Abstract:
A tab can be secured to the pliable face of a carrier or other article in order to hang the carrier or article from a slot. The carrier may be a personal carrier with carrying straps, such as a backpack or a bag with carrying handles. The slot can be furnished by a downwardly directed vent slot on a locker door, by a slotted bracket, or by some other slotted device. The disclosed tab is secured at its upper end, reaching a location on the tab at least one quarter of the way from the upper end toward the lower end. The tab normally lies flat against the pliable face, but this face is flexible to allow the lower end of the tab to articulate away from the pliable face. In some cases clothes can be loaded into the personal carrier before inserting its tab into a vent slot in a locker door. The tab is inserted to a depth sufficient to prevent the lower end of the tab from articulating upwardly enough to allow the tab to disengage the vent slot. Then a user can retrieve clothes, books, and other articles from the carrier while the carrier is hung on the locker door.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to carriers and other products designed to be hung as well as to methods for hanging. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Storing objects by placing them on the floor is inefficient, disorderly, and requires one to stoop or bend in order to retrieve or inspect objects on the floor. For this reason shelves and various other arrangements exist for holding objects at a more convenient height. 
         [0005]    Another common approach is to hang objects. For example clothing or other objects can be hung from a hook. In some cases a cloth loop will be sewn into-the article of clothing to facilitate the hanging. As another example, a brush handle can be hung using a hole or lanyard in the handle. 
         [0006]    People are continually in need a devices for carrying objects, whether they are shopping, hiking, visiting a gym, etc. Well-known carriers include backpacks, cloth bags, gym bags, and the like. Some of these carriers will include devices to allow hanging of the carrier. For example, cloth loops may be sewn into the top edge of a backpack so it can be hung on a hook. However, hooks are not always available and this cloth loop may therefore be unusable. 
         [0007]    At times hooks are available but are inconvenient. For example, one may be able to hang a backpack from a hook that is inside a gym locker. However, a backpack hung in this fashion will be located relatively deep inside the locker, to so restrict visibility and manual access that rummaging through the backpack is difficult. Consequently, a user will typically place the backpack on a bench or on the floor and then stoop or bend over in order to rummage through the backpack. 
         [0008]    See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,859,084; 5,474,192; 5,927,840; 6,193,034; and D548,574 and US Patent Publication Nos. 2007/0119883; 2007/0277355; 2008/0035523; and 2008/0095475. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a personal carrying product adapted to hang from a slot. The product has a carrier for holding objects. The carrier has a pliable face and carrying straps. Also included is a tab secured to the pliable face and adapted to be inserted in the slot. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided employing a pliable personal carrier with a tab for use with a downwardly directed vent slot on a locker door. The method includes the step of loading clothes or books into the personal carrier. Another step is carrying the carrier to the locker door and inserting the tab into the vent slot to a depth sufficient to prevent the tab from articulating upwardly enough to allow the tab to disengage the vent slot. The method also includes the step of retrieving the clothes or books from the carrier while hung on the locker door. 
         [0011]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a product adapted to hang from a slot. The product has an article with a pliable surface. Also included is a tab secured to the pliable surface and adapted to be inserted in the slot. The tab has an upper and a lower end and is secured to normally lie flat against the pliable face. The tab is secured at its upper end including at a location on the tab at least one quarter of the way from the upper end toward the lower end. The pliable face is flexible to allow the lower end of the tab to articulate away from the pliable face. 
         [0012]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a personal carrying arrangement comprising a backpack with a pliable face that includes a fabric. The backpack has a pair of shoulder straps with top ends connected at the pliable face. The arrangement also has a tab with an upper and a lower end. The tab is attached to the pliable face equidistantly from the top ends of the shoulder straps by at least one of stitching, riveting, and stapling. The tab is secured at its upper end including at a location on the tab at least one quarter of the way from the upper end toward the lower end. The tab has an inside face and an outside face that are parallel and flat from the upper to the lower end. The tab is secured to normally lie flat against the pliable face. The pliable face is flexible to allow the lower end of the tab to articulate away from the pliable face. The tab has a pair of lateral edges that converge toward the lower end. The tab has an overall width and transverse thereto a longitudinal dimension reaching from the upper to the lower end. The longitudinal dimension exceeds the overall width. The arrangement has a bracket with a longitudinal slot. The bracket is adapted to be attached to a vertical wall with clearance between the longitudinal slot and the wall to allow the tab to be inserted into the longitudinal slot in order to hang the backpack. 
