Patent Publication Number: US-2003222040-A1

Title: Storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure for hanging clothing-related articles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to storage apparatus, devices, racks and the like, for hanging hanging clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, and more particularly to such storage apparatus, devices, racks and the like for hanging hanging clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, on doors, especially closet doors.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Known prior storage apparatus, devices, art racks, and the like for hanging clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, for use in one&#39;s home, typically can hang only a small number of articles. Further, such storage apparatus, devices, racks, and the like, do not provide for presenting the articles in such a manner that any of the articles can be easily seen and readily selected.  
       [0003] Also, it has been found that such known prior art storage apparatus, devices, racks, and the like for use in one&#39;s home are not well suited for displaying ties, belts, scarves in a retail setting.  
       [0004] Further, such storage apparatus, devices, racks and the like, do not provide for organizing the articles in a vertical manner with pivoting holders which allows a large number of articles to be stored in a narrow space and at the same time permits each stored article to be easily seen and readily selected.  
       [0005] Moreover, known prior art apparatus, devices, racks and the like are unduly expensive.  
       [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure, such as a door or wall, or the like, for hanging clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on.  
       [0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure, such as a door or wall, or the like, for hanging clothing-related articles, such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, for use in one&#39;s home, wherein articles can easily be seen and readily selected.  
       [0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure, such as a door or wall, or the like, for hanging clothing-related articles, such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, for use in one&#39;s home, wherein articles are stored in a vertical manner on pivotable holders.  
       [0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure, such as a door or wall, or the like, for hanging clothing-related articles, such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, that is for use in both home and retail environments.  
       [0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure, such as a door or wall, or the like, for hanging clothing-related articles, such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, which storage apparatus is inexpensive to manufacture.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure for hanging clothing-related articles. The storage apparatus comprises an elongate main post having a top end and a bottom end and defining a longitudinal axis. A mounting means is securely connected to the elongate main post for mounting the elongate main post in substantially vertically oriented relation onto a support structure for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis. A plurality of article-receiving hooks are mounted in weight-bearing relation on the elongate main post.  
       [0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure for hanging clothing-related articles. The storage apparatus comprises an elongate main post having a top end and a bottom end. A mounting means is securely connected to the elongate main post for mounting the elongate main post in substantially vertically oriented relation onto a support structure. There is a plurality of hook modules mounted on the elongate main post in vertically spaced relation one from the next. Each hook module comprises a collar and a plurality of article-receiving hooks mounted in weight-bearing relation on the elongate main post by the collar.  
       [0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure for hanging clothing-related articles. The storage apparatus comprises a first mounting bracket having, in seriatim, a first vertical portion for engaging one face of a door, a horizontal portion for spanning the top edge of a door, and a second vertical portion for engaging the opposite other face of a door. A second mounting bracket is secured to the first vertical portion of the first mounting bracket. An elongate main post having a top end and a bottom end depends from the second mounting bracket. A plurality of article-receiving hooks are mounted in weight-bearing relation on the elongate main post.  
       [0014] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described hereinbelow. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the storage apparatus according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:  
     [0016]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment storage apparatus according to present invention mounted on a vertical surface such as a door or wall;  
     [0017]FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale partially cut-away side elevational view of the upper two-thirds of the storage apparatus of FIG. 1;  
     [0018]FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view of the storage apparatus of FIG. 1, but with the support structure not shown;  
     [0019]FIG. 4 is a close up side elevational view of portion of the storage apparatus of FIG. 1;  
     [0020]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the portion of the storage apparatus of FIG. 4;  
     [0021]FIG. 6 is side elevational view of an article-receiving hook used in the storage apparatus of FIG. 4;  
     [0022]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the hook of FIG. 6;  
     [0023]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the plastic collar seen in FIG. 4;  
     [0024]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the plastic collar of FIG. 8;  
     [0025]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a post insert used to connect together the sections of the elongate main post in end to end relation;  
     [0026]FIG. 11 is a partially cross-sectional side elevational view of the bearing assembly and the top end cap of the mounting means;  
     [0027]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a mounting bracket as seen in FIG. 1;  
     [0028]FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 12;  
     [0029]FIG. 14 is an end elevational view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 12;  
     [0030]FIG. 15 is a close-up side elevational view of a top portion of a second preferred embodiment storage apparatus according to the present invention;  
     [0031]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the first mounting bracket of FIG. 15;  
     [0032]FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the stop bracket shown in FIG. 1; and  
     [0033]FIG. 18 is an enlarged scale partially cut-away side elevational view of the upper two-thirds of a second preferred embodiment storage apparatus according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0034] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 through 17, which show a first preferred embodiment of the storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure, such as a door, or the like, for hanging clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, according to the present invention, and as indicated by general reference numeral  20 . The storage apparatus  20  is typically mounted on the back of a closet door, on the back of a bedroom door, on a wall, or on any other suitable support structure, as indicated by reference numeral  22 .  
