U.S. patent number 3,754,664 [Application Number 05/202,833] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-28 for telescoping hanger brackets.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Skyway Luggage Company. Invention is credited to Henry L. Kotkins.
United States Patent |
3,754,664 |
Kotkins |
August 28, 1973 |
TELESCOPING HANGER BRACKETS
Abstract
The telescoping multi-section hanger bracket for use in a
luggage case wherein the hanger supporting means has a downward
slope toward the back of the case, whereby the hangers tend to
continually move to the back of the case. For loading or unloading
the hangers, the bracket is extended outwardly from the case to a
distance approximately twice the depth of the case and includes a
minimum of two-point support for each of the sections during the
entire extension, thereby preventing twisting or bending of the
bracket when loaded and extended.
Inventors: |
Kotkins; Henry L. (Seattle,
WA) |
Assignee: |
Skyway Luggage Company
(Seattle, WA)
|
Family
ID: |
22751448 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/202,833 |
Filed: |
November 29, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/94.01;
248/298.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C
3/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45C
3/00 (20060101); A45c 013/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;190/13R,13B,13C,13D,41B,41E ;248/298,300,223
;312/321,335,336,338,347 ;211/94,94.5,105.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Frazier; Roy D.
Assistant Examiner: Stroup; Richard L.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A telescoping hanger bracket for use in soft sided luggage cases
comprising:
an elongated base element having generally coplanar outwardly
extending side portions for securement to the top of the case, a
central portion outside the plane of the side portions extending in
a downwardly direction from the top, and a pair of parallel ribs
extending substantially the length of said central of the base
element,
a first telescoping section comprising an elongated element,
generally U-shaped in cross section, having a base and generally
parallel legs, said telescoping section being inverted and having
an elongated slot in the base and in each of the legs, a pair of
fastening elements secured to the elongated base element and
extending downwardly to terminate in a head portion larger than the
width of the slot in the base of the first telescoping section,
said fastening elements being spaced along a line parallel to the
ribs of the base element whereby the first telescoping element has
continual spaced support along and lateral to the path of travel
provided by the ribs and the fastening elements,
a second telescoping section slidably secured to the first
telescoping section, said second telescoping section including a
pair of spaced upstanding ears for securement juxtaposed with the
legs of the first telescoping section,
fastening means spaced along the path of travel, for securing each
of the ears of the second telescoping section to the first
telescoping section whereby the second telescoping section has
continuous spaced support along and lateral to the path of travel
while allowing free access to the clothing suspended therefrom, the
entire structure being highly resistant to the bending and twisting
torques to which a device of this nature is normally subjected.
2. A hanger bracket as in claim 1 wherein the second telescoping
section is in the form of a closed loop with the lower portion
sloping generally rearwardly whereby the hangers supported are
continuously urged rearwardly.
3. A hanger bracket as in claim 1 and including means attached to
the outermost end of the second telescoping section for supporting
said section when the bracket is extended.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has long been the desire of travelers to be able to carry such
things as suits, dresses, coats and the like suspended to their
full length such that when the travelers arrive at their
destination the garments will be relatively wrinkle free.
In an effort to satisfy the demand for these carrying elements, the
manufacturers of luggage cases have devised cases which have a
relatively soft midsection whereby they may be folded. The folded
case is more easily stored and carried and yet when the destination
is reached they may be suspended from one end and the clothing in
them will be hung at full length. The full length suspension will
quickly hang out any wrinkles that may have developed during
folding.
One of the problems which has become apparent with the type of case
herein above described is the difficulty in getting the clothing
hung neatly within the bags such that wrinkles are not generated.
The hanger supporting means is usually rigidly secured to one end
of the case extending the full depth and the clothing must be
forced inside the case before it is possible to hang its supporting
hanger on the bracket. Further, with this type of a case it is
difficult for the traveler to locate the particular item of
clothing he desires since each item of clothing is necessarily
hidden, either totally or partially, behind the garment suspended
immediately in front of it.
In an effort to eliminate the above noted inconveniences a bracket
has been designed for use in conjunction with a folding luggage
case wherein the support means for the clothes hangers upon which
the garments are placed is mounted in a telescopic fashion. The
hanger support may be pulled forwardly out of the case to a
position free of the case confines where the traveler may have
ready access to his clothing. Additionally, the garments are free
of the garment bag and thus exposed to the air and able to hang the
wrinkles out more quickly and easily.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
telescoping hanger bracket for use in a luggage case wherein the
hanger bracket is capable of extending to approximately double the
length it requires when closed and yet the bracket takes very
little room within the case when closed, leaving the extra room
available for the hanging of the clothing.