         [0013]    By employing apparatus and methods of the foregoing type an improved technique is achieved for hanging articles, such as a personal carrying product. In one embodiment a plastic tab is secured near an upper edge of a backpack on the same side as the shoulder straps. The disclosed tab can have any of a variety of shapes and can be secured by stitches, rivets, staples, etc. The tab is secured along a fraction of its length, leaving a lower portion free to articulate and lift off the backpack. This articulation is accomplished by allowing the pliable fabric of the backpack to flex. 
         [0014]    Once lifted in this manner, the tab can be inserted into a slot in order to hang the backpack. For example, the tab can be inserted into one of the vent slots commonly found on locker doors. Once hung on the back of a locker door in this fashion, the backpack is elevated and, once opened, its contents are readily visible. Accordingly, the user can then retrieve the stored objects; for example, exercise clothes and exercise equipment. The user can also store objects that are not currently needed. Thereafter, the locker door can be closed while the backpack remains hanging. The user can return to transfer objects to and from the backpack. The user departs by lifting the backpack to disengage the tab from the vent slot. The backpack can then be carried away in the usual fashion. 
         [0015]    Besides backpacks the foregoing tab can be mounted on a variety of articles, including personal carrying products such as cloth bags, gym bags, etc. Also, the tab can be inserted into different slots other than vent slots. In some cases a bracket can be mounted on a wall to provide a slot that is spaced from the wall to provide clearance for the tab. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The above brief description as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a product in the form of a personal carrier shown about to be hung from a vent slot of a locker door, in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  hanging from the vent slot; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the tab on the carrier of  FIG. 1 , showing its stitches; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary view of the carrier of  FIG. 1 , partly in section, and showing its tab lying flat against a pliable face of the carrier; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bracket providing an alternate slot for engaging the tab of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a tab that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a tab that is riveted in place and is alternate to that of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a tab that is stapled in place and is alternate to that of  FIGS. 3 and 7 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a product that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 1  in the form of a carrying bag; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a product that is an alternate to that of  FIGS. 1 and 9  in the form of a gym bag; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a bracket that is an alternate to that of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the bracket of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  a personal carrying product is shown as backpack  10 , although it will be understood that in other embodiments different types of carriers (personal or otherwise) may be used. Backpack  10  has a pair of conventional shoulder straps  12 , located along the right edge  14 B and left edge  14 C of inside panel  14  (panel  14  also being referred to as a pliable face). The lower ends  12 B of carrying straps  12  are attached near the lower edge  14 D of panel  14 , and top ends  12 A are attached near the upper edge  14 A of panel  14 . Another panel  16  is stitched or otherwise secured around inside panel  14  and is part of a structure for holding objects. The front of backpack  10  is constructed in a conventional manner and will include zippers or other means for opening and closing the backpack. 
         [0030]    Tab  20  is attached to panel  14  near upper edge  14 A. Tab  20  is shown centered between right and left edges  14 B and  14 C, although in other embodiments the tab need not be centered. Even though the upper and lower ends of the right and left edges  14 B and  14 C are somewhat indistinct, tab  20  will be considered between the right and left edges by construing those edges broadly and, if necessary, extending them as imaginary lines to determine whether the tab is lying between them. Similarly, tab  20  may also be considered located between the upper ends  12 A of straps  12 . 
         [0031]    In this embodiment tab  20  is shown as a plastic or elastomeric plate with an outside face  20 - 1  and a parallel inside face  20 - 2 , which faces are both flat from their upper to lower ends  20 A,  20 B. Tab  20  has in this instance a thickness of about ⅛ inch (3.2 mm), an overall longitudinal dimension of about 2¼ inches (5.7 cm) and an overall width of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), although other embodiments may employ different materials and may have different dimensions depending upon the desired strength, capacity, size, reliability, rigidity, etc. In this embodiment, tab  20  has a straight edge  20 A at its upper end merging through a rounded corner with two lateral edges  20 B, which are initially parallel but begin converging together about two thirds of the way toward the tapered lower end  20 D. 
         [0032]    Tab  20  is secured onto panel  14  by stitches  22  laid down in a rectangular pattern. In some cases a reinforcing backer of leather, fabric, plastic, or the like, may be placed on the opposite side of panel  14  before stitching tab  20  to panel  14   30  and the backer. As shown in this embodiment tab  20  is secured with (1) a proximal course of stitches  22 A located at a position about one quarter of the way from the upper end  20 A to the lower end  20 D,(2) a distal course of stitches  22 B located at a position about one half of the way from the upper end  20 A to the lower end  20 D, and (3) two other courses connecting the first two. Accordingly, tab  20  is free to lift away from underlying panel  14  along about half of the tab&#39;s length, that is, the length between stitch course  22 B and lower end  20 D. In some embodiments the stitching of course  22 A can be located closer to or further from the upper end  20 A. 
