Abstract:
A hanger for hanging multiple garment or sports gear pieces. The hanger includes a horizontal member, a hanging hook for supporting the horizontal member on external structure, such as on a closet bar, and plural spaced-apart vertical members. Each vertical member is engaged to the horizontal member at an upper end, and each vertical member has a fastener at a lower end thereof for engaging a piece. The vertical members can be adjustable in length.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/871,399 filed Aug. 29, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/953,578 filed Mar. 14, 2014. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a compact and portable device for vertical inline hanging storage of garments and protective sports gear. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Participants in active sports such as hockey and football wear garments and protective gear. After participating in the sport, the garments and gear can become dirty and wet from the player&#39;s perspiration. Heretofore, some players place the garments and gear into a bag or into a pile within a locker. The garments and gear thus contained can produce mildew and foul odors. A solution to this problem is the proper air drying of the garments and gear between uses before proper washing and drying. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,298,491; 2,544,886 and 6,076,714; and US published patent application US2010 0122961 describe hanging storage devices for sports apparel and gear which would allow for some air drying. 
     The present inventors have recognized the drawbacks of prior art devices in that prior art devices do not utilize adjustable vertical members or allow garments/gear to hang in a manner which replicates the orientation of the garments/protective gear as they are worn on the human body. 
     The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a multiple garment and sports gear hanger that is an improvement to the prior art devices and is easy to use while providing an economical use of vertical storage space and optimizing air circulation around garments and/or protective gear. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a hanger for hanging multiple pieces that includes a horizontal member, a hanging hook for supporting the horizontal member on external structure, such as on a horizontal closet bar, plural spaced-apart vertical members, each vertical member being engaged to the horizontal member at an upper end thereof. Each vertical member has a fastener at a lower end thereof for engaging a piece. The vertical members can be adjustable in length. 
     The hanging hook can extend upward from the center of the top of the horizontal member and a plurality of horizontal apertures present in the horizontal member allow for the attachment of the vertical members to which the fasteners manually attach to the edges of garments, protective gear, and the like. The length of the vertical members can be manually adjusted to allow for custom placement of the garment/protective gear items in the vertical plane. 
     Hanging garments/protective gear in the same orientation as they are worn on the human body optimizes storage space while maximizing air circulation. The adjustability of the vertical members better accommodates garments/protective gear of many different sizes and styles. 
     The exemplary embodiment of the invention would be used by persons whom participate in sports and hobbies that require protective gear. 
     The exemplary embodiment of the invention fits garments and gear that is sized from youth to adult. The portability of the exemplary embodiment of the invention allows users to adequately air-dry and store their gear between athletic events both at home and while traveling. 
     The exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a compact and portable device that provides for in-line hanging storage of garments, protective gear, padding, accessories, and uniforms such as would fit the human body. The hanger horizontal member can be angled slightly downward to the left and right sides from a center point. The hanging hook can extend upward from the apex of the horizontal member. Slots or apertures are routed through the horizontal member and at spaced-apart intervals. Straps are fed through the slots and effectively attached to the horizontal member by a snap, button, hook and loop, adhesive or sewing connection to itself. A strap adjuster is used to enable appropriate lengthening and shortening of the strap to provide for proper hanging of different sizes and shapes of equipment and accessories at custom distances from other garment pieces and/or equipment. A spring clip is at the bottom of each strap and manually attaches to the edges of the garment, protective gear, padding, uniform pieces and/or accessories. The primary horizontal member allows for the hanging of an upper body garment, chest protector, shoulder pad, and/or jersey while the clips at the end of the adjustable straps accommodate lower body garments, arm/elbow pads, pants, shin/leg padding, gloves, and accessories. 
