Abstract:
A holder for a clothing article, such as a purse, scarf, or glove, the holder generally including a base and a hanger, wherein the hanger supports the clothing article but does not compress the clothing article.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to holders for clothing articles, and more particularly, to holders for handbags and other accessories.  
           [0003]    2. Brief Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Devices for temporarily holding clothing articles, such as handbags, hats, and coats, are generally described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,415,126; 1,501,807; 2,064,133; 2,473,086; 2,521,037; 2,532,255; 4,210,302; and 5,094,417 and U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 159,834 and 256,738. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,415,126 to Stahle discloses a clip for holding a hat. U.S. Pat. No. 1,501,807 to Petschel discloses another type of hat supporting hook. U.S. Pat. No. 2,521,037 to Brinton discloses a C-shaped hook for holding a purse and an elastomeric strap for holding gloves. U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,417 to Creed discloses a C-shaped mount with a C-shaped hook pivotally attached thereto. U.S. Design Pat. No. 159,834 to Meyers discloses another type of holder for gloves and a handbag.  
           [0005]    In general, the prior art reasonably teaches that as the number of clothing articles to be held increases, the complexity of the device also increases. Therefore, a need exists for a clothing article holder that accomplishes multiple functions with a reduced amount of parts.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    According to the present invention, a holder for a clothing article generally includes a base having a first surface and a second surface and a hanger having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first end and a second end and the second portion defines a loop. The first end of the first portion of the hanger is connected to the base, and the loop supports the clothing article but does not compress the clothing article.  
           [0007]    A pivot joint rigidly connected to an outer edge of the base may also be provided, wherein the first end of the first portion of the hanger is rotatably connected to the pivot joint. A pad positioned adjacent to the base, and the first surface of the base and the second surface of the base may each define a circular shape.  
           [0008]    The loop may be a substantially closed O-shaped loop or a substantially C-shaped loop. A ball may be positioned at a free end of the C-shaped loop. The loop is designed to receive a clothing article, such as a scarf and a glove.  
           [0009]    A method of holding a clothing article is also provided. The method generally includes the steps of: a) providing a planar surface having a leading edge; b) providing a holder comprising a base and a hanger pivotally connected to the base, the hanger having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion defining a loop; c) positioning the base of the holder on the planar surface adjacent to the leading edge of the planar surface, such that the second portion of the hanger is positioned substantially parallel to the leading edge of the planar surface, the loop extends away from the base, and the planar surface is positioned between the base and the loop; and d) inserting the clothing article in the loop, such that the loop supports the clothing article but does not compress the clothing article. If a stem is positioned between the loop and the first portion of the hanger, and a purse having a carrying strap is provided, a further step may include positioning the carrying strap of the purse adjacent to the stem.  
           [0010]    This simple design of the present invention eliminates the need for multiple parts, such as constrictive elastic bands. Moreover, the loop design does not squeeze a clothing article, such as a delicate scarf, so wrinkling and other damage to the clothing article are significantly reduced.  
           [0011]    These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in the description of the preferred embodiment taken together with the attached drawings in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of a holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention with a hanger in a deployed position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the holder shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a top view of the holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a top view of the holder shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  with the hanger in a storage position;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the holder shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 ;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 ;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a side view of a holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a hanger in a deployed position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the holder shown in FIG. 7;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a top view of the holder shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a top view of the holder shown in FIGS.  7 - 9  with the hanger in a storage position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the holder shown in FIGS.  7 - 10 ; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the holder shown in FIGS.  7 - 11 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    As shown generally in FIGS.  1 - 6 , a first embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a holder  10  for clothing articles, such as handbags, scarves, baseball caps, or other suitable articles. As shown in FIG. 1 and the combination of FIGS. 2 and 3, the holder  10  according to the present invention includes a base  12  having a first surface  14 , a second surface  16 , and an outer edge  18 . The base  12  is preferably circular in shape when viewed from a top perspective or a bottom perspective and is made from metal, such as brass or other suitable metal or metal alloy, plastic, or any other suitable material. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective pad  20  may be positioned adjacent the second surface  16  of the base  12 . Referring again to FIGS.  1 - 3 , in the preferred embodiment, a hollow cylinder  22  is rigidly connected to the base  12 , preferably at the outer edge  18  of the base  12 . The hollow cylinder  22  is also preferably made from metal, metal alloy, plastic, or other suitable material.  
         [0025]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , a hanger  24  is pivotally connected to the base  12  via the hollow cylinder  22 . The hanger  24  may be made of metal, metal alloy, plastic, or other suitable material and generally includes a first portion  26  and an integrally formed second portion  28 . The first portion  26  has a first end  30  and a second end  32 , with the first end  30  of the hanger bent at an approximate ninety degree angle with respect to the first portion  26  of the hanger  24 . The first end  30  of the first portion  26  of the hanger  24  is inserted into the hollow cylinder  22  as to define a pivot joint  22   a , so that the hanger  24  is rotatable with respect to the base  12 .  
