Apparatus for retaining hangers

An apparatus for retaining mounted garment hangers or other hook-shaped members on a hanger rod. A housing is mounted with respect to the hanger bar. The housing has a bore within which a pin is slidably mounted. A retaining rod is secured with respect to the pin so that the retaining rod follows sliding movement of the pin with respect to the housing. A bias force urges the pin into a normally open position. A lock member is mounted within another bore within the housing, so that the lock member slides with respect to the housing. The pin and the lock member preferably engage with each other to actuate the pins between an open position and a locked position. In the locked position of the pin, the retaining bar forces the garment hangers or other hook-shaped members against the hanger rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an apparatus having a hanger rod and a retaining 
bar which moves with respect to the hanger rod. Garment hangers or other 
hook-shaped members are mounted upon the hanger rod and the retaining bar 
is secured to at least one pin, preferably two pins. Each pin moves with 
respect to the hanger rod thereby allowing the retaining member to move 
between an open position and a locked position, with respect to the hanger 
rod. 
2. Description of Prior Art 
Clothing retailers have found that displaying merchandise on garment 
hangers increases sales. Most retailers keep the hanger when a garment is 
sold and re-use the hanger for displaying replenishment merchandise. 
Collecting hangers at the point of sale, sorting them, and re-using them 
causes attendant operational problems for retailers. Nonetheless, overall 
operating expenses decline as a result of the undertaking. 
Hanger storage assemblies have been used to handle or store garment hangers 
in a neat and organized fashion between a hanger bar and a retainer bar. 
Most conventional hanger storage assemblies either use a pin which is 
secured to the hanger bar and a retaining bar which slides with respect to 
the pin, or use a retaining bar which is secured to a latching member 
which is formed as a leaf spring. 
Cameron, U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,145, teaches a caddy for garment hangers. An 
end plug having a hollow cylindrical shape is inserted into a tube. The 
inserted portion of the end plug is slightly smaller in diameter than an 
outer portion of the end plug. A shoulder is defined at the junction 
between the inserted portion and the outer portion. The inner portion has 
shallow projections, in the form of longitudinally extending ribs, 
peripherally spaced about the exterior surface, which are used to form a 
tight fit between the end plug and the tube. A hanger clamping member is 
secured to a pair of latching members, each in the form of a leaf spring. 
Each leaf spring projects through holes in the tube. As the clamping 
member moves toward the tube, each leaf spring reaches a position at which 
it springs into a locked position. 
Simmerman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,727, teaches a garment hanger 
assembly which also has a retaining member secured to a pair of latching 
members, each in the shape of a leaf spring. The leaf springs project 
through holes in end caps. The end caps are attached to a hanger bar. When 
the retaining member reaches a certain position, the leaf springs move 
into a locked position. 
Cameron, U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,906, discloses a caddy for storing garment 
hangers. The caddy includes a tube and a retainer strip that is secured to 
a pair of latching members. Each latching member is formed as a leaf 
spring. The latching mechanisms taught by the '906 Cameron patent can 
permanently deform through repeated use, rendering the caddy quite 
difficult to use in actual practice. 
Hall et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,355, discloses a hanger storage assembly 
having a pin that is secured with respect to a hanger bar. A retaining 
member slides with respect to the pin, between an open position and a 
closed position. A resilient latch member having serrations is used to 
lock the retaining member in a set position. A spring positioned between 
the hanger bar and the retaining bar urges the retaining bar away from the 
hanger bar when the retaining bar is unlatched. 
Zelniker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,473, teaches a hanger retaining device which 
has retaining pins mounted on a hanger bar. A retaining rod is slidably 
mounted on the retaining pins, so that the retaining rod slides with 
respect to the retaining pins. A spring is positioned between the 
retaining rod and the hanger bar and urges the retaining rod away from the 
hanger bar, toward a normally open position. 
Wiederer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,767, discloses an end cap which fits into an 
end of a tubular member of a garment hanger caddy. A groove is cut at 
least partially around the end cap between the inner portion which fits 
within the tubular member and the outer portion which forms the exposed 
end cap. The external surface of the inner portion is formed by raised 
splines which are separated by substantially planar flats. 
Any improvement, particularly those associated with operating and handling 
the garment hangers, will render retail operations more efficient and thus 
be advantageous for the consumer. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is one object of this invention to provide a simple and understandable 
lockable storage apparatus having an easy-opening retaining member wherein 
a locking or actuating mechanism is encapsulated in an endcap housing, 
which protects the locking or actuating mechanism from damage and insures 
long life. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a lockable storage 
apparatus having a simple compact design that provides increased hanger 
storage capacity, when compared with some other conventional hanger 
storage assemblies. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a lockable storage 
apparatus wherein all biasing elements are completely encapsulated within 
the endcap housings, thereby protecting the biasing elements from damage 
and promoting long life. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a lockable storage 
apparatus wherein the useful life is increased because there are no loose 
pieces that can fail or become dislodged. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a lockable storage 
apparatus wherein rotation of a locking pin will not alter the operation 
of the locking or actuating mechanism. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a lockable storage 
apparatus wherein the locking or actuating mechanism cannot be opened or 
unlocked by inertial forces while transporting the lockable storage 
apparatus. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a lockable storage 
apparatus having a fixed construction which provides easy movement of a 
retaining bar between an open position and a locked position, with respect 
to a hanger rod. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a lockable storage 
apparatus wherein opposite end portions of a retaining bar are each 
secured with respect to a pin that slides within a bore of a housing that 
is secured with respect to a hanger rod. 
Garment hangers are often gathered for reuse. For example, retail clothing 
stores often remove garment hangers from clothing items at the time of 
sale. Clerks often have insufficient time to neatly stack the empty 
garment hangers. Many conventional storage devices used to collect and 
store garment hangers are awkward to use. There is an apparent need for a 
hanger storage apparatus which reduces or eliminates time-consuming 
fidgeting associated with mechanical components that are awkward to move 
between an open position and a locked position. 
The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished with a 
lockable storage apparatus that has a simple actuating mechanism which is 
easily operated between open and closed positions. The lockage storage 
apparatus for retaining garment hangers or other hook-shaped members, 
according to one preferred embodiment of this invention, two housing 
member's each attached at opposite ends of an elongated hanger member, 
such as a hanger rod. A pin is slidably mounted within a housing bore of 
each housing member. A spring is preferably used to urge the pin into a 
normally open position. 
An actuating mechanism is used to operate the pin between the open position 
and the locked position. Because an elongated retaining member, such as a 
retaining bar, is secured with respect to the pin, the retaining member 
follows movement of the pin. 
In one preferred embodiment according to this invention, two pins are 
positioned approximately parallel to each other and the retaining member 
is secured either directly or indirectly to upper portions of the pins. 
With such arrangement, a user can easily depress each pin from the open 
position to the locked position, thereby closing the distance between the 
retaining bar and the hanger member so that the retaining member can move 
into the locked position and forcibly hold each hanger against the hanger 
member. 
In one preferred embodiment according to this invention, each pin is 
released from the locked position by overcoming a bias force which urges a 
lock member into an engaged position. The lock member is preferably but 
not necessarily slidably mounted within another bore of the housing. When 
the pin is in the locked position, the lock member preferably projects 
from the housing at its maximum travel distance. As the lock member is 
forced into the housing, a step depression or notch within the lock member 
preferably engages with the pin in such a manner that the spring-loaded 
pin automatically moves into the open position. 
The lockable apparatus for retaining garment hangers, according to this 
invention, can be easily handled by the user. Because of the relatively 
fixed construction accomplished by having the retaining member secured 
with respect to the slidable pins, the user can apply a closing force to 
any portion of the retaining member and easily actuate the retaining 
member from the open position to the locked position. 
The lockable storage apparatus according to this invention can be easily 
moved from the open position to the locked position, even with only one 
hand of the user. The lock members of this invention preferably protrude 
from the housing in the general shape of a pushbutton. Such pushbuttons 
are conveniently located near the user's thumb when the user grasps and 
holds the housing member with one hand. Thus, at times when the user can 
afford only one hand to close a storage apparatus, the lockable storage 
apparatus according to this invention enables the user to conveniently 
move the retaining member from the open position to the locked position. 
