Supports: racks – Special article – Recreational equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-12-18
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Recreational equipment
C211S113000, C211S117000, C024S12900C, C024S12900C, C024S130000, C024S11500R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330949
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the storage of consumer articles, and to storage systems for such articles. More specifically, this invention is a storage system comprising cords with securing cleats hanging from a supporting rack which is fastened to a wall.
2. Related Art
Several U.S. Patents disclose devices for hanging items from multiple cords. For example:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,018,395 (Bower, issued Oct. 22, 1935) discloses an electroplating rack having a cross member with a plurality of spaced portions provided with aligned apertures, and a retractable rod inserted through the apertures. Articles to be electroplated hang from cords tied around the retractable rod, and may be dropped from the device by retraction of the rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,953,828 (Hochman, issued Sep. 27, 1960) discloses a device for keeping socks in pairs during laundering comprising a cloth anchoring cross member with pairs of cloth tying members extending from the anchoring cross member.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,373 (Aguilar, issued January 1973) discloses a suspended elongated main cord having a plurality of flexible loops secured to the main cord at spaced apart points to secure and support articles along the main cord.
Still, there exists a need in the storage system art for a simple and inexpensive wall-mounted hanger system for securing and supporting consumer articles. There is a need for such a system that does not require cords to be tied around the consumer articles and that is not conducive to tangling and disarray. This invention addresses that need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a hanger storage system, comprising a support member having a horizontal dimension, and a plurality of horizontally spaced cords connected to the support member and hanging down from the support member. Some or all of the cords have loops on their distal ends, for receiving consumer articles such as sports gear, tools, household supplies, etc. Preferably, each loop is adjustable in size. The adjustable loop may be formed by a moveable cleat or other fastener that slidably connects the distal end of the cord to the middle section of the cord and that may be slid along the cord until leverage is placed on the cleat to pivot it relative to the cord and thereby “bite” or grip the cord to maintain the size of the loop. Preferably, the loop is tightened around the consumer article and the cleat is slid in to be close to the article (see FIG.
6
), so that the cleat grips the cord and preferably also grips the article, for added security. The article is surrounded by the cord loop and is thereby suspended from the hanger.
The preferred cleat and cord system also is useful for hanging articles having straps, loops, or handles, such as backpacks, coats, or jugs, for example. This is performed by positioning the cleat and loop system into configurations that cooperate with the strap, loop, or handle (See FIGS.
9
and
10
), that is the cord loop and/or cleat pass through the article strap, loop, or handle. For example, the loop may be threaded through a backpack strap and then the loop's end is hung over the cleat with the cleat positioned in a generally vertical position, thus capturing the backpack strap. Or, the loop may be threaded through a jug handle and then the end of the loop is hung over the jug neck itself, thus capturing the jug. Or, the cleat may hang from the cord and, because of the angle of the cleat to the cord, the cleat acts as a “hook” for receiving/passing through a coat loop.
Each cord of the invented hanger may be used to suspend a different article, so that several, differently-sized and differently-shaped articles hang generally side-by-side and are separated by several inches of space. The hanging articles are, therefore, neatly arranged and restrained from falling over or being jumbled in a pile, as is the case in so many workshops, garages, basements, and closets.
When the user wishes to remove an article from the invented hanger, he/she may do so easily and without removing the other items or dealing with falling items. In the many cases in which the article has been slid into the loop and the loop and cleat have been tightened against the article, the user may simply apply a slight upward or twisting pressure to the cleat (FIG.
7
). This movement of the cleat tends to lessen the gripping actions of the cleat against the cord and against the article enough that the loop relaxes slightly and the article slides down out of the loop. Alternatively, the loop that holds the article may be loosened by lessening the tension on the cord and sliding the cleat up on the middle section of the cord to enlarge the loop, so that the article may be removed and the cord left to hang neat and untangled. Alternatively, in cases in which a strap, loop, or handle is captured by the cord and cleat, the end of the loop may be removed from its position over the cleat or jug neck and the loop then removed from the article's strap, loop, or handle.
The hanger is attractive and compact. The hanger is strong, has a thin profile, and does not have protruding or bulky structural members that might interfere with large articles hanging neatly and generally vertically down from the hanger. The cords' length may be changed easily to hold different articles at various distances from the support member, by removing one or more cords from the support member and replacing it/them with other lengths of cords.
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Chin-Shue Alvin
Pedersen Barbara S.
Pedersen Ken J.
Tran Khoa
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