A further object is to provide a rigid telescoping hanger support
which, when extended, has a minimum of two-point support for each
section, greatly decreasing the possibility of structural failure
because of overloading the bracket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an environmental view showing the type of luggage in
which the inventive hanger bracket will be secured;
FIG. 2 is a view of the hanger bracket as viewed in closed
condition as seen from the end of the bracket;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the bracket in a closed or collapsed
condition;
FIG. 4 is a section to the bracket along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the inventive bracket with portions broken
away exposing the means of securing one section to another;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the inventive bracket in an extended
position;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hanger bracket in an extended
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Seen in FIG. 1 is a luggage case of the soft sided folding type
which would use the inventive bracket hereinafter disclosed. The
case comprises a generally elongated covering or protective member
2 which is capable of being folded in the center where it would be
normally compressed by a belt 6 enabling the case to be in a more
compact condition when stored in a car or other vehicle. The case
is opened or closed by means of a zipper 8 which extends
substantially around three sides of the periphery allowing ready
access to the contents of the case when suspended from one end. A
hanger supporting bracket, generally designated as 10, is secured
to the end of the case designed to be hung uppermost providing
support for a multiplicity of garments suspended by clothes
hangers.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 6 the inventive telescoping
bracket comprises a first section 20 adapted to be riveted to the
end of the luggage case normally reinforced or stiffened in some
fashion. When in its operational position, i.e., with the case
suspended from the end upon which the bracket is mounted, the first
section 20 has a downwardly protruding center section 22 between
two outwardly protruding ribs 28 which serve as bearing points for
the second section of the hanger bracket.
Secured to the center section 22 of the supporting element 20 in a
spaced relationship is an elongated plate member 30 of
approximately the same width as the distance between the ribs 28
but less length than supporting element 20 which in the preferred
embodiment is fixed in parallel relationship by rivets 31 but which
could be secured thereby by any well known fastening means.
Mounted between the plate 30 and the ribs or contact members 28 is
a second telescoping section 32 of a generally squared inverted "U"
shaped cross-section. The second telescoping section 32 includes a
slot 34 in its upper surface 36, normally the base, to accommodate
the rivets 31 which secure the plate 30 to the main supporting
member 20. Although as described herein above the second
telescoping member 32 is of generally a "U" shaped cross-section
when viewed from the end but as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 the
section 32 is of an irregular shape. The base 36 is of
approximately the same length as the base 20 and the slot 34
although closed at both ends extends substantially the entire
length of the base 36. The right leg 38, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4,
extends from the front 40 of the section 32 approximately three
fourths the length of the base 36. The left leg 42, as seen in
FIGS. 2 and 4, extends from the front approximately three fourths
of the distance rearwardly. Each of the legs 38, 42 includes a slot
44 parallel to the base 36 closed at both ends and extending
substantially the full length of the legs.
Mounted for sliding relationship between the legs 38, 42 of the
second telescoping section 32 is a third section 46 telescopically
related to the second section. The third section 46 includes a pair
of upwardly extending ears 48, 50 which are designed to interact
with the slots 44 in the legs 38, 42 of the second section 32 and
are located such that the rivets 52 which extend from the ears 48,
50 and pass through the slots 44 making a sliding securement
thereto will simultaneously contact the end of the slots 44. The
main body portion of the third section 46 is a closed loop having a
top portion having a rear section 54 disposed approximately
parallel to the edges of legs 38, 42 having integral therewith the
ears 48, 50 and a forward section 56 extending upwardly in an
angular direction to terminate at a point where it will just clear
the inside of second section 32 when in a closed or collapsed
condition. The front portion 58 of section 46 is of a lesser width
than the remainder such that the standard suitcase hanger may pass
thereby and rest upon the rearwardly sloping bottom portion 60. The
loop is closed by a solid rear portion 62.
Referring now to FIG. 7 it can be seen that the rear portion of the
main supporting section 20 is relieved at 64 to allow the hanger
element 66 to extend upwardly therefrom to support the hanger case.
The top forward portion 56 of the third section 46 has a hole 68
for attachment of a supporting chain 70 which could be fastened to
the hanger element 66 preventing sag of the case during use.
Alternatively, the hole 68 could be used as a fastening position
for a pull tab or the like for ease in extending the bracket.
As can be seen, the inventive bracket makes full length garment
bags more convenient and practical and further resolves the
problems with prior hangers.
* * * * *