Quick connect and release holder

Abstract

An inexpensive, durable, clamping-action type mountable holder and area organizer for securing a relatively wide range and variety of objects, particularly open- and close-end containers, including a broad range of Dim. cans, and a method of lockingly and stably holding desired objects that possess opposing curved and/or straight lipped edges, in convenient locations for ready access, whereby the object is secured in place with a single unidirectional pushing force applied to the object itself, but is instantly releasable with a minimum of force and movement/manipulation via a second low-magnitude unidirectional pushing force exerted on the object so as to effect a tipping action of the object relative to the holder. Single wire and single sheet metal embodiments are disclosed, and adjustability of each of such embodiments is provided to extend the range of object sizes accommodated by the holder.

1 . A mountable holder operative on objects having either or both curved or straight opposing lipped edges, comprising 
 means for securing the object in a locked first position responsive to application of a single substantially unidirectional pushing first force upon the object, and    means for effecting release of the object from the holder responsive to application of a single substantially unidirectional pushing second force upon a portion of the object that is distal from a center portion of the holder.    
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is elongated with a pair of operative ends and a center portion.  
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 2 , wherein said first force is substantially transverse to a longitudinal dimension of the holder.  
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 3 , wherein said second force is substantially transverse to a longitudinal dimension of the holder.  
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 2 , wherein said means for effecting release are structured to convert said second force to a tipping of the object being released relative to the longitudinal dimension of the holder.  
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 2 , wherein the respective portions of the holder between the ends and center portion are substantially symmetrical.  
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is shelfless.  
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 2 , wherein the holder in its unmounted state constitutes a handle to the object which is secured thereto.  
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 2 , including a center part having means by which the holder may be mounted, said center part defining a first plane of the holder.  
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 9 , wherein the center part is integral with the remainder of the holder.  
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 9 , wherein the respective portions of the holder between the ends and the center part define at least one second plane predeterminably angled relative to said first plane.  
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 11  wherein the respective portions of the holder to either side of the center part are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane assumed thereby relative to the plane of said center part.  
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 11 , wherein said securing means and said release-effecting means comprise a wire of predetermined material, length, cross-section and tensile strength, arranged in a substantially V shape, the center part of which defines said first plane, the open and closed ends of the V structure being bent toward the center part of the V to form opposing gripping ears.  
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 13 , wherein the portions of said wire extending from the center part of the V respectively define at least said second plane.  
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein said center part includes means for securely positioning the center portion of tie legs of die V relative to each other.  
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the closed end of the V is predeterminably severed to configure the holder into a pair of wires substantially symmetrically arranged relative to the center part, with a pair of gripping ears deployed at both ends of the holder.  
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 13 , wherein the portions of the legs of the V structure extending from the center part to the wire ends are predeterminably adjustably positionable relative to one another to accommodate a relatively wide range of object sizes.  
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 11 , wherein the holder is constructed of a unitary piece of material.  
     
     
         19 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein the holder is constructed of a material capable of elastic memory, from the class of suitable plastic and metal, including sheet metal.  
     
     
         20 . The holder of  claim 19 , wherein one end portion of the holder defines a pair of corners each of which is predeterminably bent angularly toward the center part relative to the plane defined by said one end portion and relative to one another, to form a pair of gripping ears.  
     
     
         21 . The holder of  claim 20 , wherein the holder is arrangeable substantially vertically and said pair of gripping ears is proximate the lower end of the holder.  
     
     
         22 . The holder of  claim 21 , wherein the upper end of the holder is bent relative to the plane defined by a portion of the holder above said center part and toward said center part, to form at least a third gripping ear.  
     
     
         23 . The holder of  claim 20 , wherein the portions of the holder to either side of said center part are symmetrical with one another, thereby defining a pair of gripping ears proximate each end of the holder.  
     
     
         24 . The holder of  claim 19 , wherein the unitary piece of material is substantially centrally severed, and said central part includes means for adjusting the separation distance between the opposing ends of the holder to accommodate a relatively wide range of object sizes.  
     
     
         25 . The holder of  claim 24 , wherein said central part includes means for adjusting the either or both of the ends of the holder relative to said center part to accommodate a relatively wide range of object sizes.  
     
     
         26 . The holder of  claim 25 , wherein said adjustment means includes means for releasably fixing the position of said ends relative to one another.  
     
     
         27 . The holder of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said pieces of the holder defining an end thereof is replacable with a piece of comparable design dimensioned to accommodate object sizes different from that associated with the replaced piece.  
     
     
         28 . The holder of  claim 27 , wherein said holder includes a plurality of replaceable pieces.  
     
     
         29 . A method of releasably securing to a holder an object of predetermined shape, comprising 
 the holder assuming an initial configuration,    applying the object to be secured to the holder whereby the holder is temporarily elastically deformed by a unidirectional low-magnitude pushing force exerted on the object,    relaxing the force applied to the holder by removing the force exerted upon the object to be held, thereby allowing the holder to substantially reassume said initial configuration and releasably secure the object to the holder,    effecting release of the object from the holder by applying a unidirectional low-magnitude pushing force to a portion of the object which is distal from the central portion of the object and which force is substantially transverse to a plane defined by the holder, thereby causing a tipping of the object relative to the holder.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the holder is elongated and the force effecting release of the object is applied to the object proximate to either end of the holder.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the center part of the holder defiles a first plane, and the object is releasably locked to the holder such that the object is non-releasable by application of pulling forces nor forces having a substantial component parallel to said first plane.