Patent Publication Number: US-2017349327-A1

Title: Magnetic holder

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and data as described below and in the drawings that form a part of this document: Copyright Lukas Cwojdzinski 2015, All Rights Reserved. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a magnetic apparatus which allows an ordinary bottle or other hand held object of almost any size and weight to be adhered magnetically to a ferromagnetic surface. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In countless scenarios, it is necessary to have your hands free, though you require a bottle containing liquids for consumption or some other object, like a towel or bag, to be kept close at hand. For example, when exercising in a gym, utilizing exercise equipment, the most probable place that a person will put their water bottle is on the floor. The problem with putting a bottle on the floor is that it is often times inconvenient to bend over to put it down and pick it up, it may then be obtrusive to yourself and others, and the floor can often subject the bottle to harmful unsanitary conditions. 
     Several solutions have been created in an effort to solve this problem of how to keep a bottle close at hand while keeping your hands free, including, for example: a pouch with a magnetic attachment, structures that are permanently attached to surfaces, holders that attach to surfaces with other mechanisms but not magnetically. However, these solutions fail to securely hold bottles or other objects of various sizes, and/or lack the ability to attach the bottle or other object to a variety of surfaces and structures. Magnets provide the convenience and ease of use for attaching a bottle or other object to a ferromagnetic surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a magnetic apparatus for attaching a bottle or other object to a ferromagnetic structure. The magnetic apparatus includes a non-ferromagnetic case housing a magnet and slidably receiving a fastening strap. The fastening strap has a hook portion and a loop portion on an anterior surface of the strap and a ring affixed to one end of the strap. When used to attach a bottle or other object to a ferromagnetic structure, the fastening strap is secured around the bottle or object by wrapping it around the circumference of the bottle or object with the strap&#39;s posterior surface facing the bottle, inserting the opposite end of the strap through the ring, tightening the strap around the bottle or other object and securing the strap by pressing the hook and loop portions together. The magnetic apparatus being thus secured to the bottle or object, the bottle or object may be affixed to a ferromagnetic structure by the magnetic attraction of the magnet housed in the non-ferromagnetic case. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a bottle having a body that incorporates a magnet that may be used to attach the bottle to a ferromagnetic surface. The body of the bottle has a bottom surface and a sidewall. The sidewall has a flattened sidewall surface and an upper sidewall portion that is angled with respect to the flattened sidewall portion. The flattened sidewall portion has a cavity formed therein that houses the magnet. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts within the scope of the present disclosure and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Further details and other features of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the nature, objects, and processes involved in this disclosure, reference should be made to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an anterior view of one embodiment of a magnetic holder according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a posterior view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a elevated perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in a fastened state; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3  as used for attaching a bottle to a ferromagnetic structure; 
         FIGS. 5A-C  illustrates a profile view, a cross-sectional view and an anterior view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a magnetic bottle holder according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a profile view the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-C  as attached to a ferromagnetic structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an anterior view and posterior view, respectively, of one embodiment of a magnetic holder in an unfastened state.  FIG. 3  shows an elevated view of the same embodiment in a fastened state. The embodiment  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  includes a magnet (not shown) held in a non-ferromagnetic case  12  with a fastening strap  20  that is slidably engaged with the case  12 . At one end of the fastening strap  20  is affixed a ring  26 . This embodiment  10  is secured to a bottle, such as a plastic water bottle, or other hand-held object using the fastening strap and then attached to a ferromagnetic surface, such as a support structure (e.g., table leg, girder, etc.) or piece of gym equipment, using the magnet, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The magnet, which may include one or more individual magnets, typically has a (total) strength sufficient to securely attach a bottle, whether empty or full, or other hand-held object, like a towel or bag, to a ferromagnetic structure while also being readily removable using one hand. It has been found that a magnet having a (total) pull force in a range of approximately 15 to 90 pounds, more typically in a range of approximately 30 to 75 pounds, is suitable for use in the magnetic holders of the present disclosure. Each individual magnet may have any shape (e.g., disc, rectangular, bar, cube, etc.), and typically has at least one flat surface. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the magnet is housed in a non-ferromagnetic case  12  that allows the magnetic field to extend through the case to the ferromagnetic surface to which the bottle is to be attached. The case is sized to abut a side of a typical water bottle and help hold it upright when attached to the ferromagnetic structure, and typically is about 2.5 to about 7.5 cm (about 1 to about 3 inches) high (h) and about 1.2 to about 2.5 cm (about 0.5 to about 1 inch) wide (w). The case is typically made of a plastic, silicone or other polymeric material, though other non-ferromagnetic materials that may be configured to hold the magnet (e.g., neoprene, fabric, etc.) for use according to the present disclosure may be used. The case may be made using known manufacturing methods (e.g., molding, 3D-printing, carving, sewing, etc.). 
     The case  12  has an anterior side  14  and a posterior side  16 . The anterior side and/or the posterior side may include an elastomeric material, such as a natural rubber or synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene, silicone, polyurethane, etc.), that allows the holder to grip the surface of the ferromagnetic structure and/or the bottle or object, respectively, and protect such surfaces from damage. In the embodiment illustrated, the anterior side  14  is covered with a layer of elastomeric material  18 . In other embodiments, the non-ferromagnetic case, or anterior and/or posterior side thereof, may be made of or include an elastomeric material. 
