Abstract:
A bracket tightened around a post which provides a channel through which the bottom portion of a rod with passes so that the rod is pinned within the bracket through a hole in the rod, thereby enabling items to be hung from a hook at the upper end of the rod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/224,064, filed Aug. 9, 2000. 
    
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0001]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND of THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to bracketed hangers, specifically a bracket that holds to a post a rod with a hook.  
           [0003]    Posts are commonly used in home and business environments to hold such objects as mailboxes, plants, birdfeeders and signage. Posts also serve as patio deck, boat dock, and fence components. A typical post remains a single purpose function and is typically unadorned.  
           [0004]    The space surrounding a post provides an opportunity to expand its utility. The air space surrounding a post is typically neglected as far as decorating or other display options are concerned.  
           [0005]    Attaching a hanger to a post provides an option to fill airspace around a post with decorative or other objects. However, a typical post is away from power sources needed to drill screws into the post to hold hardware or fixtures to attach or hold objects. Also, the physical limitations or infirmity of the post owner may preclude heavy and even light invasive tool use. Also, nails and screws permanently violate or scar the integrity, surface or appearance of the post. Therefore, a bracket that compresses around a post would address these issues.  
           [0006]    A further option is needed to easily raise or lower the height of the hanger without having to remove more permanent attachments. Being able to adjust the height of the hanger would facilitate growing plants, as well as a multitude of different sized objects to be changed throughout the year, such as seasonal or holiday decorations. A further option is need to easily remove a rod without tools. A bracket that permits a restraining or detent pin would address these issues.  
           [0007]    These needs for increased functionality of post decorating with easy adjustability without the need for invasive and onerous tooling are solved by the invention.  
           [0008]    Inventors have created brackets for mounting purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,007 to Varon and U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,547 to Varon are merely hanging rails with a bracket to provide support. They are neither adjustable nor applicable to a vertical post. The brackets are not affixed by compression. U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,954 to Kobilarcik and U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,635 to Juris disclose brackets for mounting a mailbox to a stanchion; however, the brackets are for a fixed placement for a limited purpose of attaching a mailbox to a post, and are not affixed by compression nor applicable for vertical or hanging usage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,319 to Grassi discloses an adjustable planter box hanger; however, the hanger requires two supports for affixing a box to a cross member, akin to a shelf structure, and is not effective for a vertical post. It provides an adjustment to accommodate the size of the box, and fails to provide for manual variable level adjustments, nor is it attached by compression.  
           [0009]    Inventors have created hooks alone for plant pots. U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,982 to Quatrini discloses a bent rod with a hook on the other end that slips over a post that is anchored in a barrel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,413 to Sharon discloses just a pot hanger. However, neither includes a bracket mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,982 is just the bent rod angled around the post with a bracket. The invention also lacks a bracket to hold the rod to the post to provide strength and stability. The invention also includes a barrel feature, whereby our invention is for a freestanding post.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,088 to Shell, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,815 to Sauer disclose an upright support brackets which are horizontal shelf supports that provide no hook mechanism for hanging, are not attached by compression and are inapplicable for hanging from a vertical post.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,817 to Klumpjan discloses a bracket that holds and supports a post at its base to provide stability to the post. It is provides no hook, no adjustability and is not attached by compression.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a bracket that wraps around or slips over a post. The bracket is held to the post by hand-tightening a nut onto a bolt. The tightening action draws a space of the bracket together, thereby compressing the bracket around the post. The bracket includes a slot for one end of a rod. The rod is held in place by a hand-inserted pin which goes through one of any selected holes of the rod, allowing the user to adjust the height of the rod as needed to accommodate the object being hanged. The other end of the rod extending from the post includes a hook for hanging an object. The rod can easily be raiser and lowered, or removed, by withdrawing the pin and to release the position of the rod. The bracket can easily be removed from the post by loosening the nut on the bolt of the bracket.  
