Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
635 words
A space saver article holder for quickly and conveniently storing and displaying a planar article comprising a vertically disposed hollow elongated cylindrical pipe having a first end and a second end, means for supporting said first end on a first surface, said last mentioned means comprising a pin extending from a first point on the exterior surface of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe through the hollow interior of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe to a second point on the opposed exterior surface of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, an end plate having a grooved resilient surface disposed immediately adjacent to said first surface, a spring in its compressed position disposed between said pin and said end plate so as to bias said grooved resilient surface against said first surface and so as to bias said pin and thereby said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe in a direction away from said first surface, a peripheral element disposed partially within said elongated cylindrical pipe, said peripheral element surrounding at least a portion of said spring, said peripheral element being connected to said end plate, a ball-receiving socket rigidly connected to said second end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, a ball rotatably disposed within said ball-receiving socket, a mounting plate rod rigidly connected to said ball, a support member rigidly connected to said mounting plate rod, means for rigidly connecting said support member to a second surface thereby mounting said second end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe to said second surface, an axially extending slot within a wall portion of said ball receiving socket adapted to receive said mounting plate rod to permit attachment of said second end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe to either a horizontal or a vertical surface, a hollow elongated cylindrical spacer member having its inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, said hollow elongated cylindrical spacer member being rotatably disposed about said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe adjacent the lower end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, a plurality of similarly shaped hollow cylindrical bracket members disposed end to end on said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members being rotatably disposed about said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, said hollow cylindrical bracket members having smooth bearing end surfaces, at least one of said end surfaces having an annular insert of low-friction material mounted therein, at least one of said annular inserts being disposed between each pair of adjacent end surfaces of said hollow cylindrical bracket members so that adjacent hollow cylindrical bracket members are easily rotatable with respect to each other, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members having identifiable indicIa thereon, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members having an article support rod rigidly connected thereto, a plurality of article-holding members, each of said article-holding members including a tubular portion having a longitudinal slot throughout the length thereof and having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said article support rod so that said article-holding members are slidably disposed with respect to each of said article support rods, each of said article-holding members further including first and second substantially parallel flange portions extending along opposed edges of said longitudinal slot, said first and said second flange portions each having an opening therein, said opening in said first flange portion being aligned with said opening in said second flange portion, flange adjustment means disposed within said openings in said first and said second flange portions, said flange adjustment means being operable to vary the spacing between said first flange portion and said second flange portion in order to alternatively release and grasp an article therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
635 words
A space saver article holder for quickly and conveniently storing and displaying a planar article comprising a vertically disposed hollow elongated cylindrical pipe having a first end and a second end, means for supporting said first end on a first surface, said last mentioned means comprising a pin extending from a first point on the exterior surface of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe through the hollow interior of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe to a second point on the opposed exterior surface of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, an end plate having a grooved resilient surface disposed immediately adjacent to said first surface, a spring in its compressed position disposed between said pin and said end plate so as to bias said grooved resilient surface against said first surface and so as to bias said pin and thereby said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe in a direction away from said first surface, a peripheral element disposed partially within said elongated cylindrical pipe, said peripheral element surrounding at least a portion of said spring, said peripheral element being connected to said end plate, a ball-receiving socket rigidly connected to said second end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, a ball rotatably disposed within said ball-receiving socket, a mounting plate rod rigidly connected to said ball, a support member rigidly connected to said mounting plate rod, means for rigidly connecting said support member to a second surface thereby mounting said second end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe to said second surface, an axially extending slot within a wall portion of said ball receiving socket adapted to receive said mounting plate rod to permit attachment of said second end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe to either a horizontal or a vertical surface, a hollow elongated cylindrical spacer member having its inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, said hollow elongated cylindrical spacer member being rotatably disposed about said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe adjacent the lower end of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, a plurality of similarly shaped hollow cylindrical bracket members disposed end to end on said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members being rotatably disposed about said hollow elongated cylindrical pipe, said hollow cylindrical bracket members having smooth bearing end surfaces, at least one of said end surfaces having an annular insert of low-friction material mounted therein, at least one of said annular inserts being disposed between each pair of adjacent end surfaces of said hollow cylindrical bracket members so that adjacent hollow cylindrical bracket members are easily rotatable with respect to each other, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members having identifiable indicIa thereon, each of said hollow cylindrical bracket members having an article support rod rigidly connected thereto, a plurality of article-holding members, each of said article-holding members including a tubular portion having a longitudinal slot throughout the length thereof and having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said article support rod so that said article-holding members are slidably disposed with respect to each of said article support rods, each of said article-holding members further including first and second substantially parallel flange portions extending along opposed edges of said longitudinal slot, said first and said second flange portions each having an opening therein, said opening in said first flange portion being aligned with said opening in said second flange portion, flange adjustment means disposed within said openings in said first and said second flange portions, said flange adjustment means being operable to vary the spacing between said first flange portion and said second flange portion in order to alternatively release and grasp an article therebetween.