Movable clothes hanger assembly

A clothes hanger assembly for installation in a vehicle interior space. The clothes hanger assembly comprises two arms and is adjustable between a stowage position, in which the arms are stowed, and a functional position, in which the arms form a hanger-like construction. The clothes hanger assembly furthermore comprises a carriage and a cable drive. The arms are articulated to the carriage, and the carriage is arranged on the cable drive, wherein the carriage is shiftable by means of the cable drive in order to adjust the clothes hanger assembly between the stowage position and the functional position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2018/080853 filed on Nov. 12, 2018, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2017 220 174.6, filed on Nov. 13, 2017, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This present disclosure relates to a clothes hanger assembly.

BACKGROUND

The storage of clothing articles in vehicles, which articles are not worn by the driver or passengers while driving, frequently is effected by a storage surface such as an empty seat or on a suspension device such as a hook or a clothes hanger. When stored on a storage surface, there is a risk of soiling of the clothing articles and the limitation of the driving safety on winding roads due to clothing articles flying around. The use of a hook requires the presence of a suspension strap in the neck region of the clothing article and is actually not desired for example for coats because of the formation of folds. To avoid wrinkling a hanger can be used, which however neither can securely be fastened in a vehicle nor can be stored in a space-saving way when not in use.

SUMMARY

One or more objects of the present disclosure may be to provide a clothes hanger assembly which in a functional position may provide a clothes hanger and in the case of non-use may be stowed in a stowage position, so that the stowage position may be space-saving and visually inconspicuous.

According to one embodiment a clothes hanger assembly is provided. The clothes hanger assembly may include two arms and is adjustable between the stowage position, in which the arms are stowed, and the functional position, in which the arms form a hanger-like construction. For adjustment, the clothes hanger assembly may include a carriage and a cable drive, wherein the carriage is arranged on the cable drive and is shiftable by means of the cable drive. The arms are articulated to the carriage. By shifting the carriage, the clothes hanger assembly is adjustable between the stowage position and the functional position.

In other words, the present disclosure proceeds from the idea to achieve the adjustment of the clothes hanger assembly between the stowage position and the functional position by the action of the cable drive. This has the advantage that the adjustment of the clothes hanger assembly may be effected automatically. A manual operation, however, is also conceivable.

In one exemplary embodiment, the arms are foldably mounted on the carriage. In the functional position, the arms in this exemplary embodiment are folded out, and in the stowage position they are folded in. To adjust the clothes hanger assembly, the displacement of the carriage in this exemplary embodiment effects that the arms fold in or out.

The fold-out of the arms may be effected for example away from an axis along a displacement direction of the carriage. Folding in may be effected for example towards an axis along the displacement direction of the carriage. When the arms are folded out, the displacement direction of the carriage may be opposite to the displacement direction of the carriage when the arms are folded in. When folding out, an angle between the arms may be increased in the direction of the displacement direction of the carriage. When folding in, an angle between the arms may be reduced opposite to the displacement direction of the carriage.

In one exemplary embodiment, the clothes hanger assembly may include a guide body. The guide body may serve to guide the carriage. For example, the guide body may comprise at least one guiding groove into which the carriage engages with at least one engagement element. The guide body for example may be of cuboid shape, and the at least one guiding groove then may extend along one of the longest sides of the cuboid guide body.

In one exemplary embodiment, the arms are stowed in the stowage position in a first cavity of the guide body. On transition of the clothes hanger assembly into the functional position, the arms in this exemplary embodiment fold out of the first cavity into the functional position. On transition of the clothes hanger assembly from the functional position into the stowage position in this exemplary embodiment, the arms fold into the first cavity. The carriage may be arranged in the first cavity, and the at least one guiding groove may extend along the first cavity.

On the guide body a first end position of the carriage may be defined for example by a first stop element against which the carriage abuts by being shifted. For example, in the functional position of the clothes hanger assembly the carriage may be arranged in the first end position. For example, the first stop element may be formed such that the carriage and sectionally the arms rest against the first stop element. For this purpose, the carriage may be urged against the first stop element by means of the cable drive. This is may be advantageous for a stable support of the arms in the functional position.