The spring-loaded pushbutton motion for actuating the pins from the locked 
position to the open position provides the user with a simple touch motion 
to open the retaining member, for example when adding more garment hangers 
or other hook-shaped members to the hanger member.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a front view of a lockable hanger 
apparatus, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention, 
garment hangers or other hook-shaped members can be mounted upon an 
elongated hanger member, such as hanger rod 20. Hanger rod 20 can have any 
suitable cross-sectional shape that accommodates garment hangers or other 
hook-shaped members. 
Housing 30 is mounted, attached or otherwise secured with respect to hanger 
rod 20. As shown in FIG. 1, preferably two housings 30 are each mounted at 
opposite ends of hanger rod 20. Each housing 30 has pin bore 36, as shown 
in FIG. 4, which accommodates pin 40 and allows pin 40 to slide with 
respect to housing 30. Pin 40 is preferably positioned generally 
perpendicular to both a longitudinal axis of hanger rod 20 and a general 
longitudinal axis of housing 30. 
As clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, an elongated retaining member, such 
as retaining bar 25, is secured with respect to pin 40. With such secured 
arrangement, retaining bar 25 follows the sliding movement of pin 40, with 
respect to housing 30. 
As shown in FIG. 1, pin 40 is in an open position. The gap between 
retaining bar 25 and hanger rod 20 is preferably large enough to allow 
hangers or other hook-shaped members to be mounted upon hanger rod 20. 
Once in the mounted position, pin 40 can be pushed in a direction 
generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of pin 40, resulting in 
retaining bar 25 moving toward hanger rod 20. Hanger rod 20, retaining bar 
25 and pin 40 can be designed and sized so that in a locked position of 
pin 40, retaining bar 25 exerts a clamping force upon the hangers or other 
hook-shaped members. Although not shown in the drawings, a deformable 
strip of material can be adhered or otherwise attached to clamping surface 
26. Such material may comprise a foam material, a polymeric material, or 
any other suitable material for providing a clamping force, as known to 
those skilled in the art. 
The lockable hanger apparatus according to this invention is easily 
actuated between the open position and the locked position of pin 40. Bias 
means are used to urge pin 40 into a fully open position, as shown in FIG. 
4. In such open position, garment hangers or other hook-shaped members can 
be easily mounted upon hanger rod 20. Once in a mounted position, a 
closing force can be applied to pin 40 and/or retaining bar 25. Because 
retaining bar 25 is secured with respect to preferably two pins 40, a 
relatively fixed 3-bar member is formed. Thus, if a closing force is 
applied at a position other than the center of retaining bar 25 or at a 
location at or near either of pins 40, such closing force will be 
distributed through retaining bar 25 and directly into pins 40. In one 
preferred embodiment according to this invention, such closing force 
distribution prevents retaining bar 25 from canting with respect to hanger 
rod 20, particularly during the closing motion. 
FIG. 2 shows one preferred embodiment of a peripheral shape of housing 30. 
The external peripheral shape of housing 30 shown in FIG. 2 is 
particularly suitable for supporting the lockable hanger apparatus 
according to this invention, such as when the apparatus is not in use. It 
is apparent that any other suitable peripheral shape can be substituted 
for that shown in FIG. 2 without departing from the results achieved with 
this invention. 
As clearly shown in FIG. 6, connector 31 extends from housing 30. It is 
apparent that connector 31 can be integrally formed with housing 30 or 
connector 31 can be secured or attached to housing 30, such as in any 
suitable manner known to those skilled in the art. According to one 
preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, hanger 
rod 20 is formed as a tube which defines opening 21. In such preferred 
embodiment, connector 31 comprises extension 32 which is mateably mounted 
with an opening 21. It is apparent that the roles between opening 21 and 
connector 31 can be reversed so that hanger rod 20 has an extension and 
connector 31 forms an opening. 
