GB2035783A

GB2035783A - Improvements in or relating to support apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2035783A
Application number: GB7844593A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BTR Industries Ltd
Current assignee: BTR Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1978-11-15
Filing date: 1978-11-15
Publication date: 1980-06-25

Abstract

An elongate extruded holder for stemmed glasses or like articles comprises a base (10) having along each edge a resilient inturned flange (11, 12). The base (17) of the glass is engaged between the flanges (11, 12) and the base (10), the resilience of the flanges (11, 12) urging the base (17) of the glass towards the base (10) of the member. Dovetails (19, 20) may be provided so that adjacent holders can be secured to one another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to support apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for supporting articles having a base and a stem extending from the base, for example glasses with stems.

According to the invention there is provided an elongate, extruded member for supporting one or more articles of the type having a base and a stem extending from the base, which member comprises a base and resilient arm means extending from the base for engaging the base of the or each article on the stem side thereof to urge the base of the or each article into frictional engagement with the base of the member.

The resilient arm means preferably comprises a pair of spaced apart resilient arms extending from the same side of the base and towards one another to provide a pair of spaced apart, parallel mutually facing slits each formed by the base and an associated arm.

The base may comprise two or more elongate support ribs suitable for engagement by the side of the base of the or each article away from the stem or stems. Alternatively, the base may comprise an elongate support between the arms and spaced apart from the base, a central web connecting the support to the base.

The member may comprise an elongate male engagement element on one arm and an elongate female engagement element on the other arm, the arrangement being such that the male element of one member is slidingly engageable with the female element of an adjacent member to secure the one member to the adjacent member with the bases of the two members lying in the same plane.

The male and female elements may be of dove tail cross-section.

By way of example, two embodiments of a member according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a member, Figure 2 is an end view of the member of Fig. 1 supporting a glass, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a member and Figure 4 is an end view of the member of Fig. 3 supporting a glass.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a member according to the invention is of extruded plastics material, or hard or reinforced rubber, or other suitable material and has a uniform cross-section with a base 10 and a pair of resilient arms 11 and 1 2 extending from the base 10. The base 10 is formed with a pair of elongate ribs 1 3 and 14 which are spaced so that they are adjacent the ends 1 5 and 1 6 respectively of the arms 11 and 12.

As shown in Fig. 2, an article of the type having a base and a stem extending from the base, in this example a wine glass having a base 1 7 and a stem 18, is conveniently supported by the member, the base 1 7 being slid between the ribs 1 3 and 14 of the base 10 and the ends 1 5 and 1 6 of the arms 11 and 1 2 respectively. The base 10 is conveniently secured to a horizontal surface by, for example screws, so that the stems 1 8 hang below the bases 1 7. The base 10 may, however, be secured the other way up, or to surfaces other than horizontal.

The portion of the arm 11 extending perpendicularly from the base 10 is formed with an elongate female dovetail 1 9 and the portion of the arm 1 2 extending perpendicularly from the base 10 is provided with an elongate male dovetail 20. The dovetails 1 9 and 20 provide means for connecting adjacent members to one another. It will be appreciated, however, that other means of connection may be used.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The second embodiment of the member comprises a base 25 and a pair of resilient arms 26 and 27 extending from the base 25. A support member 28 extends from the centre of the base 25 towards the arms 27 and 26, the support member 28 having a web 29 extending perpendicularly from the base 25 and a pair of flanges 30 and 31 extending from the web 29. The ends of the flanges 30 and 31 are arranged to lie adjacent the arms 26 and 27 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 4, an article of the type having a base and a stem, in this example a wine glass having a base 32 and a stem 33 is conveniently supported by the member. The base 32 is slid between the ends of the flanges 30, 31 of the support member 28 and the arms 26 and 27 respectively. The base 25 may be secured to a surface in the way or ways described in relation to the first embodiment.

The advantage of these embodiments of the invention is that where glasses or other articles having a base and a stem are stored in places where movement can be caused, for example in boats or caravans, a firm friction grip on the base of the glass or other article under the elastic force of the arms of the member is provided. The glasses or other articles are thereby firmly positioned and will not fall from the member when the boat or vehicle is canted nor will adjacent glasses or other article rattle against one another or collide. Thus the significant problems associated with a conventional stprage system in which the base of a glass is simply slid into a slot so that the glass hangs upside down are overcome.

Claims

1. An elongate, extruded member for supporting one or more articles of the type having a base and a stem extending from the base, which member comprises a base and resilient arm means extending from the base for engaging the base of the or each article on the stem side thereof to urge the base of the or each article into frictional engagement with the base of the member.

2. A member as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the resilient arm means comprises a pair of spaced apart, resilient arms extending from the same side of the base and towards one another to provide a pair of spaced apart parallel mutually facing slits each formed by the base and an associated arm.

3. A member as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the base comprises two or more elongate support ribs suitable for engagement by the side of the base of the or each article away from the stem or stems.

4. A member as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the base comprises an elongate support between the arms and spaced apart from the base, a central web connecting the support to the base.

5. A member as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 comprising an elongate male engagement element on one arm and an elongate female engagement element on the other arm, the arrangement being such that the male element of one member is slidingly engageable with the female element of an adjacent member to secure the one member to the adjacent member with the bases of the two members lying in the same plane.

6. A member as claimed in Claim 5 in which the male and female elements are of dove tail cross-section.

7. An elongate extruded member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or in Figs 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.