Abstract:
Portable, compact hanging systems that enable a person to hang items from a wide variety of different objects and surfaces in order to free their hands for other activities are described. The hanging systems include hook and gated-loops systems composed of a hook connected to a gated loop by way of a rotatable hinge that provides multiple degrees of freedom. Hanging systems also include double hook systems that are connected by flexible joints for convenient storage and expansion into unfolded configurations when in use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/144,038, filed Apr. 7, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/204,898, filed Aug. 13, 2015. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     People often find themselves in situations where their hands are busy and, as a result, they are not able to hold certain items. For example, diaper-changing typically takes two hands as well as a diaper bag to hold wipes and clean diapers. Even when there is a changing table, there may not be enough space available for the diaper bag and it may not be desirable to place the diaper bag on the floor. Another situation may occur when a person is traveling and would like to temporarily connect one piece of luggage to another, to a luggage cart, or to another surface, all while holding travel documents or walking through an airport or train station. Another situation may occur when a person is hiking and would like to temporarily hang a bag or another item on a tree limb or rock ledge while resting. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure is directed to portable, compact hanging systems that enable items to be hung from a wide variety of different objects and surfaces. The hanging systems include hook and gated-loops systems composed of a hook connected to a gated loop by way of a rotatable hinge that allows the hook and gated-loops systems to be stored in a compact folded configuration and easily unfolded for use. Hanging systems also include double hook systems that are connected by flexible joints that enable the double hook systems to be conveniently stored when not is use and expanded into unfolded configurations when in use. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  show different views of a hook and gated-loop system in a folded configuration. 
         FIG. 1C  shows a foot attached to a tip of a hook. 
         FIG. 1D  shows a perspective view of a foot. 
         FIG. 2A  shows an isometric view of a rotatable hinge. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a cross-sectional view of a rotatable hinge. 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  show exploded isometric views of a rotatable hinge. 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  show a hook and gated-loop system in an unfolded configuration. 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  show isometric views of a hook and gated-loop system in a folded configuration. 
         FIGS. 6A-6D  show views of a hook and gated-loop system in folded and unfolded configurations. 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  show views of a hook and gated-loop system in folded and unfolded configurations. 
         FIGS. 8A-8D  show views of a hook and gated-loop system in folded and unfolded configurations. 
         FIGS. 9A-9B  show a flexible double hook system. 
         FIG. 10  shows a flexible double hook system embedded in a flexible coating. 
         FIGS. 11A-11B  show a flexible double hook system with a ball-and-socket joint. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A-1B  show different views of a hook and gated-loop system  100  in a folded configuration. The hook and gated-loop system  100  includes a hook  102 , a gated loop  104 , and a rotatable hinge  106  that connects the hook  102  to the gated-loop  104 . In this embodiment, the gated-loop  104  is an oblong-shaped open ring configured with a straight spline  108  and an arc-shaped or curved large hook  110  opposite an arc-shaped or curved small hook  112 , the large hook  110  having a larger radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the small hook  112 . The hook  102  is curved so that when the hook and gated-loop system  100  is in the folded configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , the curved outer surface of the large hook  110  fits adjacent to a curved inner surface of the hook  102 , and the hook  102  and gated loop  14  are in a planar folded configuration for easy storage. The tip of the small hook  112  includes two parallel holes  114  and  116 , and the tip of the large hook  110  includes a flange  118 . The gated loop  104  is closed with a wire gate  120  formed from a bent wire with one end of the wire gate  120  inserted into the hole  114  and the other end of the wire gate  120  inserted into the hole  116  on the opposite side of the small hook  112 . In FIGS.  1 A- 1 B, the wire gate  120  is closed with a portion  122  of the wire gate  120  resting against the flange  118 . When pressure is applied to the wire gate  120  as indicated by directional arrow  124 , the wire gate  120  opens creating a twisting tension in the wire gate  120 . When the pressure  124  is removed, the tension is released by snapping the wire gate  120  back into the closed position. 
