Abstract:
Hanging close organizers providing highly rigid and highly stable shelves for supporting shoes and garments are relatively inexpensive to manufacture while, at the same time, provide a relatively large number of potential positions at which the rigid shelves may be securely yet removably positioned. A collapsible fabric body includes a plurality of straps disposed and stitched vertically within the interior of the body. The straps are stitched to the overall body along the majority of the length of each strap. Periodic gaps in the stitching, at horizontally aligned, predetermined positions along the length of each strap, form slots, or slot regions. Each of four horizontal side hooks, disposed proximate an associated corner of a removable shelf, may be advanced axially through an associated slot. A distal protrusion or barb of each side hook serves to further secure each shelf in place, inhibiting unwanted slippage or inadvertent removal of a shelf.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to closet organizers for the storing of articles of apparel such as shoes and clothing and, more particularly, to closet organizers that are hung from and supported by closet rods or similar cylindrical supports. 
         [0003]    2. General Background of the Invention 
         [0004]    Closet organizers for supporting and storing shoes and articles of clothing, and that are hung from a closet or similar cylindrical supports, have been known for quite some time. Today, such closet organizers are often collapsible to facilitate their transportation and storage when empty, having a body made of a fabric material and having shelving that is at least semi-rigid, sometimes made of fiberboard or a similar material. 
         [0005]    Some prior art closet organizers, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,847,066, include a relatively limited number of fabric pockets, or partitions, with each pocket accepting a filler member such as cardboard and creating a plurality of fixed, identically-sized compartments. Such organizers do not provide any user selection of storage compartment height, and are relatively complex in construction, particularly with respect to the attachment of the individual top and bottom portions of each pocket to the fabric shell of the organizer Moreover, the pockets of such organizers may not firmly support the filler members or inserts, leading to compartment bottoms that may sag somewhat when loaded with articles of clothing, particularly heavier garments. 
         [0006]    Other prior art closet organizers, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0140253, include adjustable sized compartments, and removable shelves. Such organizers, however, are relatively complex in construction and relatively expensive to manufacture, as multiple locking strips are required to be attached to the organizer at each potential position that a shelf may be attached. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides collapsible closet organizers that overcome many of the shortcomings of certain prior art hanging closet organizers. In particular, hanging closet organizers are disclosed that provide highly rigid and highly stable shelves for supporting shoes and garments. Moreover, hanging close organizers are disclosed that are relatively inexpensive to manufacture while, at the same time, provide a relatively large number of potential positions at which rigid shelves may be securely yet removably positioned. 
         [0008]    In the hanging closet organizers of the present invention, a substantially flexible and collapsible fabric body includes a plurality of straps disposed and stitched vertical within the interior of the body. The straps may be stitched to the overall body along the majority of the length of each strap. However, regular, periodic gaps in the stitching, at identical predetermined positions along the length of each strap, serve to form transverse slots facing a front opening of the body, permitting each of four horizontal side hooks, disposed proximate an associated corner of a removable shelf, to be advanced axially from the front opening of the body and through an associated slot. A distal protrusion or barb of each side hook serves to further secure each shelf in place, inhibiting unwanted horizontal slippage or inadvertent removal of a shelf. 
         [0009]    Foldable hanger members may be used to suspend the overall collapsible closet organizer from a closet rod or other suitable support. A rigid top cover may also be employed to further maintain the hanger members in a vertical orientation and, aesthetically, to match the general appearance of the removable shelves. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  an elevated, front perspective view of an embodiment of a hanging closet organizer of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an elevated, front perspective view of the hanging closet organizer of  FIG. 1 , shown suspended from a cylindrical closet rod; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the fabric body component of the hanging closet organizer of  FIG. 1 , shown in its flat, unerected form; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an elevated, front perspective view of a removable shelf component of the hanging closet organizer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an elevated, rear perspective view of the removable shelf component of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an elevated, left side view of the removable shelf component of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  an exploded, front perspective view of the hanging closet organizer of  FIG. 1 , showing, in particular, the manner of attachment of the top cover and hanger member to the fabric body; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the hanging closet organizer of  FIG. 1 , showing, in particular, an attached top cover and attached hanger members. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0019]    A first embodiment of the present closet organizer  10 , sized for the storage of sweaters and similar garments, is shown in  FIGS. 1-8  as comprising fabric body  20 , a plurality of removable shelves  40 , hanger members  32 , and top cover  50 . Fabric body  20 , substantially rectangular in shape (when in its unerected configuration of  FIG. 3 ) includes interior (when fabric body  20  is in its erected configuration of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) surface  21 , exterior (when fabric body  20  is in its erected configuration) surface  22 , back wall  23 , and two opposing side walls  24 . Fabric body may be constructed of a synthetic fabric material, such as a relatively heavy gauge nylon, or a natural fabric material, such as a relatively heavy gauge cotton canvas. 
         [0020]    Interior surface  21  of fabric body  20  includes four vertical straps  26 , each extending along substantially the entire vertical height of fabric body  20 , spaced laterally in pairs such that, when fabric body  20  is erected by creating two vertical folds proximate the inner longitudinal side edges of the two innermost vertical straps  26 , the two innermost vertical straps  26  are each disposed at an inner corner of fabric body  20 , while the two outermost vertical straps  26  are each spaced inwardly a short distance from the leading edge of side walls  24  at the front opening of the erected fabric body  20 . Back wall  23  of fabric body  20  is thus formed in the space between the two vertical folds made proximate the inner longitudinal side edges of the two innermost vertical straps  26 . 
         [0021]    As best seen in  FIG. 3 , each vertical strap  26  has an alternating sequence of longitudinal spans of horizontally aligned stitched regions  27 , wherein each strap  26  is securely stitched to fabric body  20  using a relatively heavy gauge synthetic or natural thread material, and horizontally aligned unstitched regions  28 , wherein no such stitching is present. Accordingly, unstitched regions  28  form horizontal slots, also referred to using reference numeral  28 , through which an elongated member, such as horizontal side hooks  45  of removable shelf  40 , may be axially inserted and securely held. 
         [0022]    As best in seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , exterior surfaces  22  of both side walls  24  may optionally include an exterior strap  29 , extending downwardly from the top edge of each side wall  24 . An optional reinforced central aperture  30 , reinforced by additional stitching and/or by the placement of additional fabric or a rigid material surrounding the circumference of the aperture, is disposed proximate a distal end of each exterior strap  29 , extending through the entire thickness of fabric body  20 . Inasmuch as both optional central apertures  30  are axially aligned, a closet rod or other suitable cylindrical support may be extended through both central apertures  30  of multiple units of closet organizer  10 , creating a separate, lower hanger-supporting rod between the multiple units  10 , well below an upper closet rod by which each of the multiple units  10  are simultaneously hung in a spaced-apart manner. 
         [0023]    Removable shelf  40 , preferably constructed of a substantially rigid material such as polypropylene, is shown in  FIGS. 4-6  as comprising body  41  having substantially planar top surface  42 , two opposing vertical side edges  43 , vertical rear edge  44 , and front edge  48 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , top surface  42  is preferably angled slightly upward proximate front edge  48 , serving to facilitate the retention of shoes or garments stored atop removable shelf  40  in place and inhibit them from sliding forward and potentially falling to the floor. 
         [0024]    Removable shelf  40  further includes four integrally formed horizontal side hooks  45 , respectively disposed proximate the front of left side edge  43 , the front of right side edge  43 , the rear of left side edge  43 , and the rear of right side edge  43 . On each side edge  43 , two horizontal side hooks  45  are spaced a distance from each other that is substantially equal to the horizontal distance between each parallel pair of vertical interior straps  26  on inner side walls  24  of fabric body  20 . Moreover, each horizontal side hook  45  extends from a corresponding side edge  43  of removable shelf  40  from a substantially triangular prism-shaped region  46 , securely coupling each side hook  45  to the overall body of removable shelf  40 . Each side hook  45  further includes a downwardly-extending protrusion or barb  47  at its distal end. The total height of each side hook  45  at the position of protrusion or barb  47 , including the protrusion or barb  47  itself, is preferably only slightly smaller than the height of each slot  28  of fabric body  20  between a pair of opposing stitched regions  27  immediately above and below, serving to firmly secure yet permit the later removal of each removable shelf  40  as its horizontal side hooks  45  are axially inserted through associated slots  28 , as discussed further below. This near interference fit of side hooks  45  relative to slots  28  inhibits unwanted forward/backward slippage or unintended removal of an inserted removable shelf  40 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , fabric body  20  further includes a plurality of top loops  31  disposed proximate the top side edges of fabric body  20 . On each top side edge, a group of three top loops  31  encircle and substantially surround a horizontal bar  33  of hanger members  32 , in sufficiently loose fashion to enable each hanger member  32  to fold or collapse inwardly for storage or shipping of closet organizer  10 . Top loops  31  may be sewn in place about hanger member  32 , or may employ hook-and-loop or other reclosable fasteners. Hanger member  32  further includes arcuate hook support  35 , coupled to and extending from a central portion of horizontal bar  33 . Hanging hook  36  extends vertically from arcuate hook support  35 , enabling hanging member  32  and, in turn, fabric body  20  and closet organizer  10  overall, to be hung from a closet rod or other suitable support. 
