Abstract:
The present invention embodies an ergonomic locker system comprising a repositionable cross-member or bar for supporting a plurality of triangular clothes hangers suspended between two oppositely disposed tracks. The hanging bar is slideable along the tracks and may be adjusted from a lower, forward position to a higher, back position in order to enhance storage space and improve functionality.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present novel technology relates generally to the storage furniture industry, and, more particularly, to a commercial locker with a repositionable support bar. 
     BACKGROUND 
     On-site storage lockers have been used to store clothing in the workplace, school hallways, golf clubhouses, athletic locker rooms, and like places. However, lockers have been limited in their versatility to accommodate larger amounts of clothing in an organized fashion. Most lockers are too narrow and/or too shallow to allow for a plurality of jackets, shirts, and the like to fit within in locker while still allowing access to other stored items and for the locker door to be closed. 
     Thus, there is a need for a system that allows those using or otherwise needing access to a clothing locker, such as a typical worker, student, club member, athlete, and/or uniform supplier or route driver to store a larger volume of clothing and other non-clothing items more efficiently within their locker. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exterior perspective view of a first embodiment of an ergonomic storage locker according to the present novel technology. 
         FIG. 2  is a cutaway interior view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a first enlarged partial view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a second enlarged partial view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a third enlarged partial view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  showing the master door open. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a track and locking mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. 
     The novel technology shown in  FIGS. 1-7  illustrate an ergonomic locker system  5  having a repositionable cross-member or bar  10  extending across the interior volume  11  of an individual locker unit  13  that is typically arranged as one of a plurality of units  13  defining a locker bank  17 . The bar  10  is typically capable of supporting a plurality of hangers, such as triangular clothes hangers or the like. The bar  10  is suspended between two tracks  20 ,  21  that are respectively position on oppositely disposed sides  23 A,  23 B of the locker unit  13 . The tracks  20 ,  21  are typically diagonally oriented with respect to the front wall or door  15  in its pivoted closed position (i.e., the front door plane  16 ) and rear wall  25  of the locker  5 , typically running upwardly from the front portion  15  of the locker to the rear portion  25 . 
     The locker bank  17  typically includes a plurality of elongated locker units  13  positioned side-by-side and connected at adjacent walls or side members  23 A,  23 B. In some instances, each locker unit  13  is full length or about five to seven feet tall with the bank  17  having a single row of units  13 , while in other instances, each locker unit  13  is half-size or about three feet tall, with the bank  17  having two or more rows of units  13 , with the second row stacked atop the first, and so on. 
     Typically, for full length units  13  and/or half-length units  13  positioned on upper rows, the bar  10  is slideable from a typically lower, proximal position  35  on the tracks  20 ,  21  to a typically higher, distal position  30  on the tracks  20 ,  21 . For lower units, the bar  10  is typically slideable between a first proximal position  35  to a recessed distal position  30  along a horizontal path or even a path that descends slightly from proximal position  35  to horizontal position  30 . The bar  10  is typically lockable into the proximal or lower position  35  or distal or higher position  30 , such as via locking notch  33  formed in one or both respective tracks  20 ,  21 . 
     In the case of full length or upper row units  13 , the slideable bar  10  allows for users to hang their clothes in the locker  5  when the bar  10  is in the lower, proximal position  35 , and then slide the bar  10  into the higher, distal position  30  and lock it there for storage so that the hanging clothes are repositioned up and out of the way of access to the remaining locker volume. With the clothes in this recessed, typically higher position, the locker door  15  is able to more easily close and items stored on the floor or shelves of the remaining locker volume are more easily accessible. Workers, students, and the like, will no longer have to reach up into the back of a locker to load and unload hangers, putting additional, daily wear and tear on the arms, shoulders, and back. The ergonomics involved in the novel technology provide everyday users of an individual locker, and especially bulk users, such as uniform supply employees and the like, an easier way to access clothing by sliding the bar  10  towards them, decreasing the likelihood of work-related injuries from acute or repetitive stressors. 
     Similarly, for shorter units  13  located lower to the ground, the slideable bar  10  allows for users to hang clothes in the locker  5  when the bar  10  is in the forward, proximal position  35  and then slide the bar  10  into the rearward, distal position  30  and lock it there for storage so that the hanging clothes are repositioned back and out of the way of access to the remaining locker volume. Tracks  20 ,  21  are thus oriented at (or nearly) horizontal, with only a slight incline or decline from proximal end or position  35  to distal end or position  30 . 
     The locker bank  17  typically has a master door  51 , which typically includes the front doors  15  of all of the locker units  13  making up the bank  17  positioned within a framework  53 . The master door  51  is pivotably connected to the bank  17  such that it may be opened to expose the interior volumes  11  of all locker units  13  that are members of the bank  17 . 
     In one embodiment, the bar  10  is typically disposed seventy-five inches from the base  31  of the locker  5  and three and a half inches into the locker  5  volume or from the front door plane  16  in the first, lower position  35 . In the second, elevated position  30 , the bar  10  is typically disposed eighty-two inches from the base member or floor  31  of the locker  5  and eleven and a half inches into the locker  5  volume or from the front door plane  16 . Of course, in other embodiments the dimensions may be different. 
     Additionally, a second removable bar  11  may be added or inserted into the lower, proximal position  35  while the first bar  10  is locked in the higher, distal position  30 . This removable bar  11  is manually removed from the proximal position  35  prior to sliding the bar  10  from the distal position  30  into the proximal position  35 . This arrangement temporarily expands the storage capacity of the locker  5 . 
     In operation, a user can access the locker volume by first opening the pivotably front door  15  and then moving the bar  10  into the proximal position  35 . It may first be necessary to unlock the bar  10  if the bar is locked in its distal position  30 . Once the bar  10  is proximally disposed, clothes may be removed from and/or added to the bar  10 , such as by undraping/draping over hangers that may be removably suspended from the bar  10 . The bar  10  is then repositioned to the distal position  30  and, typically, locked in place. Finally, the locker door  15  is pivoted shut and secured. 
     Optionally, after repositioning the bar  10 , a second bar  11  may be inserted into the proximal position  35  to increase the storage capacity of the locker system  10 . 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.