Frictional holding pad
View Patent ↗A frictional holding pad for removably attaching items, such as a cell phone, to a surface, such as a dash, to allow storage of items on the pad to prevent the items from shifting or sliding due to the movement of the support surface. A bottom surface of the pad is tacky to cling to the surface and a top surface is tacky to cling to the item. A lowermost contact surface of the pad can have a greater surface area than an uppermost contact surface. Indicia can be formed on the pad. The pad can be translucent or transparent. The pad can include an expanded vinyl material or a polyurethane material.
1. A frictional holding device in combination with a dashboard or console of a vehicle and receives and secures an item thereon, the combination comprising:
(a) a dashboard or console of a vehicle;
(b) a pad having a bottom disposed on the dashboard or console of the vehicle, and a top;
(c) the top having a contoured top surface extending over a majority of the top;
(d) the top surface including a plurality of protrusions or indentations;
(e) the bottom having a bottom surface smoother than the top surface and configured to contact and frictionally cling to the vehicle surface; and
(f) an item, removably disposed on the top surface of the pad, the item being selected from the group consisting of: a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a writing instrument, a pen, a pencil, sunglasses, eye glasses, a global positioning system, a radio, a two-way radio, a citizens band radio, a walkie-talkie, a camera, a video recorder, a cassette player/recorder, a mini-cassette recorder, a DVD player, a mini-disk player, and a portable television.
2. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the contoured top surface has an uppermost surface area less than a lowermost surface area of the bottom.
3. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pad is bendable and includes a flexible material configured to conform the pad to changes in the vehicle surface.
4. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the pad is tacky; and wherein the top surface is less tacky than the bottom surface.
5. A device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
indicia, formed on the top surface of the pad, the indicia being selected from the group consisting of: a logo, an advertisement, an instruction, a promotion, a company name, and a product name.
6. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the top surface includes at least two sections, including a first section that is substantially flat and has indicia thereon, and a second section that is contoured and configured to receive the item thereon.
7. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pad includes an expanded vinyl material.
8. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pad includes a polyurethane material.
9. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pad is at least translucent.
10. A device in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising indicia, formed on the bottom surface of the pad, and visible through the pad.
11. A method for releasably securing an item on a dashboard or console of a vehicle without marring or altering the dashboard or console of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
a) placing a frictional holding pad on the dashboard or console of the vehicle, the frictional holding pad having:
a contoured top surface having a plurality of indentations and protrusions and extending over a majority of the frictional holding pad with an uppermost contact surface;
a lowermost contact surface contacting and frictionally clinging to the dashboard or console of the vehicle without marring or altering the dashboard or console of the vehicle;
a bottom of the pad being smoother than the top surface;
the lowermost contact surface having a greater surface area than the uppermost contact surface; and
b) placing the item on the uppermost contact surface of the contoured top surface of the frictional holding pad, the uppermost contact surface of the frictional holding pad frictionally clinging to the item; and
c) removing the item from the uppermost contact surface of the frictional holding pad while the frictional holding pad remains on the dashboard or console of the vehicle; and
d) the item being selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, sun glasses, eye glasses, a global positioning system, a two-way radio, a personal digital assistant, a writing instrument, a citizens band radio, a walkie-talkie, a camera, a video camera, a video recorder, a CD player, a DVD player, a portable television, and a portable radio.
12. A method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
operating the vehicle such that the vehicle surface moves, with the item secured to and moving with the dashboard or console of the vehicle by the frictional holding pad.
13. A method accordance with claim 11 , wherein the lowermost contact surface of the frictional holding pad clings to the dashboard or console of the vehicle more than the uppermost contact surface of the frictional holding pad clings to the item.
14. A method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the step of placing the frictional holding pad on the dashboard or console of the vehicle further comprises the step of:
bending the frictional holding pad to conform the frictional folding pad to changes in the dashboard or console of the vehicle, the frictional holding pad including a flexible material.
15. A method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
removing a backing layer from the lowermost contact surface of the frictional holding pad prior to placing the frictional holding pad on the dashboard or console of the vehicle.
16. A method for releasably securing an item on a dashboard or console of a vehicle without marring or altering the dashboard or console of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
a) placing a frictional holding pad on the dashboard or console of the vehicle, the frictional holding pad including at least a portion that is at least translucent, the frictional holding pad having an upper surface having a plurality of indentations and protrusions, and a bottom surface frictionally clinging to the dashboard or console of the vehicle without marring or altering the dashboard or console of the vehicle;
b) placing an item on the upper surface of the frictional holding pad, the upper surface of the frictional holding pad frictionally clinging to the item; and
c) removing the item from the upper surface of the frictional holding pad while the frictional holding pad remains on the dashboard or console of the vehicle; and
d) the item being selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, sun glasses, eye glasses, a global positioning system, a two-way radio, a personal digital assistant, a writing instrument, a citizens band radio, a walkie-talkie, a camera, a video camera, a video recorder, a CD player, a DVD player, a portable television, and a portable radio.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the step of placing the frictional holding pad further includes placing a frictional holding pad with a contoured top surface with an uppermost contact surface and a lowermost contact surface, the lowermost contact surface having a greater surface area than the uppermost contact surface.
18. A method in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
viewing the dashboard or console of the vehicle through the at least a portion of the frictional holding pad that is at least translucent.
