U.S. patent number RE42,568 [Application Number 11/397,053] was granted by the patent office on 2011-07-26 for device for holding garment hangers.
Invention is credited to Paul Artemi.
United States Patent |
RE42,568 |
Artemi |
July 26, 2011 |
Device for holding garment hangers
Abstract
A device for holding garment hangers is described which has two
parts: one preferably inflexible hook part made of plastics
material or metal shaped to be carried by a rail and a flexible
loop or strap or series of loops, adapted to receive many garment
hangers. The two parts are connected flexibly and the loop may be
adjusted to alter its separation from a rail. The device allows
more garments to be hung from a single rail than previously was
possible and is particularly useful in the transport and storage of
garments in shops, warehouses and factories. Two devices may be
interlocked across a handler's shoulders.
Inventors: |
Artemi; Paul (Middlesex,
GB) |
Family
ID: |
26301197 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/397,053 |
Filed: |
July 1, 1993 |
PCT
Filed: |
July 01, 1993 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/GB93/01389 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
February 09, 1995 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO93/24219 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
December 09, 1993 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
08362561 |
Feb 9, 1995 |
5584455 |
Dec 17, 1996 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 3, 1992 [GB] |
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9214229 |
Oct 26, 1992 [GB] |
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9222479 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/214; 211/113;
248/215; 223/85; 248/301; 248/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
25/1471 (20130101); A47G 25/1457 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
96/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;248/214,215,301,304,339,340,85 ;223/85 ;211/113 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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111320 |
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Sep 1925 |
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CH |
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454516 |
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Apr 1913 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Wood; Kimberly T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
LLP
Claims
I claim:
.[.1. A device for holding garment hangers, the device comprising:
a first part formed of substantially rigid plastics material and
being in the form of a hook having an arcuate lower surface shaped
and adapted to be carried directly on a rail, the arcuate lower
surface being smooth so as to slide on the rail adjacent to garment
hangers hung directly on the rail, the first part further having a
ring spaced from the hook, the ring having a curved upper internal
surface to facilitate carrying a plurality of garments by hand; and
a second part comprising a loop in the form of a strap of flexible
webbing attached to the first part through the ring, the loop
having two parallel side walls extending generally in the same
plane as the hook, and providing adapted to provide lateral support
for garment hangers in the loop to keep them in an orientation
substantially parallel to the garment hangers hung directly on the
rail, so as to increase the number of hangers which can be carried
by the rail..].
2. .Iadd.A device .Iaddend. .[.according to claim 1,.]. .Iadd.for
holding garment hangers, the device comprising: a first part formed
of substantially rigid plastics materials and being in the form of
a hook having an arcuate lower surface shaped and adapted to be
carried directly on a rail, the arcuate lower surface being smooth
so as to slide on the rail adjacent to garment hangers hung
directly on the rail, the first part further having a ring spaced
from the hook, the ring having a curved upper internal surface to
facilitate carrying a plurality of garments by hand; and a second
part comprising a loop in the form of a strap of flexible webbing
attached to the first part through the ring, the loop having two
parallel side walls extending generally in the same plane as the
hook, and adapted to provide lateral support for garment hangers in
the loop to keep them in an orientation substantially parallel to
the garment hangers hung directly on the rail, so as to increase
the number of hangers which can be carried by the rail,.Iaddend.
wherein the second part further comprises adjustable means for
altering the distance between the second part and the first
part.
.[.3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second part
comprises a plurality of loops..].
.[.4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first part is a
hook in the form of a closed loop for permanent attachment to a
rail..].
.[.5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first part further
comprises a latched element for resisting inadvertent displacement
from a rail..].
.[.6. A method of hanging garments from a rail, comprising hanging
the hook of a device according to claim 1 on the rail, and
supporting at least one garment hanger in the loop of the
device..].
.[.7. A method of hanging garments from a rail, comprising hanging
two devices according to claim 1, at spaced positions on a rail,
and suspending a second rail by means of the loops of the two
spaced devices..].
.Iadd.8. A device for holding garment hangers, the device
comprising: a first part formed of substantially rigid plastics
material and being in the form of a hook having an arcuate lower
surface shaped and adapted to be carried directly on a rail, the
arcuate lower surface being smooth so as to slide on the rail
adjacent to garment hangers hung directly on the rail, the first
part further having a ring spaced from the hook, the ring having a
curved upper internal surface located on an exterior of the ring
and facing internally with respect to the hook to facilitate
carrying a plurality of garments by hand, wherein the ring and the
hook are formed continuously together as one piece from the
plastics material; and a second part comprising a loop in the form
of a strap of flexible webbing attached to the first part through
the ring, the loop having two parallel side walls extending
generally in the same plane as the hook, the side walls having a
width that is substantially greater than the thickness so as to
provide lateral support for garment hangers in the loop to keep
them in an orientation substantially parallel to the garment
hangers hung directly on the rail, so as to increase the number of
hangers which can be carried by the rail..Iaddend.