     An alternate embodiment provides that the straps are length adjusted by being wound onto spools held by the primary horizontal member and the straps drawn out to a selected length downward. The selected length can be locked by a manual actuator or by manipulation of the belt. The spool can be spring loaded to automatically wind up the belt within the spool. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of one embodiment hanger of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment hanger of the invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a sectional view, partly schematic, taken generally along line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the hanger of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the hanger of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the hanger of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the hanger of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment hanger of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective bottom view of the hanger of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the a portion of the hanger of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment hanger  9 . The hanger comprises a horizontal member  10 . A hook  12  is connected to the horizontal member. The horizontal member includes a plurality of horizontal apertures  14 . A plurality of vertical members, in the form of straps  16  are supported by the horizontal member and include member fasteners  18  such as snaps, buttons, or hook and loop fastener. A vertical member adjusting clip  20  is incorporated into each vertical member. 
     The apertures comprise a plurality of long, narrow apertures positioned parallel to the ground plane and at equidistant intervals to one another. The vertical members are inserted through the apertures, folded over and attached via snap, button, or other fastening means to itself, thus securing the vertical member to the horizontal member. Preferably, the vertical member is fed through an adjusting clip to enable lengthening and shortening of the vertical member. The fasteners are secured to each vertical member to manually attach to the edges of the garment, protective gear, uniform pieces, and/or accessories. 
     The hook  12  connects to the apex  10   a  of the horizontal member  10 , by a snap fit, adhesive, fastener or other known method. Advantageously, the hook can be attached to the horizontal member in a fashion, such as with a snap fit, that will allow 360 degree rotation of the hook with respect to the horizontal member. The vertical members  16  are permanently affixed to a member adjuster  20  and fed through the open slots of the member adjuster  20 . Garment/gear attachment fasteners  22 , such as spring clips, are positioned along the vertical members  16  towards the bottom. The entire vertical member  16  is fed through apertures  14  in the horizontal member, or likewise in another embodiment, around a cross bar and are then attached to themselves via fastener  18 , thus securing the plurality of vertical members  16  to the horizontal member  10 . 
     The adjuster  20  can be of the type known in the art of straps for backpacks, helmet chin straps and the like. 
     The horizontal member allows for the hanging of an upper body garment, upper body protective gear, and/or jersey while the fasteners secured to the adjustable vertical members accommodate hanging of lower body garments, arm/elbow protective gear, lower body protective gear, gloves, and accessories. Gloves/elbow pads/upper arm pads are attached to the fasteners secured to the first two vertical members on either side, and farthest from the center. Lower body garments and gear including but not limited to pants, shin guards, kneepads, etc. are hung via the fasteners attached to the vertical members hanging closer to the center of the horizontal member. 
     The invention is assembled and used by inserting the hook into the apex of the horizontal member; assembling the vertical members, adjusting the clips, and garment/gear fasteners; inserting the top end of a vertical member through an aperture in the horizontal member and fastening the vertical member to itself. 
       FIGS. 2-6  illustrate an alternate embodiment hanger  100 . The hanger comprises a horizontal member  110 . A hook  112  is connected to the horizontal member. The horizontal member includes a plurality of vertical apertures  114   a ,  114   b  arranged in side-by-side parallel pairs. A plurality of vertical members, in the form of straps  116 , are supported by the horizontal member. A vertical member adjusting clip  120  is incorporated into each vertical member. Although only two straps  116  are shown it should be understood that each pair of apertures  114   a ,  114   b  (10 pairs shown) could be occupied by a strap  116 . 
     The apertures  114   a ,  114   b  comprise a plurality of long, narrow apertures positioned vertical to the ground plane and spaced apart along the horizontal member  110 . Each strap  116  can be inserted from below through an aperture  114   a , folded over and inserted into an adjacent aperture  114   b , pulled down and wrapped around a center bar  120   a  of a clip  120 , forming a connection  121 . The portion of the strap  116  below the aperture  114   a  can be inserted behind upper and lower bars  120   b ,  120   c  of the clip  120  and in front of the connection  121 , pulled down and connected to a garment fastener  122 . The strap is wrapped around a bar  122   a  of the garment fastener  122 , folded over and attached to itself forming a connection  123 . The connections  121 ,  123  can be formed by snap, button, hook and loop fastener, adhesive, sewing or other fastening means. By sliding the adjusting clip  120  up or down on the strap  116 , the overall effective length L of the strap can be changed. The fasteners  122 , such as spring clips, attach to the edges of the garment, protective gear, uniform pieces, and/or accessories. 