Also as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at least one crush rib 35 is 
preferably positioned between outer surface 33 of extension 32 and inner 
surface 22 of hanger rod 20. As shown in FIG. 6, in a direction from 
right-to-left, the top crush rib 35 stops short of shoulder 39. Crush rib 
35 preferably tapers toward the external surface of extension 32, as shown 
in FIG. 6. However, crush rib 35 can also form a curved, a square or any 
other suitable shaped end shoulder at the transition into extension 32. 
FIG. 7 shows the lockable storage apparatus shown in FIG. 6, but with pin 
40 in a locked position. 
As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, retaining member 25 preferably has 
clamping surface 26 facing toward hanger rod 20. In one preferred 
embodiment according to this invention, clamping surface 26 generally 
conforms to and matches external surface 23, as shown in FIG. 5, of hanger 
rod 20. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, retaining bar 25 has two angled flanges 
which generally conform to the overall arcuate peripheral shape of 
external surface 23. The generally matching shapes promote the clamping 
effect achieved between retaining bar 25 and hanger rod 20. 
In one preferred embodiment according to this invention, securement means 
are used to secure retaining bar 25 with respect to pin 40. As clearly 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, fastener 50 is used to detachably secure retaining 
bar 25, directly to pin 40. As shown in FIG. 4, fastener 50 may comprise 
screw 51 having external threads 52 which are mateably engaged within 
internally threaded bore 41 of pin 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, 
retaining bar 25 is sandwiched between pin 40 and a head of screw 51. It 
is apparent that any other suitable method for permanently securing or 
detachably securing retaining bar 25, either directly to pin 40 or with 
respect to pin 40, can be used without departing from the result of 
forming a relatively fixed construction between retaining bar 25 and pin 
40. It is apparent that rivets, welding, adhesives and integrally formed 
parts can be used as a substitute for fastener 50 or screw 51. 
Bias means are used to urge pin 40 into a normally open position, such as 
the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In one preferred embodiment according 
to this invention, such bias means comprise compression spring 42 at least 
partially positioned within pin bore 36. Compression spring 42 preferably 
has spring end 43 abutting pin 40 and opposite spring end 44 abutting 
housing 30. It is apparent that many other suitable biasing members, such 
as various types of springs, deformable elements and the like, can be used 
to accomplish the same result of urging pin 40 into the open position, as 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, cap 34 closes pin bore 
36. Cap 34 can form an interference fit with the sidewalls of housing 30 
that define pin bore 36. Cap 34 can also be permanently secured to housing 
30. However, a removable cap 34 allows disassembly and removal of pin 40 
from housing 30, if desired. 
Pin 40 slides within pin bore 36, in a direction which is generally 
parallel to a longitudinal axis of pin 40. In one preferred embodiment 
according to this invention, the travel of pin 40 in the opening direction 
is limited by shoulder stop 37 of housing 30 which abuts flange 45 of pin 
40, in the fully open position as shown in FIG. 4. It is apparent that the 
travel distance and shape of pin 40 can be changed to accomplish the 
desired results of this invention. 
According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIG. 
3, such bias means comprise spring 61 at least partially mounted within 
lock bore 38. Compression spring 61 has spring end 62 abutting plunger 
shaft 65 and opposite spring end 63 abutting housing 30. Plunger shaft 65 
preferably slides in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of pin 40. As shown in FIG. 3, plunger shaft 65 is 
preferably positioned generally perpendicular to both a longitudinal axis 
of pin 40 and a longitudinal axis of hanger rod 20. 
In another preferred embodiment according to this invention, actuating 
means are used to operate or actuate pin 40 between the open position and 
the locked position. The actuating means may comprise lock member 60 being 
slidably mounted with respect to housing 30. Lock member 60 can comprise 
any suitable mechanical element that directly or indirectly contacts pin 
40 to allow pin 40 to be set in either the locked position or the open 
position. As shown in FIG. 3, lock member 60 comprises plunger shaft 65 
which is slidably mounted within lock bore 38. Bias means are also 
preferably used to urge plunger shaft 65 toward an engaged position. 
Engagement means are used to position plunger shaft 65 in the engaged 
position when pin 40 is in the locked position. Such engagement means are 
also used to position plunger shaft 65 in a release position when pin 40 
is out of the locked position, such as either in the open position or 
moving toward the open position of pin 40. 
