Abstract:
A system for the display and support of apparel includes a support arm which is attached to a horizontal surface such as a clothing bar or shelf The support arm is positioned perpendicularly relative to the horizontal surface so that hanging apparel hung from the support arm is displayed showing the front of the apparel. The support arm, once attached to the clothing bar is prevented from side-to-side, and swaying movement.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/252,881 filed Oct. 4, 2011 which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/404,497 filed Oct. 4, 2010, and Provisional Patent Application No. 61/464,385 filed Mar. 3, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to supports for hanging articles, and more specifically to support arms designed for the consumer market which can be mounted on a clothing bar or shelf for the support of hanging clothing or other articles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Within the merchandising environment, various displays are used to hang articles such as clothing. The most common display means for hanging garments are clothing bars which are most typically straight or circular in order to display garments for sale. The clothing bars used in commercial environments typically have a rectangular profile while those available to the consumer market have a cylindrical profile. Certain commercial clothing bars may also employ support arms which are attached to the clothing bars in order to showcase or enable sorting garments by type. Although commercial bars have more structural variation than clothing bars manufactured for non-commercial use, because of proprietary design, parts associated with commercial assemblies such as support arms and other accessories are not interchangeable with systems from other makers or with clothing bars manufactured for the consumer market such as those often sold as part of a closet storage solution. 
         [0004]    While support apparatus are known that attach to vertically oriented poles, a support apparatus for hanging garments and other articles which is quickly attachable to a horizontally positioned cylindrical clothing bar without requiring additional tools or fasteners would be a valuable accessory to any consumer closet system. 
         [0005]    Moreover, a such a retrofittable support arm would be especially desirable if it were strong enough to support multiple articles without slipping, relocatable to any position along the bar and easily removable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to a support member for hanging articles that is reversibly attachable to horizontal supports such as clothing bars, shelves and the like. One embodiment according to the present invention is mounted to a typical clothing bar so as to project perpendicularly from the bar in order to display articles such as garments from the front rather than the sides. The support member is especially useful for planning wardrobe changes, selecting items that need to be dry cleaned and many other wardrobe related tasks. 
         [0007]    Multiple support members can attach along a clothing bar or a length of shelving to provide additional hanging space. 
         [0008]    In one aspect according to the present invention, the support member possesses a support arm which is firmly attachable to a horizontal cylindrical clothing bar. 
         [0009]    In another aspect according to the present invention, the support member possesses a support arm which is firmly attachable to an edge of a solid shelf 
         [0010]    In another aspect according to the present invention, the support member possesses a support arm which is firmly attachable to an edge of a wire shelf 
         [0011]    In yet another aspect according to the present invention, the support arm is extendible. 
         [0012]    Inclusive to all the foregoing aspects, the support arm is firmly attachable to the horizontal support, whether a shelf edge or cylindrical bar, and is easily re-positionable along the support. 
         [0013]    One object of the present invention is to provide a retrofittable means for displaying apparel along a clothing bar. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparel display means for garments that extends perpendicularly from any commonly sized clothing bar. 
         [0015]    Yet another object of the present invention is provide an apparel display means that while affixed to a clothing bar is easily loosened and re-positionable by sliding along the clothing bar. 
         [0016]    Still another object of the present invention to provide an apparel display means that requires no tools for repositioning and removal. 
         [0017]    The description as follows is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, combinations and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the present invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment according to the present invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment according to the present invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment according to the present invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the embodiment shown in ( FIG. 1 ); 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the embodiment shown in ( FIG. 2 ); 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the embodiment shown in ( FIG. 9 ); 
           [0028]      FIGS. 11-20  are perspective views of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of another embodiment according to the present invention for attachment to wire shelf; 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is a side view of the embodiment shown in ( FIG. 21 ); 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention with a telescoping rod as support member; 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  and  FIG. 25  are side views of an embodiment similar to the one shown in ( FIG. 22 ), with a tightening member for attachment to a shelf unit; 
           [0033]      FIG. 26  depicts a bent support member with support arm  110  which telescopes; 
           [0034]      FIG. 27  depicts a straight support member with support arm  110  which telescopes. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference Listing 
       [0000]    
       
           100 ′ support member 
           110  support arm 
           120  gripping member 
           124  hinge 
           126  teeth 
           128  tightening member 
           130  slot 
           132  hanger stop 
           136  garment rod 
           138  shelf 
           142  stay 
           144  pin 
       
     
         [0047]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-27 , a support member  100 ′ for displaying garments includes a rigid support arm  110  with a gripping member  120  in which the support arm is secured perpendicularly to a horizontal structure such as a clothing bar  136  or shelf  138 . The support member once attached to the cylindrical clothing bar, permits hanging garments to display face out when hung from support arm  110 . The support arm can be telescoping or fixed. 
