Abstract:
An apparatus for support a handbag from the edge of a table or other structure is presented. The apparatus includes a segmented arm that can be collapsed to allow for compact storage of the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/076,271, filed Mar. 10, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,516,929, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entity. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to apparatus used to hang or support personal items such as purses or jackets and, more particular, to supporting apparatus employed to support items from the horizontal surface of a table, desk or the like. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The prior art discloses numerous devices which are used to hold handbags, purses and the like from the edge of an elevated, horizontal platform such as a table. As a general rule, the devices disclosed by the prior art are intended to be small in size and sufficiently small to be maintained by the user in his or her jacket or handbag. 
     One of the devices disclosed by the prior art for hanging or otherwise supporting handbags at the edge or periphery of a table, desk or other horizontal support employs an upper member having a first flange adapted to be placed adjacent the support surface and a second flange secured to the first flange extending downwardly. A C-shaped member or hook is secured to the lower terminus of the second flange of the upper member on which the handbag or purse is to be supported. The problems inherent in this device primarily relate to the lack of flexibility for use and storage. Although the C-shaped member is capable of being pivoted relative to the supporting flange, the overall structure cannot be reduced in size for storage. The present invention substantially resolves this inadequacy by providing an apparatus within which a supporting hook is pivotally coupled and which is capable of being stored within its associated housing. 
     Another support apparatus disclosed by the prior art includes a hook for hanging a purse of other personal item from a table or desk surface. The supporting hook is pivotally coupled to the supporting housing for movement in a plane perpendicular to the table or desk surface. However, the supporting hook cannot be stored within the associated housing. The present invention resolves this inadequacy by providing a coupling between the support hook and housing which permits the supporting hook to be collapsed upon itself and disposed within the confines of the housing for efficient storage thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a supporting apparatus to provide means for hanging or otherwise supporting purses, handbags, jackets and the like from the horizontal surface of a table or desk. A housing adapted to be disposed upon the horizontal surface of the table or desk comprises a pair of planar housing panels positioned in parallel spaced relation to one another. An interior wall having a uniform height is disposed between the housing panels and is perpendicular thereto. A pivot block is adapted to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the planar panels. A supporting hook is pivotally coupled to the pivot block in a manner which permits the supporting member to be rotated in two planes, one being perpendicular to that the housing panels and one plane being parallel thereto. The pivotability of the supporting member relative to the housing panels permits the supporting hook to be properly oriented relative to the desk or table when in use as well as being disposed and secured between the housing panels for storage. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved supporting apparatus for hanging personal items from the horizontal surface of a table or desk. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a supporting apparatus which employs a supporting member which can be collapsed and stored and secured within its associated housing. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible supporting member for personal items which exhibits surfaces for receiving decorative ornamentation. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a supporting apparatus for purses, handbags and the like which is simple and inexpensive to fabricate. 
     The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred form of the present invention table edge supporting apparatus illustrating the support of a handbag from a table surface. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the present invention illustrating the supporting hook in its stored position. 
         FIG. 3   a  is a partial top plan view of the present invention supporting apparatus taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  illustrating the support hook in position for storage. 
         FIG. 3   b  is a partial top plan view of the present invention supporting apparatus taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  illustrating the storage hook in a stored position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the present invention illustrating the support hook in a stored position. 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the present invention illustrating the support hook in the extended position. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the present invention supporting apparatus illustrating the support hook in an extended position. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the support hook shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , inclusive. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An understanding of the present invention supporting apparatus can be best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the present invention supporting apparatus being generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The present invention is intended to support or otherwise hang personal items such as a purse, handbag or jacket from a horizontal desk or table surface  11 . In  FIG. 1 , the present invention supporting apparatus  10  is illustrated supporting a handbag  12 . 
