NECKTIE STORAGE APPARATUS
A necktie holding apparatus includes a pair of end brackets that attach to a support. A rod extends between and is attached to the end brackets. The attached rod has a substantially horizontal orientation. The rod supports a plurality of sliding members that each slide independently and freely along the rod. The sliding members each have a substantially fixed orientation. Additionally, each sliding member has a receiving member to receive and support an article of clothing, such as a necktie.
Embodiments of the invention relate to clothing organization, and more particularly to necktie organization and/or storage.
BACKGROUNDNeckties are commonly stored and/or kept in a closet where space is limited. To save space, various known necktie holders (e.g., hanger type, wall-mounted type, etc.) are designed with hooks and/or pegs that are extremely close together. While these necktie holders conserve closet space, the close spacing of the hooks and/or pegs often makes it difficult to remove neckties from, or place neckties on, the necktie holder. Furthermore, the close spacing can make it extremely difficult to see the different neckties well enough to select a particular necktie for wear.
The following description includes discussion of figures having illustrations given by way of example of implementations of embodiments of the invention. The drawings should be understood by way of example, and not by way of limitation. As used herein, references to one or more “embodiments” are to be understood as describing a particular feature, structure, or characteristic included in at least one implementation of the invention. Thus, phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an alternate embodiment” appearing herein describe various embodiments and implementations of the invention, and do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. However, they are also not necessarily mutually exclusive.
As provided herein, apparatuses for holding neckties facilitate compact storage of neckties as well as convenient placement and removal of neckties from the necktie holder. For the purpose of conciseness and convenience, the discussion herein will be limited to neckties. However, one of skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments described herein can also be used to hold and/or store other articles of clothing and clothing accessories (e.g., belts, scarves, shirts, pants, sashes, necklaces, etc.).
In various embodiments, the necktie holder includes sliding functionality similar to that of an abacus. An abacus typically consists of a frame set with rods on which balls or beads are moved. The balls or beads of an abacus slide independently and freely along the rods. Thus, a simple flick of the finger can cause one bead or several beads to slide along the rod until coming in contact with the end of the rod (or until coming in contact with other beads that are already at the end of the rod). In other words, the frictional force between the beads and the rods of an abacus is minimal. Thus, references herein to “sliding freely” or “freely slidable” are referring to this minimal state of friction between a rod and a sliding member attached to the rod. This free sliding movement is in specific contrast to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,316 and 6,152,313, which explicitly limit any sliding movement to intentional manual movement. In both of the above-referenced patents, the sliding capability is only intended to allow a hook or card to be moved to a desired position; once the desired position has been achieved, the hooks or cards are intended to remain fixed in their position.
Various embodiments of the necktie holder include a plurality of sliding members that are independently and freely slidable along a rod. While freely slidable along the rod, the sliding members are maintained having a substantially fixed orientation. In other words, the sliding members are not intended to rotate on the rod to which they are attached. Each of the sliding members includes a receiving member to receive and support an article of clothing. As used herein, a receiving member refers to any peg, hook, pin, etc., capable of supporting one or more items of clothing (e.g., a tie). Each of the sliding members can be any width, although in some embodiments, the width of each of the sliding members is approximately equal to the width of a tie hanging over a receiving member. In other words, in some embodiments, the width of each sliding member is such that when adjacent sliding members are touching, corresponding adjacent ties are also touching (or close to touching) each other.
In various embodiments, the rod is fixed in a substantially horizontal orientation. The ends of the rod can be embedded in or mounted on a wall or other supporting surface, attached to brackets, hung from wires, etc. A support frame refers to any means of attachment to a support that can be used to maintain the rod in a substantially horizontal orientation in various embodiments. For example, the rod could be attached directly or indirectly to a wall or it could be attached to a closet hanger.
A plurality of sliding members 140 are attached to the rod 120. In various embodiments, rod 120 fits through sliding members 140 via an opening in each of the sliding members 140. Sliding members 140 are independently and freely slidable along rod 120. Each sliding member 140 is maintained in a substantially fixed orientation. For example, as shown in
On each sliding member 140 is attached a receiving member 150. As used herein, a receiving member is intended to be anything capable of receiving and supporting an article of clothing (e.g., a pin, a peg, a hook, etc.). In some embodiments, as shown in
Attached to body 252 is a receiving member 250. The spring constant of spring 260 is such that body 252 and receiving member 250 move downward relative to sliding member 240 when (the weight of) a tie is placed upon receiving member 250. In other words, spring 260 is designed such that receiving member 250 and body 252 stay substantially down when a tie is hanging on receiving member 250, but receiving member 250 and body 252 stay substantially up when there is no weight on receiving member 250. An example of an “up” position of receiving member 250 is illustrated in
Other embodiments may include using multiple supporting rods and/or tracks or channels to guide the movement of the sliding members described herein.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a rod attached to a support, the rod having a substantially horizontal orientation when the attached to the support; and
- a plurality of sliding members supported by the rod, wherein each sliding member is independently and freely slidable along the rod, each sliding member having a substantially fixed orientation, and each sliding member having a receiving member to receive and support an article of clothing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a receiving member moves vertically downward relative to its respective sliding member upon receiving the weight of the article of clothing.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiving member moves vertically upward relative to its respective sliding member upon removal of the article of clothing from the receiving member.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for preventing vertical upward movement of the receiving member relative to its respective sliding member upon removal of the article of clothing from the receiving member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is a necktie.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of each sliding member is less than 0.6 inches.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support is one of a hanger, a wall, or a support frame.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rod is attached to the support via a pair of brackets.
9. An apparatus, comprising:
- a pair of end brackets for attachment to a support;
- a rod extending between the end brackets, the rod having a substantially horizontal orientation when the brackets are attached to the support; and
- a plurality of sliding members supported by the rod, wherein each sliding member is independently and freely slidable along the rod, each sliding member having a substantially fixed orientation, and each sliding member having a receiving member to receive and support an article of clothing.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a receiving member moves vertically downward relative to its respective sliding member upon receiving the weight of the article of clothing.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the receiving member moves vertically upward relative to its respective sliding member upon removal of the article of clothing from the receiving member.
12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for preventing vertical upward movement of the receiving member relative to its respective sliding member upon removal of the article of clothing from the receiving member.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is a necktie.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of each sliding member is less than ¾ inches.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support is one of a hanger, a wall, or a support frame.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 16, 2009
Publication Date: Jul 22, 2010
Inventor: Jared S. Engstrom (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 12/354,988
International Classification: A47F 7/12 (20060101); A47F 7/00 (20060101);