PANTS/HANGER ORGANIZER

Abstract

A clothing organizer includes a frame having a hanger section and a clothing support section which pivots relative to the hanger section between a first storage position and a second access position. A plurality of elongated receivers are aligned along a common plane and spaced apart from each other and extend perpendicularly from the clothing support section. Each of the receivers defines a fixed end attached to the clothing support section and a free end cantilevered perpendicular to the clothing support section. A sleeve can be removably attachable to any of the receivers. The sleeve slidably engages and can be pivotable about the selected receiver. A handle can be fixed to the clothing support section at an end opposite the hanger section and the hanger section includes a hook to attach the clothing organizer to a closet rod or the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed towards hangers. More particularly, the present invention is directed towards a hanger organizer specifically designed to hold a plurality of articles of clothing while allowing easy access between the stored position and access position.

There are three basic types of clothes hangers. The most commonly known and used is probably a wire hanger which is configured as a more or less squat isosceles triangle that at its upper apex has a hook formed from twisting together wires which meet where the two equal inclined sides of the triangle join. The second is the wooden hanger, which consists of a flat piece of wood cut into a boomerang-like shape with the edges sanded down to prevent damage to the clothing, and a hook, usually of metal, protruding from the point. Some wooden hangers have a rounded bar from tip to tip, forming a flattened triangle. This bar is designed to hang the trousers belonging to the jacket. The third kind is the plastic coat hanger, which mostly mimics the shape of either a wire or wooden hanger. Plastic coat hangers are also produced in smaller sizes to accommodate the shapes of children's clothes.

The problem with hangers of this nature is that the trousers or slacks or skirts which they support need to be folded over the lower long or horizontal side of the hanger which can be not only comparatively time consuming but also may cause an unwanted crease in the garment at the fold. Another common hanger for trousers and slacks comprises a pair of horizontal clamp parts which are resiliently urged together to clamp the trousers or slacks at their cuffs. A hook is provided that extends above the clamping parts which, in turn, is received by a bar or rod that extends horizontally in a closet or the like. These hangers avoid imparting an unwanted crease to the trousers or slacks. But they are somewhat difficult to manipulate both in maneuvering the cuffs of the trousers or slacks between the clamping parts and in the subsequent unclamping action to remove them when desired.

Another type of hanger which is used primarily by women to hang slacks or skirts is similar in configuration to the first mentioned hanger described above except that a portion of the lower horizontal part of the isosceles triangle may be removed and a pair of resilient clamps are provided on the remaining horizontal portions near the outboard ends of the hanger. In a variation, the clamps may be slidable along a horizontal rod. These clamps are, if anything, even more difficult to operate for clamping the garment in place than required for the second hanger mentioned above.

Other combinations exist such as a combination of clamping means together with slanting arms disposed above the clamping means which are configured for receiving coats, shirts, sweaters, and the like. But they all suffer from drawbacks because they are, from a comparative standpoint, time consuming to use and, moreover, when clamps are involved, people with disabilities such as arthritis of the hands and wrists find them difficult and sometimes practically impossible to manipulate.

In addition to the problems discussed above, there has been a growing emphasis to make more efficient use of closet storage space not only to permit a greater number of clothing articles to be stored in a given area but also to facilitate access to such articles. The need for organized storage units has increased due to the tendency in new building construction to reduce the amount of closet space within dwelling units.

In clothes closets, use has been made of various types of telescoping hangers or racks for supporting articles in movable relationship to the clothes rod. Such racks have often provided structure for supporting a plurality of articles in a space which has heretobefore been utilized to hang a single garment or item. However, these prior racks have been quite cumbersome in and of themselves. Additionally, these racks are hard to install, hard to use and are quite elaborate and expensive.

Accordingly, there is a need for a clothing organizer that is relatively inexpensive and stores a plurality of garments while remaining easy to use when either hanging or retrieving a particular garment. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clothing organizer of the present invention includes a frame having a hanger section and a clothing support section. The clothing support section pivots relative to the hanger section between a first storage position and a second access position. A plurality of elongated receivers extend generally perpendicularly from the clothing support section. An article of clothing can easily be draped over any of the receivers while the clothing support section is temporarily held in the second access position. Then, the clothing support section can be pivoted into its first stage position for compact storage for a plurality of articles of clothing.