The guide body likewise may include a second stop element, which may define a second end position in which the carriage may be arranged in the stowage position of the clothes hanger assembly. The first stop element and the second stop element may border the first cavity of the guide body.

In one exemplary embodiment, the clothes hanger assembly may include a housing to which the functional body is articulated at least one articulation point. The at least one articulation point may be formed for example by a hinge, and the guide body may be adjustable relative to the housing about the at least one articulation point.

In the functional position, the housing in one exemplary embodiment largely extends along a direction X, the guide body largely extends along a direction Z, and the arms largely extend along a direction Y, wherein the directions X, Y and Z are arranged at right angles to each other.

The housing for example may define a second cavity. In the stowage position, the guide body is stowed in the second cavity. The housing may be formed cuboid for example, and the guide body may be articulated to one of the longest sides of the housing. In this embodiment, the second cavity extends along one of the longest sides of the housing.

In another exemplary embodiment, a swivel element is arranged on the guide body at a distance to the at least one articulation point, so that by means of the cable drive the guide body is adjustable relative to the housing via the swivel element about the at least one articulation point. The swivel element for example may be formed by the edge of a passage in the guide body or a round material. The cable drive may exert a force on the guide body via the swivel element, which force effects pivoting of the guide body about the at least one articulation point.

It is conceivable, for example to adjust the clothes hanger assembly by the cable drive pulling the swivel element in a first direction from the functional position into the stowage position or to adjust the clothes hanger assembly by the cable drive pulling the swivel element in a second direction from the stowage position into the functional position.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cable drive may include a cable, and the carriage is fastened to the cable at a fastening point. The fastening point for example may be a knot or a clip or another fastening means. In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening point is arranged in the center of the carriage in order to prevent canting of the carriage in the guide body.

In one embodiment, the clothes hanger assembly may define a deflection point at which the cable is deflected, for example by 180°. The deflection point may be arranged on the guide housing. As an example, the deflection point may be arranged on the first stop element of the guide body. The deflection point for example may be formed by a round material.

In one embodiment of the clothes hanger assembly, which may include the swivel element and the deflection point, the cable may extend for example from the swivel element through the carriage, and may be fastened at the fastening point; from the carriage, it may extend further to the deflection point of the guide housing, and from the deflection point the cable may extend through the carriage and back to the swivel element.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cable is tensioned by a tensioning device of the clothes hanger assembly. For example, the tensioning device may be arranged in the housing to which the guide body is articulated, and the cable may extend in a first direction from the swivel element to the tensioning device.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cable drive may include a deflection element at which the cable is deflected. The deflection element may be arranged for example on the housing and be formed by a round material. In this exemplary embodiment, the cable extends in a second direction, which is different from the above-mentioned first direction from the swivel element to the tensioning device, from the swivel element to the deflection element.

In another exemplary embodiment, the cable may be wound onto a least one winding element of the cable drive. The at least one winding element may be arranged for example on the housing.

In one embodiment, both ends of the cable may be wound onto a common winding element. For example, a portion of an end of the cable may be wound up in a first direction of rotation, and a portion of the other end of the cable may be wound up in a second, opposite direction of rotation. Winding up of the one end of the cable then for example corresponds to unwinding of the other end of the cable.

From the one wound-up portion the cable for example may be guided such that it extends in a first direction from the winding element to the swivel element, and from the other wound-up portion the cable may be guided such that it extends in a second direction from the winding element to the swivel element.

In principle, it is conceivable that the winding element is manually rotatable, for example by means of an adjusting wheel of the cable drive. It is likewise conceivable that the winding element is non-rotatably mounted on a shaft of the cable drive, which may be driven by means of a motor of the cable drive. In such an embodiment, the clothes hanger assembly is automatically adjustable between the stowage position and the functional position, i.e. in response to an actuation signal.

The clothes hanger assembly may include at least one spring element which pretensions the arms and the carriage against each other. For example, the at least one spring element may be formed by at least one leg spring which is arranged between the carriage and one of the arms. A spring force of the at least one spring element may be directed such that it pretensions the arms into a position in which the arms in the functional position rest against the guide body by forming a hanger-like construction.

