Clip style article holder

• US 7,699,282 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bret L. Bushey, Richard D. Bushey
• Original Assignee: Bret L. Bushey, Richard D. Bushey
• Inventors: Bushey, Bret L., Bushey, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US12/243,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 248/316.7, 248/309.1, 248/313, 248/339, 245/63, 24/679, 211/45, 211/89.01, 406/58, 406/49
• US Class Current: 248/316.7
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/143 hanging or attached on show stands by means of brackets, clips, slits or the like

Abstract

An article holder is provided for supporting a sheet of material on a vertical surface. The article holder includes a backing plate connectable to the vertical surface and a clip operatively connected to the backing plate. The clip includes a face plate and an upper wall interconnecting the upper edge of the face plate and the upper edge of the backing plate. A retaining leg extends from the lower edge of the face plate. The retaining leg moveable between a closed position wherein the terminal end of the retaining leg engages the inner surface of the backing plate and an open position wherein the retaining leg is spaced from the inner surface of the backing plate. The inner surface of the backing plate, the inner surface of the face plate and the inner surface of the upper wall define a cavity for receiving a portion of the sheet.

Claims

1. An article holder for supporting a sheet of material on a vertical surface, comprising:

a backing plate connectable to the vertical surface, the backing plate having an inner surface and upper edge;

a clip operatively connected to the backing plate, the clip including;

a face plate having an inner surface, an upper edge and a lower edge;

an upper wall interconnecting the upper edge of the face plate and the upper edge of the backing plate, the upper wall having an inner surface; and

a retaining leg extending from the lower edge of the face plate and having a terminal end, the retaining leg moveable between a closed position wherein the terminal end of the retaining leg engages the inner surface of the backing plate and an open position wherein the retaining leg is spaced from the inner surface of the backing plate; and

a hook extendable through the backing plate and into the vertical surface for retaining the backing plate on the vertical surface, the hook including first and second legs interconnected by a crossbar, the legs including first and second opposite ends and being generally parallel;

wherein the inner surface of the backing plate, the inner surface of the face plate and the inner surface of the upper wall define a cavity for receiving a portion of the sheet.

2. The article holder of claim 1 wherein the upper wall of the clip is generally perpendicular to the backing plate.

3. The article holder of claim 1 wherein the face plate of the clip is movable between a first, generally flat configuration with the retaining leg in the closed position and a second, generally arcuate configuration with the retaining leg in the open position.

4. The article holder of claim 1 wherein the upper wall of the clip is movable between a first, generally flat configuration with the retaining leg in the closed position and a second, generally arcuate configuration with the retaining leg in the open position.

5. The article holder of claim 1 wherein the backing plate has a width and the face plate of the clip has a width, the width of the backing plate being greater than the width of the face plate of the clip.

6. The article holder of claim 1 wherein the first ends of the first and second legs include hooked elements formed therein.

7. An article holder for supporting a sheet of material on a vertical surface, comprising:

a backing plate connectable to the vertical surface, the backing plate having inner and outer surfaces and an upper edge;

a flexible face plate having an inner surface, an upper edge and a lower edge;

a flexible upper wall interconnecting the upper edge of the face plate and the upper edge of the backing plate, the upper wall having an inner surface;

a hook extendable through the backing plate and into the vertical surface for retaining the backing plate on the vertical surface;

the hook including first and second legs interconnected by a crossbar, the legs including first and second opposite ends and being generally parallel; and

a retaining leg extending from the lower edge of the face plate and having a terminal end, the retaining leg moveable between a closed position wherein;

the terminal end of the retaining leg engages the inner surface of the backing plate;

the face plate is generally parallel to the backing plate; and

the upper wall is generally perpendicular to the face plate and the backing plate;

 

and an open position wherein;

the retaining leg is spaced from the inner surface of the backing plate;

the face plate has a generally arcuate cross-section; and

the upper wall has a generally arcuate cross-section.

8. The article holder of claim 7 wherein the inner surface of the backing plate, the inner surface of the face plate and the inner surface of the upper wall define a cavity for receiving a portion of the sheet.

9. The article holder of claim 7 wherein the backing plate has a width and the face plate has a width, the width of the backing plate being greater than the width of the face plate of the clip.

10. The article holder of claim 7 wherein the first ends of the first and second legs include hooked elements formed therein.

11. An article holder for supporting a sheet of material on a vertical surface, comprising:

a backing plate connectable to the vertical surface, the backing plate having inner and outer surfaces, upper edge and a width;

a clip operatively connected to the backing plate, the clip including;

a face plate having an inner surface, an upper edge, a lower edge and a width;

an upper wall interconnecting the upper edge of the face plate and the upper edge of the backing plate, the upper wall having an inner surface; and

a retaining leg extending from the lower edge of the face plate and having a terminal end, the retaining leg moveable between a closed position wherein the terminal end of the retaining leg engages the inner surface of the backing plate and the face plate is generally parallel to the backing plate, and an open position wherein the retaining leg is spaced from the inner surface of the backing plate and the face plate has a generally arcuate cross-section;

wherein;

the upper wall is generally perpendicular to the face plate and the backing plate with the retaining leg in the closed position and

the upper wall has a generally arcuate cross-section with the retaining leg in the open position.

12. The article holder of claim 11 wherein the inner surface of the backing plate, the inner surface of the face plate and the inner surface of the upper wall define a cavity for receiving a portion of the sheet.

13. The article holder of claim 11 wherein the width of the backing plate being greater than the width of the face plate of the clip.

14. The article holder of claim 11 wherein the article holder further comprises an adhesive provided on the outer surface of the backing plate for affixing the backing plate to the vertical surface.

15. An article holder for supporting a sheet of material on a vertical surface, comprising:

a backing plate connectable to the vertical surface, the backing plate having inner and outer surfaces, upper edge and a width;

a clip operatively connected to the backing plate, the clip including;

a face plate having an inner surface, an upper edge, a lower edge and a width;

an upper wall interconnecting the upper edge of the face plate and the upper edge of the backing plate, the upper wall having an inner surface; and

a retaining leg extending from the lower edge of the face plate and having a terminal end, the retaining leg moveable between a closed position wherein the terminal end of the retaining leg engages the inner surface of the backing plate and the face plate is generally parallel to the backing plate, and an open position

wherein the retaining leg is spaced from the inner surface of the backing plate and the face plate has a generally arcuate cross-section;

a hook extendable through the backing plate and into the vertical surface for retaining the backing plate on the vertical surface, the hook includes first and second legs interconnected by a crossbar, the legs including first and second opposite ends and being generally parallel.

16. The article holder of claim 15 wherein the retaining leg is transparent.