In an exemplary embodiment, the receivers are spaced apart from each other along the clothing support section and the receivers are aligned along a common plane. Additionally, a sleeve can be removably attachable to any of the receivers. Now, an article of clothing can easily be draped over the sleeve prior to attaching the sleeve to a selected receiver. The sleeve slidably engages the selected receiver and can be pivotable about the selected receiver.

Each of the receivers defines a fixed end attached to the clothing support section and a free end cantilevered generally perpendicular to the clothing support section. Additionally, a handle can be fixed to the clothing support section at an end opposite the hanger section. Also, the hanger section includes a hook to attach the clothing organizer to a closet rod or the like.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary closet organizer embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view similar to the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another side view of the structure of FIG. 1 from the opposite side of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to the structure of FIG. 1 now showing pants hung in the first storage position; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to the structure of FIG. 8 now showing pants being selectable in the second access position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention for a clothing organizer is referred to generally by the reference number 10. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary closet organizer 10 embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure of FIG. 1. A frame 12 includes a hanger section 14 and a clothing support section 16. The clothing support section 16 is depicted as two parts fixed together, but it is to be understood that the clothing support section 16 could have been made from just one single part.

The hanger section 14 pivots relative to the clothing support section 16 at pivot 18. Pivot 18 can be made in a multitude of ways and this disclosure is not limited to one precise form described herein. For instance, the pivot 18 can be a roller-ball bearing, a journal bearing, or simply a screw through a pair of holes through both the hanger section 14 and clothing support section 16.

The hanger section 14 and clothing support section 18 can be made from a multitude of materials, such as wood, plastic, metals and composites. In an exemplary embodiment, the sections can be made from a rectangular metallic rod bent and formed into the desired shape.

A plurality of elongated receivers 20 extend generally perpendicular from the clothing support section 16. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view similar to the structure of FIG. 1 and better shows how receivers 20 extend from the clothing support section 16. The receivers 20 are spaced apart from each other along the clothing support section 16 and are aligned along a common plane. Alternatively described, the receivers 20 include a fixed end 22 which is attached to the clothing support section 16 and a free end 24 cantilevered generally perpendicular to the clothing support section 16.

A sleeve 26, or a plurality of sleeves 26, may be removably attachable to any of the receivers 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve 26 slidably engages the selected receiver 20. Furthermore, the sleeve 26 can be pivotable about the selected receiver such that an article of clothing/garment doesn't shift when transitioning between the stored position and access position.

The receivers 20 are substantially strong to retain their cantilevered position even while supporting a heavy article of clothing. The receivers 20 can be manufactured from any suitable appropriate material, such as plastics, metals, woods or composites. The sleeve 26 can also be manufactured from a range of materials. The sleeve 26 should be smooth and free of tiny hooks or defects that could snag the article of clothing and cause a rip.

It is to be understood that the sleeves 26 may or may not be utilized. For instance, without utilizing the sleeves 26, an article of clothing can easily be draped over any of the receivers 20 while the clothing support section 16 is temporarily held in the second access position. Then, the clothing support section 16 can be pivoted into its first stage position for compact storage for a plurality of articles of clothing. When the sleeves 26 are utilized, an article of clothing can easily be draped over the selected sleeve 26 prior to attaching the sleeve 26 to a selected receiver 20.

A handle 28 is fixed to the clothing support section 16 at the end opposite the hanger section 14. A hook 30 is attached to the hanger section 14. The hook 30 may be rotatable about the hanger section 14 to facilitate the ease of use of the clothing organizer 10. Both the handle 28 and the hook 30 are positioned approximately at the center of the receivers 20. This is done to keep the weight of the clothing organizer 10 in line with the handle 28 and the hook 30 such that it doesn't tilt to one side or the other while in use.