     The anterior side of the case faces toward the ferromagnetic structure, and the posterior side of the case faces toward the object, when the holder is attached to the object (see  FIG. 4  and discussion thereof below). The magnet is typically housed within the case toward the anterior side, to allow the magnet to be close to the ferromagnetic surface and so minimize any interference from the case on the magnet&#39;s magnetic field extending to the ferromagnetic surface. 
     Adjacent the posterior side is a pair of apertures  19   a ,  19   b  through which the fastening strap  20  is slidably engaged with the non-ferromagnetic case  12 . The pair of apertures  19   a ,  19   b  is configured to allow the fastening strap  20  to be engaged with the case and laterally slidable across the case. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the apertures  19   a ,  19   b  are longitudinal slits integrally formed with the case, sized to fit and hold flat the fastening strap across the case; however, the apertures may be formed by any means, such as using non-ferromagnetic (e.g., plastic, brass, etc.) rings that are affixed to the posterior side of the case, and have any configuration that allows the fastening strap to laterally, slidably engage with the case. 
     The fastening strap  20  is used to secure this embodiment to an object (a bottle)  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4  (discussed further below). The fastening strap may be made of any flexible and durable material, such as plastic, canvas, polyester, polypropylene, nylon, etc., and is typically about 15 to about 61 cm (about 6 to about 24 inches), more typically about 25 to about 45.5 cm (about 10 to about 18 inches), in length. The fastening strap has a first end  22  that is loose and a second end  24  at which is affixed a ring  26 . The ring  26  is configured to receive the first (loose) end  22  of the fastening strap so that the fastening strap may encircle the object  32 . The ring  26  may take any shape or style (e.g., D-ring, O-ring, rectangular, slide, loop, buckle, etc.) and be made of any durable plastic or non-ferromagnetic metal, such as nylon, anodized aluminum, (austenitic) stainless steel, brass, etc. 
     The fastening strap has an anterior surface that, when slidably engaged with the case, faces outward in the same direction as the anterior side of the case and a posterior surface that faces outward in the same direction as the posterior side of the case. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the anterior surface, adjacent to the first (loose) end  22  of the fastening strap, has a hook portion  28 , and the anterior surface adjacent to the second end  24  of the fastening strap has a loop portion  30 . In other embodiments, the “loop” portion may be adjacent the first (loose) end of the fastening strap and the hook portion adjacent the second end. The terms “hook” and “loop” herein refer broadly to two lineal components that, when pressed together, form a touch fastener that may be separated and reclosed repeatedly, such as Velcro®, Dual Lock™, etc. . . . . The hook and loop portions may be attached or affixed to the fastening strap by any means known, such as adhesive, bonding, sewing, etc. 
     The hook and loop portions preferably have different lengths so that the fastening strap may be secured in a wide range of circumferences. Typically, the portion adjacent the first (loose) end of the fastening strap has a length (l 1 ) that is about one-fifth to about one-third the length of the portion adjacent the second end (l 2 ). For example, the portion adjacent the first end may have a length in a range of about 7.5 to about 12.5 cm (about 3 to about 5 inches), and the portion adjacent the second end may have a length in a range of about 40 to about 47.5 cm (about 12 to about 15 inches). In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the hook portion  28  is adjacent the first end  22  and has a length (l 1 ) of about 9 cm (about 3.5 inches), and the loop portion  30  is adjacent the second end  24  and has a length (l 2 ) of about 33 cm (about 13 inches). Other embodiments may have the loop portion adjacent the first end and the hook portion adjacent the second end; in such embodiments, the length of the loop portion would be relatively short compared to the length of the hook portion. 
     The posterior surface of the fastening strap may include an elastomeric material, such as a natural rubber or synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene, silicone, polyurethane, etc.), that allows the fastening strap to better grip the bottle. The elastomeric material may be coated or otherwise layered on the posterior surface of the fastening strap; alternatively, the fastening strap may be made of, or may incorporate, an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, it may be preferable for the first (loose) end of the strap to not include an elastomeric material, so that it may be more easily inserted through the ring at the second end of the fastening strap. 
       FIG. 3  shows the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2  in a fastened state, and  FIG. 4  shows the same embodiment secured to a bottle  32  and used to attach the bottle to a ferromagnetic structure  34 . To attach a bottle (or other object) to a ferromagnetic structure, the fastening strap  20  is secured around the bottle  32  with the posterior surface facing the bottle. In the embodiment  10  shown, the fastening strap is wrapped around the bottle, the first end  22  of the fastening strap is inserted through the ring  26 , and the fastening strap  20  tightened by pulling the first end back on the strap and secured around the bottle  32  by pressing the loop portion  30  together with the hook portion  28 . When so fastened and secured around the bottle  32 , the bottle may be attached to a ferromagnetic structure  34  using the magnet that is housed in the case  12 . To detach the bottle  32  from the ferromagnetic structure  34 , one need only pull the bottle away from the ferromagnetic structure, with or without tilting the bottle relative to the structure to first break the magnetic attraction. 