     [0035] The storage apparatus  20  comprises a elongate main post  30  having a top end  31  and a bottom end  32 , and defining a longitudinal axis “L”, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
     [0036] A plurality of article-receiving hooks  40  are mounted in weight-bearing relation on the elongate main post  30  by a plurality of hook modules, as indicated by the general reference number  49 , mounted on the elongate main post  30  in vertically spaced relation one hook module  49  from the next hook module  49 . The article-receiving hooks  40  are thereby mounted at a plurality of vertical levels along the length of the elongate main post  30 . The number of levels can vary and is not in specifically important. As illustrated, there are four hooks  40  at each level, but there could be any number of hooks  40  that would readily fit around the perimeter of the elongate main post  30 . The hook modules  49  will be discussed in greater detail subsequently.  
     [0037] The elongate main post  30  is substantially straight, but not need not be so. Further, it has an exterior surface  33  that is non-circular in cross-section, and is somewhat clover leaf shaped (in cross-section), in the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated. Other cross sectional shapes are also acceptable, such as a triangle, or a square. The purpose of a noncircular cross-section outer surface is to keep the hooks  40  aligned one above another. A circular cross section can also be used to permit the hooks  40  to be rotationally offset any given level, such that the hooks at one level are rotationally offset a few degrees from those one level above and below. Further, the elongate main post  30  is hollow, having an interior passageway  34  defined by an interior surface  36 .  
     [0038] In the first preferred embodiment illustrated, the elongate main post  30  comprises three sections of plastic material, namely top section  30   a , middle section  30   b , and bottom section  30   c , joined in end-to-end relation. Post insert members  122   a  and  122   b  (see FIG. 8) are engaged into the contiguous ends of adjacent pairs of sections, namely top section  30  and middle section  30   b , and middle section  30   b  and bottom section  30   c , respectively. The post insert members  122   a  and  122   b  are retained in place by means of friction and also be means of outwardly projecting lips  123  disposed adjacent the ends of each of the post insert members  122   a  and  122   b . The outwardly projecting lips  123  catch on co-operating annular shoulders  53   a  on the interior surface  53  of each of the post insert members  122   a  and  122   b  to preclude the top section  30   a , the middle section  30   b , and the bottom section  30   c  of the elongate main post  30  from separating from each other. The bottom section  30   c  preferably does not have any hook modules  49  on it since any lengthy articles such as ties and belts hanging from hooks disposed at this elevation might readily contact the floor beneath (not shown).  
     [0039] Depending on the length of the elongate main post  30 , the elongate main post  30  may alternatively comprise four or more sections of material joined in end-to-end relation, or may comprise two sections of material joined in end-to-end relation, or may comprise only a single length of material.  
     [0040] The elongate main post  30  is preferably fabricated from a suitable plastic material by means of extrusion, but may be made by means of any other suitable process or from any other suitable material or materials.  
     [0041] At each hook module  49 , four hooks  40  are mounted in secure relation to the elongate main post  30 . Each article-receiving 40 is made from a single piece of wire, preferably carbon steel, and is bent into shape and comprises, in seriatim, a rounded hook portion  48 , a horizontally disposed shaft portion  46 , a vertically disposed base portion  42 , and an anchoring end portion  44 . The vertically disposed base portion  42  terminates downwardly in the bent anchoring end portion  44 . The horizontally disposed shaft portion  46  extends horizontally outwardly from the vertically disposed base portion so as to terminate in the rounded hook portion  48 . Preferably, each hook is made from a single piece of wire bent back along itself to the shape described above and as shown in the drawings, so as to produce a hook having a rounded free end  41  that would not catch on the material used in ties, scarves, and the like.  
     [0042] As discussed above, the hooks  40  are mounted in secure relation to the elongate main post  30  by means of a plurality of hook modules  49  mounted on the elongate main post  30  in vertically spaced relation one hook module  49  from the next hook module  49 .  
     [0043] Each hook module  49  comprising a plastic collar  50  and a plurality of article-receiving hooks  40  mounted in weight-bearing relation on the elongate main post  30  by the collar  50 . In each the hook module  49 , the collar  50  comprises a central aperture  58  that is preferably non-circular in cross-section, and in the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, is somewhat clover leaf shaped (in cross-section), so as to correspond to the shape of the cross-sectional shape of the exterior surface  33  of the elongate main post  30 . The elongate main post  30  is frictionally engaged within the central aperture  58 . The vertically disposed base portion  42  of each article-receiving hook  40  is trapped against the elongate main post  30  by one of the collars  50 . Preferably, the plastic collars  50  and the hooks  40  are retained in place by a suitable adhesive.  
