Elastomeric band for removably attaching a bottle to a vertical surface
View Patent ↗An apparatus comprises an elongate band and a magnet assembly. The elongate band is formed of an elastomer and defines a back surface, a front surface, a loop at a first end, a hook at a second end, and an enclosure. The magnet assembly is at least partially enclosed within the enclosure. The apparatus provides a convenient means by which to removably attach a bottle to a vertical surface. The bottle may thereby be stored out-of-the-way while not in use, but easily accessed.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an elongate band formed of a single, continuous elastomeric element, and defining:
a back surface;
a front surface;
a loop at a first end;
a hook at a second end defining an angled projection forming an oblique angle with respect to the back surface and an at least partially rounded filler portion filling a portion of a region between the front surface and the angled projection;
an enclosure protruding from the front surface; and
an accessory ring spanning between two separated locations on the front surface; and
a magnet assembly at least partially enclosed within the enclosure;
wherein the apparatus is manually positionable such that the loop is captured by the hook with a section of the loop abutting the at least partially rounded filler portion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate band is manually stretchable to at least 150 percent of its relaxed length.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate band comprises silicone.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the loop is parallel to the back surface with the apparatus laid flat.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises:
a metallic cup; and
a magnet positioned in the metallic cup.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly defines a channel passing therethrough.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the channel is filled by a portion of the elongate band.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly is entirely encapsulated within the enclosure.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the magnet assembly emits a magnetic field; and
at least a portion of the magnetic field is oriented away from the front surface with the apparatus laid flat.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate band further defines a second accessory ring.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a karabiner attached to the accessory ring.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate band further defines a ball connector, the ball connector defining:
a pedestal; and
a spherical member disposed on the pedestal.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the pedestal is cylindrical with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the spherical member.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a towel with a loop encircling the pedestal.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate band is formed of two elastomeric portions characterized by different hardnesses.
16. An apparatus comprising:
a bottle with a sidewall;
an elongate band formed of an elastomer and defining:
a back surface;
a front surface;
a loop at a first end;
a hook at a second end defining an angled projection forming an oblique angle with respect to the back surface and an at least partially rounded filler portion filling a portion of a region between the front surface and the angled projection;
an enclosure protruding from the front surface; and
an accessory ring spanning between two separated locations on the front surface; and
a magnet assembly at least partially enclosed within the enclosure;
wherein:
the elongate band encircles the bottle with the back surface positioned against the sidewall;
the loop is captured by the hook with a section of the loop abutting the at least partially rounded filler portion; and
the elongate band is stretched in length from a relaxed state.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the elongate band is operative to solely support the bottle with the magnet assembly magnetically fixated to a vertical surface.
18. A method comprising the steps of:
receiving a bottle with a sidewall;
receiving an apparatus comprising:
an elongate band formed from an elastomer and defining:
a back surface;
a front surface;
a loop at a first end;
a hook at a second end defining an angled projection forming an oblique angle the respect to the back surface and an at least partially rounded filler portion filling a portion of a region between the front surface and the angled projection;
an enclosure protruding from the front surface; and
an accessory ring spanning between two separated locations on the front surface; and
a magnet assembly at least partially enclosed within the enclosure;
causing the elongate band to encircle the bottle with the back surface positioned against the sidewall such that the loop is captured by the hook with a section of the loop abutting the at least partially rounded filler portion and the elongate band is stretched in length from a relaxed state; and
magnetically coupling the magnet assembly to a vertical surface to cause the bottle to be solely supported by the elongate band.