       FIG. 2A  shows an isometric view of the rotatable hinge  106  separate from the hook  102  and the gated loop  104 . The rotatable hinge  106  includes a first pair of parallel arms  202  and  204  with aligned holes  206  and  208  and includes a second pair of parallel arm  210  and  212  with aligned holes  214  and  216 . Returning to  FIG. 1B , the base  126  of the hook  102  fits within the space between a first pair of the parallel arms of the rotatable hinge  106  and includes a hole that is aligned with the holes in the first pair of arms. A first pin  128  that passes through the three aligned holes forms a first hinge pivot axis that connects the rotatable hinge  106  to the hook  102 .  FIG. 1B  also reveals that the gated loop  104  includes a protuberance  130  that protrudes from the spine  108  and fits within the space between a second pair of the parallel arms of the rotatable hinge  106  and includes a hole that is aligned with the holes in the second pair of arms. A second pin  132  that passes through the three aligned holes forms a second hinge pivot axis that connects the rotatable hinge  106  to the gated loop  104 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  show two exploded isometric views of the rotatable hinge  106 . The rotatable hinge  106  includes a U-shaped male end  302  formed from the first pair of parallel arms  202  and  204  and a U-shaped female end  304  formed from the second pair of parallel arms  210  and  212 . The U-shaped male end  302  has a cylindrical protrusion  306  that fits within a slightly larger diameter cylindrical hole  308  of the U-shaped female end  304 . The rotatable hinge  106  includes a threaded bolt  310  that connects the U-shaped male and female ends  302  and  304  along a central axis  218 . 
       FIG. 2B  shows a cross-sectional view of the fully assembled rotatable hinge  106  shown in  FIG. 2A . This cross-sectional view shows the cylindrical protrusion  306  of the U-shaped male end  302  inserted in the cylindrical hole  308  of the U-shaped female end  304 .  FIG. 2B  also reveals that the U-shaped male end  302  and the U-shaped female end  304  include cylindrical opens  220  and  222 , respectively, along the central axis  218 . The cylindrical opening  220  in the U-shaped male end  302  is threaded to engage the threads of the bolt  310 . The cylindrical opening  222  is unthreaded and has a larger diameter than the thread diameter of the bolt  310 . In this example, when the bolt  310  is screwed into the threaded opening  220  of the U-shaped male end  302 , the head  224  of the bolt  310  fits within a cylindrical recess  226  of the U-shaped female end  304 . Because the opening  222  is not threaded and has a larger diameter than the threads of the bolt  310 , the U-shaped male and female ends  302  and  304  may be freely rotated about the central axis  218  as indicated by double-headed directional arrow  226  in  FIG. 2A . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 1A-1B , the hook and gated-loop system  100  is maintained in the folded configuration by a foot  134 .  FIG. 1C  shows a magnified view of the foot  134  attached to the tip  138  of the hook  102  by a pin  140 .  FIG. 1D  shows a different isometric view of the foot  134  detached from the tip  138  of the hook  102 . The foot  134  includes an opening  142  between to two substantially parallel panels  144  and  146  that are spaced apart to receive the tip  138  of the hook  102 . The panels  144  and  146  include aligned holes  148  and  150 . As shown in  FIG. 1C , the pin  140  passes through a hole in the tip  138  of the hook  102  and the holes  144  and  146  of the foot  134 . The foot  134  includes a flange  152  that may be slightly larger or about the same width as the opening  154  between parallel wire sections of the wire gate  120  (shown in  FIG. 1B ) that engages the parallel wires of the wire gate  120  when the foot  134  is inserted into the wire gate  120  and holds the hook and gated-loop system  100  in a folded configuration. In  FIG. 1C , the foot  134  includes recesses  156  and  158  that receive the parallel wires of the wire gate  120  when the foot  134  is inserted into the wire gate  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B . The flange  152  of the foot  134  may also be configured to engage the tip of the large hook  110  of the gated loop  104  to hold the hook and gated-loop system  100  in the folded configuration. The hook and gated-loop system  100  may be switched to an unfolded configuration by applying a force that disengages the foot  134  from the opening  140  in the wire gate  120 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  