Mantel hook
A hook for holding objects under a shelf or mantel has a body configured so that when the hook is positioned for holding an object under a shelf or mantel, a mounting end will be adjacent the top surface of the shelf and the opposite end will be under the bottom surface of the shelf. A resilient gripper body is attached to the mounting end of the hook body. The gripper body has a curved surface which is positioned for engagement with the top surface of the shelf. When the hook is placed on the top surface and no load is on the hook, a first portion of the curved surfaced will be on the top surface of the shelf and a second portion of the curved surface will be spaced away from the top surface of the shelf. As increasing loads are placed on the hook, the shape of the curved surface will change increasing the contact area between the gripper body and the top surface of the shelf.
1. A hook for holding an object under a shelf, the hook comprising:
a rigid elongated body having a mounting end and a supporting end, the body configured so that when the hook is positioned for holding an object under a shelf having a top surface and a bottom surface, the mounting end will be adjacent the top surface of the shelf and the supporting end will be under the bottom surface of the shelf and
a resilient gripper body having a bore through which to the mounting end of the elongated body passes, the gripper body having a curved planar surface which is positioned for engagement with the top surface of the shelf, such that when the hook is placed on the top surface and no load is on the supporting end of the hook body the bore will be substantially parallel to the top surface, a first portion of the curved planar surface having a first area will be on the top surface of the shelf and a second portion of the curved planar surface having a second area will be spaced away from the top surface of the shelf and such that as increasing loads are placed on the supporting end of the hook, the shape of the curved planar surface will change with the first surface area increasing and the second surface area decreasing.
2. The hook of claim 1 wherein the elongated body has a curved intermediate portion extending between the mounting end and the supporting end.
3. The hook of claim 1 wherein the gripper body is comprised of a plurality of sides connected to form a polygon, the curved planar surface being on one side, and a web attached to and extending from the sides.
4. The hook of claim 3 wherein the gripper body has three sides.
5. The hook of claim 3 wherein the sides have a width and the web has a thickness less than the width of the sides.
6. The hook of claim 1 wherein the mounting end is able to rotate within the bore.
7. The hook of claim 1 wherein the gripper body is polyvinyl chloride.
8. The hook of claim 1 wherein the elongated body is polycarbonate.
9. The hook of claim 1 wherein the gripper body has an air filled cavity positioned so that the cavity will compress when a selected load is placed on the supporting end of the hook.
10. The hook of claim 9 wherein the gripper body has a channel connected to the air filled cavity which enables air to escape from the cavity when a selected load is placed on the supporting end of the hook.
11. The hook of claim 1 wherein the gripper body has a plurality of projections and portions of the projections form portions of the curved surface.
12. The hook of claim 1 wherein the curved surface of the gripper body is comprised of a plurality of projections which flex as increasing loads are placed on the supporting end of the elongated body.