Abstract:
A collapsible clothes hanger structure includes a frame including a pair of supporting legs and a rail. A rail is secured between the supporting legs. A tent is provided on the frame and the tent covers a portion of the rail. A transmission unit includes a transmission gear meshing with a transmission belt. The transmission gear and the transmission belt are disposed in the rail. Multiple hanging units are movably disposed in the rail in sequence. A motor is connected to and drives the transmission unit in the rail to control the hanging units to slide along the rail. A control unit is coupled with a light sensor, a water drop sensor, and a timer. The control unit collects signals from any of the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer to control the motor and the hanging unit. By the structure, the collapsible clothes hanger is automatically expanded or retracted according to light and rain or the pre-set time.

Description:
[0001]    This is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/951,566, filed on Dec. 6, 2007, currently pending. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    A conventional automatic clothes hanger comprises a main body having a platform extending outwardly for a motor and a control circuit to be secured and connected thereon. The platform is provided with a support frame and accessories. The support frame is provided with a micro switch and a sensor at the two respective ends to detect the weather and to control the clothes hanger to extend or to collapse. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Another conventional automatic clothes hanger comprises a basic frame, a swivel frame, an adjusting frame and a fixture, and is incorporated with a sensor to extend or to collapse the clothes hanger. The swivel frame is linked to activate simultaneously to assist the clothes hanger to extend or to collapse. 
         [0006]    The above-mentioned clothes hangers comprise a sensor to detect the weather, however, they are not provided with proper definitions about the weather so that they can not work as expected. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a collapsible clothes hanger structure to react when the real-time weather has changed, which comprises:
       a frame comprising a pair of supporting legs and a rail, the rail being secured between the supporting legs, a tent being provided on the frame, the tent covering a portion of the rail;   a transmission unit comprising a transmission gear meshing with a transmission belt, the transmission gear and the transmission belt being disposed in the rail;   a hanging unit disposed in the rail;   a motor connected to and driving the transmission unit in the rail to control the hanging unit to slide along the rail; and   a control unit coupled with a light sensor, a water drop sensor, and a timer, the control unit collecting signals from any of the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer to control the motor and the hanging unit.       
 
         [0013]    Preferably, the rail comprises contact points at respective ends to control activation of the motor when in touch with the hanging unit, the contact points being electrically connected to the control unit. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the light sensor is a photosensitive resistance whose back surface faces the light source and an opaque board is connected on the back surface. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the control unit further comprises a manual control key to control the motor. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the timer is electrically connected with a time display panel. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the control unit comprises a remote controller. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the motor and the control unit are electrically connected to a battery. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the battery is electrically connected to a solar energy board. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the solar energy board comprises a receiving unit to collect signals from the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer, the signals then being transmitted to the control unit to activate the motor accordingly. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the hanging unit comprises an active hanger and a number of driven hangers, the active hanger being secured to the transmission belt, the driven hangers having holes for the transmission belt to insert and to extend there through, the active hanger and the driven hangers having slots for pulling straps to insert and to extend there through, a block being provided at a center portion of each the slot, each of the pulling straps having a securing end and a terminal end, the securing end and the terminal end being larger in size than each the slot. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the hanging unit includes a hole for a cloth hanger to be hooked therein and the clothes hanger includes two arms extending from a hook and a transverse rod is connected between the two arms. The arms include bosses and two support links. A clip is mounted to each of the arms and includes a notch which is located corresponding to the bosses, a clip end and a press end. Besides, the transverse rod and the support links each include an anti-slip portion. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the hanging unit comprises an active hanger and a number of driven hangers, each of the active hanger and the driven hangers comprising a shaft, the shaft having a center portion meshing with a connecting section and two exposed ends, a pair of rollers being provided on the two exposed ends of the shaft, the rollers having recesses meshing with a pair of rail straps in the rail, the active hanger and the driven hangers having slots for pulling straps to insert and to extend there through. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the two support links each have a first transverse rod and a second transverse rod. The first transverse rod is located remote from the tent and includes three fixing holes on each end thereof. The second transverse rod has two engaging members on two ends respectively. 
         [0025]    Preferably, two positioning ropes are connected between the first and second transverse rods. The positioning ropes are flexible and include two ends, one of the two ends is fixed to the fixing hole by S-type tie and the other end extends through a sleeve and a collar is mounted to the sleeve. A cap is inserted into the collar and the collar is engaged with the engaging member. 
