WO2004086897A1

WO2004086897A1 - Holder device including magnetic means for sticks or equivalent articles

Info

Publication number: WO2004086897A1
Application number: PCT/FI2003/000911
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juhani Juuso
Original assignee: JUUSOMEDICAL Oy
Current assignee: JUUSOMEDICAL Oy
Priority date: 2003-04-04
Filing date: 2003-12-01
Publication date: 2004-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2005-10-04
Also published as: FI20031574A0; FI20031574A7; EP1613186B1; ATE439056T1; FI20031574L; EP1613186A1; DE60328828D1; AU2003304030A1

Abstract

A holder device for sticks or equivalent articles comprises a clip holder (15) including means (15a) for attaching it to a magnet holder (1) attachable to a stick or equivalent article (14), whereby the clip holder (15) may be used together with the magnet holder for suspending or supporting the stick or equivalent article mechanically on a suitable object (25). For that, the clip holder may include a special protruding member (17) which is, advantageously, provided with non-slip material (18).

Description

Holder device including magnetic means for sticks or equivalent articles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to a holding device for sticks or equivalent articles. The invention is especially related to this kind of holding device which uses a magnet holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Magnetic holding devices for sticks or equivalent articles are known from publications GB 2238173 and GB 2363980, for example. Solutions for suspending sticks or equivalent articles with magnetic holders to the clothing of a user or a plate counterpart canied by a user are known from publications FR 2765086 and FR 2655263.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to present a holding device for sticks or equivalent articles, which utilises a magnet holder and enhances especially the versatility of such holder device.

To achieve this object, a holding device for sticks and equivalent articles according to the invention, which holding device utilises a magnet holder, is characterised in that what is defined in the characterising part of claim 1. Various embodiments of the holding device according to the invention are defined in claims 2 to 7.

To achieve this object, another holding device for sticks and equivalent articles according to the invention, which holding device utilises a magnet holder, is characterised in that what is defined in the characterising part of claim 7. Various embodiments of the other holding device according to the invention are defined in claims 8 to 10. With the holding device of the invention, a stick or equivalent article, such as a crutch, walking stick, ski stick or walking pole, can be suspended or supported in an ordinary way to a suitable target or another stick by means of the magnet holder. With the magnet holder and a clip holder attached to it, it may also be suspended or supported mechanically on objects which have no counter surface for a magnet, such as clothes, pieces of furniture and other suitable objects. The clip holder can also be combined with a reflector.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention and some of it's embodiments are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figs. 1 to 3 represent an implementation of a magnet holder attachable to a stick as an end view, from below and from above, respectively; Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate attaching the magnet holder of Figs. 1 to 3 to a stick;

Figs. 7 and 8 present an embodiment of a clip holder attachable to the magnet holder of Figs. 1 to 3 from side and above, respectively;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a use of the clip holder together with the magnet holder; Fig. 11 illustrates another use of the clip holder together with a magnet holder; and

Figs. 12 to 14 represent some possible implementations of the clip holder included in the holding device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A frame 2 of a magnet holder 1 attachable to a stick is made of rubber or suitable durable and elastic plastic, for example. The length of the frame viewed from above can be e.g. 60 mm and the width of the middle part about 20 mm. Through the frame 2 extends a channel 3, in which an e.g. 50 mm long magnet is placed which has a cross section of e.g. 4 x 10 mm. On the outside of the magnet, where the magnetic attachment occurs, there is a thin wall 22 of the channel 3. The bottom side of the frame 2 is equipped with a friction surface 4, which is a surface with e.g. serration or other suitable pattern. Flanges 5 and 6 with recesses for attachment of corresponding sticker flaps 7 and 8 extend from the lower edges to both sides of the frame 2. The attachment (not shown) can be done with e.g. glue or stitching or in some other suitable manner. The sticker flaps 7 and 8 have corresponding sticker surfaces 9 and 10. With the friction surface 4 and the sticker flaps 7 and 8, the device can be fastened to a stick or other article that has a suitable pole-like part or extension around which the fastening can be done. The sticker flaps are advantageously made of normal inexpensive mechanically operating velcro materials.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the attaching of the magnet holder 1 to a stick 14. The frame 2 and flanges 5 and 6 are shaped so that they bend easily for example along the surface of the stick. The ridges of the friction surface 4 are pressed against the surface of the stick and the flaps 7 and 8 are strained tightly enough around the stick and fastened together with sticker surfaces 9 and 10. The ends of the channel 3 are closed with plugs 12 and 13, which are attached to the frame 2 with hot glue, for example. Different colours of plugs 12 and 13, for example, or other differences may indicate the polarity of the magnet 11.