         [0026]    The second portion  28  of the hanger  24  generally includes a stem  34  that is connected to the second end  32  of the first portion  26  of the hanger  24 , and a substantially closed O-shaped loop  36  is connected to the stem  34 . The stem  34  intersects the second end  32  of the first portion  26  of the hanger  24  at an intersection point  38 , such that an angle α, is defined between the first portion  26  of the hanger  24  and the stem  34 . The substantially closed O-shaped loop  36  is preferably large enough to allow a scarf, gloves, or other clothing article to easily pass through the substantially closed O-shaped loop  36  without being bunched or clamped.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 4 and 5 show a holder  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention in two respective storage positions. In operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the second surface  16  of the base  12  is placed on a table or other generally planer surface  40  adjacent to a leading edge  46 . The hanger  24  is pivoted with respect to the base  12  via the pivot joint  22   a  so that the hanger  24  extends away from the base  12  and the planer surface  40  and is substantially parallel to the leading edge  46 . As shown in FIG. 6, a handbag carrying strap  42  may be placed on the stem  34  of the second portion  28  of the hanger  24 , adjacent to the intersection point  38  of the first portion  26  of the hanger  24  and the stem  34 . A scarf  44  or other clothing article can also be fed through the substantially closed O-shaped loop  36 .  
         [0028]    When the articles do not need to be held any longer, the scarf  44  can be removed from the substantially closed O-shaped loop  36  and the carrying strap  42  can be removed from the stem  34 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base  12  can then be removed from the planer surface  40 , and the hanger  24  can be moved into a storage position by pivoting the hanger  24  to lie in the same imaginary plane as the base  12 .  
         [0029]    FIGS.  7 - 12  generally show a holder  10   a  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7 and the combination of FIGS. 8 and 9, the holder  10   a  according to the second embodiment of the present invention generally includes a base  12   a  having a first surface  14   a , a second surface  16   a , and an outer edge  18   a . The base  12   a  is preferably circular in shape when viewed from a top perspective or a bottom perspective and is preferably made from metal, such as brass or other suitable metal or metal alloy, plastic, or any other suitable material. As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and  12 , the first surface  14   a  defines a ridge  48  and a depression  50 , with the depression configured to receive a pad, such as the pad  20  shown in FIGS. 1, 2,  5 , and  6  of the first embodiment.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIGS.  9 - 11 , a hanger  24   a  is pivotally connected to the base  12   a  via a cavity  52  defined by the base  12   a . The hanger  24   a  may be made of metal, metal alloy, plastic, or other suitable material and, as shown generally in FIGS.  7 - 12 , may include a generally curve-shaped first portion  26   a  integrally formed to a second portion  28   a . The first portion  26   a  has a first end  30   a  and a second end  32   a , with the first end  30   a  of the first portion  26   a  of the hanger  24   a  bent at an angle with respect to a balance of the first portion  26   a  of the hanger  24   a . The first end  30   a  of the first portion  26   a  of the hanger  24   a  is inserted into the cavity  54  defined by the base  12   a  as to define a pivot joint  22   a , so that the hanger  24   a  is rotatable with respect to the base  12   a.    
         [0031]    The second portion  28   a  of the hanger  24   a  generally includes a stem  34   a  that is connected to the second end  32   a  of the first portion  26   a  of the hanger  24   a  and a C-shaped loop  36   a  connected to the stem  34   a . The stem  34   a  intersects the second end  32   a  of the first portion  26   a  of the hanger  24   a  at an intersection point  38   a , such that an angle β is defined between the second end  32   a  of first portion  26   a  of the hanger  24   a  and the stem  34   a . The C-shaped loop  36   a  is preferably large enough to allow a scarf, gloves, or other clothing article to easily pass through the C-shaped loop  36   a  without being bunched or clamped. A stop  54  may be added to a free end of the C-shaped loop  36   a  to prevent a sharp edge and help hold articles.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 10 and 11 show the holder  10   a  according to a second embodiment of the present invention in two respective storage positions. In operation, as shown in FIG. 7, the second surface  16   a  of the base  12   a  is placed on a table or other generally planer surface  40  adjacent to a leading edge  46 . The hanger  24   a  is pivoted with respect to the base  12   a  via the pivot joint  22   a  so that the hanger  24   a  extends away from the base  12   a  and the planer surface  40  and is substantially parallel to the leading edge  46 . As shown in FIG. 12, a handbag carrying strap  42  may be placed on the stem  34   a  of the second portion  28   a  of the hanger  24   a , adjacent to the intersection point  38   a  of the first portion  26   a  of the hanger  24   a  and the stem  34   a . A scarf  44  or other clothing article can also be fed through the C-shaped loop  36   a.    
         [0033]    When the articles do not need to be held any longer, the scarf  44  can be removed from the C-shaped loop  36   a  and the carrying strap  42  can be removed from the stem  34   a . As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the base  12   a  can then be removed from the planer surface  40  (FIG. 7), and the hanger  24   a  can be moved into a storage position by pivoting the hanger  24   a  to lie in the same imaginary plane as the base  12   a.    
         [0034]    As described above, a holder  10 ,  10   a  according to either embodiment of the present invention offers the advantages of a simple design, is easy to manufacture, is multifunctional, and can hold or support a clothing article without compressing the clothing article.  
         [0035]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.