FIGS. 8 and 9 show different embodiments of the lockable hanger apparatus 
according to this invention, similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As 
shown in FIG. 3, plunger shaft 65 is mounted within lock bore 38 which has 
no cap. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the contact between 
plunger shaft 65 and pin 40 always retains plunger shaft 65 within lock 
bore 38. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, cap 64 which is either 
integrally formed with or attached to body 30, forms a stop and limits 
movement of plunger shaft 65. As shown in FIG. 8, the actuating means 
comprise tab 69 which is used to operate plunger shaft 65 between the 
engage position and the release position. As shown in FIG. 9, slide key 70 
is used to control movement of plunger shaft 65. By moving slide key 70 
downward, as shown in FIG. 9, plunger shaft 65 slides to the left. 
According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, the engagement 
means comprise at least a portion of plunger shaft 65 having notch or step 
depression 66, as shown in FIG. 3. Step depression 66 is preferably formed 
by plunger shaft 65 having shaft neck 67 and at least one bevelled collar 
68 which forms a transition between the diameter of shaft neck 67 and the 
diameter of plunger shaft 65. As shown in FIG. 3, two bevelled collars 68 
form the transition and thus step depression 66. Likewise, according to 
one preferred embodiment of this invention, pin 40 is preferably formed as 
a rod having step depression 46. As shown in FIG. 3, bevelled collars 48 
are positioned on opposing sides of rod neck 47 and form a transition 
between a diameter of rod neck 47 and a diameter of rod or pin 40. 
In one preferred embodiment according to this invention, the included acute 
angle formed between bevelled collar 48 and pin 40 and the included acute 
angle formed between bevelled collar 68 and plunger shaft 65 add to 
approximately 90.degree.. With such arrangement the actuating means 
operates with ease. However, it is apparent that other suitable angles can 
be used, depending upon the materials selected for pin 40 and plunger 
shaft 65, for example. 
Lock member 60 or plunger shaft 65 is in a release position whenever pin 40 
is out of the locked position. As shown in FIG. 3, pin 40 is in the open 
position and plunger shaft 65 is in the release position, wherein the 
major diameter of pin 40 fits within step depression 66 of plunger shaft 
65. As pin 40 is forced downward, relative to the direction shown in FIGS. 
3 and 4, step depression 46 of pin 40 eventually engages with step 
depression 66 of plunger shaft 65. Upon such engagement between step 
depression 46 and step depression 66, the bias force slides plunger shaft 
65 to the right, preferably along a linear direction shown by the 
double-headed arrow in FIG. 3, until bevelled collar 68 abuts bevelled 
collar 48. 
In the preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, 
both pin 40 and plunger shaft 65 have a circular cross section. Thus, 
bevelled collar 48 and bevelled collar 68 are each formed as truncated 
cones. With such geometrical arrangement, bevelled collar 48 and bevelled 
collar 68 contact each other. In such arrangement, only one bevelled 
collar 48 is necessary on pin 40 and only one bevelled collar 68 is 
necessary on plunger shaft 65. The shape of the structures of step 
depression 46 and step depression 66 are not limited to those shown in the 
drawings. Other suitably designed notches or depressions can be used to 
accomplish the same results of pin 40 interfering with plunger shaft 65 
and the bias force urging plunger shaft 65 when pin 40 is in the open 
position, and of plunger shaft 65 interfering with pin 40 and the bias 
force urging pin 40 when pin 40 is in the locked position. 
It is apparent that the elements and components discussed throughout this 
specification and shown in the drawings can be constructed of many 
different suitable materials. For example, pin 40 can be constructed of a 
durable metal., such as steel. Pin 40 can also be injection molded with a 
suitable polymeric or composite material. Housing 30 is preferably 
injection molded with a suitable polymeric or composite material. Hanger 
rod 20 and retaining bar 25 are preferably constructed of metal, but can 
also be constructed of other suitably strong materials, such as graphite, 
graphite composites and the like. 
While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in 
relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have 
been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional 
embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied 
considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.