Patent Abstract:
An accessory holder that can support an item in an infinite number of positions and orientations has advantages, especially in supporting a hair drier. The device includes a substantially longitudinal base member and a support device that enables securing the base member to a structure. A positioning support is included that is adapted to receive the base member. This enables both linear and rotary movement about the base member. A substantially longitudinal secondary member is received by the positioning support that enables linear movement or linear rotary movement thereon. An open ended mounting clamp is pivotally attached to the distal end of the secondary member. The clamp allows the user to easily secure an item, such as the handle of a hair dryer, and position the dryer in a desired location by movement of the secondary member with respect to the base member. The user can then keep the item in place while having both hands free.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention herein relates to a device for supporting an item and more particularly to a device for supporting a personal hand held item such as a hair dryer. 
     Hands free support of items such as hair dryers is desirable in that the user&#39;s hands are then free to perform other tasks, such as styling their hair. Since most individuals cannot afford to hire someone to style their hair every day, a highly adjustable yet simple, and therefore inexpensive device is desired. 
     Many attempts have been made to provide a mechanical device that supports the dryer. Many of these are only slightly less complex and cumbersome than growing a third arm. The more simplistic approaches often limit the adjustability for the height of the user from children to tall adults. Others only function on specific type mountings such as on a wall. While this may work for some, many do not want a fixture mounted to their wall that is only used for 5-10 minutes each day. 
     Previous disclosures have been made with a dryer support that uses a receiver for the barrel of the dryer. Though usually insulated, this portion of the dryer is where the heating elements are and as a result still gets hot in many dryers. Supporting a heated device near the source of the beat is potentially dangerous regarding the risk of fire. 
     Handle type supports are attempted in some, but here the device usually includes a strap that wraps around the handle. This only secures the dryer when the strap is extremely tight and only if the strap has sufficient width in order to overcome the moment caused by the user in the movement of the dryer into the proper position. This movement can loosen the dryer, which will cause it to sit in an awkward position or potentially fall from the support device. In addition, in most dryers the switches that control the heat, airflow and power are positioned on the front of the handle. If the strap wraps around the handle, this would potentially obstruct these switches from the user. This would cause the user to remove the dryer from the device each time they wanted to change a setting. 
     Similar disadvantages occur in supporting other items. The hair dryer is one of the most commonly used on a regular basis and is therefore the basis of this disclosure. What is desired is a support that is easily and widely adjustable, simple in construction in that it is inexpensive to manufacture and includes a fastening device for rapid attachment and detachment of a wide variety of models of dryer handles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Present Invention: 
     In one aspect, the invention features an accessory holder comprising with a substantially longitudinal base member. A support device is used to secure the base member to a structure. A positioning support, that has been adapted to receive the base member and that enables both linear and rotary movement is used on the base member. A substantially longitudinal secondary member, which is also received by the positioning support, enables linear movement or linear and rotary movement of the secondary member. A mounting clamp is pivotally attached to the secondary member, preferably to the distal end thereof. The mounting clamp preferably includes an open end that enables an item, such as a hair dryer, mirror, flashlight or any of a variety of hand tools, to be easily placed therein and removed when the desired task is completed. The base member can be rigidly attached to a supportive structure or releasably supported by use of a suction cup on the distal end of the base member. 
     The system may also include a variety of locking devices to secure the base member and the secondary member in a variety of positions by use of the positioning support. This can be done by a set of split collars with threaded locking pins or sliding sleeves with notches or locking teeth in the members and a variety of pins. 
     In another aspects, the invention includes a method of supporting an item including providing the structure as previously disclosed and adjusting the previously mentioned mounting clamp into a desired position by movement provided by the positioning support. This allows the positioning the item in the mounting clamp, thereby allowing support of the item. 
     Definition of Terms: 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same intended meaning as would be commonly understood by anyone of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of an accessory support device with a hair dryer, the device produced in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of an accessory support device, the device produced in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of an accessory support device, the device produced in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a positioning support assembly, the assembly produced in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of an accessory support device with a hair dryer with a permanent mount, the device produced in accordance as an alternative to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of an accessory support device showing alternative forms of the base and secondary members, the device produced in accordance as an alternative to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative form of the secondary member of the accessory support device. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative form of the base member of the accessory support device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The object of the disclosed invention is to provide an improved device and method of supporting items in a hands free mode such that the user can perform other tasks with their hands. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this device is used to support a “hand held” hair dryer, so that the user can have both hands free to style their hair. What is shown in FIG. 1 is a side view of an accessory support device  10  with a dryer  12  secured thereto. The dryer  12  is shown in phantom lines in that it is not part of the invention. This view shows the preferred embodiment of the invention with a base member  14  that is attached to a support device  16  in this case a suction cup. This support device  16  allows attachment to any support structure  18  such as a counter top, wall mirror, or wall. A secondary member  20  is positioned with respect to the base member  14  by use of a positioning support  22 . Both the base member  14  and the secondary member  20  are received by the positioning support  22  and secured thereto by the lower screw pins  24 . On the distal end of the secondary member  20  is a mounting clamp  26  is pivotally mounted. The mounting clamp  26  includes a pair of spring clamps  28 . These spring clamps  28  are open on one side to receive the handle of the dryer  12  while not obstructing the switches  30 . One spring clamp  28  would be functional in some instances, also dependant upon the width of the spring clamp  28 . It is the consensus of the inventors that this arrangement consisting of two spring clamps  28 , spaced approximately  3  inches apart (along the length of the handle), is preferred. This enables a wide variety of handle sizes and shapes to be secured within the mounting clamp  26 . The spring clamps  28  are, as the name implies, preferably manufactured in the form of a spring. Suitable materials include steel, composite materials and any number of thermoplastics and thermoset plastics that offer sufficient material memory and a suitable modulus of elasticity to act as a spring. 
     The adjustability is further shown in the degrees of freedom that this form of the invention enables. These are shown as degrees of freedom “A-F”. Degree of freedom “A” is the angular adjustment of the clamp  26  on the end of the secondary member  20 . This adjustment provides movement of the dryer  12  with respect to the horizontal. This adjustment is made and secured by use of the upper screw pin  32 . 
     Degree of freedom “B” is the linear adjustment of the secondary member  20 , and the dryer  12  attached thereto, through the positioning support  22 . This movement is made and secured by one of the lower screw pins  24 . In this embodiment the secondary member  20  is cylindrical in shape, thus the member  20  and the dryer  12  can be rotated annularly as shown by degree of freedom “C”. A third adjustment can be made from this lower screw pin  24 . That is the angular positioning of the secondary member  20  with respect to the base member  14 . This is designated by the degree of freedom “D”. 
     Two additional adjustments can be made by the movement of the secondary member  20 , and associated dryer  12 , with respect to the base member  14 . The first is in the vertical adjustment of the assembly along the length of the base member  14 . This is designated by degree of freedom “E”. As with the secondary member  20 , the base member  14  is shown here to be cylindrical in shape. As such, the assembly can be rotated about the long axis of the base member  14 . This is illustrated by degree of freedom “F”. The means of providing adjustment and securing it are made by the respective loosening and tightening of a second lower screw pin (not shown). 
     An isometric view of the invention  10  is shown in FIG.  2 . The base member  14  is mounted on the support device  16 , or the suction cup which secures the device to the supportive surface. The positioning support  22  joins the base member  14  with the secondary member  20  which in turn positions the clamp  26  at a given position and orientation in space. The upper screw pin  32  (with a knob for the user&#39;s had to grasp) is shown at the distal end of the secondary member  20 . In a similar manner the lower screw pins  24  and  34  provide a practical method of locking and unlocking mating parts. A variety of methods of attachment can be used to secure these parts in such a way that they can also be released and moved. What is shown is the preferred embodiment. 
     In FIG. 3 a front isometric view of the invention  10  is shown. In this view the spring clamps  28  are shown in more detail. Here the spring clamps  28  are molded into the base  36  of the mounting clamp  26 . This is one manufactured method but the part could be comprised of spring clamps that are fastened to the base  36  of the mounting clamp  26 . In any form, the spring clamps  28  are spring like in nature with an open end away from the base  36 . This is done so that the spring clamps  28  can flex to receive the handle of a dryer or other object. Upon receiving the object, the spring clamps  28  grasp the object to hold it securely until the user would remove it. 