       FIGS. 5A-C  and  6  show an alternative embodiment of a magnetic bottle holder according to the present disclosure. The embodiment shown incorporates a magnet  45  into a cavity  44  formed into the wall of a bottle body  30  along the interior of a flattened sidewall surface  42 . The bottle may be attached flat against a ferromagnetic surface, such as a support structure (e.g., table leg, girder, etc.) or piece of gym equipment, using the magnet, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Prior art bottles have a generally right circular cylindrical body shape, with a sidewall that is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bottle and extends generally straight to the top surface of the bottle. As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C and 6 , the bottle embodiment  30  according to the present disclosure has at least one angled surface relative to the sidewall. 
     In one regard, a bottom surface  32  of the bottle is angled ( 33 ) away from being perpendicular with respect to the flattened sidewall surface  42 . The angled bottom surface allows the bottle to stand more or less upright while angling the flattened sidewall surface and the magnet housed therein away from vertical. In this way, the bottle is less likely to be inadvertently attached to the ferromagnetic surface when the bottle is put down on its bottom surface. The angle ( 33 ) of the bottom surface is typically in a range of about 5 to about 15 degrees. 
     In another regard, the bottle embodiment has an upper sidewall portion  36  that is angled ( 35 ) with respect to the flattened sidewall surface  42 . The angled upper sidewall portion  36  intersects with the flattened sidewall surface  42  adjacent to the cavity  44  that houses the magnet  45 . The flattened sidewall surface faces toward the ferromagnetic structure to which the bottle attaches and allows the magnet to attach the bottle flat against the ferromagnetic structure. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the intersection of the flattened sidewall surface  42  and the angled upper sidewall portion  46  forms a pivot that allows for some leverage to be applied to break the magnet&#39;s attraction to the ferromagnetic surface and so detach the bottle  30 . The angle ( 35 ) of the upper sidewall portion is typically in a range of about 15 to about 25 degrees. 
     The body of the bottle  30  is typically made of a plastic or other polymeric material known in the art to manufacture water bottles, such as a high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a polyester or copolyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), a polypropylene, and the like. The body of the bottle  30  may be made using known bottle manufacturing methods, such as injection and stretch blow molding, 3D-printing, extrusion, and the like. 
     In the embodiment shown, the flattened sidewall surface  42  is covered in a layer of an elastomeric material  43 , such as a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene, silicone, polyurethane, etc.). The elastomeric layer allows the bottle to grip the surface of the ferromagnetic structure and protects such surfaces from damage. The flattened sidewall surface  42  typically has dimensions that allow the cavity  44  to be configured to house the magnet  45  to be held close to the ferromagnetic surface with minimal interference on the magnet&#39;s magnetic field extending to the ferromagnetic surface. 
     The magnet  45  and the cavity  44  in which the magnet is housed generally have similar strengths and dimensions as the magnet and case of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C and 6 , the cavity is formed integrally in the body of the bottle with an opening that is closed with a flap or hinged lid  47  which would allow the magnet to be removed and/or replaced. In other embodiments, the cavity may have an opening that is sealed by a layer of elastomeric material on the flattened sidewall surface. In still other embodiments, the cavity may be integrally sealed, with the magnet not being removable or replaceable. 
     The bottle embodiment shown  30  has a generally cylindrical shaped body and an opening or spout  37  in a top surface  38  of the bottle from which a liquid may be filled and poured. The bottle body may have the general dimensions and sizes of reusable water/beverage bottles known in the art, and may typically hold a volume of liquid in a range of about 250 mL to about 2000 mL (about 8 to about 64 ounces). 
     For example, in one specific embodiment, a bottle that holds 64 ounces of liquid may have a circular cross-sectional diameter of about 9 cm (about 3.5 inches). With an angled bottom surface, the length of the bottle sidewalls will vary in height; with the bottom surface angled about 9-degrees from perpendicular, the bottle sidewalls may vary in length in a range of about 26 to about 28 cm (about 10 to about 11 inches). The flattened sidewall surface may have a width of about 2.75 cm (about 1 inch) and a length of about 23 cm (about 10 inches), with the cavity having a width of about 2.75 cm (about 1 inch) and a length of about 5 cm (about 2 inches). 
     As shown in the profile views of  FIGS. 5A and 5C , the bottle embodiment has sidewalls  34  and top and bottom surfaces  38 ,  32  represented with straight lines. In other embodiments according to the present disclosure, the sidewalls and/or surfaces of the bottle may be curved and/or contoured and/or shaped and/or textured (as known in the art) to be, for example, more comfortably and/or securely grasped and held by one hand and more aesthetically pleasing.  FIG. 5B  shows a bottle embodiment with a generally circular cross-section; other bottle embodiments according to the present disclosure may have other cross-sectional shapes, such as an oval, square, etc. 
     It will be understood that the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there may be one or more of the elements or steps present. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or steps other than those expressly listed. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustrating certain aspects of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure. Persons skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that many additions, modifications, variations and improvements may be implemented in light of the above teachings and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.