Patent Publication Number: US-6659414-B1

Title: Sheet hanger

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of hangers suitable for suspending signs, temporary wiring, sheets or tarpaulins, such as heavy gauge polyethylene sheets used in asbestos removal operations. 
     2. Related Art 
     Various circumstances require the hanging of objects from numerous, closely set, and desirably strong hangers. One example is the temporary hanging of decorative Christmas or other holiday lights; the supports must be placed close together and be strong enough to support the wiring. Another example would be the hanging of banners and signs, which are desirably supported across their top edge in order to reduce or avoid sagging in the middle. Yet another example is from the field of asbestos removal wherein plastic sheeting must be held in place to provide a barrier against dispersal of asbestos fibers. The process of removing carcinogenic asbestos from structures requires that the area in which the work is being done be isolated from the environment. This isolation is accomplished by sealing the area with multiple layers of heavy gauge polyethylene sheets. These sheets may be quite heavy, e.g., 6 mils in thickness. The sheets must be hung around the entire perimeter of the room or area to be isolated, laid to cover the floor, and then sealed closed, for example, with duct tape, to prevent asbestos fibers from leaking out from between the seams. The area is then maintained at a slight negative atmospheric pressure in order to ensure that any leaks in the enclosure are of clean outside air into the room, and not of asbestos fibers from the room. As is well known in the art, the slight negative pressure is maintained using an air filtration unit to suck air from the room, filter or scrub it, and then release it into the environment. The system works most efficiently when the leaks in the isolation system are kept to zero. Thus, there should be no holes in the plastic. Similar circumstances prevail whenever a vapor or particulate barrier must be erected. 
     Hanging large sheets is a difficult process. In known methods of hanging, the sheets are hung either using strips of furring nailed to the wall, or are adhered directly to the wall with tape or adhesive, or are hung from hooks. All of these methods present problems, chiefly in the form of damage to the wall. Other problems include the expenditure of time and labor in the hanging process, and the difficulty of maintaining a tight seal. 
     One reference to these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,403, issued May 4, 1993 to D. T. Penniman and entitled “Device and Method to Support Polyethylene or Other Sheeting”. Penniman teaches the use of a flat, triangular-pointed prong stamped out of a thin sheet metal bracket-like device. The device has a clip, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the &#39;403 Patent. The clip enables the device to be suspended from ceiling tile support rails. When Penniman&#39;s device is adhered to a wall, however, nails, screws, glue or tape are needed and these methods of support cause damage to the wall, and also require significant labor and materials. While the device of the &#39;403 Patent is designed to allow users to impale the plastic onto the hook and let it dangle therefrom, the heavy gauge plastic required in asbestos removal operations causes the thin prong to bend or pull out of the wall. The weakness of the thin sheet metal also makes the hook prone to bend if tension is transmitted to it by the suspended plastic, for example, by a user accidentally stepping onto or otherwise tugging a projecting fold of the plastic. The clip portion engages only the exposed horizontal bottom of the ceiling tile support rail, and is thus easily pulled free by accidental tugs on sheets suspended from it. 
     In order to avoid damage to the prong and avoid pulling the device from the support rail or wall, it is necessary to add a separate step of pre-slitting the plastic with a knife in order to create a hole for the prong to pass through and thereby reduce mechanical stress on the prong. The slit made by the knife must necessarily be wide enough to span the width of the wide hook stamped out of the thin sheet metal. This slit allows ingress of air when the blower is working or, should the blower malfunction or be turned off, allows the egress of asbestos fibers from the room. 
     It would be advantageous to have easily manufactured hangers, capable of supporting objects such as, for example, plastic sheeting, tarpaulins, signs, banners, or temporary wiring or lighting, made of a material which allows easy penetration of plastic sheeting and which are strong enough to support such objects and resist mechanical deformation. It would also be advantageous for such hangers to cause minimal damage to the walls of a structure on which, e.g., plastic sheeting is suspended, and to make holes in the plastic sheets which are substantially entirely filled and closed by the hanger&#39;s penetration of the plastic sheeting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a wire hanger for supporting material therefrom. The wire hanger comprises a length of wire configured to define a shank having a suspension hook formed at one end thereof and a retainer formed at the opposite end thereof, the retainer being dimensioned and configured to be mounted to a support structure. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the suspension hook has a sharpened tip, for example, the tip may have a wedge-like surface. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides that the retainer is dimensioned and configured to engage a support structure selected from the group consisting of a ceiling tile support rail, a pipe, a door top, and a wall, for example, the retainer may be dimensioned and configured to engage such support structure having a T- or L-shaped cross section. 
     In a particular aspect of the present invention, the retainer is dimensioned and configured to engage such support structure having a T-shaped cross section, comprised of a vertical leg and a horizontal leg. In this aspect, the wire hanger comprises an off-set extension extending from the shank, a longitudinal extension extending from the off-set extension, and a retainer hook formed at the end of the longitudinal extension, the retainer hook being dimensioned and configured to fit over such vertical leg. 
     Other aspects of the present invention provide the following features, alone or in combinations of two or more thereof: the wire hanger may have an eye through which an attaching member, e.g., a nail or screw, may be placed to secure the wire hanger to a wall; the retainer may comprise a straight piece of wire dimensioned and configured to be driven into such support structure, the straight piece of wire extending from the shank at an angle of about 70 to 110°; the retainer may lie in a first plane and the hook may lie in a second plane different from the first plane; the angle between the first plane and the second plane may be from about 30 to 60 degrees; the retainer may have a retainer hook formed thereon and the retainer hook and the suspension hook may extend in opposite directions from the shank; the retainer hook and the suspension hook may have different radii; the retainer may have a retainer hook formed thereon and the retainer hook and the suspension hook may extend in the same direction from the shank; the retainer hook and the suspension hook may have different radii; and wire may comprise an annealed spring wire. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a side view of a hanger according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a side view of a tip of a hook of the hanger of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the hanger of FIG. 1 in use in a ceiling; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a hanger according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a hanger according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a frontal view of a hanger according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the hanger illustrated in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a frontal view of a hanger according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the hanger illustrated in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of the retainer of a hanger according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the hanger illustrated in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is an end view of the hook of the hanger illustrated in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of the invention in use at the juncture of a ceiling and a wall; and 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of an eighth embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF 
     FIG. 1A is a side view of a hanger  100  according to one embodiment of the invention. Hanger  100  comprises suspension hook  102  having a tip  114 , a shank  104  and a retainer  106 . Retainer  106  comprises an off-set extension  108 , a longitudinal extension  110 , and a retainer hook  112 . Hanger  100  is constructed of a single piece of heavy gauge wire, e.g. 0.062 inch diameter wire, bent to the illustrated shape. Wire of other gauges may be used as well, provided that the wire has sufficient strength to allow penetration and support of the sheet material to be hung. Tip  114  is not sharpened in this Figure, but in FIG. 1B a tip  117  shows a wedge-like surface  115 . A sharpened tip may be used, for example, when the material to be punctured is canvas, or other very strong fabric. Retainer  106  is dimensioned and configured to fit a standard ceiling tile support rail, and to take advantage of the ceiling tile itself, if still in place in the ceiling tile support rail, as a source of additional stability, as described below. 
     The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A is designed to fit over a ceiling tile support rail having an inverted T-shaped cross section. FIG. 2 illustrates hanger  100  in use on a conventional ceiling tile support rail  118  which supports a conventional ceiling tile  120 , parts of which are broken away in FIG.  2 . To install hanger  100 , the user lifts ceiling tile  120  slightly out of ceiling tile support rail  118  and places retainer hook  112  over a vertical leg  111  of support rail  118 . After ceiling tile  120  is dropped back into place, retainer  106  is disposed between support rail  118  and ceiling tile  120 . When ceiling tile  120  is present, off-set extension  108  and longitudinal extension  110  cooperate to allow penetration of the retainer  106  between support rail  118  and the edge of ceiling tile  120 , allowing ceiling tile  120  to rest in its normal position atop support rail  118 . Friction between the bottom of ceiling tile  120  and off-set extension  108  and longitudinal extension  110  lends further stability to hanger  100 . With retainer  106  hung over ceiling tile support rail  118 , sheets (not shown) may be impaled upon tip  114  of suspension hook  102  and allowed to hang suspended therefrom. The sheets may be plastic sheets for asbestos removal or cloth for banners, advertisements, and signs, or other similar materials. The hangers may also be used for temporary wiring and similar uses. While the illustration shows the advantageous stability added by ceiling tile  120  to hanger  100 , hanger  100  can be used even when ceiling tile  120  is not present because of the conformance of retainer  106  to the inverted T-shaped cross section of support rail  118 . 
