Tie rack
A tie rack is provided comprising a frame moveably mounted on a support bracket. The frame includes an arm which can be fixed by an arm fixing element mounted on the bracket. When the arm is fixed, the ties on the frame can be viewed by the user,
This invention relates to a tie rack having a display position and a storage position, more particularly, to such a tie rack which has a compact structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe racks utilized to support and display a plurality of ties are well known in the art. They are generally positioned within a clothes closet, mounted on the closet door. Since a clothes closet normally has little open space, it is desirable that the rack be compact, such as lying flat against the closet door with little extension into the closet where other clothes are hung.
Retractable tie racks have been proposed having a stationery frame into which a retractable section is positioned. The retractable section is positioned into the frame when the ties are displayed or positioned out of the frame during storage of the ties. The frame is fixed to a closet door and extends outwardly from the door into the closet where it can interfere undesirably with the other hanging clothes. Alternatively, the tie rack can be hung on the outside closet door surface where it can accidentally interfere with a passer by. Such a tie rack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,721.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a tie rack having a compact structure during non-use as well as being capable of permitting ease of view of all the ties on the rack during use. Such a tie rack would substantially reduce the chance of interfering with other clothes or causing accidental contact with a passer by.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention provides a tie rack having a compact structure during storage of a plurality of ties. The tie rack includes a stationary bracket mounted on a supporting surface such as a door. The tie rack also includes a frame having tubular or rod shaped hanger elements upon which the ties are hung. The frame is moveably mounted on the bracket such as by being pivotally mounted or slideably and pivotally mounted. The frame includes an arm that moves with the frame when it is moved. The arm is fixed by an arm fixing element fixed to the bracket such as a tube, flange, snap fit element, magnet or the like. When the arm is fit with the fixing element, the frame extends away from the bracket so that the ties can be displayed and seen by the user.
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While the invention has been described above with reference to a tube or flange arm fixing element, it is to be understood that other arm fixing elements can be utilized such as a snap fit element into which the arm is snap fit or a magnet when the arm is made of a ferromagnetic material. When utilizing a snap fit element or a magnet, the frame need not be slideably mounted on the bracket since all that is necessary to fix the arm is to pivot the frame into the desired position.
Claims
1. A tie rack structure which comprises:
- a bracket adapted to be connected to a support surface,
- a first tubular structure shaped to permit a first arm portion of a frame to move within said tubular structure,
- said frame including said arm portion having a plurality of rods or tubes adapted to support a plurality of ties,
- a third arm attached to first arm portion,
- an arm fixing element attached to said bracket and positioned to permit said third arm to be moved into contact with said arm fixing element thereby to position said third arm in a fixed position on said bracket.
2. A tie rack structure of claim 1 wherein said fixing element is a tube.
3. The tie rack structure of claim 1 wherein said arm fixing element is a flange.
4. The tie rack structure of claim 1 wherein said arm fixing element is a snap fit element.
5. The tie rack structure of claim 1 wherein said arm fixing element is a magnet.
6. The tie rack structure of claim 1 wherein said arm portion comprises a single piece.
7. The tie rack structure of claim 2 wherein said arm portion comprises a single piece.
8. The tie rack structure of claim 3 wherein said arm portion comprises a single piece.
9. The tie rack structure of claim 4 wherein said arm portion comprises a single piece.
10. The tie rack structure of claim 5 wherein said arm portion comprises a single piece.
11. The tie rack structure of claim 1 wherein said arm portion comprises two pieces.
12. The tie rack structure of claim 2 wherein said arm portion comprises two pieces.
13. The tie rack structure of claim 3 wherein said arm portion comprises two pieces.
14. The tie rack structure of claim 4 wherein said arm portion comprises two pieces.
15. The tie rack structure of claim 5 wherein said arm portion comprises two pieces.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 7, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 8, 2009
Inventors: Eric J. McNiff (Gloucester, MA), Christopher G. Rowen (Rockport, MA)
Application Number: 12/080,742