Wall & rod multiple garment hanger
An easily mounted and removable closet space making system where the first of two components is designed to be instantly install against the back wall of a clothes closet between the shelve and the shelve supporting member. This component has a hinge that supports a single garment arm used to hang multiple clothes hangers on. After installing 1 or 2 of these components, the clothes that were hanging on the clothes rod can now be transferred to the back wall of the closet, freeing up most or all of the clothes rod for the second component. The second component hooks onto the clothes rod and has a double hinge that supports two garment arms and is on a swivel so either side can face forward. With both components, gravity drops the arm down in the storage position. To select a garment, simply slide your hand in behind the garment in front of the garment you want and lift the arm. This will create ample space to access the garment you are after. Pushing the clothes to the back wall and hanging the remaining clothes on the double garment hook will completely transform the closet. All the garments will now cascade down, one in front of another so all garments will be visible all at once. The shelve above will be easily accessible and therefore much more useful. The entire floor will be visible and accessible and most importantly, you can virtually double the storage in a closet.
This application claims priority of Provisional Application No. 60/659,239, entitled “Wall & Rod Multiple Garment Hanger” filed on Mar. 7, 2005, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to clothes closet organizers, and more particularly to increasing the storage capacity of any closet where clothing is hung on traditional hangers and the hangers are in turn hung on a traditional clothing rod within a closet.
No matter how many closets there are in any given home or apartment, there never seems to be enough room for storage. Closets, therefore, become overcrowded, cluttered and messy making it difficult to keep your clothes neat and organized. It becomes increasingly difficult to find what you are looking for and many garments can actually be overlooked and essentially lost for days, weeks and even years.
A congested closet forms a wall of clothing that creates a physical and visual obstruction that confronts you as you open the closet door. This makes it extremely difficult to reach over this obstruction of clothing to get to the items stored on the shelve found above the rod. Additionally, the obstruction of clothes makes it nearly impossible to see, never-mind reach all the items, usually shoes stored on the floor. You have to bend down and duck under the clothes to get to shoes along the back wall of the closet. Additionally, cramped and cluttered closets make it very difficult to find individual garments. Because of this problem, retailers often use rods that display garments cascading downward as the garment faces the consumer so they can clearly see every garment on the rod.
One possible solution to the problem is to build a new, larger closet, which costs thousands of dollars to build. Even if you chose this option, you would be forced to loose some of your bedroom or hallway space because the new closet space has to come from somewhere else in the house or apartment. Obviously, people who rent do not have this option. There are hundreds of closet organizer systems on the market, but none of the systems instantly increase useable space in the closet as well as to organize garments.
It is therefore an object of this invention to instantly eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with closet storage, not by making closets larger, but by making better use of the existing space that until now was wasted in closets.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a versatile, portable, hinged, multiple garment hanger system where a removable mounting plate attaches to one end of a single garment arm and can be instantly installed in a closet against the back wall and is supported between the back wall and the shelve found over the rod.
It is a further object of this invention that this multiple garment, wall mounted hanger system hold multiple garments facing forward as they lie flat, just inches off the back wall, freeing up the closet rod for a similar rod supported unit.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a portable, double hinge, mounting plate where one end of two garment arms attach (back to back) and is hung on a rod with a single swivel hook.
It is an even further object of this invention that the universal garment arms are removable and fit both wall and rod mounting plates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe objects set forth above as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the embodiments of the invention described herein below.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiple garment arm that is pivotably mounted to a single hinge at one end and can be attached to either a rod mounting plate or a wall mounting plate. The garment arm has a unique locking feature keeping the garments neat and secure to the arm both when being lifted and when at rest. The forward facing garments cascade downward, one in front of another so all garments are viewable simultaneously. An important feature of the garment arm is the extension of the arm beyond the last garment notch that is of sufficient length to lock the garments in place as the arm overlaps the hanger.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a rod mounting plate having a swivel hook on center that allows for instant installation and two hinges (one on each side of hook) where garment arms are pivotably mounted, one on each hinge. The garment arms have numerous “wave like” notches for supporting hangers. The notches face away from each other when mounted to the rod mounting plate so each side can be viewed and lifted independently. The hook can swivel so either of the garment arms can face forward as the garments cascade downward for easy viewing. This single hook can slide up and down the closet rod so the entire floor is in view and accessible.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a wall mounting plate having a single hinge on the front side of the plate and one garment arm that is pivotally mounted on the hinge and can be removed, rotated 180 degrees, and returned to the hinge. The unique shape of the wall mounting plate enables it to be instantly mounted between the top of the 1″×4″ wood shelve support and the back of the shelve, resting on top of the 1″×4″ wood shelve support by simply pulling the shelve forward, inserting the plate and pushing the shelve back into place.
