Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to hardware accessories useful in managing personal items. More particularly, it relates to articles having hooks, from which handbags and the like may be hung while the article resides on a table top. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In restaurants, night clubs and other public gathering places where tabletops are accessible to the public, it is not unusual for people leave their purses, handbags and like items on the table or on the floor, or their jackets on the back of a chair while they dine or otherwise interact socially. Tabletops are intended to accommodate many items, such as dinnerware, ash trays, bouquets, condiments and the like; hence the surface area of table tops are often cluttered. If a means were available for assisting in managing the table top space, such as by providing a way to store handbags, purses, and other strapped items beneath the table in a suspended position, such would be undoubtedly welcomed by many users. If such means were to be user-customizable, it would have even more eye appeal. Additionally, if such means included illumination, it may serve as an identification landmark for persons in darkened rooms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In one embodiment there is provided an accessory hook comprising: a case assembly. The case assembly comprises a main case having a substantially-circular wall having an inner surface, and also an outer surface, a top rim portion, a bottom rim portion, and an interior volume. There is a hook-receiving housing having a body, a proximal end, and a distal end, and the hook-receiving housing is attached to the outer surface of the main case at its proximal end. The hook-receiving housing further comprises a bore disposed through its body sufficiently to provide an opening at its distal end. There is a bezel containing a translucent covering, and the bezel is attached to the main case at the top rim. There is a hook having a first end portion, with the first end portion of the hook being pivotally disposed within the opening on the hook-receiving housing. There is an access cover disposed over the bottom rim portion of the main case, with the access cover being removably attached to the main case. A displayed image is disposed within the interior volume sufficiently to be visible through the translucent covering. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment is provided an accessory hook comprising a case assembly. The case assembly comprises a main case having a substantially-circular wall having an inner surface, an outer surface, a bottom rim portion, and an interior volume. The wall of the main case comprises a plurality of holes disposed therethrough. There is a covering disposed over the top rim portion of the main case. There are a plurality of lights, each disposed through one of the holes on the wall. There is a battery disposed within the interior volume. A hook-receiving housing having a body, a proximal end, and a distal end, is attached to the outer surface of the main case at its proximal end. There is a bore disposed through the body of the hook-receiving housing sufficiently to provide an opening at its distal end. A hook having a first end portion, with its first end portion being pivotally disposed within the opening on the hook-receiving housing is also provided. There is an electrical switch, and there is an access cover disposed over the bottom rim portion of the main case, with the lights, switch, and battery being in effective electrical contact with one another such that when the switch is closed, the lamps are illuminated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    In the annexed drawings: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an accessory hook according to one embodiment, disposed on a tabletop; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the outer surfaces of a case assembly of an accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a side perspective view of a case assembly of an accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the interior of a case assembly of an accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is shown a perspective view of an access cover element useful in providing an accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is shown a side perspective view of a spacer element useful in providing an accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is shown an overhead perspective view of a spacer element useful in providing an accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a side perspective view of a hook element useful in providing an accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9   a  shows an exploded view of an accessory hook from the side perspective, according to one embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9   b  shows an side view of the hook-receiving housing according to one embodiment, including cooperative arrangement of the end portion of a hook and retainer screw useful in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows a side perspective view of an assembled accessory hook according to one embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the interior of a case assembly of an accessory hook according to an alternate embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  shows