19. A method in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
operating a vehicle such that the dashboard or console of the vehicle moves, with the item secured to and moving with the dashboard or console of the vehicle by the frictional holding pad.
20. A method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the bottom surface of the frictional holding pad clings to the dashboard or console of the vehicle more than the upper surface of the frictional holding pad clings to the item.
21. A method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the step of placing the frictional holding pad on the dashboard or console of the vehicle further comprises the step of:
bending the frictional holding pad to conform the frictional folding pad to changes in the dashboard or console of the vehicle, the frictional holding pad including a flexible material.
22. A method in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
removing a backing layer from the bottom surface of the frictional holding pad prior to placing the frictional holding pad on the dashboard or console of the vehicle.
23. A frictional holding device in combination with a dashboard or console of a vehicle and receives and secures an item thereon, the combination comprising:
(a) a dashboard or console of a vehicle;
(b) a pad having a bottom disposed on the dashboard or console of the vehicle, and a top;
(c) the top having a contoured top surface including a plurality of indentations or protrusions; and
(d) at least a portion of the pad being at least translucent; and
(e) an item, removably disposed on the top surface of the pad, the item being selected from the group consisting of: a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a writing instrument, a pen, a pencil, sunglasses, eye glasses, a global positioning system, a radio, a two-way radio, a citizens band radio, a walkie-talkie, a camera, a video recorder, a cassette player/recorder, a mini-cassette recorder, a DVD player, a mini-disk player, and a portable television.
24. A device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein the contoured top surface extends across a majority of the top.
25. A frictional holding device in combination on a dashboard or console of a vehicle and receives and secures an item thereon, the combination comprising:
a) a dashboard or console of a vehicle;
b) a pad having a bottom disposed on the dashboard or console of the vehicle, and a top configured to removably receive the item thereon;
c) the top having a contoured top surface extending over a majority of the top configured to contact and frictionally cling to the item;
d) the top surface including a plurality of protrusions or indentations;
e) the bottom having a bottom surface smoother than the top surface contacting and frictionally clinging to the dashboard or console of the vehicle; and
f) the item is removably secured to the top surface of the pad.
26. A device in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the contoured top surface has an uppermost surface area less than a lowermost surface area of the bottom.
27. A device in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the pad is bendable and includes a flexible material configured to conform the pad to changes in the dashboard or console of the vehicle.
28. A device in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the bottom surface of the pad is tacky; and wherein the top surface is less tacky than the bottom surface.
29. A device in accordance with claim 25 , further comprising:
indicia, formed on the top surface of the pad, the indicia being selected from the group consisting of: a logo, an advertisement, an instruction, a promotion, a company name, and a product name.
30. A device in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the top surface includes at least two sections, including a first section that is substantially flat and has indicia thereon, and a second section that is contoured and configured to receive the item thereon.
31. A device in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the pad includes an expanded vinyl material.
32. A device in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the pad includes a polyurethane material.
33. A device in accordance with claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the pad is at least translucent.
34. A device in accordance with claim 33 , further comprising indicia, formed on the bottom surface of the pad, and visible through the pad.
35. A device in accordance with claim 25 , further comprising:
an item, removably disposed on the top surface of the pad, the item being selected from the group consisting of: a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a writing instrument, a pen, a pencil, sunglasses, eye glasses, a global positioning system, a radio, a two-way radio, a citizens band radio, a walkie-talkie, a camera, a video recorder, a cassette player/recorder, a mini-cassette recorder, a DVD player, a mini-disk player, and a portable television.
36. A frictional holding device in combination a dashboard or console of a vehicle and receives and secures an item thereon, the combination comprising:
a) a dashboard or console of a vehicle;
b) a pad having a bottom disposed on the dashboard or console of the vehicle, and a top configured to removably receive the item thereon;
c) the top having a contoured top surface configured to contact and frictionally cling to the item, and including a plurality of indentations or protrusions; and
d) at least a portion of the pad being at least translucent; and
e) the item is removably secured to the top surface of the pad.
37. A device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein the contoured top surface has an uppermost surface area less than a lowermost surface area of the bottom.
38. A device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein the pad is bendable and includes a flexible material configured to conform the pad to changes in the dashboard or console of the vehicle.
39. A device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein the bottom surface of the pad is tacky; and wherein the top surface is less tacky than the bottom surface.
40. A device in accordance with claim 36 , further comprising:
indicia, formed on the top surface of the pad, the indicia being selected from the group consisting of: a logo, an advertisement, an instruction, a promotion, a company name, and a product name.
41. A device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein the top surface includes at least two sections, including a first section that is substantially flat and has indicia thereon, and a second section that is contoured and configured to receive the item thereon.
42. A device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein the pad includes an expanded vinyl material.
43. A device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein the pad includes a polyurethane material.
44. A device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of the pad is at least translucent.
45. A device in accordance with claim 44 , further comprising indicia, formed on the bottom surface of the pad, and visible through the pad.
46. A device in accordance with claim 36 , further comprising:
an item, removably disposed on the top surface of the pad, the item being selected from the group consisting of: a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a writing instrument, a pen, a pencil, sunglasses, eye glasses, a global positioning system, a radio, a two-way radio, a citizens band radio, a walkie-talkie, a camera, a video recorder, a cassette player/recorder, a mini-cassette recorder, a DVD player, a mini-disk player, and a portable television.