U.S. patent application number 11/337368 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for hanging device for supporting an article and associated hanger.
Invention is credited to Gregory Ambrose.
Application Number | 20070170334 11/337368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38284603 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070170334 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ambrose; Gregory |
July 26, 2007 |
Hanging device for supporting an article and associated hanger
Abstract
A method of hanging an article includes providing a hanger
having an elongated line with an upper loop at or adjacent one end
and a lower hanging structure at or adjacent the other end, passing
the line over a support structure, passing the lower hanging
structure through the upper loop and supporting an article from the
lower hanging structure. An associated hanger is also disclosed.
The loop and lower hanging structure may be integrally formed
within the hanger or may be a separately secured element. The
hanger is preferably made from a flexible material.
Inventors: |
Ambrose; Gregory;
(Murrysville, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES J. BYRNE, PH.D.
322 ADOLPHUS AVENUE
CLIFFSIDE PARK
NJ
07010
US
|
Family ID: |
38284603 |
Appl. No.: |
11/337368 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/317 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 7/047 20130101;
F16G 11/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/317 |
International
Class: |
A47G 29/02 20060101
A47G029/02; A47H 1/10 20060101 A47H001/10 |
Claims
1. A method of hanging an article comprising providing a hanger
comprising an elongated line having an upper loop at or adjacent
one end thereof and a lower hanging structure at or adjacent the
other end thereof, passing said line over a support structure,
passing said lower hanging structure through said loop, and
suspending said article from said lower hanging structure.
2. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including said lower
hanging structure being a loop.
3. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including said line
being a flexible line.
4. The method of hanging an article of claim 3 including said line
being made from a resilient plastic.
5. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including said line
being made from metal wire.
6. The method of hanging an article of claim 2 including said upper
loop and said lower hanging structure being integrally formed on
said line.
7. The method of hanging an article of claim 2 including said lower
hanging structure being a closed loop.
8. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including said
article being a container.
8a. The method of hanging an article of claim 8 including said
container having a plant disposed therein.
9. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including said
article being a decorative article.
10. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including said
support structure being a generally horizontally oriented portion
of a building.
11. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including employing
a double hook to secure said article to said lower hanging
structure.
12. The method of hanging an article of claim 2 including said
upper loop and said lower hanging structure being flexible.
13. The method of hanging an article of claim 2 including said
upper loop and said lower hanging structure being substantially
rigid.
14. The method of hanging an article of claim 1 including employing
a said hanger having an overall length of about 1 to 6 feet.
15. A hanger for supporting an article comprising an elongated
flexible body, an upper loop, a lower hanging structure, said lower
hanging structure being structured to pass through said upper
loop.
16. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 15 including said
lower hanging structure being a loop.
17. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 15 including said
body being a flexible line.
18. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 17 including said
line being composed of a resilient plastic.
19. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 16 including said
line being a metal wire.
20. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 16 including said
upper loop and said lower hanging structure being integrally formed
in said line.
21. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 16 including said
loops being closed.
22. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 15 including said
article being a container.
23. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 22 including said
container structured to receive a plant.
24. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 15 including said
article being a decorative article.
25. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 15 including said
hanger being structured to be wrapped over a horizontal support
member with the said lower hanging structure being structured to
pass through upper loop.
26. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 15 including a
double hook structured to be secured to said lower hanging
structure and to support said article.
27. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 16 including said
upper loop and said lower hanging device being flexible.
28. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 16 including said
upper loop and said lower hanging structure being substantially
rigid.
29. The hanger for supporting an article of claim 15 including said
hanger having an overall length of about 1 to 6 feet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method of hanging an
article and the related hanger employed in the method wherein the
hanger is adapted to be simply and effectively secured to a support
structure and also to provide a hanging structure to which the
article may be secured directly or with an intermediate hanging
device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] It has been known to hang various articles by hangers which
have adequate tensile strength to support the load and are secured
to a support structure. For example, it has been known to secure
hooks to a ceiling surface with an article being suspended from
such hooks.
[0005] It has also been known to secure hangers to overlying
support by tying knots in a rope or similar flexible material or to
provide various forms of clips and other arrangements employing
mechanical fasteners to secure the same.
[0006] Among the items secured by such hangers are hanging flower
pots, functional items and decorative items, which typically have a
flexible member secured to the flower pot at two locations, and
engaged by a hook from above to directly support the pot or having
a rope tied to the inverted U-shape or bail member with the upper
end being secured to a hook or clip fastener.
[0007] It has also been known to secure an overlying hanger member
having an eyelet through which a hook or cord, which secures an
article, passes.
[0008] Despite the foregoing, there remains a very real and
substantial need for the method of hanging an article and an
associated hanger which will, without requiring tools and
mechanical fastening means, simply and effectively permit those
even unskilled in handyman crafts to hang articles securely in a
simple manner at a desired elevation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention has met the above-described needs. It
discloses a method of hanging an article which includes providing a
hanger having an elongated line or body with an upper loop at or
adjacent one end thereof and a lower hanging structure at or
adjacent the other end, passing the line over a support structure
and passing the lower hanging structure through the loop followed
by suspending the article from the lower hanging structure.
[0010] The lower hanging structure may also be in the form of a
loop. The loops may be integrally formed with a suitable fastening
means securing the same in the desired configuration. It is
preferred that the line or body be flexible and be composed of a
resinous plastic material, such as nylon, for example, although a
metal wire could also be employed. The article being supported may
be secured directly to the lower hanging structure or may have one
or intermediate members, such as a double hook, for example.