In an exemplary embodiment, the clothes hanger assembly may include a stowage element which in the stowage position stows the arms against the spring force of the at least one spring element. For example, the stowage element may be formed by a portion of the guide body. This portion of the guide body for example may enclose a portion of the arms in the stowage position.

In another exemplary embodiment, the clothes hanger assembly may include a first adjustment element and a second adjustment element, against which the arms abut upon adjustment of the clothes hanger assembly from the functional position into the stowage position. In this exemplary embodiment, the first adjustment element and the second adjustment element adjust the arms against the spring force of the at least one spring element. The first adjustment element and the second adjustment element may be formed by a portion of the guide body. For example, the first adjustment element and the second adjustment element may be formed by an edge at the stowage element of the guide body.

In an exemplary embodiment, in which the clothes hanger assembly may include the housing, the guide body articulated thereto and the motor-driven cable drive, the clothes hanger assembly may be configured for installation as a prefabricated module. As an example, the clothes hanger assembly may be configured as a module which is provided for installation into a vehicle interior space. As an example, the clothes hanger assembly may be configured as a module for installation into a vehicle headliner.

Proceeding from the stowage position of the clothes hanger assembly, the automatic adjustment of the clothes hanger assembly in this exemplary embodiment starts with folding out the guide body from the second cavity of the housing, caused by the cable drive pulling the swivel element in a fold-out direction. The further pulling of the cable drive effects a displacement of the carriage in the direction of the first stop element of the guide body so that the arms, which sectionally are enclosed by the stowage element, are shifted out of the stowage element and are folded out by the spring force of the spring element. Further pulling of the cable drive effects a displacement of the carriage, until the clothes hanger assembly reaches the functional position.

On transition from the functional position into the stowage position the automatic adjustment of the clothes hanger assembly in this exemplary embodiment starts with the displacement of the carriage. On abutment of the arms against the first adjustment element and the second adjustment element, the arms fold into the first cavity of the guide body and at the same time the guide body folds into the second cavity of the housing, caused by the cable drive pulling the swivel element in a fold-in direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A known clothes hanger assembly is provided in DE 102 61 896 A1, which is mounted to the backrest of a vehicle seat, is more space-saving than a clothes hanger, but is optically present and requires much space also in the stowage position.

Another known clothes hanger assembly is provided in EP 0 753 427 A2, which as part of a grab handle is mounted above a vehicle door, is almost invisible in the stowage position, but the attachment in the necessary combination with a grab handle is not very flexible.

For switching from the stowage position into the functional position, both solutions require cumbersome manipulations by hand, such as for example pushing or pulling.

FIG.1shows a clothes hanger assembly with two arms1a,1b, a cable drive2and a carriage3to which the arms1a,1bare articulated. The articulation of the arms1a,1bis effected by means of a hinge which foldably mounts the arms1a,1bon the carriage3. The cable drive2engages a fastening point33at the carriage3so that the carriage is shiftable by means of the cable drive2.

The arms1a,1band the carriage3are pretensioned against each other by one leg spring32a,32beach.

The clothes hanger assembly is adjustable between a functional position, which is shown inFIG.2A, and a stowage position, which is shown inFIG.2B. The arms1a,1bare folded out in the functional position and folded in in the stowage position.

The carriage3is guided on a guide body4by two square engagement elements30a,30bof the carriage3engaging into two guiding grooves40a,40bof the guide body4. The guiding grooves40a,40bextend along the longitudinal axis of the cuboid guide body4on opposite walls which border a first cavity41of the guide body4.

The first cavity41furthermore is delimited by a first stop element43aof the guide body4and by a second stop element43bat an end of the guide body4opposite the first stop element43a. In the functional position, the carriage3rests on the first stop element43a. In the functional position, the arms1a,1blikewise rest on the first stop element43aand protrude at an angle to the guide body4on opposite sides so that they form a hanger-like construction.

The first cavity41is molded to support the arms1a,1b. In the stowage position, the arms1a,1bfolded in are mounted in the first cavity41, and the carriage3rests on the second stop element43bof the guide body4.