     A more detailed view of the positioning support  22  is shown in FIG.  4 . This is an exploded view of the components of the device. A pair of split collars  38  and  40 , which are each comprised of a block of semi-rigid material with a large bore. The first large bore  42  is for receipt of the secondary member  20  and the second large bore  44  is for receipt of the base member  14 . The blocks have a split  46  from the respective bores  42  and  44  through the blocks. A spacer  48  is optimally positioned between the collars to provide a bearing surface for the collars to the rotated one against the other. The collars  38  and  40  include cross-bores  50  that receive the shaft portions  52  and  54  of lower screw pins  24  and  34  respectively. One collar (here collar  40 ) has an internal threaded portion that mates with the male threaded portions of the shafts portions  52  and  54 . By tightening the first lower screw pin  24  the split  46  is reduced and the first large bore  42  is slightly reduced, thereby clamping onto the secondary member  20  housed therein (not shown here). In addition this collar  38  is pulled against the spacer  48  and therefore the second collar  40  allowing friction to secure the collars in angular orientation with one another. The clamping mechanism of the second collar  40  works the same as the first with the threaded portion of the shaft  54  mating with the female thread  56 . This secures the collar  40  to the base member  14  (not shown here). 
     An alternative method of support is shown in FIG.  5 . Here the base member  14  is mounted to a structure  58  by use of a pair of support arms  60 . This could be the used in a hotel bathroom where a permanent structure is desired. The support arms are shown here to be rigidly attached to a structure  58 , or wall. This may not always be the case in this form of the invention. The arms  60  could in fact pivot out from the wall or pull out on a linear track to make it less obtrusive when it is not in use. The degrees of freedom (A-F) are so marked to show how the versatility of the invention is not compromised in this sort of an arrangement. In addition, the base member  14  could also be positioned horizontally, like a towel rack. Then by making the cross-bore of the split collar parallel to the bore for the base member  14 , the movement of the secondary member  20  would be the same as with a vertically positioned base member  14 . 
     Another alternative is shown in FIG.  6 . Here a device with several variations to the previously disclosed is shown. First a notched base member  62  is used in place of a smooth cylindrical version. The notches  64  provide a set of undercuts that enable supporting a pin  66  and with it a sleeve  68  through which the pin  66  also penetrates. This combination is an alternative method of height adjustment for the sleeve  68 . Attached to the sleeve  68  is a second sleeve  70 . This second sleeve  70  is adapted to receive a notched bar  72  which acts as the secondary member as previously disclosed. A spring loaded lever  74  is attached to the second sleeve  70  and a tip  76  articulates with the notches  78  of the notched bar  72 . This acts as a ratcheting lock for adjustment of the mounting clamp  26 , which as previously disclosed, supports the dryer or other item. The use of the notched bar  72  precludes the bar  72  from rotating within the second sleeve  70 . This eliminates one of the degrees of freedom of the previous disclosure, degree of freedom “C”. The inventions would still be viable without this degree of freedom. An infinite number of manufactured methods could be used to perform this function. 
     A final variation as shown in this figure is the method of mounting. Here a mounting plate  80  is used to mount the invention to the supportive surface  82 . Traditional fasteners, chemical adhesives, or any other form of fastening can be used in this application. The notched base member  62  is mounted to the mounting plate  80 , by use of a pin  84 . This allows the mounting plate  80  to be permanently mounted to the supportive surface  82  while the rest of the invention can be removed. Any other of a number of forms of attachment could be used in this application including threading the end of the notched base member  62  and the internal portion of the base plate  80 . 
     Further details of the second sleeve  70  are shown in FIG.  7 . Here the movement of the notched bar  72 , as depicted by the arrow  86  show that with the lever  74  depressed, from the force directed by the second arrow  88 , the tip  76  is removed from the notches  78  of the notched bar  72 . This allows the notched bar  72  to move freely within the second sleeve  70 . If the notched bar  72  were to be pulled toward the upper right, as laid out here, the bar  72  would pull up, ratcheting up as it went. The bar  72  would not be able to move down except when the lever  74  is depressed, as shown in this figure. This quick adjustment can be an advantage and since the sacrifice of the degree of freedom is not critical to the function of the invention, this is an alternative locking method. 
     What is shown in FIG. 8 is a section of the sleeve  68 , which is supported by the notched base member  62 . This view shows how the shaft  90  of the pin  66  nests within the sleeve  68  and a notch  64  to lock one with the other. This does not restrict rotation of one part with respect to the other, as the previously disclosed clamping mechanism would when the parts are locked together. Either form would be functional and considered to fall within the scope of the disclosure of this invention. 
     It is to be understood that all of the enclosed information is presented as the preferred embodiment as seen by the inventor. An infinite number of variations and modifications can be made including the sizing and positioning of the detailed information and forms of graphics used to communicate information to the user.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5