With the wire top shelve system, slide the top of the plate between the back of the shelve and the wall after attaching the spacer to the back of the wall plate. If the wire shelve is flush mounted, simply slide the friction pad down the garment arm and drop the arm down through the top of the wire shelve and push flush against the back wall.
In the unlikely event that the wood top shelve is secured to the 1″×4″ wood shelve support, simply reverse the garment arm and slide the wall plate upward on the face of the 1″×4″ wood shelve support to the bottom of the secured wood shelve and install the wall plate with two screws.
An alternative wall bracket of garment hanger includes a biasing or attachment device integrated into flange that is positioned between the shelve and the shelve support.
Yet another alternative wall bracket of garment hanger includes a wall plate with a back surface having a portion thereof with adhesive characteristics, such as adhesive double-side strips or any suitable commercially adhesive product, such as glue or resin.
In an alternative embodiment of the single arm garment hanger, the single garment arm is not removable from the bracket/hinge and is pivotally mounted to the bracket/hinge by conventional means such as a pin or the like.
An accessory for the present rod invention is generally cylindrical and T-shaped. The accessory provides a means for attaching a garment hanger thereto and provides a means for sliding the accessory along a rod to avoid shelve structural obstacles, such a vertical supports, without removing the accessory from the rod.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 2A-E are pictorial views of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating an inverted wall plate assembly;
FIGS. 5A-E are pictorial views of an accessory for use with the present invention of
An exemplary garment hanger 1 of the present invention is illustrated in
Now turning to
Referring again to
Wall bracket 24 includes hinge 7 connected orthogonally to a wall plate 6 (
Now referring to
Now turning to
Garment arm 4 can be locked in a substantially horizontal position to facilitate easier hanging and removal of hung closet. Garment arm 4 is rotated substantially orthogonal with bracket plate 24 and aligned with opening 29 in the wall plate 6. Top end 4C of garment arm 4 is sufficiently inserted into opening 29 such that an edge of garment arm 4 contacts top edge 29A (
In an alternative wall bracket of the present invention shown in
Now referring to
An alternative embodiment 10 of the present invention is illustrated in
As illustrated in
Now referring to
In the event that wire shelve 36 is mounted flush against wall 32 and space 30 is not formed, friction pad 14 is attached to face 6A of wall plate 6, garment arm 4 is positioned above wire self 36, and garment arm 4 is lowered down between slot 42 of wire shelve 36 allowing friction pad 14 to rest on top of the wire shelve 36 and, if desired, push snug against wall 32.
An alternative wall bracket 124 of garment hanger 100, illustrated
Yet another alternative wall bracket 224 of garment hanger 200, illustrated
Now referring to
It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details, and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A multiple garment hanger comprising:
- a connector having a hinge portion and a wall plate; and
- an elongated member operably connected to said hinge portion, said elongate member having a top end, bottom end, a front side, a back side, a pair of planar sides, said front side having a plurality of hanger receivers disposed thereon, and said back side having a flat contour and being free of surface discontinuities.
2. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 1 wherein said hinge portion includes a pair of opposing side plates, said side plates form a gap therebetween, said gap being sufficiently sized to receive said elongated member therein, wherein each said side plate includes a slot.
3. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 2 wherein said elongated member further includes a pair of opposing projections, each projections being disposed on each side of said pair of planar sides in proximity of said top end, said projections being capable of slidable and rotatable movement within said slots when assembled.
4. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 1 wherein said wall plate includes a surface with a portion thereof having adhesive characteristics.
5. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 1 wherein said wall plate includes C shaped channel and a mounting surface, said C shaped channel sized to receive a shelve.
6. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 1 wherein said wall plate includes a back surface and a flange orthogonally connected to said back surface, said flange includes a biasing device disposed along a surface of said flange, whereby said biasing device imposes a force on to a shelve and a support structure when said flange is disposed therebetween.
7. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 6 wherein said biasing device includes outwardly extending projections.
8. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 1 wherein said wall plate includes an aperture sized to receive said ends of said elongated members therethrough.
9. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 2 wherein said elongated member further includes a hole through said pair of planar sides in proximity of said top end and a projection frictionally engaged with said hole, said projection being capable of slidable and rotatable movement within said slots when assembled.
10. A garment hanger accessory comprising:
- a hollow body having a generally cylindrical horizontal section, a generally cylindrical vertical section orthogonally oriented relative to said horizontal section, and hanger hook attachment connected to said vertical section;
- said hanger hook attachment includes a hole to receive a hook of a conventional hanger;
- said horizontal section includes a spiral channel circumscribing an entire length of said horizontal section,
- whereby said spiral channel enables said accessory to slide down an endless length of closet rod without having to be lifted off the closet rod.
11. The garment hanger accessory according to claim 10 said hanger hook attachment is a plug.
12. The garment hanger accessory according to claim 11 wherein:
- said vertical section includes a bottom end with an inner diameter; and
- said plug comprises an end sized to frictionally engage said inner diameter.
13. The garment hanger accessory according to claim 11 wherein
- said vertical section includes a bottom end with a threaded connection; and
- said plug comprises a end having a threaded connection complimentary to said threaded connection of said vertical section.
14. The garment hanger accessory according to claim 11 wherein
- said vertical section includes a bottom end;
- said plug comprises a end; and
- an adhesive applied to said ends to connect said plug with said vertical section.
15. A method to assemble a multiple garment hanger comprising the steps of:
- inserting a bottom end of an elongated member into an aperture of a connector;
- drawing the elongated member through the aperture until projections on the elongated member slidably engage slots of the connector; and
- securing the connector to a structure.
16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of aligning a side of the elongated member having hanger notches with an edge of the aperture juxtaposition to a U Shape channel of the connector, prior to said step of inserting the bottom end of the elongated member into the aperture of the connector.
17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of positioning a shelve within the C shaped channel.
18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of aligning a side of the elongated member having hanger notches with an edge of the aperture juxtaposition to a biasing flange of the connector, prior to said step of inserting the bottom end of the elongated member into the aperture of the connector.
19. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of positioning the biasing flange between a shelve and a supporting structure.
20. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
- inserting the bottom end of the elongated member through a gap formed by a pair of horizontal wires of a wire shelve;
- drawing the entire elongated member through the gap; and
- resting the connector on the wire shelve.
21. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of aligning a side of the elongated member having hanger notches with an edge of the aperture opposite to a U Shape channel of the connector, prior to said step of inserting the bottom end of the elongated member into the aperture of the connector.
22. A multiple garment hanger comprising:
- a connector having a hinge portion, said hinge portion includes a pair of opposing side plates, said side plates form a gap therebetween;
- a pair of elongated members, each of said elongate member includes a longitudinal side having a plurality of hanger notches disposed thereon;
- said pair of elongated members being disposed within said gap and operably connected to said hinge portion with said plurality of hanger notches being outwardly oriented; and
- a hook operably connected to said connector to attached to a conventional closet rod.
23. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 22 wherein said longitudinal side further comprises an angled extension in proximity of a bottom end of said elongated member, whereby said angled extension presses against the last few hangers on said hanger making the hangers less susceptible to being knocked off said elongated member if brushed up against.
24. The multiple garment hanger according to claim 1 wherein said front side of said elongated member further comprises an angled extension in proximity of said bottom end, whereby said angled extension presses against the last few hangers on said hanger making the hangers less susceptible to being knocked off said elongated member if brushed up against.
25. The multiple garment hangers according to claim 1 herein said hanger receivers are notches.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 7, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2007
Inventor: Gerald Dente (Natick, MA)
Application Number: 11/371,146
International Classification: A41D 27/22 (20060101);