Abstract:
The present invention relates to a portable garment rack that allows for storage of grooming items, other small items, and accessories, and clothes at a temporary location. The portable garment rack includes an upper hanger bar and an intermediate hanger bar for hanging clothes. An upper accessory shelf and a flexible intermediate accessory shelf are also provided for storing various loose articles. The portable garment rack can be collapsed to a small size for storage and transportation, and then reassembled at a remote location.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Some occupations and hobbies require that individuals change their attire during the time they are engaged in their efforts. For example, entertainers and recitalists are often required to change costumes, makeup, or both during various periods of their performances. While larger entertainment halls sometimes provide dressing rooms or facilities that allow for the storage of costumes and grooming articles, those facilities are rarely found in the vast majority of performance sites. As a result, entertainers performing at those limited venues where facilities are sparse, are unable to adequately store their costumes and grooming articles in a way that is efficient and convenient. 
   Such devices are generally known as “costumers” and several designs have been offered for various types of garment racks that have varying degrees of transportability or utility. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,574 offers one type of costumer. While the device disclosed in that patent is identified as a costumer, there are a number of deficiencies that do not fulfill all of the needs of the user. The design of this invention does not locate the center of gravity in a manner that enhances the ability of the invention to remain upright when loaded with heavy articles. Additionally, there are limited numbers of hanging devices for clothing and there is no component at all that provides any storage for grooming articles, small items, or other accessories. Finally, there is very little transportability of the device. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,248 also discloses an adjustable garment rack. While the device has some telescoping features that generally provide for some limited portability, the device lacks any kind of tray or component that would allow for the placement and storage of any types of grooming articles, small items, or other accessories. The base of the invention does not appear to be collapsible making transportability problematic for this invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,961 discloses a garment rack that can be collapsed for transportation or storage. When assembled the rack has four short legs that protrude from a central vertical support assembly that is hinged near the center to allow the vertical support to be folded. The rack includes two shoulder members that fold away from the central vertical support assembly to allow for the hanging of an upper garment such as a shirt, blouse, or jacket. An additional hanger extension having a number of serrated edges is also foldabley extended from the central vertical support to allow for the hanging of a number of garment hangers similar to a standard coat hanger. Another extension head telescopes from the upper end of the central vertical support to allow for additional hanging of garments. However, the invention does not disclose a tray of any kind for storing miscellaneous grooming items such as combs, brushes, small items, or other accessories, etc. Additionally, the design of this invention does not locate the center of gravity in a manner that enhances the ability of the invention to remain upright when loaded with heavy articles. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,525,701 also discloses a garment rack that is portable and collapsible. The rack consists of a central vertical support, three lower folding legs, a number of coat hooks near the upper end of the central vertical support, and an array of hanging rods at the upper end of the central vertical support. However, as with the other above inventions, the invention does not disclose a tray of any kind for storing miscellaneous grooming items such as combs, brushes, small items, or other accessories, etc. 
   The device in U.S. Pat. No. 1,176,563 also discloses a garment rack. The rack includes a foldable central vertical support, three foldable lower legs, a trouser hanging rod, and an upper garment hanging rod. Once again, however, the invention does not disclose a tray of any kind for storing miscellaneous grooming items such as combs, brushes, small items, or other accessories, etc. 
   As can be seen, all of the devices shown in these patents offer some type of portable garment rack for hanging clothes, however, none of these devices fulfill all the needs of an entertainer. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes these and other problems by providing a garment rack capable of hanging short or folded apparel, hanging long apparel such as dresses, holding loose items such as bracelets, lipstick, combs, or change, holding makeup or toiletry kits, holding ties, hats, or belts, and which is also lightweight and collapsible in a manner that enhances its portability. 
   The present invention resides in a portable garment rack having folding and telescoping legs that, when assembled, provides multiple methods for hanging garments, and provides both flat solid surfaces and flexible surfaces that can be used to store loose items. The design of the present invention allows it to be collapsed into a relatively small package that, through the use of light weight hollow tubing for the supporting legs, is also easy to carry. 
   Additional features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention showing the manner in which clothes and shoes may be stored on the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing an exploded view of the support assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing an exploded view of the upper hanger bar, the intermediate hanging bar, and the intermediate accessory shelf; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present inventions showing the invention collapsed for transportation or storage; and, 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the guide pipe of one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   While one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the above referenced drawings and in the following description, it is understood that the embodiment shown is merely for purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention of the invention, which is to be limited only in accordance with the claims contained herein. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a portable garment rack A is shown. The portable garment rack A includes an accessory shelf  1 , an upper hanger bar  2 , an intermediate hanger bar assembly  4 , an intermediate accessory shelf  5 , and a support assembly  3 .  FIG. 1  shows one manner in which hanging clothes  47  and/or shoe racks  48  may be placed on the upper hanger bar  2  or the intermediate hanger bar  4 . 
   The support assembly  3  ( FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ) in the present embodiment includes three leg assemblies  17  arranged as a tripod. Each leg assembly includes an upper leg  10  and a lower leg  11 . The lower leg  11  has a spring loaded detent pin  37  that engages with a detent hole  38  in the upper leg  10 . In its extended position, the leg assembly  17  is held extended by the engagement of the spring loaded detent pin  37  with the detent pin opening  38  in each of the upper legs  10 . To collapse the support assembly  3  for storage or transportation, the spring loaded detent pin  37  is depressed until it is lower than the detent pin opening  38  and the lower leg  11  is telescoped into the upper leg  10 . While any detent pin may be used to restrict the telescoping of the extended legs, the detent pin  37  of the present embodiment includes a circumferential ridge that acts to engage with the edge of the lower leg  11  when the lower leg is extended. Each of the three leg assemblies  17  are attached to the pivot  13  with a bolt  14 , a washer  15 , a lock washer  16 , and a nut  36  inserted into the leg mounting holes in the upper leg  10  and the pivot mounting openings  40 . Additionally, each of the lower legs  11  of the three assemblies  17  includes a foot  12  installed onto the lower end of the lower leg  11 . Each foot  12  is made from a product that will inhibit the portable garment rack A from marring a flooring surface upon which the portable garment rack A is resting. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the foot  12  can include a rolling element that allows the portable garment rack A to be rolled across a floor. 
   In the present embodiment, the upper legs  10  and the lower legs  11  are made from a lightweight metal such as aluminum tubing. Other materials such as steel, plastic, or wood may also be used provided the support assembly is made strong enough to support the expected weight and the overall weight of the portable garment rack A is not detrimental to the easy carrying and transport of the portable garment rack A. It will also be appreciated that while the embodiment shown herein uses three legs in a tripod arrangement, the number of legs used can be varied to meet the specific requirements of use for the portable storage rack A. For example, it may be necessary to use four legs to provide additional directional support for the portable storage rack A. 
   The accessory shelf  1  comprises an upper plate  6  installed onto a vertical guide tube  8  with a flat head screw  7 . The flat head screw  7  is installed through upper plate opening  41  and into a captivated nut  9  ( FIG. 6 ) that is installed into the inside diameter  42  of the vertical guide tube  8  such that the horizontal surface  43  of the captivated nut  9  is generally flush with the rim  44  of the vertical guide tube  8 . After the assembly of the accessory shelf  1  is complete, the accessory shelf  1  is installed into the opening  45  ( FIG. 3 ) of the pivot  13 , with the vertical guide tube  8  sliding through the opening  45  until the upper plate comes to rest on the pivot  13 . 
   The upper hanger bar  2  ( FIG. 4 ) is attached to the upper plate  6  of the accessory shelf  1  with two mounting down straps  20 , two bolts  21 , two washers  22 , two lock washers  23 , and two nuts  24 . The upper hanger bar  2  includes a bar  18  and two covers  19  with the covers  19  mounted to each of the two ends of the bar  18 . The upper plate  6  has two mounting openings  46  for the installation of the two mounting straps  20 . While in the present embodiment the upper hanger bar  2  is installed such that the midpoint of the length of the upper hanger bar  2  is aligned with the centerline of the accessory plate  1 , the upper hanger bar  2  may be located at any position within the mounting straps  20 . 
   The intermediate hanger bar  4  ( FIG. 4 ) rests on two bar holders  27  mounted onto two of the leg assemblies  17 . The intermediate hanger bar  4  includes a bar  25  and two covers  26 , with each cover  26  located at one of the two ends of the bar  25 . Each bar holder  27  is mounted onto the leg assembly  17  with a winged retainer  28 . By loosening and tightening the winged retainer  28 , the bar holders  27  may positioned at various heights on the leg assembly  17 . The bar holders  27  are located on each of the two leg assemblies  17  such that when the intermediate hanger bar  4  is resting on the two bar holders  27 , the two bar holders  27  are located between the covers  26  located at each end of the bar  25 . It will be appreciated that while this location is preferred in the present embodiment, the vertical location of the intermediate hanger bar  4  can be adjusted up or down as long as the intermediate hanger bar  4  can rest on the two bar holders  27 . 
   The intermediate accessory shelf  5  ( FIG. 4 ) includes a generally triangular-shaped flexible material  32  having one of three grommets  33  mounted near each apex of the triangular shape. The design of the intermediate accessory shelf  5  in the current embodiment also includes a concave area  49  near the center of the intermediate accessory shelf. This concave area  49  tends to allow any items placed on the intermediate accessory shelf  5  to move toward the center of the shelf thereby enhancing the ability of the shelf to hold the small items. Each corner of the intermediate accessory shelf  5  is mounted to a leg assembly  17  with one of three straps  34  that has been inserted through the grommet  33  and around the outer circumference of the leg assembly  17 . The shape of the intermediate accessory shelf  5  is also generally concave, with the concave surface facing upward toward the pivot  13 . The concave nature of the intermediate accessory shelf  17  works to retain any objects placed upon it. 
   Once assembled, the portable garment rack A is capable of storing a wide variety of clothes and grooming supplies. The upper hanger bar  2  ( FIG. 1 ) on the accessory shelf  1  can carry long clothes such as dinner dresses, formals, ties, and belts, and either simultaneously or alternatively, shoe holders can also be hung from the upper hanger bar. The accessory shelf  1  is large enough to hold large or small hats, boxes, makeup boxes, or mirrors. The design of the accessory shelf  1  is also strong enough to hold other items. The intermediate accessory shelf  5  is best used to store grooming supplies such as lipstick, brushes, combs, and earrings, as well as other loose items such as loose change. The intermediate hanger bar  4  is the primary hanging bar and is used for hanging shorter length items such as shirts and blouses, or suits with pants folded inside. 
   When the portable garment rack A must be stored or transported, the intermediate hanger bar  4  ( FIG. 5 ) and accessory shelf  1  are removed from the support assembly  3  without the need for any disassembly. Each of the lower leg assemblies  11  is then telescoped into the associated upper leg  10  such that the leg assemblies  17  are as short as possible. The leg assemblies  17  are then brought together around the pivot  13 . The three straps  34  may be unsnapped and removed from the grommets  33  of the intermediate flexible shelf  5  to remove the flexible shelf  5  from the leg assemblies  17 , or the intermediate flexible shelf  5  may remain in position attached to the leg assemblies  17 . All of the components can then be placed into a carrying bag. 
   While the above description describes various embodiments of the present invention, it will be clear that the present invention may be otherwise easily adapted to fit any configuration where a portable garment rack having the ability to collapse for transport is required. 
   As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.