[0011] In one embodiment, the article may be an upwardly open
container which may have inherent functional or decorative
properties and/or may secure a plant or flowers.
[0012] The apparatus of the present invention preferably includes
an elongated flexible body having an upper loop and a lower hanging
structure with the lower hanging structure being of such size,
shape and material as to pass through the upper loop.
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
strong, simple and economical method and associated hanger for
securely supporting articles being hung directly or indirectly
therefrom.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide
such a hanger which may be composed of a flexible material having
integrally formed loops such that one loop can pass through the
other after the hanger body has passed over or engaged by the
structural support member.
[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an effective hanger which may be installed without requiring
mechanical fasteners or the use of tools.
[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
such a hanger which is not highly visible.
[0017] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
such a system which may be made in different lengths depending upon
the elevation at which the supported article is to be
positioned.
[0018] These and other objects of the present invention will be
more fully understood from the following description of the
invention with reference to the drawings appended hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a form of hanger of
the present invention employable in the method of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a hanger of the
present invention partially overlying a support structure.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an illustration similar to FIG. 2, but showing a
next step in the method of hanging an article employing the method
of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but shows a portion of the
hanger extending farther downward from the support structure.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows an article being supported by the hanger of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows an integrally formed upper loop of the hanger
of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 shows a modified form of loop which is a separately
formed article secured to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 shows a horizontal support structure with a
downwardly depending hook and the upper portion of the hanger with
the loop which can receive the hook.
[0027] FIG. 9 shows a horizontal support member having a depending
hook securable to a hanger loop.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] As employed herein, the term "article" means an item which
is to be suspended from and supported by means of a generally
overlying structure and shall expressly include, but not be limited
to, decorative articles, works of art, containers, containers of
flowers, containers having plants therein, functional articles and
other items which may advantageously be supported by the hanger
construction or method of the present invention.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of
the hanger 2 of the present invention. In the form shown, it has a
line or body 4 which extends from and is connected to an upper loop
6 and a lower hanging structure 10, which in the form shown, is a
loop. The line or body is preferably composed of a flexible plastic
material or a suitable metal wire, for example. In a preferred
embodiment, it is made of nylon and has a thickness of about 0.065
to 0.155 inch.
[0030] As employed herein, the term "loop" means a closed or
substantially closed portion of a hanger which defines an opening
and may be of circular, oval, rectangular or other desired shape
which permits it to function in the manner described herein.
[0031] The hanger preferably has an overall length L of about 1 to
6 feet.
[0032] Referring to the method of the present invention and with
specific reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a horizontal
structural support member 14 which may, for example, be a portion
of a residential or commercial building and may be one which is
positioned indoors or out of doors. In the form shown, the support
member is a wooden beam. The upper loop 6 is on one side of the
structural member 14 and the lower loop 10 is on the other with the
line 4 being draped thereover.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, the lower loop 10 has passed through
the upper loop 6 as has a portion of the line 4. It will be
appreciated that either through flexibility or shape and dimension,
the lower loop 10 will be so configurated as to pass freely through
upper loop 6. FIG. 4 illustrates the next step of the method
wherein the lower loop 10 continues to move downwardly drawing more
of the line 4 of hanger 2 through upper loop 6.
[0034] In the form shown in FIG. 5, the lower loop 10 has been
engaged by hook member 20 which has a downwardly open hook 22
engaged with loop 10. A container 30, in the form shown, contains a
plant indicated generally by reference number 32 and a support,
which in the form shown, is integrally formed with hook 20 and
which has elongated depending support lines 36, 38, 40, 42 secured
to the container 30. In this manner, the hanger 2 of the present
invention employing the method of the present invention provides a
means of supporting the container 30 by structural member 14
without requiring the use of tools or mechanical fasteners in
achieving the securement.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a body or line
44, which has a loop 46 in the upper portion thereof, having an
opening 48. A first portion of the line 60 cooperates with
reentrantly bent portion of the line 62 in defining the loop 46.
This arrangement is held in place in the form shown by a metal
crimping sleeve 64 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In lieu of using a
metal, tubular, compressible fastener such as 64, if desired, a
generally tubular-shaped shrink plastic element may be positioned
in the location shown and under the influence of appropriate heat
caused to restrict radially thereby securing the assembly.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, there is a separately
formed loop member 70 which may be composed of metal or plastic,
for example. This is secured to the hanger 72 by interlocking with
line portion 74 and line portion 76 with a suitable compression
member 78 securing the assembly. A similar element may be employed
as the lower hanging structure, if desired. In a preferred
embodiment, the flexible plastic material of the hanger may be made
of a transparent or translucent material so as to minimize the
visibility of the same.
[0037] FIG. 9 shows a form of the invention wherein a structural
member 80 has a downwardly projecting, upwardly open hook 82 which
is structured to receive a loop 84 of hanger 86.
[0038] It will be appreciated that while in a preferred embodiment
of the invention, the entire hanger may be made from a unitary
piece of material with loops formed by reentrant portions of the
ends of the line or body with a suitable crimping element securing
loop in the desired configuration, or by a separately formed loop
member secured to the line or body, other structures may be
employed.
[0039] Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been
described herein for purposes of illustration, it will be evident
to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details
may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *