BACKGROUND OF HE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel and useful device for holding an object .

The carrying of objects by a person has spawned the creation of numerous carrying items such as,, bags _, , cases, holsters, and the like. In most eases, such carrying or to ing items are grasped fay the hand or hands of the user, supported by the shoulder or shoulders of the user, tied to the user's torso, and the like, in addition, hooks or clips, such as Ca abi ee s may also be used to attach carrying items to persons and other supports, on a temporary basis.

In the past, many carrying and retaining devices have been devised to hold particular items. For example, United.

States Patent, 4,190,182 shows a hand carrier for ski poles

^• utilizing a griped member ^' that is connected by a hinge to a pair of clip holders for each of the ski poles.

United States Patent ? , 216, 788 shows a tool holder- utilizing a mounting portion that fits on a belt which, connects to a clip holding a measuring tape.

United States Patents 4,883,290, 7,267,254, and

7,806,263 describe clip attachments for a belt or the like that includes depending portions utilized to hold elongated objects such as poles, -containers , and the like,

United States Patents 4,693,303, 5,232,136, and 5,452,830 show clip holders that fit over a belt or a similar item and possessing a lower platform for supporting items such as, golf tees, tools, knifes, and the like.

United States Patent 5,571,228 teaches a holder for supporting a fishing rod which takes the form of a clip fitting to a belt and a pair of tabs that extend upwardly to support the fishing pole.

A device for holding objects that is versatile and may be used in a temporary or permanent manner would be a notable advance in the field of containers and packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful device for holding objects is herein provided.

The device of the present invention is intended to hold an object or objects to a support, be it mobile or stationary. One of the elements of the device takes the form of a clip which is engageable with a support. Such engagement takes place by the placement of the clip over the support or through such placement combined with a spring portion formed in the clip,

A base is also found in the present holding device and is connected to the clip. The base possesses a surface that faces outwardly from the base. First and second flanges extend from the base and are spaced or gapped from the base and include free ends that are spaced from one another. Thus, the first and second flanges take the form of a pair of flaps extending from the base .

A flexible sheath is also employed in the present device. Such flexible sheath is provided with at least first and second passageways for encompassing at least a portion of each of the first and second extended flanges. When in place around the first and second flanges, the flexible sheath occupies at least a portion of the gaps between the first and second flanges and the base. The object being carried by the device of the present invention is intended to be mounted, contacted or otherwise connected to the flexible sheath when such flexible sheath is in place on the first and second flanges. Moreover, the first and second passageways of the flexible sheath may form a continuous chamber within the flexible sheath.

In addition, the base may further be formed with first and second hooks. With respect to such aspect of the present invention, the flexible sheath would be fitted with first and second loops that may be flexible or resilient members. The first and second loops would engage the first and second hooks of the base, when the first and second flanges are encompassed in the first and second passageways of the sheath.

The clip may be further formed with a handgrip to allow the user to easily manipulate the device of the present invention. The handgrip may further be formed with an aperture to allow the hand of the user to extend through a portion of a clip, further easing the holding and maneuvering of the device of the present invention.

It may be apparent that a novel and useful device for holding an object to a support has been herein above described.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for holding an object to a support that is easily mounted to the support by the use of a clip which may be spring loaded .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding an object to a support that is capable of mounting a large variety of objects temporarily or permanently to the device of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding an object to a support which is relatively simple to manipulate in conjunction with a support.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding an object to a support that may be stationary or mobile.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding an object to a support that may be constructed using a minimal number of parts in the formation of such device of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding an object to a support that is adaptable for use with objects of considerable bulk and weight.

The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns specific features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG, 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the present invention with a broken away portion of the flexible sheath revealing a pair of flanges.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 - 2 of FIG.

1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the flexible sheath having end loops, shown in place on FIG, 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device of the present invention, without the flexible sheath of FIG. 3 and showing a support as being depicted in phantom.

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the device of the present invention with the spring action of the clip being illustrated in phantom.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which should be taken in conjunction with the above described drawings .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENTION

Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred

embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the prior delineated drawi gs.

The device, as a whole, as shown in the drawings is identified by reference character 10. Device 10 is intended for holding an object 12, represented in phantom on PIG. 3, to base support 14, represented by phantom on FIG. 1. Support 14 may take the form of any stationary or mobile item such as a wall, a rack, a trouser belt, a clothing flap, a steering wheel, a tool carrier, handle and the like. Likewise, object may be any of the items associated with support 14 such as tools, a bag or satchel an ammunition bag, a flashlight holster, a child's supply bag, and the like.

Device 10 includes as one of its elements a clip 16. Clip 16 may be formed of any sturdy materials such as, metal, plastic, composite and the like. The clip is formed with a first portion 18 that is connected by an intermediate portion 20 to a second portion 16 which is intended to extend over support 14. Second portion 22 may exhibit springiness due to the construction of clip 16 from resilient material such as metal, or plastic. FIG. 5 illustrates the springy movement of second portion 22 in relation to first portion 18 of clip 16, in this regard. Clip 16 is also formed with a grip surface 24 which may be a serpentine or serrated edge. Aperture 26 extends through clip 16 to allow the hand of the user to more easily position and manipulate device 10 and to allow clip 16 to be hung over a support 14.

Surfaces 28 and 30 of clip 16 may be curved to contour to the surface of support 14, which, in certain cases, may be the contour of a portion of the human anatomy.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be observed that device 10 is also constructed with a base 32 that is connected to or formed integrally with clip 16. Base 32 includes a surface or face 34 that is presented outwardly from clip 16.

Surface 34, again, may have a curved configuration akin to surface 28 of clip 16, similar to the surface of a round bin or round bucket. With reference to FIG. 4, it may be seen that base 32 terminates in hooks 36 and 38, the purpose of which will be discussed hereinafter.

Turning again to FIGS 1 and 4 , it may be apparent that device 10 also includes a first flange 36 and a second flange 38.

First and second flanges 36 and 38 extend from base 32 and form first and second gaps 40 and 42 relative to base 32. In

addition, first and second flanges 36 and 38 are provided with free ends 41 and 43.

Another element of device 10 takes the form of a flexible sheath 44, which is depicted in place on flanges 36 and 38 in FIG. 1 and apart from clip 16 and flanges 36 and 38 on FIG 3. Flexible sheath 44 may be formed of any flexible material such as cloth, rubber, mesh, and the like. Sheath 44 is provided with a first passageway 46 and a second passageway 48. As depicted in FIG. 2, passageway 46 extends completely through sheath 44 and is contiguous with passageway 48. Flexible sheath 44 is fitted upon first and second flanges 36 and 38 such that flange 36 is encompassed or lies within passageway 46, while flange 38 is encompassed or lies within passageway 48 of flexible sheath 44. In this configuration, flexible sheath 44 would occupy at least a portion of gaps 40 and 42 appearing between flanges 36 and 48 and base 32. In other words, sheath 44 occupies gap 42 between flange 38 and base 32 in a similar manner to that illustrated in FIG. 2 with respect to gap 40 located between flange 36 and base 32.

Flexible sheath 44 is also fashioned with loops 50 and

52 that may be formed of resilient material. As depicted in FIG. 3, loops 50 and 52 are constructed of rounded resilient cordage material that are fixed to flexible sheath 44 along sew lines 54 and 56, respectively. Loops 50 and 52 engage hooks 38 and 36, respectively, the anchoring sheath 44 relative to base 32, directional arrows 58 and 60. Such anchoring takes place when flanges 36 and 38 occupy passageways 46 and 48, respectively, of sheath 44. Loops 50 and 52 are depicted on FIG. 1 in-section, apart from sheath 44, for the sake of clarity. Again, referring to FIG. 3, the object 12 being supported by device 10 would connect or contact flexible sheath 44. Needless to say, such object 12 maybe slipped over or around sheath 44, or sewed or riveted thereto in a permanent fashion.

In operation, the user of device 10 would fasten or connect the same to a support 14, which may be a trouser belt, a steering wheel, a chair, a rack, tool handle, handle bar and the like, The object 12 being held by device 10 would be connected or placed over flexible sheath 44. In the case of a temporary connection of object 12 to flexible sheath 44, flexible sheath 44 would be connected to first and second flanges 36 and 38 by positioning of the same into first and second passageways 46 and 48 of flexible sheath 44. The following such placement first and second flanges 36 and 38 within flexible sheath 44, resilient loops 50 and 52 would be swung around base 32, directional arrows 58 and 60 on FIG. 3, to engage hooks 38 and 36, respectively. Thus, sheath 44 is firmly held to base 32 in order to carry object 12, which may take the form of a bag, holster, satchel, day pack, and the like.

While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.