Banana bunch support and suspension device

• US 6,682,032 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott F. Bradlee
• Original Assignee: Scott F. Bradlee
• Inventors: Bradlee, Scott F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US10/235,983
• Time in Patent Office: 507 Days
• Field of Search: 248/215, 248/303, 248/304, 248/914, 248/317, 248/908, D 7/628, D 6/450, 446/227, 446/228
• US Class Current: 248/215
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0006 Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0078 for plants or flowers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/908 Simulation of diverse device

Abstract

A device (10) for supporting and suspending a bunch of bananas (100) in a resiliently reciprocating fashion from a kitchen surface wherein the device (10) includes a generally rigid support member (20) contoured to resemble an animal (30) having a plurality of appendages (31) (32) etc., including a curved tail (35) that forms a support hook (21) for a bunch of bananas (100); wherein, a selected appendage (31) is provided with an aperture/recess (22) adapted to captively engage the lower end of a resilient tether member (40) the upper end of which is provided with an attachment member (50) such as a hook (51) for suspending the bunch of bananas from a hook, an eyelet, a shelf or the door pull of a kitchen cabinet.

Claims

1. A device for supporting and suspending a bunch of bananas in their natural orientation from an elevated kitchen surface wherein the device comprises:

a support unit including a generally rigid support member having a downwardly depending support hook adapted to engage the stem portion of a bunch of bananas; and

,

a suspension unit including at least in part an elongated resilient tether member having an upper end provided with a generally rigid attachment member;

wherein, the tether member has a lower end that is operatively connected to a portion of the support member in a rotatable fashion to a selected stationary position relative to the support member and wherein the elongated resilient tether member provides unfettered vertical oscillation when a banana is pulled from the bunch.

2. The device as in claim 1;

wherein, the support hook has a generally J-shaped configuration including a stem portion.

3. The device as in claim 2;

wherein, the support member has an upper portion provided with a mounting recess/aperture.

4. The device as in claim 3;

wherein, the mounting/recess aperture is generally aligned with the stem portion of the J-shaped support hook.

5. The device as in claim 4;

wherein, the tether member has an intermediate portion dimensioned to pass through said mounting/recess aperture.

6. The device as in claim 5;

wherein, the tether member has a lower end provided with an enlarged portion the exterior dimensions of which are greater than the interior dimensions of the mounting recess/apertures.

7. The device as in claim 1;

wherein, the support member is configured to resemble an animal.

8. The device as in claim 2;

wherein, the support member is configured to resemble an animal.

9. The device as in claim 3;

wherein, the support member is configured to resemble an animal.

10. The device as in claim 4;

wherein, the support member is configured to resemble an animal.

11. The device as in claim 5;

wherein, the support member is configured to resemble an animal.

12. The device as in claim 6;

wherein, the support member is configured to resemble an animal.

13. The device as in claim 7;

wherein, the simulated animal is provided with a plurality of appendages including at least one leg and a tail.

14. The device as in claim 13;

wherein the configuration of the support hook is intended to represent a selected one among said tail and said at least one leg.

15. The device as in claim 9;

wherein the configuration of the support hook is intended to represent a selected one among said tail and said at least one leg.

16. The device as in claim 15;

wherein the configuration of the support hook is intended to represent a selected one among said tail and said at least one leg.

17. The device as in claim 16;

wherein, the mounting recess/aperture is disposed in the other among the selected one among said tail and said at least one leg.

18. The device as in claim 14;

wherein, said at least one leg is selected from among a pair of forelegs and a pair of rear legs.

19. The device as in claim 17;

wherein, said at least one leg is selected from among a pair of forelegs and a pair of rear legs.