US20040149877A1 - Spray bottle hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

An article attaches to a spray bottle, allowing the bottle to be suspended from a shelf, ironing board, or the like. The article preferably further includes an ergonomic indent enabling the user to comfortably hold the article connected to a spray bottle in a comfortable and convenience manner. The preferred embodiment includes a lower end with an opening physically configured to receive the neck of a spray bottle, and an upper end including a hook-shaped lip. The upper end may optionally include a friction-enhancing element. In terms of construction, the article is preferably made from a molded piece of plastic or other polymeric material. One advantage of the design is that when the upper lip is hung on an ironing board, the thickness of the article is sufficiently low in profile that materials to be ironed may be placed directly over the upper lip, thereby affording convenient ironing while ready access to the spray bottle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates generally to spray bottles and, in particular, to a holder enabling a spray bottle to be hung from an ironing board or other surface.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• It is common to use a spray bottle while ironing, for example, to dampen garments and provide a more relaxed fabric. Commercially available spray bottles or “spritzer” bottles are normally used for this purpose. They may be filled with water or other liquids to improve the ironing process.[0002]
• Unfortunately, the use of such spray bottles can prove to be an inconvenience. They cannot be set directly on top of an, ironing board, for example, since they get in the way when larger pieces of fabric need to be ironed. Accordingly, various devices and “caddies” have been developed to accommodate spray bottles and other implements used while ironing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,921 discloses a caddy for attachment to an ironing board for holding various implements as well as spray containers for starch or the like. The article comprises a container having open multiple compartments and one upstanding wall which abuts against the outer face of the depending flange of the ironing board, and a spring biased clip pivotally attached to the back side of the upstanding wall with the upper end of the clip being biased against the inner wall of said flange whereby the caddy depends from said flange adjacent said ironing board. A pin cushion is secured to a portion of the outer face of the compartment and a loop for holding scissors is pivotally secured to another portion of the outer face of the compartment.[0003]
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,157 describes an apparatus which mounts on an ironing board for guiding a cord of an iron and providing a holder for an article. The article has a clamp section for releasably securing the apparatus to the ironing board. A cord support is pivotably attached to the clamp for supporting the electrical cord of the electrical appliance above the ironing board. An article holder is mounted to the clamp for holding an article. An electrical receptacle is carried by the clamp for receiving a plug of the electrical cord of the iron. In a preferred embodiment, the detachable article holder 66 has a lower circular hoop 68 and a pair of support bars 70. The support bars 70 are secured to the lower circular hoop 68 and form chords of the circle defined by hoop 68, thereby defining a base for retaining an article such as a can of starch, a spray bottle, a beverage container, or a remote control. The article holder 66 also has an upper hoop 72.[0004]
• An ironing board caddy for stowing ironing supplies and accessories is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,417. The caddy removably attaches to an ironing board so that the supplies and accessories are kept conveniently to hand during clothes ironing. The ironing board caddy is conveniently a wire form construction with a hanging member adapted to serve three functions: first, it is shaped to fit over the end of the ironing board to serve as a means of attachment of the caddy to the ironing board; second, it serves as a carrying handle when it is being moved from the ironing board to a storage place and vice versa; and.finally, it serves as a wall hanger when the caddy is stored between uses. The caddy also has a basket member suspended from the hanging member to receive ironing supplies and accessories such as sprays, water bottles, and the like.[0005]
• While there are designs which incorporate a hook into a spray-can attachment, these applications are very limited. U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,185, for example, is directed to a safety exhaust valve equipped spray gun. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of this patent depict an embodiment comprising a spray gun 10, a[0006]spray bottle cover 11, a bottle body 12, and a safety exhaust valve 13, wherein the spray gun 10,spray bottle cover 11 and bottle body 12 are provided in one solid unit. The spray gun comprises a handle 14 having an air inlet 15 provided at the upper side, a hanger 16 provided at the top, a nozzle 17 provided at the other side, and a trigger 18 provided below the hanger 16 to control the opening or closing of the nozzle 17 and the discharge hole 25.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• This invention resides in an article that attaches to a spray bottle, allowing the bottle to be suspended from a shelf, ironing board, or the like. The article preferably further includes an ergonomic indent enabling the user to comfortably hold the article connected to a spray bottle in a comfortable and convenience manner. The preferred embodiment includes a lower end with an opening physically configured to receive the neck of a spray bottle, and an upper end including a hook-shaped lip. The upper end may optionally include a friction-enhancing element. In terms of construction, the article is preferably made from a molded piece of plastic or other polymeric material. One advantage of the design is that when the upper lip is hung on an ironing board, the thickness of the article is sufficiently low in profile that materials to be ironed may be placed directly over the upper lip, thereby affording convenient ironing while ready access to the spray bottle.[0007]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention along with various engineering-type depictions;[0008]
• FIG. 2 illustrates a model of the preferred embodiment seen from different perspectives;[0009]
• FIG. 3 is a drawing which depicts a preferred embodiment being held by a user; and[0010]
• FIG. 4 is a drawing which shows the way in the preferred embodiment may hold spray bottle from a shelf, ledge, ironing board or other surface.[0011]
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• FIG. 1 provides various views of a preferred embodiment of the invention, including a perspective view shown generally at[0012]100. Broadly, the article includes a lower end including anopening102 physically configured for the neck of a spray bottle, and an upper end including alip104 enabling the bottle to hang from a surface, as best seen in FIG. 4. Theupper end104 may optionally include an opening106 to receive a rubber stopper (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4). The article further includes aportion110 between the lower and upper portions, preferably including anergonomic indent112 enabling the user to comfortably hold the article connected to a spray bottle in a comfortable and convenience manner, as shown in FIG. 3.
• In terms of construction, the article is preferably made from a molded piece of plastic or other polymeric material. One advantage of the design is that when the[0013]upper lip104 is hung on an ironing board, the thickness of the article is sufficiently low in profile that materials to be ironed may be placed directly over the upper lip, thereby affording convenient ironing while ready access to the spray bottle. It should be understood, however, that the article is not limited to hanging on an ironing board, since the distance between the lower portion of theupper lip104 and the top of the spray bottle when connected is large enough to accommodate shelves, ledges, and various other surfaces.

Claims (5)

I claim:

1. An article enabling a spray bottle to be suspended from an ironing board or other surface, the spray bottle including a neck portion to which a manually operated spray head attaches, the spray head having an upper extent and a forward, manually operated trigger, the article comprising:

a shaped body having a lower end that engages with the spray bottle and an upper lip, such that when the lip is positioned on a surface, the spray bottle hangs therefrom.

2. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the lower end of the body includes an opening that engages with the neck of the bottle.

3. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the body includes a curved back surface opposed to the trigger, enabling a user to comfortably hold and operate the spray bottle with the article attached thereto.

4. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the distance between the upper lip and the upper extent of the spray head is sufficiently spaced apart to enable the spray bottle to be hung from a variety of surfaces including ironing boards, shelves, and ledges.

5. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the upper lip includes a surface or feature to enhance friction or holding capability.

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