Adjustable plate holder

• US 4,364,537 A
• Filed: 09/11/1980
• Issued: 12/21/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Unicover Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Unicover Corporation
• Inventors: Helzer, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US06/186,320
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 248/448, 248/449, 248/477, 248/478, 248/488, 248/490, 248/452, 248/453
• US Class Current: 248/448
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1646 for decorative plates

Abstract

An adjustable holder for a planar object such as a plate is disclosed. The holder is comprised of a base having a channel therein in which an arm is received. The arm is frictionally held in the channel of the base and has a hooked upper end. At the lower part of the base, means to removably attach a pair of feet is provided. Where the holder is to be freestanding, the pair of feet extend forwardly and sidewardly of the base. Where the holder is to be mounted on a wall, an alternative pair of feet is provided which extend downwardly as well as forwardly and sidewardly.

Claims

1. An adjustable holder for supporting three side surfaces of a planar object, such as the top edge portion and two lower edge portions of a plate, comprising:

a rigid supporting base having two parallel longitudinal sides, at least one front panel, and at least one back panel, said front panel being attached at the forward edges of said two sides and said back panel being attached at the rearward edges of said two sides so that a substantially quadrilateral channel is provided along the longitudinal length of said base between said two sides, said front panel and said rear panel;

an elongate arm having a substantially quadrilateral cross-section so as to be frictionally received in the channel of said base, the upper portion of said arm being provided with a downwardly and forwardly projected hooked end;

a pair of feet extending forwardly and sidewardly of said base on either side of said base, each said foot having an upstanding toe at the outwardly extending end;

means to removably attach said pair of feet to the lower end of said base including a mounting bracket on each of said sides of said base, said mounting bracket having a key which is attached along a portion of a respective side which spaces a flange parallel to said sides; and

each said foot including a slot near the end opposite said toe, said slot being substantially the same size as said key and adapted to be received by said key, and a protrusion located above said slot on said foot, said protrusion fitting between said respective side and flange to reduce the play between said foot and said mounting bracket and such that a plate resting against said toes is locked in place by lowering said arm in the channel until said hooked end of said arm engages the top of the plate and said arm is then frictionally held in place.

2. An adjustable holder which is convertible from a free-standing holder to a wall-mounted holder for supporting three side surfaces of a planar object, such as the top edge portion and two lower edge portions of a plate, comprising:

a rigid supporting base having two parallel longitudinal sides, at least one front panel, and at least one back panel, said front panel being attached at the forward edges of said two sides and said back panel being attached at the rearward edges of said two sides so that a substantially quadrilateral channel is provided along the longitudinal length of said base between said two sides, said front panel and said rear panel;

an elongate arm having a substantially quadrilateral cross section so as to be frictionally received in the channel of said base, the upper portion of said arm being provided with a downwardly and forwardly projecting hooked end;

a first pair of feet which extend forwardly and sidewardly when attached to said base, each said first foot having an upstanding toe at the outwardly extending end;

a second pair of feet which extend forwardly, sidewardly and downwardly when attached to said base, each said second foot having an upstanding toe at the outwardly extending end;

means to attach said base to a wall; and

means to removably attach said first and second pair of feet to the lower end of said base such that where said holder is freestanding said first pair of feet are attached to said base, and such that when said holder is attached to a wall, said second pair of feet are attached to said base, whereby a plate resting against said toes is also held in place by lowering said arm in the channel until said hooked end of said arm engages the top of the plate and said arm is then frictionally held in place.

3. An adjustable holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said arm has a trapezoidal cross sectional shape and said channel of said base is also trapezoidal in cross section so as to receive said arm therein.