an overhead view of an accessory hook according to an alternate embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  shows a schematic diagram of the circuitry employed in an accessory hook according to an alternate embodiment; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  shows a cross sectional view of a translucent covering according to one alternate embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIG. 1  there is shown a perspective view of an accessory hook  10  according to one embodiment, disposed on a tabletop  5 . In this embodiment is also visible a displayed image  20 , which is disposed within the case assembly ( 12 ,  FIG. 2 ) sufficiently to enable a person to view the displayed image  20 . The accessory hook  10  is held in its position by gravitational forces, and in this embodiment one may hang a purse, handbag, or any other accessory item having a strap or lanyard, including but not limited to cameras, binoculars cell-phones, or the like, as one having ordinary skill will appreciate following consideration of the contents of the instant disclosure. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 2  is shown a perspective view of the outer surfaces of a case assembly  12  of an accessory hook  10  according to one embodiment. The case assembly  12  comprises a main case  11 , which may be thought of as a cylinder, as it comprises a substantially-circular wall having an inner surface  81  ( FIG. 4 ), an outer surface  83 , a top rim portion  85 , a bottom rim portion  87 , an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a length dimension, and an interior volume within its confines, inside of which other elements of an accessory hook  10  may be housed, including in one embodiment a displayed image  20  and a spacer  16  ( FIG. 9   a ). Disposed at the top rim portion is a bezel  9 , which may be integral with the main case  11 , or which may be a separate element disposed on the top rim portion of the main case  11 , such as by an interference fit, as such interference fit is commonly employed in the art of watch making and which is well-known in the art. The bezel  9  comprises an inner edge  51  and holds a translucent covering  7  in place, which translucent covering  7  may comprise any clear durable material, such as glass, or a polymeric material such as polycarbonate plastic, polyethylene terephthalate, or like materials known in the art. In an alternate embodiment, the translucent covering  7  is replaced by a simple cover, which may be a flat or curved piece of metal having decorative effects on it, such as jewels, mirrors, prisms, a silvered surface, a mirror, or other decorative finish, or anything which covers the top rim portion  85  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ) of the main case  11 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  also depicts a hook-receiving housing  13 , having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the hook-receiving housing  13  is attached at its proximal end to the outer surface of the main case  11 , such as by adhesives or welding; however, the hook-receiving housing  13  and main case  11  may both be of the same casting or construct. The hook-receiving housing  13  is substantially-tubular in one embodiment, and is adapted to receive the first end portion  39  a hook  14 , ( FIG. 8 ) at a circular opening  15  that is disposed on the distal end of the hook-receiving housing  13 . The hook-receiving housing  13  inherently comprises a body portion, which may be tubular as mentioned, and in another embodiment, the body of the hook-receiving portion  13  is substantially cylindrical or oval in cross section and comprises a bore disposed through it sufficiently to provide the circular opening  15  at its distal end. Thus, whether the body of the hook-receiving housing is tubular, cylindrical, oval, or substantially-cylindrical in cross section, it will preferably have a bore disposed through its body sufficiently to provide an opening  15  at its distal end. Such bore may extend only partially into the body of the hook-receiving portion, or it may extend all the way through, for embodiments in which an electrical switch  61  is housed on the hook-receiving housing  13  as later described, to enable passage of one or more wires through to the interior of the case assembly  12 . The location of a retainer screw  17  is also shown, whose function is to retain a hook, as is later described. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a side perspective view of a case assembly  12  of an accessory hook  10  according to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , showing the respective locations of the main case  11 , bezel  9 , translucent covering  7 ,and hook-receiving housing  13 . There is an annular groove  19  disposed on the exterior surface of the hook-receiving housing  13 , in which a threaded bore (not shown) that the retainer screw  7  resides in is disposed. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 4  is shown a perspective view including the underside of a case assembly  12  of an accessory hook  10  according to one embodiment. Depicted are the respective locations of the main case  11 , the translucent covering  7 , and the hook-receiving housing  13  with its opening  15 . Also shown is a band of threads  21  disposed on the inner surface of the wall comprising of the main case  11 , within the interior volume of the main case  11 . The threads in this band of threads  21  are complementary to external threads  31  present on the external surface of the main wall  29  of the access cover  18  that is shown in  FIG. 5 . Such provisions of threads permit the access cover  18  to be threadingly engaged with the case assembly  12 . 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 5  is shown a perspective view of an access cover  18  useful in providing an accessory hook  10  according to one embodiment. The access cover  18  exists substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder, having an open top, a circular floor or bottom, a circumferential wall, and having a relatively short height dimension. The access cover  18  comprises a circular floor portion  49  having a surface that is interior to the cylinder, a surface that is exterior to the cylinder, an outer perimeter and a main wall  29 . The main wall  29  has an inner surface  59 , an outer surface  55 , an upper edge  53 , and a lower edge  57 , with the floor portion  49  being attached to the main wall  29  at the lower edge  57  of the main wall  49 . There are threads  31  disposed circumferentially about the outer surface  55  of the main wall  29 , which threads are complementary to the band of threads  21  that are disposed on the inner surface of the wall of the main case  11  ( FIG. 4 ). Such arrangement permits the access cover  18  to be screwed into place within the main case  11 , or readily removed therefrom by un-screwing. In one embodiment there is an annular rim  33  disposed annularly about the main wall  49 , which annular rim  33  acts as a stop when one threadingly engages the access cover  18  to the main case  11  by the bottom rim portion  87  of the main case  11  abutting the annular rim  33  upon sufficient engagement of the complementary threads aforementioned. In one embodiment there is also a gripping surface  35  disposed on the face of the floor portion  49  that is exterior to the open cylinder defined by the floor portion  49  and main wall  29 . Thus, when substantially planar or planar, the floor portion  49  has a first surface that faces the interior volume of the main case  11  and a second surface that is inherently external to that interior volume. In one embodiment, the gripping surface is a disc of rubber, attached to the exterior surface of the floor portion  49  by a conventional means, such as by adhesives, fasteners, etc., with an adhesive being most preferred. The function of the gripping surface  35  is to prevent easy lateral movement of an accessory hook  10  when it is disposed on a tabletop. Towards this end, the gripping surface  35  may in an alternate embodiment comprise knurling on the outer surface of the floor portion  49 , or may comprise a coating, such as a polymeric coating, including without limitation: polyolefin polymers (including copolymers thereof), poly-halogenated polyolefin polymers, polyurethane polymers, styrenics, polyureas, rubbers, or any polymeric material known to those in the art. In one embodiment, when the access cover  18  is attached to the case assembly  12 , a volume is defined which is bounded by the translucent covering  7 , the floor portion  49 , and at least one element selected from the group consisting of: the inner surface  59  of the main wall  29  of the access cover  18  and the inner surface  81  of the main case; or a combination of the inner surface  81  and inner surface  59 . 
         [0027]    One function of an accessory hook  10  according to this disclosure is to provide a displayed image  20  ( FIG. 1 ) within the interior confines of the main case  11  so as to be readily visible through the translucent covering  7  to the eyes of a person situated in the proximity of the accessory hook  10 . In some embodiments, the distance between the substantially-flat or flat surface of the floor portion  49  which is interior to the cylindrical volume defined by the main case  11  and the top rim  53  of the main case  11  is greater than the thickness dimension of the displayed image  20 , which may in some cases be a photograph or other image disposed on a substrate whose thickness is less than about a millimeter. For such instances, it is desirable to employ a spacer  16  such as that depicted in the embodiment shown in the side-view perspective of  FIG. 6 , to prevent movement or shifting of the displayed image within the main case  11 . In one embodiment, a suitable spacer  16  is, overall about three millimeters thick when the rigid substrate and displayed image together are about one millimeter thick, and comprises a flat portion  23  and a raised portion  25 . From the overhead perspective view of  FIG. 7  it can be seen that the flat portion is generally circular in shape and may comprise a plurality of cutouts  27  to save raw material when the spacer  16  is made from injection-molded polymer or stamped metal such as steel. In one embodiment the raised portion  25  may exist in the form of a ring extending upwardly from the flat portion  23 . However, any article which holds the displayed image  20  in a stationary position within the confines of an accessory hook  10  as herein described is suitable. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 8  is shown a side perspective view of a hook  14  useful in providing an accessory hook  10  according to one embodiment. The hook  14  comprises a first shank  37 , second shank  41 , third shank  43  and fourth shank  45 . The hook  14  has two ends, one of which is the first end portion  39  that is disposed at the end of its first shank  37 , and the other end terminating at a spheroid  47  disposed at the end of the fourth shank  45 . In one embodiment the hook  14  is configured so that when free-standing it may be laid flat on a tabletop surface and appear as shown in  FIG. 8 . There is an angle alpha α between the first shank  37  and second shank  41 , which angle alpha α may be any angle having any degree within the range of between about 75 and 105 degrees, and in one embodiment is about 90 degrees. There is an angle beta β between the second shank  41  and third shank  43 , which angle beta β may be any angle having any degree within the range of between about 110 and 160 degrees, and in one embodiment is about 135 degrees. There is an angle lambda λ between the third shank  43  and fourth shank  45 , which angle lambda λ may be any angle having any degree within the range of between about 75 and 105 degrees, and in one embodiment is about 90 degrees. The hook  14  also comprises an annular channel  491  disposed along the first shank  37  near its first end portion  39 . In one embodiment, the hook  14  is comprised of a single piece of thick wire, about 3-4 mm in diameter, which is fabricated by bending, although any diameter in the range of between about 1 mm and 8 mm are useful. Preferably, the hook  14 , main case  11 , hook-receiving portion  13 , and access cover  18  are comprised of a metal or metallic alloy, can be made by casting, stamping or machining, and may have a decorative finish, such as by having been electroplated with bright chromium, brass, or other decorative finishes known to those skilled in the electroplating art. However, other materials of construction including polymers and composites are also useful for constructing various elements of an accessory hook  10  as provided herein. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 9   a  is shown an exploded view of one embodiment of an accessory hook  10  ( FIG. 1 ) from the side perspective, in which is depicted the arrangement of the elements of the case assembly  12 , spacer  16 , and access cover  18 . The displayed image  20  may be a free-standing image, such as a photograph, or any other design or image desired by the user. The displayed image may also be disposed on or adhered to a rigid substrate  69 , such as a metallic disk as a supportive backing, such as by a conventional adhesive, two-sided tape, etc., wherein the rigid substrate  69  is of any thickness sufficient to cooperatively contact the spacer  16  when present or access cover and maintain the displayed image  20  in a stationary position within the case assembly  12 . In one embodiment the rigid substrate  69  is a steel disk having a thickness of about 30 microns and the displayed image  20  is a photograph on ordinary photograph paper. Preferably, the displayed image and rigid substrate each have a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the translucent covering, but less than the inner diameter of the main case  11 . 
         [0030]    Such dimensions enable the displayed image to be held between the substrate and the surface of the bezel which is within the interior volume of the case assembly, or main case. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 9   b  is shown a side view of the hook-receiving housing  13  according to one embodiment, including the cooperative arrangement of the features near the first end portion  39  of the first shank  37  of hook  14 , and retainer screw  17  useful in accordance with one embodiment. The first end portion  39  of the hook  14  is seen to be disposed within the opening  15  of the hook-receiving housing  13 , and maintained in position by means of a retainer screw  17  being threadingly engaged within the wall of the hook-receiving housing  13  such that the end portion of the retainer screw  17  resides within the annular channel  491  that is disposed near the first end portion  39  of hook  14 . Thus, removal of the hook  14  may be effected by loosening the retainer screw  17  and simply pulling the hook  14  from the opening  15  of the hook-receiving housing  13 . This arrangement also permits the hook  14  to be disposed within the hook-receiving housing  13  pivotally, capable of pivoting about a point P shown in  FIG. 10  in the directions indicated by the double-headed arrow. Also shown by dotted line in  FIG. 9   b  is the bore  481 , which may extend partially into the body of the hook-receiving housing, or may extend clear through it to exit at, or form an opening at, its proximal end. In any event, the depth of the bore as perceived from the opening  15  is sufficient to admit the first shank  37  of the hook  14  to permit its engagement with the retainer screw  17 , which may be any type of screw. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 11  is shown a perspective view of the interior of a case assembly  12  of an accessory hook according to an alternate embodiment. In  FIG. 11 , the main case  11  is provided with a plurality of holes on its wall portion, through which holes are provided sources of illumination or lights  65 , held in place by interference fit or by conventional adhesives. The lights  65  may be incandescent lamps, or may comprise light emitting diodes, the purpose of which is to provide illumination to the accessory hook  10  of which such a main case  11  is an integral part. To effectuate illumination of the lights  65 , a battery  63  is provided within the confines of the main case  11 , in addition to electrical conduit wires  67 , and a switch  61 , which in one embodiment is a single-pole single-throw switch. In another embodiment, the switch  61  is a rotary switch. In one embodiment, the battery  63  is of the compact type, exemplified by the type referred to in the art as AG-13; however, any compact cell, whether lithium, alkaline, mercury or other are suitable for use in this embodiment provided the cell selected has sufficient voltage to illuminate the lamps. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, the battery  63  is affixed to the interior of the main case  11 , such as by a conventional adhesive. In another embodiment, the battery is contained in its own compartment, which is integral or attached to the floor portion  49  of the access cover  18  so as to be confined within the interior of the case assembly  12  of the accessory hook  10 . In such an embodiment, a door is provided on the floor portion  49  of the access cover itself, to enable a user to change the battery  63  as may become necessary. Conventional conduit wires  67  are attached to the battery, either directly, or to metallic contact pads which themselves are held in fixed position by the construct of the battery compartment and which contact pads are disposed to be in contact with the battery  63  when it is in its normal installed position. Such arrangements for containing batteries and contact pads are known in the art and commonly employed in various electronic devices, including wristwatches and hearing aids. In one embodiment, the lights  65  are wired in series circuit with the battery. In another embodiment, the lights  65  are wired in parallel circuit with the battery. In a parallel-wired arrangement, the casing itself may be grounded, thus eliminating the need for one of the wires. The switch  61  is preferably housed within the hook-receiving housing  13  and has its toggle portion accessible to a user such that the lights  65  may be illuminated by a simple flick or rotation of the switch, the toggle being accessible in one embodiment by virtue of there being a hole in the wall of the hook-receiving housing through which the toggle protrudes. The body of the switch  61  is held in position on the exterior of, or within the hook-receiving housing  13  by conventional adhesives, conventional fasteners, by interference fit, or by a weld. The wires  67  which connect the switch to the remainder of the circuit pass through the hook-receiving portion  13  at the wall of the main case  11  where the main case  11  and hook-receiving portion are attached, leading to the interior of the accessory hook  10 . The wires  65  can be maintained in position by means of an adhesive, or by their own rigidity. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 12  is depicted an overhead view of an accessory hook  10  according to an alternate embodiment, showing the respective locations of the lights  65  disposed on the outside of the main case  11 .  FIG. 13  shows a schematic diagram of the circuitry employed in an accessory hook according to an alternate embodiment showing the respective locations of the lights  65 , battery  63  and switch  61 . 
         [0035]    Although disclosed in one embodiment as being engaged with the main case  11  by means of threads, the access cover  18  in all embodiments herein disclosed may be attached to the main case  11  by interference fit, such as the known interference fit arrangement employed in watch making, wherein the back cover of a wristwatch is simply pried off to gain access to the internal contents of the watch case. Such interference fit includes complementary machining on the access cover and case, including a protruding lip on the case that is complimentarily matched with a gripping rim on the cover, as such arrangements are known in the art. An equivalent arrangement is one where a circumferential groove is present on the case and the cover is dimensioned to snap into place within the groove. Removal is accomplished by inserting a stiff object into a cutout or slot in the cover and prying. Such embodiments alleviate the need of threads on the inner wall of the main case. 
         [0036]    In an alternate embodiment, the lights  65  may be disposed through the translucent covering  7  as shown in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 14  and also in  FIG. 12 . In an alternate embodiment, one or more lights  65  may be disposed through the bezel  9 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0037]    Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. This includes subject matter defined by any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claims so modified. This also includes combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim so modified. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of the claims which follow.

Technology Category: a