Article holder

Abstract

An article holder comprising a rigid base and a thick layer of slightly resilient, set material on the base. The layer has impressions extending inwardly from the top surface of the layer toward the base, each impression formed, before the material sets, by the article to be stored in the impression. A method for making an article holder comprising providing a rigid base and providing a thick, substantially uniform, layer of impressionable, settable, material on the base. Each article to be stored on the holder is then pressed into the layer toward the base to form an impression of the article in the layer. The material is then allowed to set to provide a slightly resilient layer of material on the base with permanent impressions for receiving the articles.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An article holder comprising a rigid base and a thick layer of slightly resilient, set material on the base, the layer having impressions extending inwardly from the top surface of the layer toward the base, each impression formed, before the material sets, by at least the bottom portion of the article to be stored in the impression.  
     
     
         2 . An article holder as claimed in  claim 1  including at least one finger hole on the side of each impression, intermediate the ends of the impression, allowing a person to grasp the article in the impression to more easily remove it from the impression when needed.  
     
     
         3 . An article holder as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the base is quadratic in shape and cooperating connecting means are provided on opposed sides of the base allowing each holder to be detachably connected, along either side, to another holder having similar connecting means.  
     
     
         4 . An article holder as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the base is quadratic in shape and support means are provided on the back of the base for help in supporting the holder in an upright position.  
     
     
         5 . A method for making an article holder comprising: providing a rigid base; providing a thick, substantially uniform, layer of impressionable, settable, material on the base; pressing each article to be stored on the holder into the layer toward the base to form an impression of at least a portion of the article in the layer; and allowing the material to set to provide a slightly resilient layer of material on the base with permanent impressions for receiving the articles.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the articles are removed after the impressions are made and before the material sets.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  including forming finger holes in the layer while the material is still settable, the finger holes intercepting the depressions to allow easy removal of articles from the permanent depressions.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the layer of settable material is initially sealed on the base with a cover of air-impermeable material, the cover removed when the impressions are to be made.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the impressionable, settable, material is provided in a separate container from the base and is spread onto the base as a thick layer when the impressions are to be formed.  
     
     
         10 . A kit for making an article holder comprising: a rigid base having a raised border about its sides; and a separate, sealed container carrying sufficient impressionable, settable material to cover the surface of the base within the borders to a sufficient thickness to allow impressions of articles to be formed in the layer by pressing the articles into the layer before it sets.