         [0026]    It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which may be adjusted to control the clothes hanger automatically or manually. 
         [0027]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated when the light has changed. 
         [0028]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated when rain drop is detected. 
         [0029]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated by the timer. 
         [0030]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated manually. 
         [0031]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which can be controlled remotely. 
         [0032]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a solar energy board that enables to transfer light into energy to save electric power, corresponding to the concept of environmental protection. 
         [0033]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a hanging unit that does not require any fastener, which is easy to install and to work precisely. 
         [0034]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a tent to protect the clothes from getting wet by rain or humid. 
         [0035]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a locating rope between the supporting legs and the tent so as to secure clothes on the hangers. 
         [0036]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, wherein the clothes are securely connected to the hangers by the cooperation of the hangers and the clips, and the clothes are not blown away by strong wind. 
         [0037]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, wherein the positioning ropes are conveniently and quickly fixed to the first and second transverse rods and are not blown away by strong wind. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preset invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention, partially sectioned; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged view of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a control unit of the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a partially enlarged view of the present invention showing a water drop sensor, a control unit and a solar energy board; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is an exposed view of a hanging unit of the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing that the hanging unit is secured in a rail; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of an operation of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the present invention in a collapsed status; 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view showing the hanging unit in a collapsed status; 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a solar energy board facing another direction; 
           [0049]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view to show the first transverse rod; 
           [0050]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view to show the second transverse rod; 
           [0051]      FIG. 14  shows that the positioning ropes are fixed to the fixing holes; 
           [0052]      FIG. 15  shows the connection between the positioning rope, the sleeve, the collar and the cap; 
           [0053]      FIG. 16  shows that the collar is engaged with the engaging member, and 
           [0054]      FIG. 17  shows that the connection between the hanger and the clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0055]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame  1 , a transmission unit  2 , a hanging unit  3 , a motor  4 , a control unit  5 , a battery  6  and a solar energy board  7 . 
         [0056]    The frame  1  comprises a pair of supporting legs  11  and a rail  12 . The rail  12  is secured between the supporting legs  11 . A tent  13  is provided on the frame  1  and covers a portion of the rail  12  to protect clothes from being wet by rain or dew. In addition, the two supporting legs  11  respectively have a first transverse rod  14  and a second transverse rod  15 . The first transverse rod  14  is located close to the tent  13  and the second transverse rod  15  is located remote from the tent  13 . Referring to  FIGS. 12 to 16 , there are three fixing holes  141  in each of two ends of the first transverse rod  14 , and two engaging members  151  are respectively connected to two ends of the second transverse rod  15 . Two positioning ropes  16  are connected between the first and second transverse rods  14 ,  15 , and each positioning rope  16  is a flexible rope and includes two ends. One of the two ends is fixed to the fixing hole  141  by S-type tie and the other end extends through a sleeve  17  and a toothed ring  171  is located in the sleeve  17  so as to secure the positioning rope  16 . A collar  18  is securely mounted to the sleeve  17 . A cap  19  is inserted into the collar  18  so as to hide the sleeve  17 . The collar  18  is eventually forced to be engaged within the engaging member  151  to fix the positioning rope  16 . 
         [0057]    The transmission unit  2  comprises a transmission gear  21  meshing with a transmission belt  22 . Both the transmission gear  21  and the transmission belt  22  are disposed in the rail  12  of the frame  1 . By changing the direction of the transmission gear  21 , the transmission belt  22  changes its moving direction. 
         [0058]    The hanging unit  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , comprises an active hanger  3 A and a number of driven hangers  3 B which are mounted in the rail  12  in sequence. The active hanger  3 A located at the outmost end is secured to the transmission belt  22 , while the driven hangers  3 B are secured by extending the transmission belt  22  through a hole  31 B of each driven hanger  3 B. The active hanger  3 A and the driven hangers  3 B have hanging holes  31 A and  32 B for a clothes hanger  8  to hang thereon. The active hanger  3 A and the driven hangers  3 B further have slots  32 A and  33 B for pulling straps  31  to extend through. Blocks  321 A and  331 B are provided at the center portions of the slots  32 A and  33 B. Every two adjacent hangers (including the active hanger  3 A and the driven hangers  3 B) are connected by an independent pulling strap  31  which comprises a securing end  311  and a terminal end  312 . Both the securing end  311  and the terminal end  312  are larger in size than the slots  32 A ad  33 B. The securing end  311  is secured to the block  321 A, and the terminal end  312  is able to engage with the block  331 B or disengage from the block  331 B. 
