Abstract:
A retractable coat hook system that may be used within automobile interiors includes an integral damper and latch mechanisms. The coat hook of the coat hook system may be opened or closed by pushing on the hook. The integral damper gives the coat hook a slow, smooth motion as it opens and closes and latches to the coat hook housing. The retractable coat hook system reduces the number of components typically used with known coat hooks, resulting in reduced costs and improved assembly operations

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional Application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/445,966 filed Feb. 7, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/462,134 filed Apr. 10, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to coat hooks that mount to the interior of an automobile and more specifically to retractable coat hooks that utilize integral damper and latch mechanisms.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is known that coat hooks are used within the interior of an automobile. These coat hooks are used to hang various items, including clothing and other articles of wear. The coat hooks are typically mounted to the interior ceiling or side walls of the automobile. In the past, the coat hooks were often mounted in a fixed relationship to the automobile interior with the hook extending outwardly from the automobile interior. More recently, retractable coat hooks have been used within the automobile interior to provide a hook that is extendable from a stored position to an extended position. These coat hooks are likewise retractable from the extended position to the stored position. These known hooks are mounted to and stored within a housing that was, in turn, mounted to the automobile interior. By manual application, such as pressing on the end of the hook, the hook would release from the stored position and extend outward from the housing to the open position. With some known retractable coat hooks, a damper was used to control the speed of the hook as it released from the stored position.  
           [0004]    The known retractable coat hooks have several drawbacks. For instance, in order to cause the hook to release from the stored position and likewise retract back to the stored position within the housing, multiple components are required such as, pins, springs, and wireforms. Many of these components are mounted external to the housing and are exposed to inadvertent damage. For other retractable coat hooks, multiple, complex components are needed such as gear assemblies that require several gear components to control the extending and retracting of the hook. Because of the use of the multiple and complex components, the known retractable coat hooks require special assembly and have an overall high cost application. The present invention is directed at overcoming these and other known drawbacks with existing retractable coat hooks for use in automobiles or other applications.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is directed to a retractable coat hook system that may be opened or closed by pushing on the hook. The coat hook system of the invention includes the use of integral damper and latch mechanisms that give the coat hook a slow, smooth motion as it opens, closes, and latches to the coat hook housing. Unlike existing retractable coat hooks, the components of the present invention are internal to the coat hook housing. Moreover, the invention reduces the number of components typically used with known coat hooks, resulting in reduced costs and improved assembly operations.  
           [0006]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a retractable coat hook system of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is another isometric exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a retractable coat hook system of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an exemplary hook that may be used with the retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is an isometric front view of the exemplary retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is an isometric back view of the exemplary retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an exemplary housing that may be used with the retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is another isometric view of an exemplary hook that may be used with the retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is yet another isometric view of an exemplary hook that may be used with the retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an exemplary follower that may be used with the retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an exemplary damper that may be used with the retractable coat hook system of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is an isometric exploded view of another exemplary embodiment of a retractable coat hook system of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the exemplary retractable coat hook system of FIG. 11.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an exemplary latch that may be used with the exemplary retractable coat hook system of FIG. 11.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the exemplary retractable coat hook system of FIG. 11. 
     
    
       [0021]    Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of the retractable hook system of the invention is depicted in a exploded view and includes a housing  12 , a hook  14 , a damper  16 , a spring  18 , and a follower  20 . The structure and relationship of these exemplary components are described below.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the exemplary housing  12  defines a rectangular shaped housing body  22  made from a plastic or other suitable material. The housing body  22  defines a top wall  24 , a bottom wall  26 , a first side wall  28 , a second side wall  30 , and a back wall  32 . The back wall  32  further defines an upper back wall portion  34  and a lower back wall portion  36 . The housing walls form a housing cavity  38 . Assembled to the housing  12  within the housing cavity is the hook  14 , damper  16 , spring  18 , and follower  20 . The upper back portion  34  of the back wall  32  defines a flat planar surface and includes a mounting hole  40 , as depicted in FIG. 5. The mounting hole  40  may be used for selective mounting of the housing body  22  to an interior surface wall of a vehicle through the use of a fastener, not shown. One of skill in the art will understand that other suitable mounting techniques may be used to assemble the invention onto the interior wall of the vehicle, or onto any other wall or surface where it is desirable to mount the present invention.  