         [0026]    Top cover  50  is likewise preferably constructed of a rigid polypropylene material, and is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  as comprising side edges  51  and two opposing slots  52  extending through top surface  53 . Slots  52  are positioned and sized to permit axial insertion therethrough of hooks  36  and an upper portion of arcuate hook supports  35 , following attachment of hanging members  32  to fabric body  20 , thereby securing hanger members  32  in a vertical orientation relative to fabric body  20  and providing a rigid overall top cover to closet organizer  10 . Slots  52  may each include an associated inwardly-directed notched region, permitting each hanger member to be rotated inwardly and thus permitting hooks  36  to be folded flat against top surface  53  for storage or transportation whenever an assembled organizer  10  is not in use. 
         [0027]    Closet organizer  10  may be erected and assembled by first creating two vertical folds parallel to and proximate the inner longitudinal side edges of the two innermost vertical straps  26  along the entire length of fabric body  20 , such that fabric body is positioned substantially U-shaped or hat-shaped in cross section. This folding step may alternatively be omitted, as the substantially U-shaped or hat-shaped cross section of fabric body  20  may be achieved through the attachment of a removable shelf  40  in the bottom-most position and the attachment of top cover  50  in the manner described below. 
         [0028]    Next, a first removable shelf  40  is removably attached to fabric body  20  at the lowermost possible position, by advancing each of four horizontal side hooks  45  of removable shelf  40  through associated front apertures of an associated lowermost slot  28 , between a vertical strap  26  and inner surface  21  of fabric body  20 , until protrusion or barb  47  is extended through the entirety of an associated slot  28 , exiting the rear aperture of the slot and extending downwardly adjacent slot  28 . Top cover  50  is then attached to fabric body  20  by extending hooks  36  of hanger member  32  through slots  52  until top cover  50  is firmly seated adjacent top loops  31  and horizontal bar  33  of hanger members  32 . 
         [0029]    Finally, a desired number of additional instances of removable shelves  40  may be removably attached to fabric body at respective desired heights, by selecting a set of four unused slots  28  at the desired height, advancing each of four horizontal side hooks  45  of a removable shelf  40  through associated front apertures of an associated one of a set of four slots  28  at the desired height, between a vertical strap  26  and inner surface  21  of fabric body  20 , until protrusion or barb  47  is extended through the entirety of an associated slot  28 , exiting the rear aperture of the slot and extending downwardly adjacent slot  28 . In this manner, a wide variety of individual compartment configurations, having a wide variety of compartment heights, may be selected and created by the user. 
         [0030]    Following insertion of a desired number of removable shelves  40  at desired positions as discussed above, any previously inserted removable shelf  40  may be removed from attachment to fabric body  20  by pulling shelf  40  outwardly, stretching or manipulating each of the associated slots  28  as each protrusion or barb  47  of each horizontal side hood  45  passes axially and relatively tightly through the slot  28 . 
         [0031]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8 , fabric body  20 , removable shelves  40 , and top cover  50  are all sized to accommodate the organization and storage of folded sweaters or similarly sized garments. In this embodiment, fabric body  20 , removable shelves  40 , and top cover  50  may all be sized to provide an organizer  10  that is approximately twelve inches wide when fully assembled. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment of the invention, fabric body  20 , removable shelves  40 , and top cover  50  are all sized to accommodate the organization and storage of pairs of shoes or similarly sized articles of apparel. In this embodiment, fabric body  20 , removable shelves  40 , and top cover  50  may all be sized to provide an organizer  10  that is approximately seven inches wide when fully assembled. 
         [0033]    Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of performing the various steps of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present disclosure is intended to exemplify and not limit the invention.