         [0059]    The motor  4  is connected to the transmission gear  21  of the transmission unit  2  and outputs a power to link the hanging unit  3  to slide along with the transmission belt  22  through the transmission gear  21 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0060]    The control unit  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , comprises a power switch  51 , an automatic control key  52 , a manual control key  53 , a light sensor  54 , a water drop sensor  55 , and a timer  56  which is electrically connected with a time display panel  561 . Any of the light sensor  54 , the water drop sensor  55 , and the timer  56  can trigger the motor  4  to activate the transmission belt  22  through the transmission gear  21  to slide the hanging unit  3  to stay within the tent  13  or to extend outwardly. The automatic control key  52  controls the light sensor  54 , the water drop sensor  55 , and the timer  56 . The light sensor  54 , the water drop sensor  55 , and the timer  56  may be activated by pressing the manual control key  53  as well to activate the transmission belt  22  to control the hanging unit  3  through activation of the motor  4 . 
         [0061]    The control unit  5  further comprises a malfunction light A, a charging light B, and a battery weak signal light C, as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the malfunction light A fleshes, indicating an abnormal operation, the power will be shot down itself. When the charging light B is flashing, it implies the solar energy board is charging. When the battery weak signal light is flashing, it implies either the is solar energy board has not been charging for a period of time or the battery is not working and it requires to be replaced with another one. The control unit  5  further comprises a lighting system (not shown in the drawings) which is activated automatically for 10 minutes. 
         [0062]    The motor  4  and the control unit  5  are electrically connected to the battery  6 , and the battery  6  is electrically connected to the solar energy board  7  which transforms the light into electric power to be saved in the battery  6 . 
         [0063]    The rail  12  is provided with a pair of contact points  121  at respective ends thereof. The contact points  121  are electrically connected to the control unit  5 . The contact points  121  are designed for the hanging unit  3  to contact so as to control the motor  4 . 
         [0064]    When the light sensor  54  detects the light is weak, it will transmit a signal to the control unit  5 . When the water drop sensor  55  detects water drops, it will transmit a signal to the control unit  5 . 
         [0065]    The control unit  5  is cooperated with the timer  56  and electrically connected with the time display panel  561  which can be input digits to show the hour and minute for convenience of calculating time. 
         [0066]      FIGS. 3 and 5  show the positions where the water drop sensor  55 , the light sensor  54  and the solar energy board  7  are located. When water drops on the water drop sensor  55 , a positive wire  551  and a negative wire  552  will be conducted, and the positive wire  551  and the negative wire  552  are respectively fixed to screws D on the water drop sensor  55 . The screws D are used as output ends so as to deliver signals to the control unit  5  to collapse the hanging unit  3 . The light sensor  54  is a photosensitive resistance whose back surface faces the light source (sun and moon) and an opaque board E is connected on the back surface. The arrangement can precisely judge and send signals to the control unit  5  when it is in evenings, cloudy days or dense fogs. 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each of the active hanger  3 A and the driven hangers  3 B comprises a pair of shafts  32 . Each shaft  32  has a central portion meshing with a connecting section  33  and two ends exposed outwardly. The exposed ends of the shaft  32  are provided with rollers  34 . Each roller  34  has a recess  35 . The rail  12  comprises a pair of rail straps  122  therein for engagement of the recesses  35  of the rollers  34  so as to assist the rolling of the active hanger  3 A and the driven hangers  3 B along the rail  12 . The active hanger  3 A is secured to the transmission belt  22  and is linked to move along with the transmission belt  22 . 
