US5232137A — Apparatus for carrying a spray can

Claim 1

Independent Claim 318 words

Apparatus for carrying a spray can, said spray can having a cylindrical side wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, and a spray valve element projecting from said second end wall, said apparatus comprising: an elongated support element; a receptacle defining an interior and having an upper rim engageable by said spray can for releasably securing said spray can to said receptacle with the spray valve element positioned in said receptacle interior; first attachment means for releasably attaching said receptacle to said elongated support element at a first predetermined location on said elongated support element; spray can retention means; and second attachment means for releasably attaching said spray can retention means to said elongated support element at a second predetermined location on said elongated support element spaced from said first predetermined location, said spray can retention means when releasably attached to said elongated support element at said second predetermined location being operatively associated with said receptacle when said receptacle is attached to said elongated support element at said first predetermined location to releasably retain said spray can in a generally vertical condition with the spray can side wall adjacent to said elongated support element and positioned above said rim and the spray valve disposed downwardly and within the interior of said receptacle, each of said first and second attachment means including a flexible lock element connected to said elongated support element and having an abutment surface, said abutment surfaces engageable with said receptacle and said spray can retention means to prevent movement of said receptacle and said spray can retention means relative to said elongated support element when said lock elements are in a first, unflexed condition and disengagable from said receptacle and said spray can retention means to allow movement of said receptacle and said spray can retention means relative to said elongated support element when said lock elements are in a second, flexed condition.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 318 words

Apparatus for carrying a spray can, said spray can having a cylindrical side wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, and a spray valve element projecting from said second end wall, said apparatus comprising: an elongated support element; a receptacle defining an interior and having an upper rim engageable by said spray can for releasably securing said spray can to said receptacle with the spray valve element positioned in said receptacle interior; first attachment means for releasably attaching said receptacle to said elongated support element at a first predetermined location on said elongated support element; spray can retention means; and second attachment means for releasably attaching said spray can retention means to said elongated support element at a second predetermined location on said elongated support element spaced from said first predetermined location, said spray can retention means when releasably attached to said elongated support element at said second predetermined location being operatively associated with said receptacle when said receptacle is attached to said elongated support element at said first predetermined location to releasably retain said spray can in a generally vertical condition with the spray can side wall adjacent to said elongated support element and positioned above said rim and the spray valve disposed downwardly and within the interior of said receptacle, each of said first and second attachment means including a flexible lock element connected to said elongated support element and having an abutment surface, said abutment surfaces engageable with said receptacle and said spray can retention means to prevent movement of said receptacle and said spray can retention means relative to said elongated support element when said lock elements are in a first, unflexed condition and disengagable from said receptacle and said spray can retention means to allow movement of said receptacle and said spray can retention means relative to said elongated support element when said lock elements are in a second, flexed condition.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 77 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said flexible lock elements includes a movable, enlarged distal end defining said abutment surface, each said movable, enlarged distal end further defining a cam surface leading to said abutment surface, said flexible lock element cam surfaces being engageable by said receptacle and said spray can retention means to flex said lock elements during installation of said receptacle and said spray can retention means on said elongated support element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 59 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 additionally comprising guide means connected to each of said receptacle and said spray can retention means slidably engageable with said elongated support element and cooperable with said elongated support element to maintain said retention means above said receptacle and said retention means and said receptacle against pivotal movement relative to said elongated support element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexible lock elements are integral with said elongated support element.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 65 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of spaced support arms affixed to said elongated support element, said elongated support element having a back side and said spaced support arms extending downwardly in a plane offset from and generally parallel to said back side whereby said apparatus may depend from an object positioned between said back side and said spaced support arms.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a first stop element is connected to said receptacle to engage said elongated support element and prevent upward movement of said receptacle relative thereto when said receptacle is at said first predetermined location.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a second stop element is connected to said elongated support element to engage and prevent upward movement of said spray can retention means relative to said elongated support element when said receptacle is at said second predetermined location.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said spray can retention means includes a spray can retention member having a pair of resilient arms with spaced distal ends, said arms frictionally engaging said spray can during retention thereof by said arms.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 78 words

The apparatus according to claim 8 including a plurality of spray can retention members for selective and interchangeable releasable attachment to said elongated support element, each spray can retention member of said plurality of spray can retention members having arms which differ from the arms of the other of said plurality of spray can retention members whereby a spray can may be applied to or removed from said apparatus from different locations relative to said elongated support element.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-08-02	1997-02-01	1997-08-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-08-02	2001-02-01	2001-08-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-08-02	2005-02-01	2005-08-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for carrying a spray can

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