Various fastening mechanisms and means may be used to manufacture and assemble the clothing organizer 10. In these exemplary embodiments, the receivers 20 have threaded ends 32 which protrude through holes 34 and are captured and secured with caps/nuts 36. As can be seen by one skilled in the art, various other methods of manufacturing the present invention are possible.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is another side view of the structure of FIG. 1 from the opposite side of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to the structure of FIG. 1 now showing pants 38 hung in the first storage position. As is shown, several pairs of pants 38 are draped over the sleeves 26. The closet organizer 10 is hung from a closet rod 40 or the like. While in the first storage position, gravity allows the clothing support section 16 to remain upright thereby compactly storing a plurality of pants 38. When one wants to select a specific pair of pants, one can grab the handle 28 and pivot the clothing support section 16 relative to the hanger section 14. This is shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to the structure of FIG. 8 now showing pants 38 being selectable in the second access position. The spacing between the receivers 20 allows easy access to individual pants 38 whether they are being attached to or from the closet organizer 10.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clothing organizer, comprising:

a frame including a hanger section and a clothing support section which pivots relative to the hanger section between a first storage position and a second access position; and

a plurality of elongated receivers extending generally perpendicularly from the clothing support section, wherein an article of clothing can easily be draped over any of the receivers while the clothing support section is temporarily held in the second access position and then the clothing support section can be pivoted into its first stage position for compact storage for a plurality of articles of clothing.

2. The organizer of claim 1, wherein the receivers are spaced apart from each other along the clothing support section.

3. The organizer of claim 2, wherein the receivers are aligned along a common plane.

4. The organizer of claim 1, including a sleeve removably attachable to any of the receivers, wherein an article of clothing can easily be draped over the sleeve prior to attaching the sleeve to a selected receiver.

5. The organizer of claim 4, wherein the sleeve slidably engages the selected receiver.

6. The organizer of claim 5, wherein the sleeve is pivotable about the selected receiver.

7. The organizer of claim 1, wherein each of the receivers comprises a fixed end attached to the clothing support section and a free end cantilevered generally perpendicular to the clothing support section.

8. The organizer of claim 1, including a handle fixed to the clothing support section at an end opposite the hanger section.

9. The organizer of claim 1, wherein the hanger section includes a hook.

10. A clothing organizer, comprising:

a frame including a hanger section and a clothing support section which pivots relative to the hanger section between a first storage position and a second access position;

a plurality of elongated receivers extending generally perpendicularly from the clothing support section where the receivers are spaced apart from each other along the clothing support section; and

a sleeve removably attachable to any of the receivers, wherein an article of clothing can easily be draped over the sleeve prior to attaching the sleeve to a selected receiver while the clothing support section is temporarily held in the second access position and then the clothing support section can be pivoted into its first stage position for compact storage for a plurality of articles of clothing.

11. The organizer of claim 10, wherein the receivers are aligned along a common plane.

12. The organizer of claim 10, wherein the sleeve slidably engages the selected receiver.

13. The organizer of claim 12, wherein the sleeve is pivotable about the selected receiver.

14. The organizer of claim 10, wherein each of the receivers comprises a fixed end attached to the clothing support section and a free end cantilevered generally perpendicular to the clothing support section.

15. The organizer of claim 10, including a handle fixed to the clothing support section at an end opposite the hanger section.

16. The organizer of claim 10, wherein the hanger section includes a hook.

17. A clothing organizer, comprising:

a frame including a hanger section and a clothing support section which pivots relative to the hanger section between a first storage position and a second access position;

a plurality of elongated receivers extending generally perpendicularly from the clothing support section wherein each of the receivers comprises a fixed end attached to the clothing support section and a free end cantilevered generally perpendicular to the clothing support section;

a handle fixed to the clothing support section at an end opposite the hanger section

a sleeve removably attachable to any of the receivers, wherein an article of clothing can easily be draped over the sleeve prior to attaching the sleeve to a selected receiver while the clothing support section is temporarily held in the second access position and then the clothing support section can be pivoted into its first stage position for compact storage for a plurality of articles of clothing.

18. The organizer of claim 17, wherein the receivers are spaced apart from each other along the clothing support section and are aligned along a common plane.

19. The organizer of claim 17, wherein the sleeve slidably engages and is pivotable about the selected receiver.

20. The organizer of claim 17, wherein the hanger section includes a hook.