Structure for removably securing a container to a substantially planar supporting surface

• US 6,494,424 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spark Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spark Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Tierney, Kirk, Dickie, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/625,174
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 248/205.3, 248/467, 248/683, 206/469, 206/63.5, 132/321
• US Class Current: 248/205.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/175 Stretch releasing adhesives

Abstract

A structure for removably securing a container to a planar supporting surface comprises a flexible plastic tape having an adhesive coating on a first portion of each of its two sides, and a second portion where there is no adhesive coating. The second portion forms a graspable tab to facilitate removal of the container from its supporting surface, and is retained in a position which is generally out of sight. De-adherence of the flexible plastic tape is achieved by stretching the tape from the graspable tab. Retaining means for the graspable tab may comprise a slot which is parallel to the back face of the container, located a distance away from the back face which is less than the length of the graspable tab; or it may also comprise a pair of opposed tabs spaced away from and substantially parallel to the face against which the graspable tab is placed.

Claims

1. In combination, a container and a structure for removably securing said container to a substantially planar supporting surface in such a manner that a portion of the structure is retained in a position which is generally out of sight but from which said portion may be put into an operable position, wherein said container to be removably secured to a substantially planar supporting surface has width, depth, and thickness, and has a substantially planar back face which is to be placed adjacent the substantially planar supporting surface, and at least one substantially planar container thickness defining face which extends forwardly from said substantially planar back face, said structure comprising:

a flexible plastic tape having an adhesive coating on at least a first portion of each of the first and second sides thereof, and having a second portion at a first end of each of said first and second sides where there is no adhesive coating adhered thereto;

wherein said first side of said flexible plastic tape is adhered to the substantially planar back surface of said container at said first portion of said tape;

wherein said second portion of said flexible plastic tape forms a graspable tab to facilitate removal of said container from a planar supporting surface when adhered thereto by the adhesive coating on said second side of said tape, and wherein de-adherence of said flexible plastic tape at least from said planar supporting surface is achieved by stretching said tape by grasping said graspable tab; and

wherein said structure further comprises retaining means for said graspable tab;

said retaining means being located on said at least one substantially planar container thickness defining face for releasably retaining said graspable tab in a folded and generally out of sight condition extending forwardly from said substantially planar back face.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a slot formed in said at least one substantially planar container thickness defining face for inserting said first end of said flexible plastic tape thereinto;

said slot being parallel to said substantially planar back face of said container, and located a distance away therefrom, which distance is less than the length of said graspable tab.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of opposed tabs spaced away from and substantially parallel to that portion of said at least one substantially planar container thickness defining face against which said graspable tab is placed when it is folded forwardly from said substantially planar back face;

wherein the distance between said opposed tabs is less than the width of said graspable plastic tab; and

wherein said first end of said graspable plastic tab extends forwardly of said pair of opposed tabs.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said portion of said at least one substantially planar container thickness defining face against which said graspable tab is placed, is formed as a shallow groove having a width greater than the width of said graspable plastic tab.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said container is rectangular having a front face opposed to said substantially planar back face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of opposed side faces, and said at least one substantially planar container thickness defining face is said bottom face thereof.