     [0044] The plastic collars  50  are substantially identical one to the others, and will now be described in greater detail. Each plastic collars  50  has four semi-circular protrusions  52  evenly spaced around its perimeter, with concave sections  54  spanning between each pair of adjacent semi-circular protrusions  52 . A central aperture  51  is defined by an interior surface  53  that is shaped and dimensioned to frictionally engages the elongate main post  30 , which frictional engagement should permit ready sliding of the plastic collars  50  along the elongate main post  30  to their proper location for the purpose of assembly.  
     [0045] Each of the plastic collars  50  has a horizontally oriented channel  56  disposed in the top surface  58  of the plastic collar  50 , extending from the inner surface  53  of the interior aperture  51  of the plastic collar  50  to the outer surface  55  of the plastic collar  50 , with one horizontally oriented channel  56  disposed adjacent each protrusion  52  of the plastic collar  50 . Each horizontally oriented channel  56  is shaped to receive the horizontally disposed shaft portion of a corresponding hook  40 .  
     [0046] Each horizontally oriented channel  56  leads to a vertically oriented channel  57  formed in the interior surface  53  of the central aperture  51  of the elongate main post  30 , with one vertically oriented channel  57  disposed adjacent each protrusion  52  of the plastic collar  50 .  
     [0047] Each vertically oriented channel  57  leads to a small undercut  59  formed in the interior surface  53  of the central aperture  51  of the plastic collar, adjacent the bottom surface  50   b  thereof, with one small undercut  59  disposed adjacent each protrusion  52  of the plastic collar  50 . The undercut  59  receives the bent anchoring end portion  44  of the corresponding hook  40 .  
     [0048] A mounting means, as indicate by the general reference numeral  60 , is securely connected to the elongate main post  30 . The mounting means  60  is for mounting the elongate main post  30  in substantially vertically oriented relation onto the support structure  22 , for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis “L” of the elongate main post  30 . Such pivotal movement corresponds to the elongate main post  30  and the hook modules  49  mounted on the elongate main post  30 , and therefore the clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, being rotated in order to see and selected.  
     [0049] In the first preferred embodiment storage apparatus  20 , the mounting means  60  comprises a first mounting bracket  130  mounted directly into the door  22  and a second mounting bracket  100 . The first mounting bracket  130  has, in seriatim, a first vertical portion  132  for engaging one face  22   a  of the door  22 , a horizontal portion  134  for spanning the top edge  22   t  of the door  22 , and a second vertical portion  136  for engaging the opposite other face  22   b  of the door  22 . The second mounting bracket  100  is secured to the first vertical portion  132  of the first mounting bracket  130  by means of threaded fasteners  142 . In this manner, the first preferred embodiment storage apparatus  20  can be removably mounted on a standard thickness door  22  without defacing the door  22 .  
     [0050] The first preferred embodiment storage apparatus  20  further comprises spacer means comprising outer vertical ribs  170  disposed on the first vertical portion  132  of the first mounting bracket  130 . The outer vertical ribs  170  are preferably covered by a soft material such as rubber, to preclude the door  22  from being scratched by the outer vertical ribs  170 . As can be seen in FIG. 15, the outer vertical ribs  170  are for spacing the threaded fasteners  142  from the door  22 , to preclude the threaded fasteners  142  from scratching the door  22 . A small pad  180  is mounted on the second vertical portion  136  to preclude the door  22  from being scratched by the second vertical portion  136 .  
     [0051] The mounting means  60  further comprises a post-engaging portion, as indicated by the general reference numeral  65 , and a bracket-engaging portion, as indicated by the general reference numeral  63 . The post-engaging portion  65  comprises a top end cap  66  molded from a from high density polyethylene material (H.D.P.E.) and is securely connected to the elongate main post  30  adjacent the top end  31  of the elongate main post  30 . In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the top end cap  66  is disposed over the top end  31  of the elongate main post  30 , and is frictionally engaged on the top end  31  of the elongate main post  30 , and is further retained in place by means of a suitable adhesive. The bracket-engaging portion  63  comprises a metal peg  68  and a bearing assembly  64  mounted on the metal pin  68 . The metal pin  68  has an upwardly directed squared top shaft portion  70  with a horizontally disposed aperture  71  therein, and a cylindrical central shaft portion  72  depending from the upwardly directed squared top shaft portion  70 , and a lower reduced cylindrical shaft portion  74  depending from the cylindrical central shaft portion  72 . The bearing assembly  64  is mounted on the lower reduced cylindrical shaft portion  74  and is retained in place by a splayed bottom end portion  76 .  
