Patent Abstract:
A device for the retention and release of heavy, bulky or irregularly shaped items to a surface that includes a rotatable winged flanged plate with strap admitting slots through which a strap and coupling means are passed, and a surface affixing means providing for the releasable retention of large or irregularly shaped items against a wall or other surface.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates generally to those surface mounted devices providing a means to releaseably secure items against a surface. 
         [0006]    A common problem faced when attempting to store bulky or heavy items against a vertical surface such as a wall by leaning is the tendency of these items to fall forward and away from the wall if not leant at a sufficient angle. Inevitably, this means that valuable floor space is wasted trying to get the item to “stay” against the wall. Most people don&#39;t have unlimited floor space to accommodate such waste. A typical example is the case of a ladder or bicycle leant against a garage wall. One solution has been to hang the item from a peg or hook mounted on the wall. However some of these items can be too bulky or heavy for many people to lift; this is especially the case with elderly or infirm persons. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,163 to Foote, describes a base plate and tether for the securing of firearms, but the base plate has no swiveling capability. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,193 to Davis, describes a base plate, bracket and straps as a wheelchair restraint, but the straps have no swiveling capability. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,543 to Corson et al. describes a tip-over protection apparatus with wall mounted bracket and cord, but has no swiveling capability. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,562 to Konkle, describes a furniture tipping restraint with wall mounted bracket and cord, but has no swiveling capability. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,941 to Guenther, describes a fastening anchor assembly for fastening an object to a hollow wall, but provides a clamp as the object fastening means which limits the size and shapes of the objects to be retained. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is a surface mountable retention system to releasably secure large, irregularly shaped or bulky items against a multiple surface types; for example drywall, masonry or wood as well as others. It enables a person to secure items tightly against a surface such as a wall or crate without having to lean the item, thus saving floor space and creating a safer environment. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the device consists of a single rotatable flanged face plate with a centered aperture through which a fastener such as a wood screw or hollow wall anchor is placed to affix the plate to a surface such as a wall or crate. 
         [0014]    The preferred as well as alternate embodiments share the common element of a rotatable flanged plate having at least two winged flanges opposing each other, each flange punctuated by a slit aperture. Once installed, a flexible strap of shear resistant material with a fastening means at its terminal ends such as male and female buckles, is threaded through the slit aperture such that the terminal ends may encircle an item and fasten together thus securing the item to the surface. 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment, the invention is an assembly of two principal plates, one having winged flanges, and another that is primarily flat having a centered aperture and a formed sleeve encircling the centered aperture. The two plates are held in place by a hub which is a flanged T-shaped bushing whereby both plates are independently rotatable about the axis provided by the bushing prior to being installed on a surface. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the second plate is generally planar having no raised sleeve, and the hub is a common cylindrical bushing press fit into place forming a lip at each end of the bushing sufficient to hold the two plates together yet allowing the plates to rotate independently around a common axis provided by the bushing. 
         [0017]    In yet another embodiment, the base plate has a resilient fastener formed into the body in place of the bushing and formed sleeve of the preferred embodiment so that the two plates may be pressed together and releasably reatained in position by the resilient fastener which allows the plates to rotate independently of each other. It is envisioned that the base plate of this embodiment will be secured to a surface by an adhesive such as 3M™ Foam Tapes. Thus the means to affix this embodiment differs from the other embodiments because no screw or drywall fastener is required. 
         [0018]    With the exception of the embodiment of the previous paragraph, the steps to install the surface mountable retention system are as follows: 
         [0000]    If affixing to a stud, or a wood surface, the assembled present invention is placed against the surface and a wood screw of sufficient length is placed through the centered aperture and screwed into the wooden surface thus holding the retention system in place. The plate assembly should fit snug against the wall while allowing the top plate to rotate 360 degrees. One unbuckled end of the flexible strap is then threaded through the slit apertures of the top plate, and an either a male or female buckle is cinched to the strap which is then joined to its mating portion being snapped around the item to be secured. 
         [0019]    If affixing to drywall with a typical hollow wall anchor, the expandable sleeve element of a hollow wall anchor is fitted first into the wall, followed by the plate assembly and then a threaded bolt element is passed through the centered aperture of the plate assembly and into the expandable sleeve element of the wall anchor. The plate assembly should fit snuggly against the wall while allowing the top plate to rotate 360 degrees. One unbuckled end of the flexible strap is then threaded through the slit apertures of the top plate, and an either a male or female buckle is cinched to the strap which is then joined to its mating portion being snapped around the item to be secured. 
         [0020]    If affixing to drywall with a toggle bolt, the bolt element of the toggle bolt is first passed through the centered aperture of the plate assembly and the toggle element affixed to its terminal end. The toggle element is them placed through a pre-drilled hole in the drywall and the bolt is tightened in the customary way. The plate assembly should fit snuggly against the wall while allowing the top plate to rotate 360 degrees. One unbuckled end of the flexible strap is then threaded through the slit apertures of the top plate, and an either a male or female buckle is cinched to the strap which is then joined to its mating portion being snapped around the item to be secured. 
         [0021]    One object of the present invention is to provide an easy means for the releasable retention of heavy or bulky items against a surface without the need to lift or hoist the item. 