.Iadd.9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the second part
further comprises adjustable means for altering the distance
between the second part and the first part..Iaddend.
.Iadd.10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the second part
comprises a plurality of loops..Iaddend.
.Iadd.11. A device according to claim 8, wherein the first part
further comprises a latched element for resisting inadvertent
displacement from a rail..Iaddend.
.Iadd.12. A device for holding garment hangers, the device
comprising: a first part formed of substantially rigid plastics
material and being in the form of a hook having an arcuate lower
surface shaped and adapted to be carried directly on a rail, the
arcuate lower surface being smooth so as to slide on the rail
adjacent to garment hangers hung directly on the rail, the first
part further having a ring spaced from the hook, the ring having a
curved upper internal surface to facilitate carrying a plurality of
garments by hand; and a second part comprising a loop in the form
of a strap of flexible webbing attached to the first part through
the ring, the loop having two parallel side walls extending
generally in the same plane as the hook, the side walls having a
width that is substantially greater than the thickness so as to
provide lateral support for garment hangers in the loop to keep
them in an orientation substantially parallel to the garment
hangers hung directly on the rail, so as to increase the number of
hangers which can be carried by the rail, wherein the second part
further comprises adjustable means for altering the distance
between the second part and the first part..Iaddend.
.Iadd.13. A device for holding garment hangers, the device
comprising: a first part formed of substantially rigid plastics
material and being in the form of a hook having an arcuate lower
surface shaped and adapted to be carried directly on a rail, the
arcuate lower surface being smooth so as to slide on the rail
adjacent to garment hangers hung directly on the rail, the first
part further having a ring spaced from the hook, the ring having a
curved upper internal surface to facilitate carrying a plurality of
garments by hand; and a second part comprising a loop in the form
of a strap of flexible webbing attached to the first part through
the ring, the loop having two parallel side walls extending
generally in the same plane as the hook, and adapted to provide
lateral support for garment hangers in the loop to keep them in an
orientation substantially parallel to the garment hangers hung
directly on the rail, so as to increase the number of hangers which
can be carried by the rail, wherein the first part further
comprises a latched element for resisting inadvertent displacement
from a rail..Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. A method of hanging garments from a rail, comprising:
hanging two devices for holding garment hangers at spaced positions
on a rail, each device comprising a first part formed of
substantially rigid plastics material and being in the form of a
hook having an arcuate lower surface shaped and adapted to be
carried directly on a rail, the arcuate lower surface being smooth
so as to slide on the rail adjacent to garment hangers hung
directly on the rail, the first part further having a ring spaced
from the hook, the ring having a curved upper internal surface to
facilitate carrying a plurality of garments by hand; and a second
part comprising a loop in the form of a strap of flexible webbing
attached to the first part through the ring, the loop having two
parallel side walls extending generally in the same plane as the
hook, and adapted to provide lateral support for garment hangers in
the loop to keep them in an orientation substantially parallel to
the garment hangers hung directly on the rail, so as to increase
the number of hangers which can be carried by the rail; and
suspending a second rail by means of the loops of the two spaced
devices..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. A method of hanging garments from a rail, the method
comprising: providing a first device for holding garment hangers,
comprising: (i) a first part of substantially rigid plastics
material in the form of a hook having an arcuate lower surface
shaped and adapted to be carried directly on a rail, the arcuate
lower surface being smooth so as to slide on the rail adjacent to
garment hangers hung directly on the rail, the first part further
having a ring spaced from the hook, the ring having a curved upper
internal surface located on an exterior of the ring and facing
internally with respect to the hook to facilitate carrying a
plurality of garments by hand, wherein the ring and the hook are
formed continuously together as one piece from the plastics
material; and (ii) a second part comprising a loop in the form of a
strap of flexible webbing attached to the first part through the
ring, the loop having two parallel side walls extending generally
in the same plane as the hook, the side walls having a width that
is substantially greater than the thickness so as to provide
lateral support for garment hangers in the loop to keep them in an
orientation substantially parallel to the garment hangers hung
directly on the rail, so as to increase the number of hangers which
can be carried by the rail; inserting at least one garment hanger
with a garment hanging thereon into the loop between the two side
walls; and hanging the hook on a rail with the arcuate lower
surface directly engaging the rail..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:
providing a second device for holding garment hangers, the second
device comprising: (i) a first part of substantially rigid plastics
material in the form of a hook having an arcuate lower surface
shaped and adapted to be carried directly on a rail, the arcuate
lower surface being smooth so as to slide on the rail adjacent to
garment hangers hung directly on the rail, the first part further
having a ring spaced from the hook, the ring having a curved upper
internal surface located on an exterior of the ring and facing
internally with respect to the hook to facilitate carrying a
plurality of garments by hand, wherein the ring and the hook are
formed continuously together as one piece from the plastics
material; and (ii) a second part comprising a loop in the form of a
strap of flexible webbing attached to the first part of the second
device through the ring, the loop having two parallel side walls
extending generally in the same plane as the hook, the side walls
having a width that is substantially greater than the thickness so
as to provide lateral support for garment hangers in the loop to
keep them in an orientation substantially parallel to the garment
hangers hung directly on the rail, so as to increase the number of
hangers which can be carried by the rail; inserting at least one
garment hanger with a garment hanging thereon into the loop of the
second device; and hanging the hook of the second device in the
loop of the first device..Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for holding garment
hangers, particularly for hanging garments on a rail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The number of garments which can be hung on any one rail is
traditionally limited by the bulk of the hangers used. The modern
trend for shoulder pads in many garments also adds to the bulk and
reduces the space available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a device
comprising a first part, preferably in the form of a hook, shaped
and adapted to be carried by a rail, and a second part comprising a
loop adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers so as to
increase the number of hangers which can be carried by the
rail.
Preferably, the second part is flexibly connected to the first part
and may itself be flexible and in the form of a strap and is
adjustable to alter the separation of the loop from a rail carrying
the first part.
The flexible strap may comprise a plurality of loops.
In one embodiment, the first part is a hook in the form of a closed
loop for permanent attachment to a rail. Alternatively it comprises
a latched element to resist inadvertent displacement from a
rail.
Preferably the first part is made of an inflexible, strong material
such as a plastics material or metal.
A device according to the invention is particularly useful in
shops, warehouses and factories though it can also be used in
domestic situations.
It is also useful in the transport of garments, either carried by a
rail in a van or to facilitate carrying many garments by hand. For
example two devices may be interlocked across a handler's shoulder.
FIG. 1a shows the inventive device with an adjustable loop.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1, in use, in perspective view;
FIG. 3 shows the device of FIG. 1 in use on a rail together with
traditional garment hangers; and
FIG. 4 shows two alternative embodiments of the device of the
invention;
FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative forms of the hooked portion of the
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device 1 of FIG. 1 has a hooked portion 2 made of rigid
plastics material with a flexible strap 3 attached. .Iadd.As can be
seen clearly in the drawings, the hooked portion 2 has an arcuate
lower surface 10 that is shaped and adapted to be carried directly
on a rail. The arcuate lower surface 10 is smooth for sliding on
the rail. .Iaddend.The flexible strap forms a closed loop passing
through hole 4 in .Iadd.ring 12 that is formed continuously
together with .Iaddend.hooked portion 2 .[.and.]..Iadd.. The ring
12 has a curved, upper surface 11 on the exterior that faces
internally with respect to hooked portion 2. The strap forms
parallel side walls of the loop when .Iaddend.fastened with a rivet
5. The rivet 5 may alternatively be a latched fastening fastener
and may be adjustable to allow adjustment of the position of the
loop relative to the hooked portion 2 and thus to a rail from which
garments are to be hung, as shown in FIG. 1a. The loop could also
be formed by stitching the strap.
FIG. 2 shows the device 1 hung on a rail 6 with several traditional
garment hangers 7 supported in the loop of the strap 3.
The advantage of the device 1 can be seen in FIG. 3 where its use
on rail 6, already crowded with traditional hangers 7, enables
several (here five) more garment hangers 7 to be supported than
would be possible without the device 1.
FIG. 4 shows two alternative embodiments of the device 1a and 1b,
each comprising three loops 8 for supporting yet more garment
hangers than would traditionally be possible on rail 6. In device
1a, the loops 8 comprise separate sections of flexible strap
riveted onto a length of strap 3 supported by hooked portion 2. In
device 1b, the loops 8 are formed by riveting together a double
length of strap 3 at spaced locations.
A device according to the invention is particularly versatile. For
example, two devices can be attached together by the hooked
portions and hung over a handler's shoulder enabling the handler to
carry several garments in front and several behind yet still have
his hands free.
When the device 1 is used on a rail, a second rail can be hung
below the first by insertion into loops of two spaced devices.
Alternatively, the flexibility of the strap 3 enables the loops to
be twisted so that a rail may be hung perpendicular to and between
two parallel rails, for example in a van.
The hooked portion may be an open hook as shown in FIGS. 1-4 or may
be closed for permanent mounting on a rail as shown in FIG. 5, or
may a comprise a latched element to resist inadvertent detachment
from the rail as shown in FIG. 6.
The strap 3 is preferably made from a strong webbing material and
could be made detachable from the hook portion so that worn straps
could be periodically and easily replaced and/or washed.
The looped portion for holding the garment hangers could
alternatively be made of a solid plastics material.
* * * * *