         [0024]    The exemplary housing body  22  further includes a slot  46  extending through the back wall  32  for slidably mounting the follower  20  to the housing  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, the slot  46  extends across the lower back wall portion  36  from the first side wall  28  toward the second side wall  30 . As depicted in FIG. 5, opposing grooves  48  are positioned adjacent to the slot  46  to provide a mounting surface for the follower  20  and also assist in retaining the follower  20  within the slot  46 . The slot  46  extends through the first side wall  28  to define an opening  47 . The opening  47  is sized and shaped to mate with the size and shape of the follower  20  to thereby permit the slidable mounting of the follower  20  onto the slot  46 . The opening  47  is also shaped to define a restraining surface  52  for preventing the mounted follower  20  from sliding out of the housing  12  along the slot  46 , after it is assembled. In other words, after the follower  20  is slidably mounted onto the slot  46 , the follower  20  will contact the restraining surface  52  and will be prevented from sliding out of the housing  12 . One skilled in the art will understand that the slot  46  may be re-configured, re-shaped, and modified and still achieve an object of the invention, namely, the slidable movement of the follower  20  relative to the housing  12 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 4, positioned within the housing cavity  38  adjacent to and above the slot  46  is an inclined contact surface  50 , which serves as a contact surface for a spring leg  82  of the spring  18 , as discussed in more detail below. The contact surface  50  further defines an outwardly extending retaining wall  51  to contain the first spring leg  82  of the spring  18  between the retaining wall  51  and the inner surface of the second side wall  30 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 6, the first side wall  28  defines a first mounting aperture  54  and the second side wall  30  defines a second mounting aperture  56 , both of which are sized and shaped to permit the mounting of the damper  16  onto the housing  12 . As depicted, the mounting aperture  54  defines a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the mounting aperture  56 . As illustrated by FIGS. 2, 6, and  10 , the mounting aperture  54  receives and mounts a damper outer body  58  of the damper  16 , while the mounting aperture  56  receives a damper rotor  60  of the damper  16 , both of which described in more detail below. The aperture  54  also defines a flat portion  62  that engages with a flat portion  64  of the damper outer body  58  (FIG. 10) to secure the damper outer body  58  within the aperture  54  and prevent rotation of the damper outer body  58  relative to the housing  12 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 3, 7, and  8 , the exemplary hook  14  defines a hook portion  66  and a rotation portion  68 . The hook portion  66  is arcuate shaped and serves as a mounting member for hanging items or articles of wear onto the retractable hook system of the invention. The rotation portion  68  is formed integral with the hook portion  66  and is generally cylindrical in shape. The rotation end  68  defines an inner mounting hole  70  extending through the width of the rotation end  68  for receiving the damper  16  and spring  18  of the exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner mounting hole  70  defines opposing flat surfaces  71  that engage with the damper rotor  60 , as discussed below. The rotation end  68  also defines an exterior surface  72  that further defines a cam path or guide path  74  formed integral with and into the exterior surface  72 .  
         [0028]    As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cam path  74  receives and engages the follower  20  and functions as a guide for the follower  20 , which controls the opening and closing of the hook  14  from the housing  12 . Specifically, as a user pushes on the hook  14 , the hook  14  will rotate about the damper  16  while the follower  20  will move along in the cam path  74  to control the rotational movement of the hook  14 . The follower  20  will simultaneously slide along in the slot  46  as it travels along the cam path  74 . Positioned within the cam path  74  is an integral latch wall  75  defining a ledge  77 . As the hook  14  rotates to a closed position, the follower  20  will seat on the ledge  77  to hold the hook  14  in the closed position. Specifically, as the follower  20  and in particular the extension  106  formed integral with the follower  20  (FIG. 9) moves along the cam path  74 , the extension  106  will seat on the ledge  77  of the latch wall  75  to hold the hook  14  in the closed or retracted position within the housing  12 . While the exemplary cam path  74  is depicted in the figures, the cam path  74  may have other configurations that permit the opening and closing of the hook  14  relative to the housing  12 .  