     The hook  112  connects to the apex  112   a  of the horizontal member  110 , by a snap fit, adhesive, fastener or other known method. Advantageously, the hook can be attached to the horizontal member in a fashion, such as with a snap fit, that will allow 360 degree rotation of the hook with respect to the horizontal member. 
     The adjuster  120  can be of the type known in the art of straps for backpacks, helmet chin straps and the like. 
     The horizontal member  110  also includes end hooks  136 ,  138  that provide an additional hanging support for apparel or sports equipment. 
     The horizontal member  110  allows for the hanging of an upper body garment, upper body protective gear, and/or jersey while the fasteners secured to the adjustable vertical members accommodate hanging of lower body garments, arm/elbow protective gear, lower body protective gear, gloves, and accessories. Gloves/elbow pads/upper arm pads are attached to the fasteners secured to the first two vertical members on either side, and farthest from the center. Lower body garments and gear including but not limited to pants, shin guards, kneepads, etc. are hung via the fasteners attached to the vertical members hanging closer to the center of the horizontal member. 
     The horizontal member can be composed of plastic, wood, composite material, or other materials. The hook can be composed of metal, wood, plastic, composite materials, or other materials. The vertical members in the form of straps can be composed of cloth, nylon or other materials. The strap adjuster can be composed of plastic, wood, metal, composite material or other materials. The spring clip can be a heavy-duty plastic or metal spring clip. 
       FIGS. 7-9  illustrate a further embodiment hanger  200  of the invention. The hanger  200  is identical to the hanger  100  except as described below. The hanger  200  includes a horizontal member  210  that includes compartments  220  formed into the horizontal member  210 . The compartments  220  are shaped as rectangular open top boxes. The compartments include a slot  222  in the bottom thereof to allow a strap to pass therethrough. A cartridge  230  is provided to fit within each compartment  220 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the cartridge  230 , strap  216  and garment fastener  122  separate from the horizontal member  210  for clarity. The cartridge includes a housing  232  with a dispensing slot  234 . A vertical member, in the form of a strap  216 , is coiled on a spool  236  within the housing and a free end protrudes through the slot  234 . The spool  236  is connected to a coiled torsion spring  240  which tends to wind up the strap  216  onto the spool  236 . A sprocket  242  is provided fixed for rotation to the spool  236 . A lock element  244  can be manually actuated to lock the sprocket with respect to the housing  232  once the desired length of strap is pulled from the cartridge. The lock will lock the length of the strap  216  that has been drawn out of the housing  232 . The housing has protrusions  250 ,  252  that interlock with indentations (not shown) in the compartment  220  to keep the housing from rotating with respect to the compartment  220  as the strap is drawn out of the cartridge. 
     The mechanics of the cartridge and spool assembly can also be configured according to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,294,029; 8,317,125; 6,912,975; 3,088,438; 3,477,410, herein incorporated by reference. 
     Although only two straps  216  are shown in  FIG. 8 , it should be understood that each compartment  220  shown in  FIG. 7  (10 compartments  240  shown) could be occupied by a cartridge  230 , and 10 straps provided for hanging pieces of garments or sports equipment. 
     In operation, the cartridge  230  is placed into the compartment  220  and the strap  216  is drawn from the housing slot  234  and down through the slot  222  by force as the spool  236  unwinds against the urging of the torsion spring  240 . The strap  216  is folded over and engages the garment fastener  122  in the same fashion as in  FIGS. 2-8 . To suit the hanging of equipment, the straps  216  for the various cartridges can be drawn down to selected elevations with respect to the horizontal member  210  and then the locks are actuated to fix the lengths of the straps. 
     ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION 
     Other embodiments may include vertical members that are retractable into the horizontal member, vertical members that are fed around a horizontal cross-bar that is attached to the horizontal member, and a storage case surrounding the totality of the invention and the items that utilize its function. 
     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.