70 ,  80  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  outline a general shape of the respective body  72 ,  82 . Thus, the periphery  76  of the house- shaped holder  70  shown in  FIG. 6  outlines the sides, bottom, roof, and chimney of the house because they are parts of the house shape. The appendage  74  of this embodiment is formed by material added to the house shape for, at least in part, holding the item  32  during use of the holder  70 . Similarly, the periphery  86  of the apple-shaped holder  80  shown in  FIG. 7  outlines the apple including a fruit portion and the stem  90  because they are parts of the apple shape. The appendage  84  of this embodiment is added to the apple shape for, at least in part, holding the item  32  during use of the holder  80 . 
         [0057]    To hold heavier and/or more bulky items  32 , the holders  40 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  according to the second embodiment may need to be mounted with their appendage  44 ,  64 ,  74 ,  84  extending generally downward to avoid having the weight of the items pull on the periphery  48 ,  66 ,  76 ,  86  too much to undesirably disengage or preclude mounting of the holder. For lighter and less bulky items, the holder  40 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  may be mounted on the mounting surface  26  with their appendage  44 ,  64 ,  74 ,  84  oriented in any direction. The item holders  40 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  are otherwise identical to the item holder of the first embodiment and therefore will not be described in further detail. 
         [0058]      FIG. 8  shows an item holder  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention including a body  102  having a periphery  106  and an appendage  104  extending from a base  108  connected to or adjacent the periphery to a tip  110  opposite the base. The holder  100  further includes a connector  112 . As with previous embodiments, the holder  100  according to this embodiment may have various shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example,  FIG. 8  shows the periphery  106  shaped as a car. As shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , the connector  112  can connect the appendage  104  adjacent the tip  110  to the holder  100  adjacent the base  108  of the appendage to form a loop  114  for holding the item  32  during use of the holder  100 . The holder  100  may include a link  34  for attaching the item  32  to the loop  114  or the item may be connected directly to the loop. In one embodiment, the item  32  includes a link  34  for connecting the item to the holder  100  through the loop  114  and in another embodiment both the item and the holder include links for connecting the holder and the item together during use of the holder. The holder  100  may include various types of links  34  for holding various items  32 , including the links and items described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0059]    The holder  100  may include various types of connectors  112  without departing from the scope of the present invention. In some embodiments, the connector  112  removably connects the appendage  104  adjacent the tip  110  to the holder  100  adjacent the base  108  of the appendage. For example,  FIGS. 8-10  show an embodiment in which the connector  112  is a hook-and-pile fastener having a first part  116  attached to the appendage  104  adjacent the tip  110  and a second part  118  attached to the appendage  104  adjacent the base  108  of the appendage. Other exemplary releasable connectors (not shown) include an adhesive, a latch, a magnet, and a snap-type fastener. In some embodiments (not shown), the connector  112  non-removably connects the appendage  104  adjacent the tip  110  to the holder  100  adjacent the base  108 . For example, in one embodiment the connector  112  is an adhesive or a staple non-removably connecting the appendage  104  adjacent the tip  110  to the appendage  104  adjacent the base  108 . As used herein, non-removable does not mean incapable of being removed or  20  separated, but rather means generally fixed and not made for easy and/or repeated removal or separation. In another embodiment, material of the appendage  104  adjacent the tip  110  is molded or welded to material of the holder  100 , such as other material of the appendage, adjacent the base  108  to form the connector  112 . The item holder  100  of this embodiment is otherwise identical to item holders of earlier described embodiments and therefore will not be described in further detail. 
         [0060]      FIG. 11  shows an item holder  120  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention including a flexible body  122  having an outer surface  124  and an inner surface  126  opposite the outer surface. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the outer surface  124  includes a convex portion  128  and the inner surface  126  includes a concave portion  130  opposite the convex portion. The holder  120  further includes a fastener  132  attached to the outer surface  124  of the body  122 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the fastener  132  is used for attaching an item  134  to the holder  120 . The holder  120  may be used to hold various items  134  without departing from the scope of the invention. Exemplary items  134  include a calendar, a photo or photo display frame, art, a pad of paper, and a dry-erase board. When the holder  120  is used to hold items that can be written on, such as a calendar, pad of paper, or dry-erase board, it is contemplated that the holder may also hold a writing instrument, such as a pencil, pen, or dry-erase marker. The writing instrument may be connected to the holder  120 , such as by way of a string or cord and a hole (not shown for this embodiment) through the body  122 , such as those described above. The writing instrument may also be connected to the holder  120  by way of the item  134 , such as by being attached to the pad of paper by way of the string or cord. 
         [0061]    In some embodiments of the item holder  120 , the fastener  132  is attached to the outer surface  124  without any part of the fastener being embedded into the flexible body  122 . In those embodiments, the holder  120  may be substantially free of material other than material of the body  122  between the outer surface  124  and the inner surface  126 . The holder  120  may include a variety of types of fasteners  132  without departing from the scope of the present invention. The fasteners  132  can releasably or non-releasably connect the body  122  to the item  134 . For example,  FIG. 13  shows an item holder  140  in which the fastener  142  includes a magnetic or snap-type fastener having a first part  144  attached to the flexible body  122  and a second part  146  connectable to the item  134  for releasably securing the item to the body. Other releasable fasteners  142  include an adhesive or hook-and-pile fastener. The fasteners  132 ,  142  may be connected to the body  122  in various ways including being connected to the body permanently by adhesive or otherwise or releasably by adhesive or otherwise. 
