Patent Publication Number: US-2004041066-A1

Title: Holder for small articles

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] The present invention is an improvement on the disclosure in U.S. Ser. No. 09/433,832 filed on Nov. 3, 1999, which was a Continuation in Part of application Ser. No. 09/382,345, filed on Aug. 25, 1999, both abandoned. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates generally to a holder for small articles and, more particularly, to a foam holder for receiving small, linearly elongated articles.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In the related art, there exists patents for holders for objects, such as cigarette lighters, in order to keep a cigarette lighter handy. Most of the devices in these patents provide a cavity whereby a cigarette lighter of the disposable type may be inserted for storage. Some of the patents provide a means for attaching the cigarette lighter to a cigarette pack holder case or directly to the side of a pack of cigarettes.  
       [0006] The present invention is unlike any of these inventions. It is a conformable member that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated object. The internal conduit formed by the member has a corrugated inner ridges about the interior surface for provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace pathways. The conformable member has the loop portion of a conventional hook and loop fastener embedded in a recess on its outer side. On the inner side is an adhesive layer that allows the member to be attached to an elongated object. The hook portion with a peel off adhesive backing is sold with it to allow it to be attached to any surface.  
       [0007] A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:  
                                                       U.S. Pat. No.   Inventor   Issue Date                          5,788,479   Galanos et al.   Aug. 4, 1998           5,630,503   Rhodes et al.   May 20, 1997           5,088,684   Torras et al.   Feb. 18, 1992           4,852,729   Conte   Aug. 1, 1989           4,230,224   Weeks   Oct. 28, 1980           4,223,784   Kaneyasu   Sep. 23, 1980           D 370,301   Murphy   May 28, 1996           4,205,367   Arnold, III   May 27, 1980           4,262,682   Banyash   Apr. 21, 1981           D 402,400   Pausinger   Dec. 8, 1998           D 376,871   Sanchez et al.   Dec. 24, 1996                      
 
       [0008] Of some relevance is U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,224 issued to Weeks disclosing a combination cigarette and lighter case whereby a cigarette lighter holder is removably fastened to a cigarette case via hook and loop fasteners. However, the cigarette lighter case cannot be attached anywhere but the cigarette case.  
       [0009] Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which allows attachment of a small elongated article to any convenient surface.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for small articles.  
       [0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which would enable one to always keep a disposable butane cigarette lighter handy.  
       [0012] Further objects of the present invention are to allow for use with pencils and writing implements, hairbrushes, razors, toothbrushes and other grooming items, lipsticks and cosmetic items, lighters, flashlights and sundry other similar articles.  
       [0013] It is feature of the present invention that the loop portion is on the holder to make it soft to hold  
       [0014] It is an advantage of the present invention that it can be made to fit many small, elongated articles.  
       [0015] It is another advantage of the present invention that its elastic properties allow it to firmly conform to a number of such articles.  
       [0016] It is yet another advantage of the present invention that with multiple hook components one can keep the holder in more than one location.  
       [0017] Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, the holder is equipped with a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro (TM) to aid in keeping the apparatus as well as the lighter handy. A conformable member supports the fastening means in a manner that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated object. The conformable member has the loop portion of a conventional hook and loop fastener embedded in a recess on its outer side. On the inner side is an adhesive layer that allows the member to be attached to an elongated object. The hook portion with a peel off adhesive backing is sold with it to allow it to be attached to any surface. In this fashion, the objects can be attached to any surface as heretofore described. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:  
     [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for small objects according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown therein being used with a conventional butane cigarette lighter;  
     [0020]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;  
     [0021]FIG. 3 is a front side elevational view thereof;  
     [0022]FIG. 4 is a rear side elevational view thereof;  
     [0023]FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;  
     [0024]FIG. 6 is bottom plan view thereof; and  
     [0025]FIG. 7 is front view of a hook fastening strip with the adhesive stripping still attached, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0026] The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the FIGS.  1 - 7 , wherein a holder for small articles  10  is disclosed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown removably attached to a surface  30 . A conventional disposable butane cigarette lighter  12  is shown disposed within a conformable member  20 . As best shown in conjunction with FIG. 2, the conventional disposable butane cigarette lighter  12  shown aligned for placement into the conformable member  20 . The conformable member is affixed to a loop fastener strip  14 , which is aligned with and attached onto a hook fastener strip  22 . The hook fastener strip supports a hook fastener adhesive surface  24  on the inside of said conformable member  20 .  
     [0027] The conformable member  20  is constructed of a foam or nylon material having a spongy, flexible texture but is otherwise durable. It is a conformable member that is capable of forming around and adhering to the outer surface of any small, elongated object. Conventional injection molding processes would be suitable for manufacturing the member  20 . Linearly aligned along the outer surface of the conformable member  20  is a receiving channel  16  that extends the entire length of the member  20 . Within this receiving channel  16  is affixed the loop fastener strip  14 . An internal conduit  18  is formed by the member  20 , and a plurality of spaced corrugated inner ridges  26  radially about the interior surface for provide both a frictional contact surface as well as airspace pathways  28 .  
     [0028] The loop fastener strip  14  is attached recessed such as to appear embedded in the outer surface of the member  20 . The loop fastener strip  14  has a loop fastener adhesive  32  opposite a loop fastener element  34  of a conjunctive hook and loop fastener. Loop fastener strip  14  is specially formed therefor for engagement with a hook fastener strip  22 .  
     [0029]FIG. 7 shows a front view of a hook fastener strip  22  for attachment to a surface  30  with the adhesive stripping still attached. The hook fastener strip  22  is formed in a similar manner as the loop fastener strip  14 , with a hook fastener adhesive  42  opposite a hook fastener element  44 . The hook fastener adhesive  42  is designed to be permanently affixed to mounting surface  30 . The mounting surface  30  may be any surface where it is desirable to conveniently place a lighter. Typically, the hook and loop fasteners (more commonly known as Velcro(TM)) are attached to lighter  10  and surface  30  by peeling back an adhesive strip revealing a self sticking surface on the strip.  
     [0030] The loop fastener  14  would be applied at the factory placed into recess  16 , while hook fastener strip  22  would come in the same package with the adhesive strip still on. Additional hook fastener strips  22  would be available at a nominal additional cost. In this fashion, one could put hook fastener strip  22  on any surface or several surfaces if desired.  
     [0031]FIG. 3 shows a front side view of the present invention, where it may be possible to emboss or imprint an advertising logo or the user=s name on the side.  
     [0032]FIG. 4 shows a rear side view the present invention showing the loop fastener strip permanently affixed to the side embedded in recess  16 .  
     [0033] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.