show the hook and gated-loop system  100  in an unfolded configuration. The hook  102  may be placed on a surface such that the gated loop  104  is suspended below the surface. Dot-dashed line  402  in  FIG. 4B  represents the first hinge pivot axis between the rotatable hinge  106  and the hook  102 . Dot-dashed line  404  in  FIG. 4A  represents the second hinge pivot axis between the rotatable hinge  106  and the protuberance  130  of the gated loop  104 . Dot-dashed line  218  represents the central pivot axis of the rotatable hinge  106  described above and is orthogonal to the first and second pivot axes. The hook  102  may be rotated about the first pivot axis  402  as represented by double-headed directional arrow  406 . The gated loop  104  may be rotated about the second pivot axis  404  as represented by double-headed directional arrow  408 . The hook  102  and grated loop  104  may be rotated with respect to each about the central pivot axis  218  as represented by double-headed directional arrows  410  and  412 . Rotation about the central pivot axis  218  is orthogonal to rotations about the first and second pivot axes  402  and  404 . In other words, the hook and gated-loop system  100  has three pivot axes of rotation when the hook and gated-loop system  100  is in the unfolded configuration. The three pivot axes  402 ,  404 , and  218  enable the hook  102  and gated loop  104  to be rotated with respect to one another in three-dimensional space, as represented by directional arrows  406 ,  408 ,  410 , and  412 . 
     The hook  102  and gated loop  104  may be made of plastic, aluminum, or metal. The U-shaped male and female ends  302  and  304  of the rotatable hinge  106  may be made of plastic. The pins  128 ,  132  and  140  may be made of metal, aluminum, or plastic. 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  also show the hook and gated-loop system  100  in a useful orientation. The foot  134  of the hook  102  may be place against a surface or the hook  102  may be hung from an object, such a tree branch, a bar, or handle, and the gated loop  104  hangs down from the hook  102  and is used to attach an item. For example, the handle of bag may inserted into the gate loop  14  and the hook  102  hung from the handle of another bag or piece of luggage. The foot  134  may be composed of a material that creates friction, such as soft rubber or a textured plastic, in order to prevent the hook  102  from slipping off of a surface or an object. For example, the foot  134  may be placed against an uneven surface whereby the foot  134  prevents the hook  102  from sliding off the surface even when the surface is smooth, inclined, or wet. The foot  134  also forms a secondary hook that is directed inward toward the center of the hook  102  to prevent the hook  102  from slipping off a bar or an object. 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  show different isometric views of a hook and gated-loop system  500  in a folded configuration. The hook and gated-loop system  500  includes a hook  502 , a gated loop  504 , and the rotatable hinge  106  that connects the hook  502  to the gated-loop  504  as described above. The hook  502  and gated loop  504  are similar to the hook  102  and gated loop  104  described above except the large hook  506  portion of the gated loop  504  includes a recess  508  and a foot attached to the tip of the hook  502  includes a bracket  510  that holds an oval-shaped plug  512  that fits within the recess  508  when hook and gated-loop system  500  is in the folded configuration. The bracket  510  may be made of plastic and attached to the hook  502  with glue or a rivet. The plug  512  may be composed of rubber or a flexible textured plastic that prides friction and prevents the hook  502  from slipping as described above. 
       FIGS. 6A-6D  show different views of a hook and gated-loop system  600  in folded and unfolded configurations. The hook and gated-loop system  600  includes a C-shaped hook  602 , a C-shaped gated loop  604 , and a rotatable hinge  606  that connects the hook  602  to the gated loop  604 . The gated loop  604  includes a wire gate  608 . As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6C , the rotatable hinge  606  is curved to wrap around the outer surface of the gated loop  604 . As shown in  FIG. 6D , the rotatable hinge  606  allows the hook and gated-loop system  600  to be unfolded and rotated about three different pivot axes as described above with reference to  FIGS. 4A-4B . A foot  610  is attached to the tip of the hook  602  and is configured to pinch the sides of the gated loop  604  and hold the hook and gated-loop system  600  in the folded configuration. 