     [0052] The bearing assembly  64  is also retained within a co-operating annular recess  67  in the top end cap  66 , with the outer annular portion  64   a  of the bearing assembly  64  being securely engaged by the walls defining the co-operating annular recess  67 . Indeed, the bearing assembly  64  is molded into the top end cap  66 . In this above described manner, the bracket-engaging portion  63  pivotally engages the post-engaging portion, namely the top end cap  66 .  
     [0053] The mounting bracket  100  comprises a downwardly extending vertical mounting flange  102  having three apertures  104  disposed therein for receiving the threaded fasteners  101  therethrough for securing the mounting bracket  100  to a door, or the like. A horizontal elongate arm portion  106  extends outwardly from the vertical mounting flange  102 . Left and right reinforcing webs  108 , 110  are disposed one at each outer side of the mounting bracket  100  to preclude the elongate arm portion  106  from bending downwardly under a load.  
     [0054] A square shaped receiving aperture  112  in the horizontal elongate arm portion  106  of the mounting bracket  100  is defined by a short downturned wall portion  114  is shaped and dimensioned to receive the upwardly directed top shaft portion  70  of the bracket-engaging portion  63  therethrough. The square protrusion  70  is precluded from falling back through the receiving aperture  112  by means of a cotter pin  71 . In this manner, the bracket-engaging portion  63  is securely connected to the mounting bracket  100 .  
     [0055] An end cap  116  made from plastic or rubber is frictionally retained on the free end of the horizontal elongate arm portion  106 , so as to preclude the rough metal end of the horizontal elongate arm portion  106  from catching on ties, scarves, or the like. Two reinforcing ribs  118  are disposed along a significant portion of the length of the horizontal elongate arm portion  106 . A short reinforcing rib  120  is disposed between the square aperture and the plastic end cap  116 .  
     [0056] A stop bracket  130  is mountable onto the support structure  22  by means of a self-adhesive pad  132  adhered to a mounting plate  131 , or optionally threaded fasteners (not shown) extending through apertures (not shown) in the mounting plate  131 . The stop bracket  130  comprises a bent metal wire  134  removably mounted in co-operating outward extensions  136  formed in the mounting plate  131 , and has an aperture  138  in alooped end portion  139  for receiving the lower portion of the elongate main post therethrough in freely pivotal relation. The elongate main post  30  is first hung from the mounting bracket  100  and the stop bracket  130  is then mounted in place by slipping the bottom end  32  of the elongate main post  30  into the aperture  138  of the stop bracket  130 . The stop bracket  130  is then mounted onto the support structure  22 . In this manner, the stop bracket  130  does not need to be mounted in a precise vertical position. It has been found with a lower bracket that does secure to the elongate main post  30 , it is common to mount the lower bracket on a support structure and subsequently have the distance between the top mounting bracket  100  and the lower bracket either too big or too small for the elongate main post  30 , thus causing the elongate main post  30  to either be loose or to bow out, respectively. The stop bracket  130  thereby receives a lower portion of the elongate main post  30  in lateral movement precluding relation, thereby minimizing unwanted lateral movement when the elongate main post  30  is being rotated. In the event that the support structure  22  is a door, stop bracket  130  precludes unwanted swing of the elongate main post  30  when the door  22  is opened or shut.  
     [0057] Reference will now be made to FIG. 18, which shows a second preferred embodiment of the storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure  222 , such a door or a wall, for hanging clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, according to the present invention, and as indicated by general reference numeral  220 . The second preferred embodiment storage apparatus  220  comprises a mounting bracket  230  mounted directly into the support structure  222  by threaded fasteners  224 .  
     [0058] In an alternative embodiment, it is contemplated that although only one mounting bracket  100  is necessary, two mounting brackets  100  mounted one at each end of the elongate main post  30  may be used to hold a single elongate main post, for the purpose of maximizing load carrying capacity. It has been found that using a top mounting bracket  100  only has the advantage of not having a mounting bracket  100  in the way of ties, scarves, belts, and so on, hanging on the storage apparatus  20 , when the elongate main post  30  is rotated.  
     [0059] As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a storage apparatus mountable onto a support structure, such as a door or wall, or the like, for hanging clothing-related articles such as ties, belts, scarves, and so on, for use in one&#39;s home, wherein articles can easily be seen and readily selected, wherein articles are stored in a vertical manner on pivotable holders, that is for use in both home and retail environments, and that is inexpensive to manufacture, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.  
     [0060] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the storage apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.