         [0048]    The support member  100 ′ and gripping member  120  may be made of plastic, metal, a combination of the two materials, or any other material combination suggesting itself to those skilled in the art. A series of troughs or ridges, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  on the top edge of the support arm  110  can serve to separate and evenly space a number of hanging garments. The support arm can be level or sloping. 
         [0049]    A preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , allows for the rapid attachment of the support member  100 ′ to a cylindrical clothing bar  136  and removal therefrom by a simple gripping member  120  which can include a pair of hinged sections that can be angular, curving or cylindrical, and attachable to clothing bars ranging from 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches in diameter. The hinged sections can be secured by a locking means that includes a threaded knob  128 . When the gripping member  120  is closed around the clothing bar, the U-shaped hasp portion surrounds the threaded part of the knob  128  and is secured in position by tightening the knob. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 5-7  show inner faces of hinged sections which include a series of teeth  126  either formed into the faces, or as separate inserts which are attached to the jaws and reside between the jaws and the clothing bar. The teeth  126 , which are preferably formed from soft metal such as a zinc alloy, but can be made of hard plastic, provide multiple regions for contacting the clothing bar and resist coaxial, rotational or longitudinal movement relative to the clothing bar once secured thereto. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show an embodiment with the hinged sections secured together by a threaded knob, the threaded portion thread-able into a tapped recces on one of the sections. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 11-20 , an embodiment is shown in which the support arm  110  is reversibly extendible. The support member can be pulled forward or pushed backward through an aperture within gripping member  120  as shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  14  and  15 , in which the support member resides in sufficiently tight fit to prevent the support member from sliding movement absent any manual readjustment. The gripping member can also be divided as shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  13 ,  16  and  17  in which the gripping member has a cleft spanned by a pin  144  around which slotted arm  110  pivots and slides. The pin can have the profile of an offset cylinder, or a cam, to create a friction fit between the pin and the inner surfaces of the slot  130  when rotated by knob  128 . It is intended that the invention encompass other means of staying the sliding movement of the support arm as will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. The gripping member can be in two hinged sections, or the gripping member can be a one piece spring clip which is snapped into place over the clothing bar as shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 18  shows a gripping member as a spring clip, while  FIGS. 19 and 20  show the gripping member as a pair of hinged sections joined by spring hinge  124 . The gripping member pivots so that the rearward section of the support arm can rise to contact the underside of a shelf situated above the clothing bar, thus preventing further pivoting of the forward section of the arm. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 21-23  depict a support member with support arm  110  that is attachable to a wire shelf by means of teeth  126  that fit between the wire lattice of the wire shelf. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 24 and 25  show a support arm  110  which is clamped to a solid surface such as a shelf. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 26 and 27  depict a support member with support arm  110  which telescopes. 
         [0056]    While the invention has been described by the particular embodiments given, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the particular forms set forth. For example, the gripping member can be combined with any one of the support arms shown. The gripping member can be a spring clip or hinged clamp as depicted, or other clamping means that may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Whatever the attachment means to the clothing bar, it is intended that the support member be retained perpendicularly to the clothing bar while preventing pendulum type, or side to side movement experienced by closet hangers on a clothing bar. The entire assembly can pivot vertically, or include a tightening means that substantially prevents rotational movement about the clothing bar. Accordingly, the invention is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.