       FIGS. 7A-7D  show different views of a hook and gated-loop system  700  in folded and unfolded configurations. The hook and gated-loop system  700  includes a hook  702 , a gated loop  704 , and a rotatable hinge  706  that connects the hook  702  to the gated loop  704 . The gated loop  704  includes a wire gate  708 . As shown in  FIG. 7D , the rotatable hinge  706  is composed of a pin  710  that connects the hook  702  to the gated loop  704 . The pin  710  creates a pivot axis  712  that enables the hook  702  and gated loop  704  to rotate with respect to one another as represent by directional arrow  714 . The rotatable hinge  706  also includes a rotation joint  716  located within the base of the hook  702  that enables the hook  702  and gated loop  704  to be rotated about a central pivot axis  718  as represented by directional arrow  720 . The hook  702  includes a foot  722  fits within a recess  724  of the gated loop  704  and maintains the folded configuration shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C . The foot  722  may be composed rubber or a textured plastic to create friction with a surface. 
       FIGS. 8A-8D  show different views of a hook and gated-loop system  800  in folded and unfolded configurations. The hook and gated-loop system  800  includes a hook  802 , a gated loop  804 , and a cable  806  that connects the hook  802  to the gated loop  804 . The gated loop  804  includes a wire gate  808  that is embedded within one end of the gated loop  804 . As shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C , the hook and gated-loop system  800  are in a folded configuration with the hook  802  and gated loop  804  side by side. The cable  806  may be composed of flexible plastic or rubber or the cable  806  may be a chain, a rope, or another suitable flexible material. As shown in  FIG. 8D , the hook  802  and gated loop  804  include apertures  810  and  812 , respectively, that when placed in the folded configuration shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C , form a single aperture  814 . The tip of the hook  802  is covered with a rubber sleeve  816  that serves as a foot to prevent the hook  802  from slipping when the tip of the hook is placed on a surface. 
       FIG. 9A  shows a flexible double hook system  900 . The double hook system  900  includes a first hook  902 , a second hook  904 , and a flexible curved joint  906  that connects the first hook  902  to the second hook  904 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , the joint  906  encases bases  908  and  910  of the first and second hooks  902  and  904 , respectively. The flexible curved joint  906  is formed so that the natural configuration of the double hook system  900  is the first and second hooks  902  and  904  are touching or in contact to form a closed loop, as shown in  FIG. 9A , when the double hook system  900  is not in use. In  FIG. 9B , double-headed arrow  912  represents applying a force to the first and second hooks  902  and  904  that stretches the joint  906  when the hooks  902  and  904  are pulled apart. The flexible curved joint  906  maintains tension and the double hook system  900  may be used to connect at least two items together. The hooks  902  and  904  may be composed of plastic, aluminum, or a metal, and the flexible curved joint  906  may be composed of rubber. 
       FIG. 10  shows a flexible double hook system  1000 . The double hook system  1000  includes the first and second hooks  902  and  904  embedded within a flexible rubber coating  1002  that includes a space  1004  between the bases  908  and  910  of the first hook  902  to the second hook  904 . The double hook system  1000  may be operated in the same manner as the double hook system  900 . 
       FIGS. 11A-11B  show a double hook system  1100  composed of a first hook  1102  with a ball  1104  located at one end and a hook  1106  with a socket  1108  located at one end. The socket  1108  is configured so that the ball  1104  fits within the socket  1108  and is partially enclosed by the socket  1108 , which forms a ball-and-socket joint  1110  that connects the first and second hooks  1102  and  1106  together and enables the first hook  1102  and the second hook  1106  to freely rotated with respect to one another and be used to connect at least two items together. The first and second hooks  1102  and  1106  may be made or plastic, aluminum, or metal. 
     It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.