     The invention overcomes prior art problems by providing suspension hook  102  having sufficient strength to penetrate thick plastic or cloth sheets without pre-slitting of the sheets. Retainer  106  of hanger  100  also engages a substantial part of support rail  118  and remains firmly in place under pressure, unlike known hangers that are merely clipped to the bottom portion of a support rail. The hole made in the sheet by the heavy gauge wire of tip  114  is also quite small in comparison to the wide slits necessary for use with some known hangers, and is substantially sealed by hanger  100 . Finally, since hanger  100  is constructed of heavy wire, not thin sheet metal, suspension hook  102  is not prone to bend under strain, does not suffer significant metal fatigue, and may be reused indefinitely, without breaking after a modest number of uses. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. Hanger  200  has a suspension hook  202  having a tip  214 , a shank  204  and a retainer  206 . Retainer  206  has an off-set extension  208 , a longitudinal extension  210  and retainer hook  212 . As in the previous embodiment, suspension hook  202  and retainer  206  lie in the same plane. However, unlike the previous embodiment, retainer  206  and suspension hook  202  are oriented in the same direction relative to shank  204 . The utility of this is as follows. Normally, groups of hangers are hung in straight lines along a support rail, with the hooks all facing in one direction and sheets of material hanging therefrom. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is useful when, for example, one ceiling tile in the line cannot be lifted. Ceiling tiles may become wedged in place and difficult to move, or may not be movable due to the presence of a light fixture or other installation. In that event, hanger  200  can be hung from the adjacent tile with the hook substantially in the proper position and orientation, maintaining the line of hooks without interruption. Hanger  200  is obviously also useful in a wide range of situations, such as those mentioned previously. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of hanger  300 , according to a third embodiment of the invention. Hanger  300  comprises a suspension hook  302 , a shank  304 , and a retainer  306 . The shape of hanger  300  is suitable for engagement with a pipe, bar, rod, the top of a door or wall, or other similar support member. In the embodiment illustrated, suspension hook  302  is of greater radius than retainer  306 ; however, both may be the same size or retainer  306  may be larger. Note that hanger  300  can also be used upside-down, thus allowing hanger  300  to function well when used with supports having a range of diameters. 
     In a fourth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, suspension hook  302  and retainer  306  are both arcuate semi-circles, but in other embodiments, both components may be other curves, angular, sections of straight wire, or other shapes. Thus hanger  300  may be dimensioned and configured to suit a wide variety of supports. 
     FIG. 5 is a frontal view of hanger  400  according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Hanger  400  comprises a suspension hook  402  (FIG.  6 ), a shank  404 , and a retainer  406  defining an eye  408 . Suspension hook  402  has a tip  410 . Eye  408  is dimensioned and configured to receive therethrough a nail, screw, bolt, rod, tack, pin, or other similar fastener. In the embodiment illustrated, eye  408  is dimensioned to receive a masonry nail (not shown) as the support, allowing hanger  400  to be fastened to a concrete or masonry wall. In use, the masonry nail is driven into the wall through eye  408 , and then sheets are impaled upon tip  410  and allowed to hang from suspension hook  402 . Hanger  400  may also be utilized to support wiring. 
     FIG. 7 is a frontal view of hanger  500  according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, while FIG. 8 is a side view of hanger  500 . Hanger  500  has a suspension hook  502 , a shank  504 , a retainer  506 , and a retainer tip  508 . 
     Retainer  500  is suitable for being driven into sheet rock, particle board, plywood, and other similar, relatively soft, wall materials. Retainer tip  508  is not sharpened in the present embodiment, but may be sharpened in other embodiments. The dimensions and exact configuration of retainer tip  508  may also be varied to suit the type of wall, thickness of the wall board, hardness of the wall material and so on. In the embodiment shown, retainer  506  is inclined at an angle of about 5 degrees below the horizontal as sensed in FIG. 8, but it may be positioned at other angles, e.g., from about 0 to 20 degrees below the horizontal, in other embodiments of the invention. 
     In use, retainer tip  508  is driven into a wall (not shown) with a hammer, by hand, by pre-drilling a hole, with pliers or by means of other tools. Sheets are then impaled upon suspension hook  502 . Hanger  500  is susceptible to a variety of methods of use: it may be wedged in between the top of a door and the bottom of the door frame, suspended from a ceiling tile support rail or used in many other ways. 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of a retainer  606  of a hanger  600  according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, while FIG. 10 is a side view of hanger  600  and FIG. 11 is an end view of a suspension hook  602  of the same embodiment. Hanger  600  comprises suspension hook  602 , a shank  604 , and retainer  606 . Retainer  606  in turn comprises a retainer tip  608 , while hook  606  comprises a hook tip  610 . 
     In contrast to previously illustrated embodiments of the invention, hanger  600  is bent into a shape in which suspension hook  602  and retainer  606  are not coplanar, as illustrated in FIG.  9 . The plane of retainer  606  is inclined to the plane of suspension hook  602  by an angle of substantially 45 degrees, but may range from 30 to 60 degrees. 
     Use of hanger  600  is illustrated in FIG. 12, in which retainer  606  and part of shank  604  are inserted between a wall  612  and a ceiling tile support rail  616 . Shank  604  is placed against wall  612  and then hanger  600  is rotated about the axis of shank  604  until retainer  606  lies flat against wall  612 . The user then slides hanger  600  upwards, between wall  612  and ceiling tile support rail  616 . Hanger  600  is then rotated to bring retainer  606  away from wall  612 , and hanger  600  is then pulled slightly downwards, causing retainer  606  to engage ceiling tile support rail  616  and/or a ceiling tile  614 . Hanger  600  thus hangs suspended between wall  612  and support rail  616  and/or tile  614 . While this embodiment may be formed with suspension hook  602  and retainer  606  lying in a single plane, the benefit of the shape disclosed is added stability and ease of handling during the insertion. When suspension hook  602  is perpendicular to wall  612 , plastic sheets are impaled upon hook tip  610  and suspended from suspension hook  602 . The weight of the sheets hanging suspended from hanger  600  may also force retainer  606  against a ceiling tile top  618 , providing a frictional force and also driving retainer tip  608  into ceiling tile top  618  when ceiling tile  614  is of soft material. The user may also pull downwards on hanger  600  to seat retainer tip  608  into ceiling tile top  618 . 
     Although the illustration is of hanger  600  in use with ceiling tile  614  and support rail  616 , this embodiment is also useful in a wide range of situations, e.g., wherever a narrow crack can be utilized to bring retainer  606  above the top of a ceiling, a layer of ceiling tiles, a horizontal panel or other similar ceiling configuration. 
     This embodiment is subject to numerous changes. In particular, the angle illustrated in FIG. 9, between retainer  606  and suspension hook  602 , may be almost any angle greater or less than 45 degrees, or may be omitted altogether and the embodiment confined to a single plane. The configuration and dimensions of hanger  600  and its components may also be altered considerably without departing from the scope of the embodiment. Wire of a wide range of thicknesses may be used, provided that it possesses sufficient strength. While the embodiment disclosed is bent in two planes, the invention may be bent in three or more planes. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of an eighth embodiment of the invention. Hanger  700  is comprised of a suspension hook  702 , a shank  704  and a retainer  706 . The plane of retainer  706  is inclined to the plane of suspension hook  702  by an angle of substantially 60 degrees. Hanger  700  may be used in the same manner as disclosed above in reference to hanger  600 , although the two hangers have different dimensions and are not identically configured. 
     While the invention has been described in detail with respect to specific preferred embodiments thereof, numerous modifications to these specific embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the foregoing description; such modifications are embraced within the scope of the appended claims.