         [0033]    In other embodiments tab  20  may be free to lift over a different length. For example, tab  20  may be secured at a location at least one quarter of the way from the upper end  20 A to the lower end  20 B, leaving the tab free to lift below that location. Alternatively, tab  20  may be secured at a location at least one third of the way from the upper end  20 A to the lower end  20 B, leaving the tab free to lift below that location. The amount of freedom given to tab  20  will affect its ability to act as a device for hanging an article, in a manner to be described presently. 
         [0034]    To facilitate an understanding of the principles associated with the foregoing apparatus, its operation will be briefly described in connection with illustrated locker  22 , which has an ordinary door  24  with three conventional vents  26 . Vents  26  are preexisting and are made by the manufacturer by punching out an overhanging section  26 A from the main door panel to create vent slot  28 . 
         [0035]    Tab  20  can be lifted somewhat from panel  14  of backpack  10 , which lifting is possible because the tab is secured only over a portion of its overall length. In  FIG. 2  tab  20  is shown inserted in one of the vent slots  28 , having been articulated about 15°. This articulation is accommodated by the flexibility of the fabric of panel  14 , which is shown with a wrinkle  32  caused by articulation of tab  20 . Because tab  20  is secured by stitches  22  ( FIG. 3 ) lying over an extended region, the attachment forces are distributed accordingly and there is a lesser likelihood of tearing the fabric of panel  14 . 
         [0036]    Because section  26 A overhangs tab  20 , tab articulation is limited in this case to about 35°, which limit is shown as ray  33 . Therefore, even if panel  14  is highly flexible, tab  22  cannot invert and allow backpack  10  to fall out of vent slot  28 . The articulation of tab  20  can also be restricted by extending the region over which the tab is secured. Basically, the lower the location on tab  20  that is secured to the panel  14 , the smaller the effective lever arm for lifting the tab and flexing panel  14 , and the less likely tab  20  is to articulate or even invert. For this reason, most embodiments will have the tab  20  secured at locations at least one quarter of the way from the upper end  20 A to lower end  20 D. To restrict articulation even more, some embodiments will secure tab  20  at locations at least one third of the way from the upper end  20 A to lower end  20 D. In any event, slot  28  or the tab  20  can be configured to prevent undesired disengagement of the tab from the slot. 
         [0037]    Backpack  10  may be used to carry exercise clothing and equipment to a gym. Alternatively, the backpack  10  may be used by a student to carry books to a school. Other cargo and destinations are also contemplated. On arrival the user can open locker door  24  and insert tab  20  through one of the vent slots  28 . Backpack  10  can either be opened in advance or opened after being hung on tab  20  on the back of locker door  24 . Once backpack  10  is hung in this fashion and the backpack is open, the user can retrieve the various stored objects. Since backpack  10  is elevated to make its contents more visible and since the user&#39;s hands are free, rummaging through the backpack is convenient. At this time, articles of clothing or other personal items on the user may also be transferred into backpack  10 . With this accomplished, the user can close locker door  24  with the backpack  10  still hanging on tab  20 , if desired. Backpack  10  can either be kept open or closed, when locker door  24  is closed. 
         [0038]    As many times as desired, the user can return and open locker door  24 , thereby regaining access to backpack  10 . For example, the user may wish to access backpack  10  in order to prepare for a shower or simply to leave. Accordingly, the user can reopen the backpack  10  and insert and remove objects as desired at this time. 
         [0039]    When the user wishes to leave, backpack  10  can be lifted to remove tab  20  from vent slot  28 , the lifting occurring either before or after the closing of the backpack. Backpack  10  can then be carried away in the usual fashion. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the illustrated bracket  34  may be used in place of a locker doors with vent slots of the type of the type just described. Bracket  34  is shown as a metal stamping having a rectangular face  34 A with longitudinal slot  36 . Perpendicular to face  34 A are an integral pair of rectangular support legs  34 B extending to a coplanar pair of rectangular, integral feet  34 C. Feet  34 C are parallel to face  34 A with each foot having a pair of mounting holes  38 . 
