Portable absorbent wipe support apparatus

• US 7,566,025 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Simonsen
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Simonsen
• Inventors: Simonsen, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US11/133,736
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 242/590, 242/592, 242/596.3, 242/596.8, 242597-5978, 248/229.16, 248/229.26, 248/316.7
• US Class Current: 242/596.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/40 with extensible or collapsible roll supports or roll spindles

Abstract

A portable absorbent wipe support apparatus (apparatus) including at least a main body portion with a mounting clip support, a mounting clip in sliding communication with said clip support, and an article retention portion hinged to an article retention catch of the main body portion is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the article retention portion preferably includes a dowel support supporting a hinge dowel, wherein said dowel interacts with the article retention catch to secure the article retention portion to the main body portion. Preferably, the mounting clip alone maintains the main body portion positioned relative to and in contacting adjacency with a mounting surface by steps for installing said apparatus. The steps preferably include; guiding an extension portion of a mounting clip through a mounting clip aperture of said clip support, and sliding a retention portion of said mounting clip into pressing contact with the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A surface mountable portable absorbent wipe support apparatus comprising:

a main body portion with a mounting clip support; and

a mounting clip in sliding communication with the mounting clip support, wherein the mounting clip alone maintains the main body portion positioned relative to and in contacting adjacency with a mounting surface,

wherein the main body portion further comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, and

wherein the mounting clip support comprises an upper surface offset from the bottom surface by a mounting clip aperture, wherein the mounting clip aperture accommodates a slip fit tolerance passageway for insertion of the mounting clip adjacent the bottom surface of the main body portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an article retention portion hinged to the main body portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, in which the main body portion further comprises an article retention catch, and in which the article retention portion comprises:

an external surface and a corresponding internal surface;

a periphery stiffening member adjacent the external surface while projecting from the internal surface;

a dowel support projecting from a proximal end of the internal surface, the dowel support supporting a hinge dowel, wherein the hinge dowel interacts with the article retention catch to secure the article retention portion to the main body portion;

a core support member projecting from a distal end of the internal surface; and

a stiffening rib interposed between the dowel support and the core support member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, in which the article retention portion further comprises a core support spring attached to and projecting from the internal surface, and an article retention catch projecting from the internal surface and adjacent the core support spring, wherein the core support spring and the article retention catch are confined by the core support member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an absorbent wipe core communicating with the core support, and a retention spring secured to and interposed between the article retention portion and the main body portion, wherein the retention spring imparts a holding force against the absorbent wipe core when the absorbent wipe core is present, and retains the article retention portion adjacent the mounting clip support in the absence of the absorbent wipe core.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the main body portion further comprises:

an end support on each a proximal end and a distal end;

the top surface and the bottom surface interposed between said end supports;

a stiffening rib interposed between said end supports, and projecting from the bottom surface;

an article retention retainer adjacent the stiffening rib and projecting from the mounting clip support; and

an article retention catch extending from said end supports.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the mounting clip comprises a retention portion and an extension portion, wherein the retention portion imparts a compressive force on the mounting surface to maintain the main body portion positioned relative to the mounting surface, and wherein the extension portion protrudes through a mounting clip aperture of the mounting clip support to maintain the main body portion positioned in contacting adjacency with the mounting surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is a bottom shelf of a cabinet.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is an interior shelf of a cabinet.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is an exterior wall of a cabinet.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is an interior wall of a cabinet.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is a bottom shelf of a cabinet, and wherein the cabinet further comprises a rail secured to the bottom shelf, and further wherein the retention portion of the mounting clip is configured to accommodate the rail.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is an exterior wall of a cabinet, and wherein the cabinet further comprises a stile secured to the exterior wall, and further wherein the retention portion of the mounting clip is configured to accommodate the stile.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is an interior wall of a cabinet, and wherein the cabinet further comprises a mull secured to the interior wall, and further wherein the retention portion of the mounting clip is configured to accommodate the mull.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the mounting surface is a side window of a motor vehicle.

16. A method of installing a portable absorbent wipe support apparatus by steps comprising:

guiding an extension portion of a mounting clip through a mounting clip aperture of a mounting clip support of a main body portion of said apparatus; and

sliding a retention portion of said mounting clip into pressing contact with a mounting surface.

17. The method of claim 16, by steps further comprising:

pushing said retention portion into full contact with said mounting surface; and

maintaining the main body portion positioned and contactingly adjacent said mounting surface.

18. The method of claim 17, by steps further comprising:

positioning an article retention portion of said apparatus substantially perpendicular to said main body portion;

aligning an absorbent wipe core adjacent a core support of said article retention portion; and

advancing said absorbent wipe core into confining support with said core support.

19. A surface mountable portable absorbent wipe support apparatus comprising:

a main body portion having a top surface, and a bottom surface with a mounting clip support extending therefrom; and

a mounting clip in sliding communication with the mounting clip support, wherein the mounting clip support comprises an upper surface offset from the bottom surface by a mounting clip aperture, in which the mounting clip aperture accommodates a slip fit tolerance passageway for insertion of the mounting clip adjacent the bottom surface, the mounting clip alone maintains the top surface positioned relative to and in contacting adjacency with a mounting surface.