     The present invention  10  embodies a housing consisting of a top panel  13  and a bottom panel  14  in parallel spaced relation to each other. The relative position of panels  13  and  14  are maintained by an interior wall comprised of elements  15  and  16  are perpendicular to top and bottom panels  13  and  14 . The interior walls  15  and  16  are uniform in height. Although  FIG. 1  illustrates an interior wall comprised of a pair of interior wall elements  15  and  16 , it is understood interior walls  15  and  16  may be constructed in a unitary manner. It is also understood that top panel  13 , bottom panel  14  and wall elements  15  and  16  can be part of an integral structure as opposed to discrete parts.  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the use of hinge  17  to pivotally couple top panel  13  to interior wall  15 . It is understood that the present invention contemplates the use of an unhinged top panel  13  that is secured to the upper surfaces  18  and  19  of interior walls  15  and  16 , respectively. 
     It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide means to support a handbag  12  or the like from the horizontal surface  11 . To prevent the present invention supporting apparatus  10  from being inadvertently dislodged from horizontal surface  11 , first and second non-skid members  25  and  26  are secured to the bottom surface of bottom panel  14 . Non-skid members  25  and  26  may be constructed from conventional materials having a sticky surface such as rubber or the like. Although the present invention has been described utilizing two non-skid members  25  and  26 , it is understood a single non-skid member may be utilized. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , when affixed to the bottom surface of bottom panel  14 , non-skid members  25  and  26  are disposed adjacent supporting surface  11 . 
     A positionable support hook  30  provides the means to support a handbag  11 . Support hook  30  comprises a substantially L-shaped flange comprised of contiguous segments  32 ,  33  and  34 . Segment  34  of support hook  30  is pivotally coupled to pivot block  31 . Pivot block  31  is rotatably coupled about a supporting pin  35  in the directions designated by reference numeral  40  ( FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ). Supporting pin  35  is secured to bottom panel  14  and is perpendicular thereto. Segment  34  of supporting hook  30  is disposed through aperture  36  ( FIG. 1 ) and is rotatably coupled within aperture  36  in a manner that permits supporting hook  30  to rotate about the axis of segment  34  in the directions indicated by reference numeral  41  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     In its open, extended position, support hook  30  will be positioned perpendicular to upper and lower planar panels  13  and  14 . In the storage position, support hook  30  will be rotated counterclockwise (see  FIG. 5 ) until support hook  30  is positionable between upper and lower planar panels  13  and  14  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     The storage of supporting hook  30  may be best understood by reference to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b . As stated hereinabove, pivot block  31  is rotatable about pivot pin  35  in the manner designated by reference numeral  40 . As shown in  FIG. 3   a , support hook  30  has been rotated counterclockwise as shown in  FIG. 5  until it lies in a plane intermediate upper and lower planar panels  13  and  14 . To store supporting hook  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3   a , pivot block  31  is rotated counterclockwise about pivot pin  35  until lobe  42  of pivot block  31  is positioned adjacent detent  43  of interior wall  15 . Concurrently, the terminus  44  of segment  32  of support hook  30  will be positioned adjacent the opposing terminus  35  of interior wall  15 . To maintain support hook  30  in the stored position, a magnet  45  is secured to a portion of interior wall  16  in a manner that will permit a magnetic attraction between magnet  45  and segment  33  of support hook  30 . It is understood by those persons having skill in the art that the operator of the present invention encompasses the storage of support hook  30  independent of magnet  45 . When terminus  44  of support hook  30  is positioned adjacent terminus  45  of interior wall  15 , support hook  30  will be in a fully stored position. 
     An alternative embodiment for the support hook shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , inclusive, can be best seen by reference to  FIG. 7 . As stated, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a supporting apparatus for hanging personal items from the horizontal surface of a table or desk. The alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrates a telescoping support hook  60  that is extendable to permit use with tables having vertical obstructions and be collapsible for storage between top panel  13  and bottom panel  14 . Storage hook  60  comprises an L-shaped flange  61  constituting of contiguous segments  62  and  63 . Segment  63  of support hook  60  is pivotally coupled to pivot block  31  in the manner described with respect to  FIG. 1 . Segment  62  is slidably engaged within supporting sleeve  64  adapting same to slidably move along the outer surface of segment  62  in the alternative directions identified by reference numeral  65 . Support sleeve  64  is extended into a hook  66  which is adapted to support handbags, purses and the like.