         [0068]    The active hanger  3 A and the driven hangers  3 B do not need any fasteners, such as screws, nuts, C-shaped clips, to be mounted with the rollers  34  to slide along the rail  12 . The recesses  35  of the rollers  34  are disposed on the rail straps  122  of the rail  12 , allowing the rollers  34  to roll along without detaching from the shafts  32 . 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , the clothes hanger  8  is hanged to the holes  31 A,  32 B and includes two arms  82  extending from a hook  81 , and a transverse rod  83  is connected between the two arms  82 . The arms  82  include bosses  821  and two support links  84 . The transverse rod  83  and the support links  84  have anti-slip portions  831 ,  841 , and the transverse rod  83  has two protrusions  832 . The support links  84  can be used to position ties and socks, and the protrusions  832  are used to position female underwear. The anti-slip portions  831 ,  841  increase the friction between the clothes and the clothes hanger  8  to prevent the clothes from dropping from the clothes hanger  8 . A clip  9  is connected to the arm  82  and has a notch  91 , a clip end  92  and a press end  93 . The clip end  92  has a tooth  921  which is used to secure the clothes. It is noted that the clip  9  secures the clothes on the arms  92 . The clip  9  is first moved to a desired position and the boss  821  is engaged with the notch  91  so as to fix the clip  9 . The user then presses the press end  93  to allow the clip end  92  to lift. In the meanwhile, the clothes are then clipped between the clip end  92  and the arm  82 . When releasing the press end  93 , the clip end  92  securely clips the clothes. 
         [0070]    To expand the hanging unit  3  of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  6 , when the transmission belt  22  moves outward from the tent  13 , the active hanger  3 A will be pulled by the transmission belt  22 , and the adjacent driven hanger  3 B will also be pulled till the pulling strap  31  reaches to its limits. The securing end  311  and the terminal end  312  of the pulling strap  31  engage with the block  321 A in the slot  32 A and the block  331 B in the slot  33 B and are stopped thereat. The subsequent driven hangers  3 B are also pulled by the same way. 
         [0071]    To collapse the hanging unit  3  of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the transmission belt  22  moves towards the tent  13 , which links the active hanger  3 A to move in the same direction as well till the terminal end  312  disengages from the block  331 B of the adjacent driven hanger  3 B and forces the driven hanger  3 B to move along. One by one all of the driven hangers  3 B will be brought to move in the same direction until they are collapsed in the tent  13 . 
         [0072]    The present invention is designed to operate either in automatic or in manual mode, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The control unit  5  comprises the automatic control key  52  and the manual control key  53 . The manual control key  53  has receiving and sending directions to activate the motor  4  to do the job. The motor  4  will be stopped when the manual control key  53  is released. This allows the user to control and adjust the distance. The automatic control key  52  is activated by the light sensor  54 , the water drop sensor  55  and the timer  56  to activate the motor  4 . 
         [0073]    The present invention further comprises the battery  6  and the solar energy board  7 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , to provide electric power to the control unit  5  and the motor  4 . The solar energy board  7  comprises a receiving unit  71  to collect signals from the light sensor  54 , the water drop sensor  55  and the timer  56  and then transfer to the control unit  5  which in turn activates the motor  4  accordingly. 
         [0074]    To operate the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the user presses the power switch  51  of the control unit  5 , adjusts the timer  56  through the time display panel  561  to set the time, and then presses either the manual control key  53  or the automatic control key  52  to activate the motor  4  which in turn activates the transmission gear  21  and the transmission belt  22  to push the active hanger  3 A and the driven hangers  3 B outwardly. When the active hanger  3 A reaches to one contact point  121  of the rail  12 , the motor  4  will be stopped. To collapse the present invention, when the most inward driven hanger  3 B is in contact with the other contact point  121  of the rail  12 , the motor  4  will be stopped, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0075]    The direction of the solar energy board  7  may be changed to direct the sun shine, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0076]    The operation of the present invention can be categorized as follows: 
         [0000]    1. timer mode: the time can be preset to extend or to collapse the hangers;
 
2. manual mode: the manual control key is pressed to extend or to collapse the hangers;
 
3. automatic mode: the automatic control key is pressed to activate the light sensor, the water drop sensor and the timer to control the hangers.
 
         [0077]    The present invention may further comprise a remote controller which can activate the control unit ( 5 ) remotely. 
         [0078]    The control unit  5 , the motor  4 , the light sensor  54 , the water drop sensor  55  and the timer  56  are operated by either wire (cable, network) or wireless (wireless network, Bluetooth, frequency modulation) transmission.