         [0062]    The fasteners  132 ,  142  may be attached to various portions of the outer surface  124  of the body  122 . In one embodiment, the fasteners  132 ,  142  are attached to a portion of the outer surface  124  other than the convex portion  128 . In another embodiment, the holder  120 ,  140  includes an appendage (not shown in detail), such as those described above and shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , extending from the body  122  and the fastener  132 ,  142  is attached to the appendage. The item holders  120 ,  140  of this embodiment are otherwise identical to holders of earlier described embodiments and therefore will not be described in further detail. 
         [0063]      FIG. 14  shows an item holder  150  according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The holder  150  according to this embodiment includes a flexible body  152  having an outer surface  154  and an inner surface  156  opposite the outer surface. The flexible body  152  includes a hole  158  extending through the body in a lateral direction with respect to the body (i.e., generally parallel to the mounting surface during mounting of the holder  150  on the mounting surface). The hole  158  may be used for holding an item  32  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) during use of the holder  150 . The holder  150  may include a link  34  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) extending through the hole  158  for attaching the item  32  to the holder  150  or the item may be connected directly to the flexible body  152  through the hole during use of the holder. In one embodiment, the item  32  includes the link  34  for connecting it to the body  152  through the hole  158  and in another embodiment both the item and the holder  150  include links for connecting the item and holder together during use of the holder. The flexible body  152  has a thickness T measured between its outer surface  154  and inner surface  156 . Although the flexible body  152  may have other thicknesses T without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the flexible body has a generally constant throughout the body. In another embodiment, the thickness T of the flexible body  152  is greater adjacent the hole  158  than in other parts of the body. 
         [0064]    The hole  158  may be formed in various locations of the flexible body  152  without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the hole  158  may be formed adjacent an edge  160  of the flexible body  152 . The edge  160  surrounds the flexible body  152  and, when the holder  150  includes an appendage as described above regarding other embodiments, the edge surrounds the body and the appendage. For embodiments of the holder  150  having an extra portion and/or an appendage, as described above regarding other embodiments, the hole  158  may be formed in the extra portion and/or in the appendage. The hole  158  may extend between one location of the edge  160  to another location of the edge. The item holder  150  of this embodiment is otherwise identical to holders of earlier described embodiments and therefore will not be described in further detail. 
         [0065]      FIG. 15  shows an item holder  170  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The holder  170  according to this embodiment includes a flexible body  172  having an outer surface  174  and an inner surface  176  opposite the outer surface. The holder  170  further includes a protrusion  178  extending from the outer surface  174  of the body  172  having a hole  180  extending through it in a generally lateral direction with respect to the flexible body (i.e., generally parallel to the mounting surface during mounting of the holder  170  on the mounting surface). The hole  180  may be used for holding an item  32  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) during use of the holder  170 . The protrusion  178  may be made of various materials without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment (shown in  FIG. 15 ) the protrusion  178  is made integrally with the flexible body  172  as a part thereof and includes the same material as the rest of the body. In another embodiment (not shown), the protrusion  178  is formed separately from the flexible body  172  and then mounted on the outer surface  174  of the body. The separately formed protrusion may include the same material as the flexible body  172  or materials different from the body. The separately formed protrusion  178  may be secured to the outer surface  174  in various ways, such as by adhesion or molding. 
         [0066]    The protrusion  178  may be positioned in various locations on the outer surface  174  of the flexible body  172  and have various sizes and shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the protrusion  178  may extend from the outer surface  174  adjacent an edge  182  of the flexible body  172 . The protrusion  178  may also extend from a section  184  of the outer surface  174  that is opposite a concave portion  186  of the inner surface  176  or extend from the outer surface between that section and the edge  182 . For embodiments of the holder  170  having an extra portion and/or an appendage, as described above regarding other embodiments of the present invention, the protrusion  178  may be positioned on the extra portion and/or on the appendage. The protrusion  178  may extend in the lateral direction part of the way or all of the way from one side of the body to the other side of the body. The protrusion  178  may be rounded, as shown in  FIG. 15 , or squared. The item holder  170  of this embodiment is otherwise identical to holders of earlier described embodiments and therefore will not be described in further detail. 
         [0067]      FIG. 16  shows an item holder  190  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The holder  190  includes a flexible body  192  having an outer surface  194  and an inner surface  196 . The flexible body  192  includes a protrusion  198  extending from the inner surface  196  of the body. The protrusion  198  has a hole  200  extending laterally through it for holding an item  32  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) during use of the holder  190 . The protrusion  198  may be positioned in various locations on the inner surface  196  of the flexible body  192  and have various sizes and shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the protrusion  198  may extend from the inner surface  196  adjacent an edge  202  of the flexible body  192 . For embodiments of the holder  190  having an extra portion and/or an appendage, as described above regarding other embodiments, the protrusion  198  may be positioned on the extra portion and/or on the appendage. It is contemplated that the item holder  190  may include protrusions  198  extending from both the outer surface  194  and the inner surface  196  of the flexible body  192 . The item holder  190  of this embodiment is otherwise identical to holders of earlier described embodiments and therefore will not be described in further detail. 
         [0068]    When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
         [0069]    As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.