         [0029]    The rotation end  68  of the hook  14  further defines a first side  76  and an opposing second side  78 . The first side  76  defines generally a flat planar surface and includes at its periphery a raised ledge  80  that also serves as a contact surface for the first spring leg  82  of the spring  18 . The first side  76  also includes an opening  84  that forms with the inner mounting hole  70  to define an inner flat surface  86  that serves as a contact surface for a second spring leg  88  of the spring  18  (FIG. 3).  
         [0030]    As illustrated in FIG. 3, mounted within the mounting hole  70  near the first end  76  is the spring  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, the spring  18  is a torsion spring and defines the first spring leg  82 , the second spring leg  88 , and a coiled body  90 . The first spring leg  82  extends outwardly from the coiled portion  90  along the raised ledge  80  of the hook  14  and, as shown in FIG. 4, will engage the contact surface  50  in the housing  12 . As assembled, the first spring leg  82  will lie along the inclined surface of the contact surface  50  and will be contained between the retaining wall  51  and the inner surface of the second side wall  30  of the housing  12 . The second spring leg  88  will engage the inner flat surface  86  of the hook  14 . The coiled body  90  of the spring  18  provides a torsional spring force about the central axis of the hook  14 . In an exemplary embodiment, the coiled body  90  provides a torsional spring force to bias the hook  14  to the open or extended position, upon a user pushing on the hook  14 . It should be understood that with the present invention the coiled body  90  may be used to bias the hook  14  to a closed-hook position depending on the desired application.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 10, the damper  16  of the invention is a device that provides damping of the rotational motion of the hook  14 . This damping will give the hook  14  a slow, smooth motion as it moves from the stored position to the open or extended position. The damper  16  may be either a one-way damper or a two-way damper. In other words, the damper  16  may provide damping of the rotational motion of the hook  14  in one direction or, alternatively, may provide damping of the rotational motion of the hook  14  in both directions. The damper  16  will serve not only as mechanism that controls the rotational movement of the hook but also as a hinge and a load bearing pin for the hook  14  in the housing  12 . As a hinge and load bearing pin, the damper  16  eliminates the conventional pins used to hold the assembly together. In an assembled position, the damper  16  extends through the first and second mounting apertures  54 ,  56  of the housing  12 , and through the inner mounting hole  70  of the hook  14 , as illustrated by FIGS. 1, 2, and  5 .  
         [0032]    Referring back to FIG. 10, the exemplary damper  16  includes a damper outer body  58  and a damper rotor  60 . The damper outer body  58  includes an end cap  94  that will contact the first side wall  28  of the housing  12  to prevent axial movement of the damper  16  after it is mounted to the housing  12 . The outer body  58  also defines a flat portion  64  that engages the flat portion  62  of the aperture  54  (FIG. 6) to secure the damper outer body  58  within the aperture  54  and prevent rotation of the damper outer body  58  relative to the housing  12 . The damper outer body  58  defines a generally cylindrical body for containing the damper rotor  60 , which is mounted within the damper outer body  58 . The damper rotor  60  will rotate within the damper outer body. Contained within the damper outer body  58  is a damping media that will give the retractable hook system of the invention a slow, smooth motion. The damping fluid may be any conventional gear damping fluid suitable for rotary dampers. The damper rotor  60  includes a shaft  96  that extends through the mounting aperture  56  (FIG. 6) in the second side wall  30  of the housing  12 . In an exemplary embodiment, the shaft  96  defines opposing flat surfaces  98  that, in use, will engage with the flat opposing surfaces  71  formed in the inner mounting hole  70  within the hook  14  (FIG. 7). With this assembly and construction, rotational movement of the hook will transmit to the shaft  96  of the damper rotor  60 . The damper rotor  60 , which is mounted within the damper outer body  58  containing the damping fluid, will then dampen or control the rotational movement of the hook  14 , thereby giving the hook  14  a slow, smooth motion.