           [0013]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of our invention are:  
           [0014]    (a) to enable simple by-hand installation and repositioning of a bracket onto a post  
           [0015]    (b) to provide an easy by-hand adjustment capability as to the level of a hanger from a post  
           [0016]    (c) to allow the hanging of objects from a post without the need for invasive hardware such as screws or nails  
           [0017]    (d) to provide hardware for hanging objects from a post and without the need for power tools  
           [0018]    Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The above objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a lateral elevational view of the bracket before wrapped around a post;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the bracket showing how the bracket wraps around a post;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a top view of the bracket with a bolt through the tabs at each side of the opening coupled by a nut, and with a pin placed through the channel where the post is to be inserted;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the lower portion of the rod with holes;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the opening side of the bracket after the bolt is placed through the holes on the parallel tabs at each side of the opening and coupled by a nut, and showing the lower end of the rod lined up to be inserted into the channel;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the side of the bracket with the channel for the post, and showing the lower end of the rod inserted into the channel, and showing the pin inserted through one of the holes in the rod;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is lateral view of the bracket showing how the bracket wraps around a post, and showing the lower end of the rod inserted into the channel with a pin inserted through the channel and one of the holes in the rod;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a lateral view of the invention in relation to the upper end of a typical mailbox post, showing the bracket wrapped around a post, such as a post for a mailbox as illustrated, with the lower portion of the rod pinned in the channel and with the upper hook end of the rod in a position to suspend a hanging object.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, the bracket (FIG. 1) provides enough space  1  to allow the bracket to wrap around  2  a post  3  (FIG. 2). After the bracket is positioned around the post a bolt  4  is inserted through the two holes of the parallel tabs  5   a ,  5   b  on each side of the opening of the bracket (FIG. 3). Tightened onto the bolt is a nut  6  to hold the bracket in a desired position on the post as a result of the compression of the bracket around the post, enabling the bracket to bear the weight of the rod and a fixture attached or displayed from the hook end of the rod without the bracket moving on the post once it is set in a desired position. The rod  7  with incrementally placed holes  8   a - 8   e  (FIG. 4) is inserted through the channel  9  on the bracket (FIG. 5), aligning one of the holes in the rod with the holes  10  of the channel so that a pin  11  may be inserted through the channel and rod (FIG. 6), completing the assembly (FIG. 7). Once the rod is pinned to the bracket, a wide range of decorating fixtures can be hung from the hook end  12  of the rod (FIG. 8).  
         [0029]    The bracket is either slid over the top of the post and down into position on the post, or the bracket opens and wraps around the post. When the bracket is placed at the desired position on the post, a bolt is placed through the holes of the tabs projecting from the bracket at the opening, then a nut is tightened onto the bolt. The action of tightening the bolt then draws the space of the bracket together, compressing the entire bracket around the post.  
         [0030]    Once the bracket is securely tightened, a rod is inserted into a channel of the bracket. The rod is held in place by a pin that goes through one of multiple holes bore through rod. The height of the rod can be changed by selecting another hole in the rod. The height of the rod can also be changed by loosening the nut of the bracket, then repositioning the bracket on the post, then again tightening the nut when the bracket is at the desired height.  
         [0031]    Although a particular and preferred illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to this particular embodiment. Various changes and modifications may be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the bracket of the invention can have another opening for another bolt and nut in order for the bracket to provide increased compression around the post, and to accommodate larger sized posts. The bracket does not have to be solid, but can be made of a rigid material displaying a cut design. Additional channels can be added for additional rods. The hook of the rod can be of a variety of shapes, such as a U-shape, V-shape, or even have a clasp to hold the hanging object. Also, instead of a pin going through the rod, a bolt or a screw can press again the rod to hold it in place.  
         [0032]    The bracket component of the invention can be fabricated from a wide range of materials including metals and plastic.  
         [0033]    Accordingly, the reader will see that the device can be used to easily attach a bracket and hanger to a post. It is an economical device that can be used by persons of almost any age without power equipment. Furthermore, the device has additional advantages in that  
         [0034]    it allows for the level of the hook to be easily adjusted;  
         [0035]    it enables easy installation of the bracket and rod;  
         [0036]    it enables easy removal of the bracket and rod;  
         [0037]    it enables a weight-bearing hook without need for screws or nails into the post;  
         [0038]    it increase the functionally of posts;  
         [0039]    it enables the easy beautification of a post environment.