HANGING DEVICE WITH ARRESTOR AND METHODS
Devices and methods are provided for a vertical member-mounted hanging device including a support and an arresting component. Both the support and the arresting component are configured to frictionally engage the vertical member. The support and the arresting component are further configured to frictionally engage each other. The arresting component helps prevent the support from succumbing to the force of gravity or another outside force.
The present invention relates generally to the field of hanging devices and, more specifically, to hanging devices for use with a vertical member.
Hanging devices for use with a vertical member have long been used to hang objects. Some of these hanging devices avoid the use of clamps, adhesives or fasteners Some hanging devices use only friction to maintain their position on the vertical member with the weight of the hanging object. However, these hanging devices often succumb to the force of gravity or another outside force, causing the hanging device to move downward along the vertical member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThere is a need to address the ability of the hanging device to resist the tendency to gradually move downward along the vertical member over time.
Various embodiments of the present invention can address some of the deficiencies of the art. Examples of the present invention may be used in a wide variety of applications.
Various embodiments of the invention provide a hanging device for use with a vertical member. According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the hanging device has a support with an engaging portion frictionally coupled to the vertical member and an arresting component configured to frictionally engage an outer surface of the vertical member and a bottom surface of the support.
According to one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the hanging device includes a support having a helically-shaped engaging portion configured to be coupled to the vertical member and an arresting component configured to be frictionally coupled to the vertical member and a bottom surface of the support.
Various embodiments of the invention provide a system for hanging. According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, the system for hanging includes a vertical member; a support frictionally coupled to the vertical member; and an arresting component in contact with both the support and the vertical member, having a frictional force substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vertical member at the interface between the arresting component and the support and a frictional force substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertical member at the interface between the arresting component and the vertical member.
Various embodiments of the invention provide a method for mounting a hanging device for use on a vertical member. According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the method for mounting includes locating an arresting component configured to frictionally engage the vertical member on the vertical member. A support having an engaging portion configured to frictionally couple to the vertical member is located on the vertical member such that a bottom surface of the support frictionally engages the arresting component.
According to various embodiments of the invention, devices and methods are provided for a vertical member-mounted hanging device.
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In an illustrative embodiment, hook portion 140 is at a distal end from engaging portion 120. Hook portion 140 may have a coating 142. Coating 142 may be rubber, neoprene, synthetic plastic rubber, or other suitable material The coating may increase friction between hook portion 140 and an object being hung from hook portion 140 to help keep the object in place. The coating may further serve to prevent scratches, deformations, or other damage the object. Similar to coating 124 on engaging portion 120, coating 142 does not necessarily have to cover the entire surface area of hook portion 140.
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It should be noted, however, that support 110 and arresting component 150 do not need to be initially in contact, according to an implementation of the invention. Support 110 may be initially positioned above, and not in contact with, arresting device 150. Hanging component 110 may succumb to the force of gravity or another outside force. In this case, support 110 could move downward along vertical member 160 and into contact with arresting member 150. Once support 110 contacts arresting component 150, arresting component 150 can provide additional support for support 110, as discussed above.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method of mounting a hanging device on a vertical member is provided. The method includes locating a arresting component on the vertical member. Locating may involve moving the arresting component over a free end of the vertical member. Alternatively, locating may involve pushing the arresting component into engagement with the vertical member with a force substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis or may involve other actions suitable for frictionally coupling the arresting component to the vertical member. Locating may further involve moving the arresting component along the longitudinal axis of the vertical member to the desired position.
The method for mounting further includes locating the support on the vertical member. In one example embodiment, locating the support involves moving the support into the mounting position, in which a first axis of the engaging portion is substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vertical member. Locating may alternatively involve moving the engaging portion, shown having a helical shape, over a free end of the vertical member Alternatively, locating may involve frictionally coupling the engaging portion to the vertical member by rotating the support about vertical member or may involve other actions suitable for frictionally coupling the support to the vertical member. Locating may optionally further involve moving the support along the longitudinal axis of the vertical member until it is at the user's desired position, preferably so that a bottom surface of the support is in contact with the arresting component such that the support and the arresting component are frictionally engaged.
The support may be moved into the engaged position by moving the first axis of the engaging portion so that it is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vertical member. If the support is in the engaged position and is in contact with the arresting component, applying a downward force along the support produces friction between the vertical member and the arresting component.
The location of the vertical member-mounted hanging device may be changed along the vertical member. The support may be disengaged by returning the support to the mounting position. The user can re-locate the arresting device along the vertical member as described above. The user can also re-locate the support and move it into the engaged position as described above.
The illustrative embodiments, implementation and examples herein are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. The present invention has been described by way of example, and modifications and variations of the exemplary embodiments will suggest themselves to skilled artisans in this field without departing from the spirit of the invention. Features and characteristics of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination. The preferred embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way.
Claims
1. A hanging device for use with a vertical member, comprising:
- a support having an engaging portion frictionally coupled to the vertical member; and
- an arresting component configured to frictionally engage an outer surface of the vertical member and a bottom surface of the support.
2. The hanging device of claim 1, wherein the arresting component is rubber.
3. The hanging device of claim 1, wherein the arresting component has a substantially circular cross-section.
4. The hanging device of claim 1, wherein the arresting component has a substantially triangular cross-section.
5. The hanging device of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is rubber-coated.
6. The hanging device of claim 1, wherein the vertical member has a non-circular cross-section.
7. The hanging device of claim 1, wherein the support has a hook portion at a distal end from the engaging portion.
8. The hanging device of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is a helical shape about a first axis.
9. The hanging device of claim 8, wherein the support has a mounting position in which the first axis of the engaging portion is substantially non-parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vertical member, enabling the support to be mounted to the vertical member.
10. The hanging device of claim 8, wherein the support has an engaged position in which the first axis of the engaging portion is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vertical member.
11. The hanging device of claim 8, wherein the support extends outward at an angle to the first axis.
12. The hanging device of claim 1, further comprising an interface between the support and the arresting component having a frictional force substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vertical member and an interface between the arresting component and the vertical member having a frictional force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vertical member.
13. The hanging device of claim 12, wherein the interface between the support and the arresting component is along at least a portion of the bottom surface of the support.
14. A hanging device for use with a vertical member, comprising:
- a support having a helically-shaped engaging portion configured to be coupled to the vertical member; and
- an arresting component configured to be frictionally coupled to the vertical member and a bottom surface of the support.
15. The hanging device of claim 14, wherein the coupling of the engaging portion is by friction.
16. A system for hanging, comprising:
- a vertical member;
- a support frictionally coupled to the vertical member; and
- an arresting component in contact with both the support and the vertical member, having a frictional force substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vertical member at the interface between the arresting component and the support and a frictional force substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertical member at the interface between the arresting component and the vertical member.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the interface between the support and the arresting component is only a portion of a bottom surface of the support.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the arresting component is a continuous band positioned about the vertical member in tension.
19. A method for mounting a hanging device for use on a vertical member, comprising:
- locating on the vertical member, an arresting component configured to frictionally engage the vertical member; and
- locating on the vertical member, a support having an engaging portion configured to frictionally couple to the vertical member, such that a bottom surface of the support frictionally engages the arresting component.
20. The method for mounting of claim 19, wherein locating the support includes moving a helically-shaped engaging portion over an end of the vertical member.
21. The method for mounting of claim 19, wherein locating the support includes moving a central axis of a helically-shaped engaging portion of the support to be substantially non-parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vertical member.
22. The method for mounting of claim 19, further comprising applying a downward force on the support, thereby producing friction between the vertical member and the arresting component.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 29, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 4, 2009
Inventors: Errol Drew (London), Philip J. Karl (Providence, RI)
Application Number: 11/947,516
International Classification: A47F 5/00 (20060101);