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, the follower  20  includes a follower body  102  that defines opposing grooves  104  that seat within the slot  46  formed in the housing  12 . The follower body  102  also defines a tee-shaped head  108  that retains the follower  20  in the slot  46  and permits the follower  20  to move along the slot  46 . Extending outwardly from the follower body  102  is a diamond-shaped extension  106  that engages with the cam path  74  formed within the rotation end  68  of the hook  14 . As the hook  14  is moved from a retracted position to an open position, the extension  106  will follow the cam path  74  and will slidably move along the slot  46 . The extension  106  will assist in the controlled rotational movement of the hook  14  about the damper  16 . In addition, the extension  106  when engaged with the cam path  74  and specifically the ledge  77  of the latch wall  75  will serve as a latch mechanism to hold the hook  14  in the retracted or closed position within the housing  12 . A user, by pushing on the hook  14 , will cause the extension  106  to move off of the ledge  77 , thereby releasing the hook  14  from the retracted position. Upon release from the retracted position, the torsional spring force of the spring  18  will cause the hook  14  to move to the extended position. The cam path  74  and the damper  16  cooperate to assist in providing the hook  14  with a slow, smooth rotational motion. One of skill in the art will understand that other shapes, sizes and configurations of the extension  106  are possible with the invention to provide a controlled movement of the hook  14  and to provide a latch mechanism to hold the hook  14  in the retracted or closed position within the housing  12 .  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS.  11 - 14 , there is depicted another exemplary embodiment of the retractable hook system, which includes a housing  120 , a hook  122 , and a latch  124 . As with the other exemplary embodiment, the housing  120  is rectangular in shape and defines a top wall  126 , a bottom wall  128 , a first side wall  130 , a second side wall  132 , a back wall  134  and a housing cavity  136 . Located on the first and second side walls  130 ,  132  are opposing mounting holes  138  used to mount the hook  122  to the housing  120 . Located on the back wall  134  are a plurality of mounting holes or slots  140  used to mount the latch  124  to the housing  120 , as discussed below.  
         [0035]    The hook  122  defines a hook portion  142  and a rotation end  144 . Extending outwardly from opposing sides of the rotation end  144  are mounting posts  146  that engage with the mounting holes  138  in the side walls  130 ,  132  of the housing  120 . The mounting posts  146  will snap fit into the mounting holes  138  and will permit the pivotal movement of the hook  122  from a stored or retracted position to an extended or open position, by a user simply pressing on the hook portion  142  of the hook  122 . Located on the rotation end  144  are opposing rounded shoulders  148  that define a channel  150  between the shoulders  148 . The channel  150  defines a rounded surface and includes an extension or boss  152  extending outwardly from the channel  150 . In an assembled position, the extension or boss  152  engages with the cam path or guide path  154  on the latch  124  (FIG. 13). The exemplary extension or boss  152  extends radially outwardly and defines a diamond configuration for engagement with the cam path  154 . One of skill in the art will understand that other shapes, sizes and configurations of the extension or boss  152  are possible with the present invention.  
         [0036]    The latch  124  is depicted in FIG. 13 and defines a base wall  156 , and a plurality of mounting legs  158  extending outwardly from the base wall  156 . The legs  158  are sized and shaped to snap fit within the mounting holes  140  located on the back wall  134  of the housing  120 , as known in the art. Extending outwardly from the base wall  156 , opposite the direction of the legs  158 , is a cam path or guide path wall  160  that defines and forms the cam path or guide path  154 . The cam path wall  160  defines a distal end  161  that, as shown in FIG. 14, is radiused or contoured for enhanced engagement of the cam path wall  160  with the rounded surface of the rotation end  144  of the hook  122 , and enhanced engagement with the extension  152  that extends outwardly from the rotation end  144 . Also extending outwardly from the base wall  156  is a latch wall that defines a ledge  164  on which will seat the extension  152  when the hook  122  is in a closed or retracted position. When the hook  122  is pushed to the closed or retracted position within the housing  120 , the extension  152  will follow or travel along the cam path  154  until the extension  152  seats on the ledge  164  thus latching the hook  122  in the closed position within the housing  120 . Likewise, when the hook  122  is pushed again, the extension  152  unseats from the ledge  164  and travels along the cam path  154  thus allowing the hook  122  to rotate to the open or extended position.  
         [0037]    Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.  
         [0038]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.