Neckwear cabinet

Abstract

A cabinet for neckwear comprising telescoping bars carried by built-in guideways, tie support elements particularly adapted for the type of neckwear to be stored and displayed, and universal mounting means for the cabinet is disclosed. The support elements on the telescoping bars particularly advantageously provide storage for the conventional hanging type neckwear, such as neckties, scarves, etc., formed neckwear, such as ties and pre-formed bow ties so that all may be brought into clear view without interference and any one may be readily removed for wearing. The telescoping bars are each provided with a finger loop at one end whereby the bars may be easily extended after opening the cabinet. Hanging type neckwear is supported on horizontal rods forming hangers mounted on one of the telescoping bars. Pre-formed ties are supported on swinging chip-like plates mounted on another of the telescoping bars and the clip-on bow ties are supported on flanges mounted on a third telescoping bar. The bars are carried on double shouldered tracks on the inner walls of the cabinet. The cabinet is universally mounted in a closet such as a clothes closet by means of a wall plate and clothes rod receiving adjustable brackets.

Description

The present invention relates to article supports, and more particularly, to improvements in cabinets for the storage and display of neckwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is not unusual for an average man to have a large variety of neckwear. His wardrobe usually comprises neckties of many colors, patterns and designs. Additionally, his wardrobe will very probably comprise convenient pre-formed clip-on ties which are gaining in popularity as their colors and style selections widen.

As style changes, ties that were once considered out of style experience a resurgence of popularity. The case in point is the bow tie. This tie has gone through many cycles and will, no doubt, continue to cycle.

The above considerations present a problem with storage of neckwear. Most men have means of storing conventional ties, and some men have means for storing clip-on ties; and a few have bow tie storage means. However, as noted above, changing styles and preferences may require a man to own, and use, diverse types of ties. Because of the variety in form and material of neckties and the manner of wearing the ties, a rack or cabinet adapted for one type of tie is not suitable for other types or styles. A satisfactory solution to this tie storage problem would thus be a contribution to this art that is believed would gain wide acceptance. Desirable advantages that would add to the contribution would be: (1) lowering of costs involved in storing a large volume of ties, (2) providing for quick and easy access with clear display for tie selection, (3) providing neat appearing organized storage of the ties, and (4) creation of a handsome storage cabinet itself for enhancing the appearance of the closet or other clothes storage area.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet with the above attributes, which cabinet is particularly designed for efficiently storing a wide variety of styles and types of neckwear.

A broader objective of the present invention is to provide a cabinet for convenience in both storage and selection of neckwear.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet of integral construction which is compact and sturdy.

A further objective of the invention is to provide an attractive cabinet which is inexpensively and simply yet sturdily constructed.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a cabinet which is easily installed in a clothes closet or the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A neckwear cabinet is provided wherein a large number and variety of neckties or neckwear may be stored together. Convenient selection is provided by supporting the neckwear on telescoping bars which are connected to the cabinet by means of guideways and trackways. The bars are operated by finger loops positioned on the ends of the bars. Stops positioned on the bars prevent over extension of the bars. A wall plate is positioned on the outside of the cabinet to cooperate with brackets located on the top of said cabinet to support said cabinet in place. The top mounted brackets are adjustable and fit around a bar, such as a closet clothes bar, to provide support to said cabinet. The cabinet is conveniently mounted in a closet by means of the brackets and wall plate.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by me of carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same;

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a neckwear cabinet embodying this invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the telescoping bars of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view (cut-away) of a telescoping bar partially extended;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show diverse mounting means for neckwear; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a bracket used in mounting the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the figures, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be presented. A cabinet 10 constructed of wood, plastic or the like and which is both attractive and compact is provided, particularly adapted for the storage of neckwear, such as neckties. The cabinet allows convenient storage of a variety of styles and types of neckwear in one single area. Broadly, cabinet 10 has a base 11, sidewalls 12, door 13 and top 14. The door 13 may be retained in the closed position by any suitable latch and the closed cabinet advantageously protects the neckwear from ambient conditions.

The cabinet 10 is supported on a clothes bar, such as B, by elongated brackets 16 which are held in place by fastening bolts 17 passing through top 14 and interfitting with wing nuts 18. Brackets 16, as will be seen later, adjustably engage bar B to form one portion of the cabinet support. Bolts 17 projecting through longitudinal slots 5 beyond bracket 16, allow convenient positioning of brackets 16 on top 14. A wall plate 19, forming a second support for cabinet 10, is secured to said cabinet and is attached to a wall W.

Positioned within cabinet 10 are telescoping bars 21, 22 and 23. As will be seen, bar 21 accommodates straight ties or the like, bar 22 accommodates pre-formed neckwear, such as ties, and bar 23 accommodates pre-formed bow ties.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a detailed description of the telescoping bars will now be presented. Bars 21 and 22 are similar and hence this description will refer only to bar 21; however, it is understood that the description is equally applicable to bar 22. As shown in FIG. 2A, bar 21 is telescopingly built into top 14 by means of T-shaped guideway 25. Bar 21 comprises a plurality of horizontally collapsible sections, such as 26 and 27, telescopingly interfitting with each other by means of T-shaped guideway 28. It is understood that there may be any number of telescoping sections and the two shown in FIG. 2A are by way of illustration only and are not intended as a limitation thereof. Neckties T are supported on the bar 21 by mounting plate assembly 29 which is secured to bar 21 by a screw or other securing means 30. The guideways 25 and 28 are shown to be T-shaped or shouldered, but may be any other functional shape within the broad aspects of the invention.

Telescoping bar 23 for pre-formed bow ties is shown in FIG. 2B. The bar 23, like bars 21 and 22, is collapsible and comprises telescoping section 31 slidingly mounted within telescoping section 32 by guideway 33. Bow ties are supported on bar 23 by individual mounting plates or flanges 51 longitudinally spaced along and attached thereto. Bar 23 is conveniently mounted on the inside of one side wall 12 of the cabinet 10 by means of trackway 34 which forms the guideway 35.

Telescoping bar 21 is shown in the partially extended (cut-away) position in FIG. 3. Bar 21, like bars 22 and 23, is extended by means of an arcuate finger loop 36 attached to the innermost section 27, said loop being adapted to be engaged by the forefinger and thumb of the user in the obvious manner. Full extension of section 27 without separation from section 26 is insured by stop assembly 37. A stop finger 38 of the assembly is attached to telescoping section 27 and contacts a washer abutment 39 on telescoping section 26 upon full extension of the bar 21. The position of stop assembly 37 is selected to allow a prescribed amount of extension of bar 21, i.e., as the section 27 is pulled out to its fullest extent, the section 27 on which the ties are carried, is extended beyond the door jamb of the cabinet to allow convenient display and thus easy selection of ties. Note, for example in FIG. 1, the positioning of the section 31 of the bar 23 in the fully accessible position outside the cabinet 10. Note that each section of the bars 21-23 remains supported by a substantial length of the cooperating adjacent section so that said bar remains sturdy in all positions.

As seen in FIG. 1, bar 23 has a stop assembly 37' similar to stop means 37. Stop finger 38' mounted on telescoping bar 23 engages abutment stop 39' upon full extension of bar 23.

The telescoping bars provide several important features to the cabinet 10. First, the bars are easily constructed thereby providing simplicity of design and construction to the cabinet. Simplicity, while enhancing the attractiveness of the cabinet, more importantly, reduces the unit cost of construction of said cabinet. Simplicity of construction also provides compactness to the cabinet. Because no complicated mechanical parts are required, the various components of the cabinet 10 operate smoothly. Furthermore, the compact design of the component parts of the cabinet also allows more space for the storage of the neckwear itself, providing maximum usage of available space. The cabinet therefore provides storage for a relatively large number of ties. Third, but perhaps most important, the telescoping bars provide a simple, effective and convenient means of allowing selection of a particular necktie without disturbing other neckwear also stored in the cabinet.

The tie or neckwear mounting plates that are carried on the bars 21-23 are best shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. Hangers 40 are attached to the depending plate 29 on the section 27 (see FIG. 2A) and are designed to support straight four-in-hand ties, denoted by reference character T, as shown in FIG. 4A. The hangers 40, fabricated of plastic, steel or the like, extend approximately horizontal, as shown in FIG. 1, and have a bent-up end to retain ties T in the position shown in FIG. 4A. Hangers 40 also provide a convenient means for storing the Western style string ties or conventional untied bow ties as well as any other hanging type neckwear.

As seen in FIG. 4A, the plate 29 is approximately Z-shaped having horizontal sections 41 and 42 and vertical sections 43 and 44. The hanger assembly is attached to telescoping section 27 of bar 21 along horizontal section 41 of said hanger assembly. As shown, hangers 40 or hanger elements are attached to plate 29 on vertical section 44. The preferred embodiment of plate 29, shown in FIG. 4A, comprises two hangers 40 in a column, however, any number may be chosen to form a column. The column may be staggered along the length of the section 27, as shown in FIG. 1.

Pre-formed hanging neckwear such as ties C having clip 45, whereby said tie may be attached to the collar of a shirt, are stored on telescoping bar 22 by means, such as chip-like plates 46, shown in FIG. 4B. Clip 45 attaches to mounting aperture 47 of the plate 46. Rings 49 fit into attaching holes 48 and thereby attach plate 46 to a telescoping section of bar 22 so that swinging action takes place. This allows variation in space for each of the ties and manual separation for better observation. The shape of plate 46 may be that shown in FIG. 4B, oval, circular or any other decorative shape. Thus with these two bars 21, 22, the two most popular types of ties may be stored together, but readily accessible. By supporting ties T and C vertically, the ties are stored in such a manner as to not only remain wrinkle-free, but actually allow wrinkles to be "hung out" during storage.

Pre-formed bow ties, such as D, which include elongated clip 50 to fasten a tie to the collar of a shirt are stored in cabinet 10 on mounting plates 51, as shown in FIG. 4C. The mounting plates 51 are attached to the remaining telescoping bar 23, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2B and 4C. Mounting plate 51 is approximately U-shaped having flared ends 52 and 53. For convenience in selecting ties, plate 51 is attached on one side perpendicular to bar 23, but at a slight angle to the vertical. This allows the upper portion of each bow tie D to be exposed sufficiently in view to identify the color and pattern when the bar 23 is withdrawn from the cabinet 10. Flared end 52 prohibits the ties from slipping off plate 51 and flared end 53 serves as the attaching means for the mounting plate 51. The clip 50 of the tie D attaches to plate 51 thereby mounting the ties D in the position shown in FIG. 4C. The mounting of the bar 23 along the side 12 (FIG. 1) and below the ties C that are shorter than the four-in-hand ties T, makes the most effective use of space provided by cabinet 10. Any size bow tie may easily be accommodated on bar 23, from the small button-type ties to the "mod" jumbo ties that are now becoming popular.

As shown in FIG. 1, cabinet 10 is conveniently mounted on a supporting bar B (such as a closet clothes bar B or the like) by means of brackets 16. A bracket 16 is shown enlarged in FIG. 5. Bracket 16 is wedge-shape, having side faces 60, top 62 and end 64. A semi-circular passage 65 is positioned near end 64. An elongated slot 66 is positioned in the top 62 near apex 67 of wedge-shaped bracket 16. The slot 66 is elongated to allow adjustment of bolt 17 and nut 18 to accommodate various diameter bars. Also, as the distance between bar B and adjacent wall W (see FIG. 1) may vary, the elongated shape of slot 66 permits expeditious installation of cabinet 10 by allowing a simple lengthwise compensation or adjustment of bracket 16.

Because of the adjustable feature provided by bracket 16, and because face 63 of bracket 16 need not be exactly flush with top 14 along the entire length thereof, passage 65 will accommodate any diameter of bar B without modification of bracket 16.

In operation, a straight tie T may be selected by grasping the loop 36 and extending telescoping bar 21. The innermost telescoping section 27 extends out beyond the plane of the door opening (at the door jamb) to its fully extended length, thereby presenting the entire selection of ties T for easy view and access. The stop assembly 37 maintains a substantial portion of the section 27 within the section 26 and prevents further extension of bar 21 after the maximum desirable extension thereof. After selection, pushing force is exerted on the loop 36 to return the bar 21. With telescoping bar 21 back in position, door 13 may easily be closed to protect the ties. The operation of bars 22 and 23 are similar to the above-described operation of bar 21.

In summary, a cabinet 10 has been provided for storing a selection of neckwear or ties T, C, D of diverse types. Each type is separately mounted on its own telescoping bar 21-23 and all ties are easily accessible outside the cabinet 10 when the bars are extended. The cabinet 10 is attached by at a least one adjustable bracket 16 and stabilized by a wall bracket 19.

In this disclosure, there is shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, but as aforementioned, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environment and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.

Claims

I claim:

1. A neckwear support and display cabinet comprising a plurality of guideways mounted in said cabinet, a plurality of telescoping bars slidably mounted in said guideways, each of said bars including at least two interfitting sections, means for supporting neckwear connected to said bars, said supporting means comprising at least a first set of hangers connected to one bar for hanging a first type of neckwear and a second set of different hangers connected to another bar for a second different type of neckwear, and mounting means for said cabinet, the neckwear supporting sections of said telescoping bars being individually extendable outside said cabinet whereby a relatively large volume of diverse neckwear may be stored and neckwear types individually displayed for selection, wherein said mounting means includes at least one mounting bracket for engaging a clothes rod in a closet, said mounting bracket being elongated and including a transverse cutout to receive said clothes rod, said bracket containing a longitudinal slot, and fastening means extending through said slot for adjustably attaching said cabinet to said brackets.

2. A neckwear cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein said interfitting sections are substantially T-shaped in cross section.