Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-22
2001-11-13
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S001110, C224S313000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315357
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to motor vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a truly unique and versatile garment hanger assembly for motor vehicles. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiment and/or use which is shown and described for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a garment hanger assembly for a motor vehicle that is retractable.
2. Discussion
Typically, motor vehicles are equipped with at least one relatively small hook disposed near the headliner of the vehicle for receiving garment hangers. The standard hook needed to be small so as to not interfere with the headroom for the occupant. Unfortunately, this resulted in relatively small hooks that could only accommodate one or possibly two hangers. Additionally, the small hooks were not very effective in positively maintaining the hangers in contact therewith during sudden maneuvers of the motor vehicle. Sudden maneuvers of the motor vehicle often resulted in the hangers, and ultimately the garment, falling to the seats or the floor of the vehicle. Some manufacturers, in an effort to alleviate this problem, began producing larger hooks, however, this lead to reduced headroom problems for the occupants.
Manufacturers then began, for aesthetic and packaging reasons, producing garment hangers that are retractable or pivotable into a recess. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,354 assigned to Prince Corporation provides a hook that is pivotally mounted within a recess in the headliner and pivots between a stored position and lower position for use. Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,423 assigned to Prince Corporation. This patent teaches a hook that is retractable into a recess when not in use, in order to retract the hanger, the occupant must force the hanger into the recess. Although such devices perform satisfactorily, they are often only able to accommodate one or two hangers. There is, therefore, a need to provide a retractable hook that can accommodate a significant number of hangers. There is also a need to provide a garment hanger that is retractable without any input from the occupant of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the principal objective of the present invention to provide a truly unique and versatile garment hanger assembly.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a garment hanger assembly that can accommodate a significant number of hangers.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a garment hanger assembly that is self-retractable.
In one form, the present invention concerns a retractable garment hanger assembly for a motor vehicle. The garment hanger assembly includes a hanger bar, preferably formed in a zigzag or saw tooth pattern that is adapted to receive garment hangers. Hanger bar is attached to a biasing mechanism via a first and second cord. It should be noted that although the preferred embodiment employs a first and second cord, the invention may be utilized using only one cord that connects to the hanger bar at both ends. Biasing mechanism includes a spiral spring and a rotatable disk that is coupled with the first and second cord. The biasing mechanism provides continuous upward force to the hanger bar continuously urging the hanger bar in contact with the vehicle body.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
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