COLLAPSIBLE CLOSET HAVING A SUPPORT ELEMENT
A closet device or wardrobe whereby cross-supports to the bars for hanging clothing lead to increased stability and load capacity. A cross-support is simply connected to the top of the frame and can be a wire with bends at its two ends and two body sections that lead to a middle section wherein an obtuse angle is made as the two halves of the cross-support come together. The bends hook or hang on opposite sides of the upper frame of the wardrobe . The hang bar can rest on the angled middle section of the cross support, which provides additional support to the hang bar from the usual connections of the hang bar to the frame at the hang bar's two ends. This additional support to the hang bar results in increased stability, durability and load capacity for the wardrobe or closet device. The cross support can be in the form of a wire, a tube a rod, a beam, or any other structural type supporting element. The cross support and also the frame can be made from any suitable material such as metal, plastic, or any known resilient material.
This application is a non provisional application and hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119e from provisional application 60/863,416 filed on Oct. 30, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a closet device or wardrobe whereby cross-supports to the bars for hanging clothing lead to increased stability and load capacity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a closet device or wardrobe whereby cross-supports to the bars for hanging clothing lead to increased stability and load capacity. A cross-support is simply connected to the top of the frame and can be a wire with bends at its two ends and two body sections that lead to a middle section where an obtuse angle is made as the two halves of the cross-support come together. The bends hook or hang on opposite sides of the upper frame of the wardrobe. The hang bar can rest on the angled middle section of the cross support, which provides additional support to the hang bar from the usual connections of the hang bar to the frame at the hang bar's two ends. This additional support to the hang bar results in increased stability, durability, and load capacity for the wardrobe or closet device. The cross support can be in the form of a wire, a tube, a rod, a beam, or any other structural type supporting element. The cross support and also the frame can be made from any suitable material such as metal, plastic, or any other known resilient material.
In two embodiments the cross support is made of a wire metal and is called a crosswire, a cross beam or cross bar. While in the description of the drawings the term crosswire or cross bar will be used, any term for a cross supporting member can also be correctly used in describing this device. One embodiment shows a wardrobe with one main section and one crosswire or cross bar. Another embodiment shows a wardrobe or closet device with two main sections and two crosswire or cross bars.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
Referring to the drawings,
Referring to the drawings,
For example,
Assembly of the bottom of the frame results in six vertically-oriented tubes 32 and 38 each with one unconnected end.
Two straight tubes 36 which are longer than the straight tubes 32 but shorter than reduced tubes 38 are inserted at one end into a slot 202 on the inside face of a corner support 2 and at the other end into the side of center support 26 in a slot 261 meant for horizontally-oriented tubes. Similarly, two reduced tubes 40 of the same length as tubes 36 insert at one end into slots 202 on the inside face of a corner support 2 and with its male end 400 into slots 262 on the center support 26 meant for horizontally-oriented tubes and sized to hold male ends.
Without the cross bar 16, the weight of items hanging in the closet are carried by the straight 30 or 8 or reduced 42 hang bar and only transferred to the rest of the frame structure through the hang bar's two connections 203 and 263 and 264 to the corner supports or bracket 2 and center support or bracket 26. The cross bar 16 enables the weight on the hang bar 8, 30, or 42 to be more efficiently distributed to the rest of the frame of the closet device as it provides further means of transferring some of the load. This dramatically stabilizes the closet device, greatly increases its overall weight bearing capacity and increases the durability of the closet device. Setup of the cross bar 16, is convenient and simple because it connects to the frame through the bends 54 in the wire and end sections 53 and the cross bar 16, cradles the hang bar 8, 30, 42.
Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Reference Numeral List:
- 2 corner support, bracket
- 4 straight tube or beam, column
- 6 straight tube or beam longer than
- 8 straight hang bar, middle beam
- 10 device, first embodiment
- 12 straight column or tube marginally longer than 4
- 14 reduced column or tube
- 15 male end of reduced tube or column 14
- 16 angled crosswire or cross beam
- 18 side connector or bracket
- 20 fabric cover
- 22 floor support
- 24 corner support or bracket—similar as 2
- 26 center support or bracket
- 28 straight tube or column
- 30 straight hang bar, center or middle beam
- 32 vertically oriented straight tube, or column
- 34 horizontal straight tube that connects with side connectors, or beam, such as top beam
- 36 straight tube longer than 32 and shorter than 38, beam
- 38 column in the form of a reduced tube
- 39 male end of reduced tube 38
- 40 beam in the form of a reduced tube same length as 36
- 41 male end of reduced hang bar, or middle beam
- 42 reduced hang bar, center or middle beam
- 46 center connector or bracket
- 50 fabric cover
- 52 floor support
- 53 end section of cross bar
- 54 end bend of cross bar
- 56 body section of cross bar or crosswire
- 58 middle or center curve of cross bar or cross wire
- 100 alternative embodiment of closet
- 120 unreduced end of straight tube or column
- 180 bottom vertical opening of side connector or bracket
- 181 top vertical opening of side connector or bracket
- 182 horizontal opening of side connector or bracket
- 201 vertical corner support slot in a bracket
- 202 horizontal corner support slot in bracket
- 203 center horizontal corner support slot in bracket positioned lower than hole 202
- 204 center horizontal corner support slot in bracket positioned above hole 203
- 260 vertical opening of center support
- 261 normal-sized side slot of center support
- 262 male end-sized side slot of center support
- 263 normal-sized side slot of center support
- 264 male end-sized side slot of center support
- 400 male end of reduced tube 40
- 401 male end of reduced tube 40
- 461 top vertical opening of center connector
- 462 horizontal opening of center connector
Claims
1. A portable collapsible closet comprising:
- a) a base frame;
- b) a plurality of columns which are attachable to said base frame;
- c) at least two top beams extending opposite said base frame, wherein said at least two top beams are attachable to said plurality of columns;
- d) at least one cross bar which extends between said at least two top beams (6) wherein said cross bar is for providing support for at least one of said at least two top beams.
2. The portable collapsible closet wherein when said closet is in an assembled condition, said columns are coupled to said base frame, said at least two top beams are coupled to said columns and wherein said at least one cross bar is in contact with said at least two top beams.
3. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 1, further comprising at least one cover.
4. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 1, further comprising at least one bracket for receiving said plurality of columns and said at least two top beams wherein each bracket has connection holes which are orientated substantially perpendicular to each other.
5. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 1, wherein said at least one cross bar is orientated in a bent manner.
6. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 1, wherein said at least one cross bar has end sections allowing the crossbar to attach or hook onto said at least two top beams.
7. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 4, wherein said bracket forms a corner support, wherein said corner support has a plurality of holes for receiving said at least two top beams.
8. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 1, further comprising at least one floor support.
9. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 1, further comprising at least one middle connector wherein said at least one middle connector is for coupling said columns together.
10. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 1, wherein said at least one cross bar is bent in a substantially v-shape.
11. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 10, wherein said at least one cross bar has end sections allowing said cross bar to attach or hook onto said top beams.
12. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 11, further comprising at least three upper beams, including two outer upper beams, and one inner beam wherein said at least one cross beam has at least three bends with two bends each forming an end section and a third middle bend wherein said cross bar is coupled to said at least three upper beams such that said end sections extend over said two outer upper beams and wherein said third middle bend extends under said upper inner beam.
13. The portable collapsible closet as in claim 12, further comprising end brackets, wherein said end brackets include at least three holes wherein at least one of said at least three holes is positioned below at least two of said at least three holes.
14. A portable collapsible closet comprising:
- a) a base frame;
- b) a plurality of columns which are attachable to said base frame;
- c) at least three top beams extending opposite said base frame, wherein said at least three top beams are attachable to said columns, wherein at least two of said at least three top beams comprise end beams and wherein at least one of said at least three beams comprises an inner beam;
- d) A plurality of end brackets which couple said plurality of columns to said at least three top beams wherein said end brackets include at least three holes including a center hole, and two end holes wherein said center hole is positioned below at least two of said at least three holes;
- e) at least one cross bar which extends between said at least two top beams, wherein said cross bar is for providing spacing support for said at least two top beams, said cross bar being substantially v-shaped and having end pieces,
- wherein said at least one cross bar has at least three bends, with two end bends each forming an end section and a third middle bend, wherein said cross bar is coupled to said at least three top beams such that said end sections extend over said two top beams and wherein said third middle bend extends under said top inner beam providing vertical support for said top inner beam, and transferring weight to said end beams from said middle beam; and
- f) a cover for covering the closet, said cover having a fastener.
15. The closet as in claim 14, wherein said fastener is selected from the group consisting of: hook and loop fastener, zipper, snaps, ties, and laces.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 29, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
Applicant: MORAN, INC (RONKONKOMA, NY)
Inventor: James SUNG (Tainan)
Application Number: 11/926,989
International Classification: A47F 7/24 (20060101); A47B 43/04 (20060101);