The guide body4is articulated to a housing5at an articulation point50, as it is shown inFIG.3AandFIG.3B. The articulation point50is formed by a hinge about which the guide body4may be folded. In the functional position, the guide body4is folded out and arranged at right angles to the housing5, wherein a portion of the guide body4extends from the articulation point50into a second cavity51of the housing5. In the stowage position, the guide body4is folded in and arranged in the second cavity51of the housing5.

The guide body4may include a swivel element42that is arranged on the portion of the guide body4which in the functional position extends from the articulation point50into the second cavity51. The guide body4is pivotable relative to the housing5about the articulation point50by a force which acts on the swivel element42.

The cable drive2may include a cable20. The two ends of the cable extend from the carriage3over the swivel element42in opposite directions, as may be taken from a synopsis ofFIG.1andFIG.3A. The cable drive2thereby may exert forces on the swivel element42in two directions.

The clothes hanger assembly furthermore may include a deflection point26which is arranged on the first stop element43aof the guide body4. The cable20is deflected by 180° at the deflection point26so that it extends from the carriage3to the deflection point26and back to the carriage3.

When the clothes hanger assembly switches from the functional position into the stowage position, the guide body4may be folded in about the articulation point50in the direction of the housing5by pulling the cable20via the swivel element42. In the stowage position of the clothes hanger assembly, the guide body4may be folded out from the second cavity51about the articulation point50by pulling the cable20via the swivel element42.

The cable drive2may include a winding element22, onto which both ends of the cable20may be wound. One end of the cable20is partly wound up on the winding element22in a first direction of rotation, and the other end is partly wound up in a second direction of rotation. Upon rotation of the winding element22, either the one end of the cable20is wound up and the other end of the cable20is unwound or, vice versa, the one end of the cable20is unwound and the other end of the cable20is wound up, depending on the direction of rotation.

The winding element22is non-rotatably connected to a shaft23of the cable drive2, which is rotatably mounted on the housing5. The cable drive2may include a motor24which is arranged on the housing5and which rotates the shaft23.

The cable drive2also may include a tensioning device21, over which a first end of the cable20extends from the winding element22to the swivel element42and which tensions the cable20. Winding up from the first end of the cable20onto the winding element22effects a transition from the functional position into the stowage position.

The cable drive2may include a deflection element25, at which the cable2is deflected. A second end of the cable20extends from the winding element22over the deflection element25to the swivel element42. Winding up from the second end of the cable20effects a transition from the stowage position into the functional position.

In detail, switching from the stowage position into the functional position proceeds as follows: When the winding element22rotates, the second end of the cable20, which extends over the deflection element25, is wound up, and via the swivel element42a force acts on the portion of the guide body4, which in the functional position extends from the articulation point50into the second cavity51, by pulling the cable20, which force effects folding of the guide body4out of the second cavity51in a fold-out direction A.

After the guide body4is folded out of the second cavity51, a further winding up of the second end of the cable20effects a displacement of the carriage3from a position resting on the second stop element43bin the direction of the first stop element43a.

In the stowage position, the arms1a,1bare sectionally enclosed in a sleeve-shaped stowage element44of the guide body4, which compensates the spring force of the leg springs32a,32b. The displacement of the carriage3from a position resting on the second stop element43bin the direction of the first stop element43aeffects that the arms1a,1band the stowage element44are brought out of engagement. The spring force of the leg springs32a,32beffects that the arms1a,1bfold out of the first cavity41.

Further winding up of the second end of the cable20effects a displacement of the carriage3along the guide body4to the first stop element43ainto the functional position.

Winding up of the first end of the cable20, which extends over the tensioning device21, effects a change from the guide position into the stowage position, as is shown inFIG.4. Initially, winding up leads to a displacement of the carriage3in the direction of the second stop element43b. Upon abutment of the arms1a,1bagainst the first adjustment element45aand the second adjustment element45bthe arms1a,1bfold into the first cavity41. At the same time, and as an example upon abutment of the carriage3against the second stop element43b, the Bowden cable2effects a force acting on the guide body4at the swivel element42, which swivels the guide body4about the articulation point50in a fold-in direction E. The force acting on the guide body4effects folding of the guide body4into the second cavity51of the housing5.

The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS