Multi-Hook Adjustable Door Hanger

Abstract

An over-the-door hanger with multiple, telescoping hooks is disclosed. The invention having a plurality of hooks slidably connected by means of connector couplings with interlocking tabs therein. The telescoping function allowing a user to setup a multitude of hooks or collapse them down into a single hook while hanging from the top of a door. An object of the invention is to allow a user the option of having different numbers of hooks on a door at different times based on what needs to be hung at a particular time.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to storage hooks. More specifically, it relates to a telescoping hook system for doors.

BACKGROUND

Over-the-door hangers have been used since the advent of doors themselves. The first hangers were made of bent metal or wire. Today over-the-door hangers are still made of metal as well as molded plastic that can be hung over the top of a door and extends down the face of the door, usually terminating in a hook used to support the item being hung. The advantage of these hangers is that decorative items such as wreaths, garland etc. can be hung without the need to permanently attach hooks to a door. This method is especially useful for hanging seasonal items that are only hung for a relatively short periods of time during the year. However, these hangers usually have only a single hook that is available at a fixed length. Depending on what is being hung on the door and the height desired a user may need either to have a number of hangers or hangers of different lengths. It is often desirable to adjust the length of the hanger once it has already been placed upon the door. Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable length over-the-door hanger that can be easily adjusted while in position on the door. Product engineers in the hanger industry have invented various forms of over the door hangers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,610B2 granted to Adams disclosed a door hook with interlocking hook segments but does not telescope into a single hook. U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,940A granted to Gusdorf and Oberhaus teach of a storage system having a pair of parallel, spaced side runners and a plurality of interchangeable wire racks secured and suspended between the side runners. The invention does not telescope into a single hook. U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,691B1 once again granted to Gusdorf and Oberhaus disclosed a rack system for hanging on doors but does not telescope into a single hook. U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,416B1 granted to Avinger disclosed an adjustable over the door hook but does not include multiple hooks. While several patents were found that incorporated multiple, adjustable hooks on over-the-door hangers, none were found that specifically incorporated multiple, telescoping, sliding adjustable hooks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to the shortcomings in the prior art through the disclosure of an over-the-door hanger with multiple, telescoping hooks. An object of the invention is to allow a user to hold multiple items on a single over-the-door hook. For example, during the holiday season, a user can hang a wreath on a top hook on the invention. They can pull another hook down from the apparatus and hang a bow beneath the wreath. They can then pull another hook down and hang a branch of mistletoe beneath the bow.

Another object of the invention is to allow a user to position hooks at multiple heights on a door. Using the example above, the user can choose which height on the door to hang holiday items. Interlocking tabs engage teeth behind the invention and by pressing in on the tabs, users can pull hooks to preferred heights to accommodate various sized items.

Another object of the invention is to allow a user to stow multiple, unused hooks into a single hook on an over-the-door hanger. For example, when the holiday season is over and a user simply wants to hang a single New Years item, they can press the aforementioned tabs and slide the multiple hooks into a single hook at the top.

It is briefly noted that upon a reading this disclosure, those skilled in the art will recognize various means for carrying out these intended features of the invention. As such it is to be understood that other methods, applications and systems adapted to the task may be configured to carry out these features and are therefore considered to be within the scope and intent of the present invention, and are anticipated. With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As used in the claims to describe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising” means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word “comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meant including, and limited to, whatever follows the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By “consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed after the phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements. Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present depending upon whether or not they affect the activity or action of the listed elements.

The objects features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention being used on a door.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the invention extended.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the invention compressed.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the invention compressed and extended.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective rear view of the connector couplings with interlocking tabs.

Other aspects of the present invention shall be more readily understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description, neither of which should be considered limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention being used on a door. The invention having four main parts. A first part being a U-shaped bracket 1 having a planar rectangular shape made of a rigid material such as but not limited to metal, plastic and the like. A distal end of said U-shaped bracket 1 having an end configured to receive a conventional door. A second part being a planar hook 2 having raised portions 5 configured to receive U-shaped bracket 1 therein and allowing it to be slidably inserted therein. A second and third part also being planar hooks 2 and 3 having raised portions 5, 6 and 7 configured to receive said planar hooks 1 and 2 therein and allowing them to be slidably inserted therein. Said second and third parts also being made of a rigid material such as, but not limited to plastic, metal and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the invention extended with hooks 3 and 4 extended below hook 2. In another embodiment, U-shaped bracket 1 also being adjustable. In other embodiments the invention having a plurality of hooks therein.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the invention compressed with hooks 2, 3 and 4 being selectively and slidably adjusted therein.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the invention compressed and extended. The figure showing hooks 2, 3 and 4 being compressed into a single hook and being selectively affixed therein by means of connector couplings with interlocking tabs (to be presented in the next figure).

FIG. 5 shows a perspective rear view of the connector couplings with interlocking tabs 8 and 9 that allow a user to adjust hooks 2,3 and 4 by grasping the area of the invention facing a door. Each of the aforementioned raised portions 5 and 6 being positioned distal to said hooks 2, 3 and 4 and having a plurality of teeth sections 10 configured to receive said interlocking tabs 8 and 9 therein. Said interlocking tabs 8 and 9 being selectively interlocked with said teeth sections 10 when a user pulls a hook along the longitudinal axis distal to hook 1 allowing interlocking tabs 8 and 9 to engage the smaller apertures of said teeth sections 10 therebetween. Each of said hooks 2, 3 and 4 being selectively disengaged by a user pushing hooks along the longitudinal axis proximal to hook 1 allowing interlocking tabs 8 and 9 to be disengaged from teeth sections 10. In other embodiments, the invention having the aforementioned interlocking tabs 8 and 9 and teeth sections 10 disposed along the lateral plane of the raised portions 5, 6 and 7 allowing a user to grasp the sides of the invention to adjust said hooks 2, 3 and 4 thereon.

It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An over-the-door hanger adapted to be placed on top of and extend over portions of both sides of a door comprising:

a.) a generally U-shaped bracket

b.) a plurality of telescoping hook segments

2. The telescoping hook segments of claim 1 having raised portions on one side allowing the segments to be slidably inserted into one another.

3. The telescoping hook segments of claim 1 having raised portions with teeth and interlocking tabs allowing them to be selectively positioned at a varietal of lengths.