Patent Publication Number: US-6708819-B1

Title: Closet storage device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to reusable garment bags and more particularly pertains to a new the closet storage device for storing and retrieving articles within a closet. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of reusable garment bags is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,559 describes a device for providing a dry cleaning bag that is reusable. Another type of reusable garment bag is U.S. Pat. No. 2,815,785 having a bag member engaging a hanger for suspending the bag member in a closet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,230 has a container that engages a hanger for storing clothes within a closet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,947 has a hanger bag with a hook portion to engage a closet rod for storing articles within the hanger bag in a closet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,610 has a display package with a hanger for hanging from a support member to display the articles positioned in the display package. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 115,502 shows a transparent mothproof garment container. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that has certain improved features allowing a hook stick to easily retrieve the hanger member and container member from the closet rod without the hanger member slipping off of the hook stick. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a loop portion forming an apex that defines a receiving space. The receiving space receives the end of the hook stick and the apex inhibits the hanger member from shifting with respect to the hook stick. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new the closet storage device that allows articles to be stored on closet rods and retrieved by store personnel without the need for the personnel to use climbing devices, such as a ladder. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new the closet storage device that facilitates retrieval of articles for sale without the need to stand on climbing devices, such as ladders, and search through boxes to find an article. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a container member having a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall defines an interior space. The container member has an open top whereby the open top is designed for permitting articles to be inserted into the interior space of the container member. A hanger member has a bottom portion. The bottom portion is coupled to the container member whereby the container member is suspended below the hanger member. The hanger member is designed for selectively engaging a closet rod for suspending the container member in the closet. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new the closet storage device according to the present invention in use on a closet rod. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in use on a hook stick. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention in an open state. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention in a closed state. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a plurality of dividing walls. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the closure members of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the closure members of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the closure members of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the closure members of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new the closet storage device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the the closet storage device  10  generally comprises a container member  11  having a perimeter wall  12 . The perimeter wall  12  defines an interior space  13 . The container member  11  has an open top  14  whereby the open top  14  is designed for permitting articles, such as clothing, to be inserted into the interior space  13  of the container member  11 . 
     A hanger member  15  has a bottom portion  16 . The bottom portion  16  is coupled to the container member  11  whereby the container member  11  is suspended below the hanger member  11 . The hanger member  15  is designed for selectively engaging a closet rod for suspending the container member  11  in the closet. 
     The container member  11  has at least one dividing wall  17 . The dividing wall  17  extends between a pair of side walls  18  of the perimeter wall  12  of the container member  11 . The dividing wall  17  is positioned in the interior space  13  whereby the dividing wall  17  is for dividing the interior space  13  into a plurality of compartments  19 . 
     The dividing wall  17  is coupled to the bottom portion  16  of the hanger member  15 . The dividing wall  17  is designed for dispersing weight from the container member  11  and the articles in the interior space  13  of the container member  11  along a portion of a length of the bottom portion  16  of the hanger member  15 . 
     The hanger member  15  has a hook portion  20 . The hook portion  20  upwardly extends from the bottom portion  16  of the hanger member  15  opposite the container member  11 . The hook portion  20  is designed for selectively engaging the closet rod of the closet for suspending the container member  11  in the closet when the hook portion  20  of the hanger member  15  engages the closet rod. 
     The hanger member  15  has a loop portion  21  The loop portion  21  is positioned between the bottom portion  16  and the hook portion  20  of the hanger member  15 . The loop portion  21  defines a receiving space  22  between the loop portion  21  and the bottom portion  16  of the hanger member  15  whereby the receiving space  22  is designed for receiving an end of a hook stick for disengaging the hanger member  15  from the closet rod. The loop portion  21  of the hanger member  15  forms an apex  23  opposite the bottom portion  16  of the hanger member  15 . The apex  23  of the loop portion  21  is designed for inhibiting sliding of the hanger member  15  on the hook stick when the hook stick is positioned in the receiving space  22  of the hanger member  15 . 
     The container member  11  has a plurality of closure members  24 . Each of the closure members  24  is positioned adjacent the open top  14  of the container member  11  whereby the closure members  24  are for closing the open top  14  of the container member  11  for restricting access to the interior space  13  of the container member 
     The perimeter wall  12  of the container member  11  has a pair of end walls  25 . One of the end walls  25  is positioned opposite the other of the end walls  25  whereby the hanger member  15  is positioned substantially between the end walls  25 . Each of the end walls  25  of the container member  11  has a reinforcing rod  26 . The reinforcing rod  26  is positioned adjacent an upper edge  27  of the associate one of the end walls  25 . The reinforcing rod  26  of each of the end walls  25  is for maintaining a shape of the container member  11  when the container member  11  is suspended in the closet. The reinforcing rod  26  of each of the end walls  25  is designed for distributing weight of the articles in the interior space  13  along a width of the associated one of the end walls  25  for inhibiting the weight from ripping the closure members  24  from the container member  11 . 
     Each of the closure members  24  of the container member  11  has a ring portion  28 . The ring portion  28  of each of the closure members  24  is coupled to an associated one of the end walls  25  of the container member  11 . The ring portion  28  of each of the closure members  24  defines a hooking space  29  whereby the hooking space  29  of the ring member of each of the closure members  24  is for receiving the hanger member  15  for closing the open top  14  of the container member  11 . 
     The hanger member  15  has a pair of claw portions  30 . Each of the claw portions  30  oppositely extends from the bottom portion  16  of the hanger member  15 . Each of the claw portions  30  selectively extends through the hooking space  29  of the ring portion  28  of one of the closure members  24  for selectively closing the open top  14  of the container member  11 . 
     In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the closure members  24  may comprise tabs  31  coupled to the dividing wall  17  of the container member  11 . A free end  32  of each of the tabs  31  having a first portion of hook and loop fastener  33  that selectively engages a second portion of hook and loop fastener  34  on the associated one of the ends walls for closing the open top  14  of the container member  11 . As shown in FIG. 9, a the closure members  24  may comprise a zipper  35  positioned between the associated one of the end walls  25  and the dividing wall  17  such that the zipper  35  may be used to close the open top  14  of the container member  11 . 
     In use, the user places articles within the interior space  13  of the container member  11 . The ring portion  28  of each of the closure members  24  is drawn towards the hanger member  15  and the respective one of the claw members is inserted through the hooking space  29  of the ring member of the associated one of the closure members  24 . The hooking stick is then inserted into the receiving space  22  of the hanger member  15  and the hanger member  15  and container member  11  are raised on the end of the hooking stick. The hooking stick is used to guide the hook portion  20  of the hanger member  15  over the closet rod so that the closet rod supports the container member  11  and the hanger member  15 . The user can the reverse the process to remove the articles from a closet. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.