The magnet holder may, of course, be used independently. Therefore, suitable targets can be equipped with a suitable small steel plate, for example, on which a stick or equivalent article can be suspended with the magnet holder. It can also be used to suspend the stick or other equivalent article on readily available suitable surfaces or objects, for example steel lockers, radiators, steel edgings and different kinds of trimmings. The clip holder 15 of Figs. 7 and 8 is as such a common clip bent of steel sheet and having two branches 15a and 15b, which are bent into a generally slim U-shape and to press at a certain point with suitable strength against each other. The branch 15a includes a straight plate part, which is meant to act as a counter surface for the magnet 11 of the magnet holder 1. The ends 16 and 17 of the branches 15a and 15b are bent suitably outwards, so that the clip holder is easier to attach to a suitable target. The end 17 of the branch 15b that is bent away from the magnet holder 1 is bent further outwards and also coated with anti-sliding material 18, which can be for example suitable silicone rubber. The clip holder is also equipped with reflecting film 19, for example a reflector sticker. In Figs. 9 and 10, one use of the clip holder together with the magnet holder is illustrated. The magnet holder 1 is attached to a crutch 30. The clip holder 15 is attached to the edge of a sweater pocket 31 of a crutch-using person 28 so that the response surface for the magnet holder and the reflecting film attached to it face outwards. The clip holder thus acts as a reflector while the person 28 is moving utilising the crutch. When needed or when willing to free hand 29 for other purposes, the person 28 can attach the crutch 30 to the clip holder 15 with the magnet holder 1.

Fig. 11 illustrates another use of the clip holder together with the magnet holder. The clip holder of Figs. 7 and 8 is attached to the magnet holder 1 attached to a stick 14. The stick 14 is set to rest against the edge 27 of a table top 25 so that it's supported against the table top surface 26 by the outward bent end 17 of the branch 15b of the clip holder, which is coated with anti-slide material 18.

Figs. 12 to 14 present some possible alternative implementations of the clip holder, in which the corresponding parts are referred with the same reference signs as in Figs. 7 and 8. For example, in Fig. 12 there is shown a clip holder 15 bent from steel sheet, which clip holder is otherwise like the clip holder of Figs. 7 and 8 but has a different shape. Clip holders 15 of Figs. 13 and 14 are made of plastic, for example, and thus have a thin steel plate 20 fastened with glue, for example, to the branch 15a for magnetic attachment. The reflecting film 19 is attached to the steel plate. To enhance the functionality of the clip holder in the embodiment of Fig. 13, there is a serrated surface 21 in the branch 15a against the straight surface 22 of the branch 15b. In the implementation of Fig. 14, the branches 15a and 15b have corrugated surfaces 23 and 24 fitted to each other.

The invention is not limited to aforementioned examples. Both the clip holder and the magnet holder can be implemented with many other structures and appearances. The invention may vary within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A holding device for sticks or equivalent articles, which holding device utilises a magnet holder, characterised in that it comprises as a combination a magnet holder (1), which includes means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) for attaching it to a stick or equivalent article (14, 30), and a clip holder (15), which includes means (15a, 20) for attaching it to the magnet holder (1), whereby the clip holder (15) may be used to suspend or support the stick or equivalent article mechanically on a suitable object (25).

2. A holding device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clip holder (15) includes a part (17) protruding outwards from the attaching means (15a, 20) for supporting or suspending the stick or equivalent article (14) on a suitable object (25).

3. A holding device according to claim 2, characterised in that the protruding part (17) is provided with anti-slip material (18).

4. A holding device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clip holder (15) includes a reflecting surface (19) for using it attached to clothing (31) on one hand for suspending a stick or equivalent article (3) on it with the magnet holder (1) or on the other hand as a reflector.

5. A holding device according to claim 1, characterised in that the magnet holder (1) comprises a frame (2) made of flexible material for placing the magnet (11) into the frame and means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) for attaching the frame to the stick or equivalent article (14).

6. A holding device according to claim 5, characterised in that the means for attaching the frame (2) include a friction surface (4) to be positioned against the stick or equivalent article (14) and sticker flaps (7, 8).

7. A holding device for sticks or equivalent articles, which holding device utilises a magnet holder, characterised in that it comprises a clip holder (15), which includes means (15a, 20) for attaching it to a magnet holder (1) attachable to a stick or equivalent article (14, 30), whereby the clip holder (15) may be used together with the magnet holder to suspend or support the stick or equivalent article mechanically on a suitable object (15, 25).

8. A holding device according to claim 7, characterised in that the clip holder (15) includes a part (17) protruding outwards from the attaching means (15a, 20) for supporting or suspending the stick or equivalent article (14) on a suitable object (25).

9. A holding device according to claim 2 characterised in that the protruding part (17) is provided with anti-slip material (18).

10. A holding device according to claim 7 characterised in that the clip holder (15) includes a reflecting surface (19) for using it attached to clothing (31) on one hand for suspending a stick or equivalent article (3) on it with the magnet holder (1) or on the other hand as a reflector.