         [0022]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy means for the releasable retention of irregularly shaped items by providing 360 degrees of attachment. 
         [0023]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a means to releaseably retain large items securely against a vertical surface such as a wall minimizing the required floor space. 
         [0024]    The applicant is not aware of any previously described art having the features and advantages of the present invention. 
         [0025]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention with rotatable flanged face plate; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment showing T-shaped bushing and base plate element; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away view of the stacked plate assembly of one alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is perspective view of the non-flanged bushing; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is perspective view of a non-flanged base plate; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is an edge view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 3  fastened to a hollow wall by a toggle bolt and the flexible belt and buckle elements; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is an edge view of the assembled preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2  fastened to a stud by a wood screw and the flexible belt and buckle elements; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is an edge view of the assembled alternate embodiment of  FIG. 8  and fastened to a surface by way of an adhesive strip; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  plan view of the base plate of  FIG. 8  with molded resilient bullet fastener 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention with a flanged face plate  10  having two winged flanges, each having a rectangular slit  20 , and a centered aperture  17 , and typical fastening means; in this case, a hollow wall anchor with a sleeve element  9  and screw  8 . In this embodiment, the flanged face plate  10  rotates 360 degrees once the entire assembly is affixed to a surface. Fastening straps with buckling means as shown in ( FIG. 6 ) are passed through the rectangular slits  20 , to encircle the object to be retained. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  Shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention that uses a T-shaped bushing having an aperture  17   a  there through, a capped flange  15 , a beveled countersunk recess  19  to accept the beveled head of a typical wood screw  8 . Assembly requires the area  14  below the capped flange  15  is seated into the aperture  17   b , and the integrally formed sleeve  17   c  of base plate  12  is interiorly seated within the body of the T-shaped bushing. Once assembled, the T-shaped bushing acts as a hub around which the flanged face plate  10  and base plate  12  are seated and whereby the two plates may rotate 360 degrees relative to each other prior to the affixing of the present invention to a surface, after which, the flanged face plate  10  is rotatable and the base plate  12  is fixed against a surface and immobilized. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows a partial cut away view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention where a planar base plate  12   a  and flanged face plate  10  are held together by a non-flanged bushing that is situated within apertures of equal diameter  17   e ,  17   d  of the flanged face plate and the planar base respectively, which is press fitted during assembly so that a lip is formed at either end of the bushing to retain both plates together about a common axis. The flanged face plate rotates 360 degrees once the entire assembly is affixed to a surface. Fastening straps with buckling means as shown in ( FIG. 6 ) are passed through the rectangular slits  20 , and encircle an object to be retained. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows the non-flanged bushing  21  of the embodiment of ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows the planar base plate  12   a  of the embodiment of ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is an edge view illustrating the alternate embodiment of ( FIG. 3 ) in typical use being affixed to a hollow wall surface. Visible is the strap  23  having at the respective ends a male and female buckle portion  24 , where the strap is meant to encircle a retained article. Although the edge view shows the flanged wings of the face plate  10 , it should be understood that flanged face plate  10  is fully rotatable about the axis provided by the press fit bushing  21 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  is an edge view illustrating the preferred embodiment of ( FIG. 2 ) in typical use being affixed to a hollow wall surface. Shown is strap  23  having at each terminal end a male or female buckle portion, where the strap is meant to encircle a retained article. Although the edge view shows the flanged wings of the face plate  10 , it should be understood that face plate  10  is rotatable about the axis provided by the T-shaped bushing  15 . It should also be understood that while the male and female buckle pairs are are illustrated here, other types of fasteners such as Velcro™, or buckle and cinch loops, are suitable. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the present invention that substitutes a resilient fastener  26  formed into base plate  12   b  as a substitute for the bushing elements of the other embodiments. The base plate with resilient fastener are of a thermoplastic material such as polystyrene or fiber reinforced thermoplastic. Assembly requires that the flanged face plate  10   b  be pressed against the base plate  12   b  aligning the aperture  17  with the head of the resilient fastener having a generally bullet shaped profile and which is partially divided into four sections so that the head of the fastener may contract to allow force fitting through an aperture upon which the sections resume their position, thus releasably securing the two plates together. The completed assembly is attached to a surface by means of double sided adhesive such as 3M™ Foam Tapes. Alternately, it is possible to separate the two plates and simply use the device in the manner described in ( FIG. 1 ) thus omitting the base plate. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is an edge view illustrating the alternate embodiment of ( FIG. 8 ) in typical use being affixed to a hollow wall surface. Shown is a layer of foam tape  27  of the same circumference as base plate  12   b . Visible is the strap  23   b  having at each terminal end a hook or loop fastener portion so that the straps may be fastened together, so the strap can encircle a retained article. Although the edge view shows the flanged wings of the face plate  10 , it should be understood that face plate  10  is rotatable about the axis provided by the resilient fastener  26 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  is an plan view illustrating the base plate of ( FIGS. 8 ,  9 ) with the sections partially bisection the bullet shaped head of the resilient fastener  26 . 
         [0046]    While the invention has been described in connection with only two principal embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5