         [0041]    Bracket  34  can be mounted to a wall with its longitudinal slot  36  horizontal by inserting fasteners such screws or nails through mounting holes  38 . Thereafter, tab  20  of backpack  110  of  FIG. 1  can be inserted into slot  36  to extend downwardly using the wall clearance provided by legs  34 B. The length of legs  34 B can be chosen so that tab  22  can articulate only a limited amount before its lower end  20 D hits the wall on which bracket  34  is mounted. Restricting articulation of tab  20  in this manner prevents undesired disengagement of the tab. It will be understood, however, that tab  20  can be secured over so much of its length that it cannot articulate an amount sufficient to disengage from slot  36 , regardless of the wall clearance provided by legs  34 B. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , an alternate bracket  60  is shown as a wooden block with a pair of mounting holes  64  that may be used to attach the bracket to a wall with a screw or other fastener. Bracket  60  has a downwardly directed slot  62 , specifically a mortise descending at about 45°, although other angles of descent are contemplated. Once mounted on a wall or other surface, the previously mentioned tab (for example, tab  20  of  FIG. 1 ) can be inserted into slot  62  to hang an article such as backpack  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , alternate tab  120  is the same as the previously illustrated tab except that its outside face  120 - 1  and inside face  120 - 2  converge at a non-zero acute angle from upper end  120 A to lower end  120 D. Elements corresponding to those previously described in connection with tab  20  of  FIGS. 1-4  have the same reference numerals but increased by  100 . Since tab  120  is tapered, its lower end  120 D will have added flexibility to facilitate insertion into a slot. On the other hand, the thicker portions of tab  120  will restrict the net overall articulation of the tab to guard against undesired disengagement. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , alternative tab  220  is an aluminum plate with outside and inside faces that are parallel. Elements corresponding to those previously described in connection with tab  20  of  FIGS. 1-4  have the same reference numerals but increased by  200 . The outline of tab  220  is essentially a rectangle with rounded corners, although in some embodiments the outline may be trapezoidal with rounded corners and with lateral edges  220 B and  220 C tapering slightly towards lower end  220 D. As before tab  220  may employ various materials and may have different dimensions depending upon the desired strength, capacity, size, reliability, rigidity, etc. 
         [0045]    Instead of stitches, tab  220  is fastened using a trio of rivets  240  that are driven through the tab and the underlying pliable fabric (not shown) before being deformed in the usual fashion. Again, the underlying pliable fabric can be sandwiched between tab  220  and a reinforcing backer (not shown). 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , alternative tab  320  is a plastic plate with outside and inside faces that are parallel. Elements corresponding to those previously described in connection with tab  20  of  FIGS. 1-4  have the same reference numerals but increased by  300 . The outline of tab  320  is essentially a triangle with rounded corners. As before tab  320  may employ various materials and may have different dimensions depending upon the desired strength, capacity, size, reliability, rigidity, etc. 
         [0047]    Instead of stitches, tab  320  is fastened using a pair of staples  342  that are driven through the tab and the underlying pliable fabric (not shown) before being deformed in the usual fashion. Again, the pliable fabric can be sandwiched between tab  220  and a reinforcing backer (not shown). 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , previously described tab  20  is shown attached to another article, namely, cloth bag  44 . Bag  44  is shown with a pair of handle loops  46  and  48 , each having a pair of ends  46 A and  48 A, respectively. Each of the pair of ends  46 A and  48 B are attached at spaced positions along opposite sides of rim  44 A of bag  44 . Tab  20  is shown mounted near rim  44 A equidistant from the spaced positions of the ends  46 A of handle loop  46 . In this embodiment an identical tab (not shown) is mounted on the opposite side of bag  44  near rim  44 A and equidistant from the ends  48 A of handle loop  48 . 
         [0049]    In a manner just described in connection with  FIGS. 1-4  or  FIG. 5 , tab  20  can be used to hang bag  44 . Instead of tab  20 , bag  44  can employ any one of the tabs shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , gym bag  50  has roughly the shape of a rectangular prism, is formed from fabric and is fitted with a carrying strap  52  attached between opposite ends  50 A of the bag. Pliable face  50 B of bag  50  is approximately rectangular and a pair of the previously described tabs  20  are mounted symmetrically near the top edge of face  50 B. 
         [0051]    In a manner just described in connection with  FIGS. 1-4 , the pair of tabs  20  can be inserted together into one of the vent slots  28  of  FIG. 1  in order to hang gym bag  50 . For the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a pair of brackets  34  can be mounted side-by-side to accommodate the pair of tabs  20  of  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, face  34 A and slot  36  can be lengthened sufficiently to accept together the pair of tabs  20 . Again, instead of tab  20 , bag  50  can employ any one of the tabs shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . Also, tabs can be mounted as well on the face of bag  50  opposite face  50 B. 
         [0052]    Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.