Abstract:
An easily mounted and removable closet space making system where the first of two components is designed to be instantly install against the back wall of a clothes closet between the shelve and the shelve supporting member. This component has a hinge that supports a single garment arm used to hang multiple clothes hangers on. After installing 1 or 2 of these components, the clothes that were hanging on the clothes rod can now be transferred to the back wall of the closet, freeing up most or all of the clothes rod for the second component. The second component hooks onto the clothes rod and has a double hinge that supports two garment arms and is on a swivel so either side can face forward. With both components, gravity drops the arm down in the storage position. To select a garment, simply slide your hand in behind the garment in front of the garment you want and lift the arm. This will create ample space to access the garment you are after. Pushing the clothes to the back wall and hanging the remaining clothes on the double garment hook will completely transform the closet. All the garments will now cascade down, one in front of another so all garments will be visible all at once. The shelve above will be easily accessible and therefore much more useful. The entire floor will be visible and accessible and most importantly, you can virtually double the storage in a closet.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority of Provisional Application No. 60/659,239, entitled “Wall &amp; Rod Multiple Garment Hanger” filed on Mar. 7, 2005, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to clothes closet organizers, and more particularly to increasing the storage capacity of any closet where clothing is hung on traditional hangers and the hangers are in turn hung on a traditional clothing rod within a closet.  
         [0003]     No matter how many closets there are in any given home or apartment, there never seems to be enough room for storage. Closets, therefore, become overcrowded, cluttered and messy making it difficult to keep your clothes neat and organized. It becomes increasingly difficult to find what you are looking for and many garments can actually be overlooked and essentially lost for days, weeks and even years.  
         [0004]     A congested closet forms a wall of clothing that creates a physical and visual obstruction that confronts you as you open the closet door. This makes it extremely difficult to reach over this obstruction of clothing to get to the items stored on the shelve found above the rod. Additionally, the obstruction of clothes makes it nearly impossible to see, never-mind reach all the items, usually shoes stored on the floor. You have to bend down and duck under the clothes to get to shoes along the back wall of the closet. Additionally, cramped and cluttered closets make it very difficult to find individual garments. Because of this problem, retailers often use rods that display garments cascading downward as the garment faces the consumer so they can clearly see every garment on the rod.  
         [0005]     One possible solution to the problem is to build a new, larger closet, which costs thousands of dollars to build. Even if you chose this option, you would be forced to loose some of your bedroom or hallway space because the new closet space has to come from somewhere else in the house or apartment. Obviously, people who rent do not have this option. There are hundreds of closet organizer systems on the market, but none of the systems instantly increase useable space in the closet as well as to organize garments.  
         [0006]     It is therefore an object of this invention to instantly eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with closet storage, not by making closets larger, but by making better use of the existing space that until now was wasted in closets.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of this invention to provide a versatile, portable, hinged, multiple garment hanger system where a removable mounting plate attaches to one end of a single garment arm and can be instantly installed in a closet against the back wall and is supported between the back wall and the shelve found over the rod.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of this invention that this multiple garment, wall mounted hanger system hold multiple garments facing forward as they lie flat, just inches off the back wall, freeing up the closet rod for a similar rod supported unit.  
         [0009]     It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a portable, double hinge, mounting plate where one end of two garment arms attach (back to back) and is hung on a rod with a single swivel hook.  
         [0010]     It is an even further object of this invention that the universal garment arms are removable and fit both wall and rod mounting plates.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The objects set forth above as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the embodiments of the invention described herein below.  
         [0012]     One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiple garment arm that is pivotably mounted to a single hinge at one end and can be attached to either a rod mounting plate or a wall mounting plate. The garment arm has a unique locking feature keeping the garments neat and secure to the arm both when being lifted and when at rest. The forward facing garments cascade downward, one in front of another so all garments are viewable simultaneously. An important feature of the garment arm is the extension of the arm beyond the last garment notch that is of sufficient length to lock the garments in place as the arm overlaps the hanger.  
         [0013]     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a rod mounting plate having a swivel hook on center that allows for instant installation and two hinges (one on each side of hook) where garment arms are pivotably mounted, one on each hinge. The garment arms have numerous “wave like” notches for supporting hangers. The notches face away from each other when mounted to the rod mounting plate so each side can be viewed and lifted independently. The hook can swivel so either of the garment arms can face forward as the garments cascade downward for easy viewing. This single hook can slide up and down the closet rod so the entire floor is in view and accessible.  
         [0014]     Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a wall mounting plate having a single hinge on the front side of the plate and one garment arm that is pivotally mounted on the hinge and can be removed, rotated 180 degrees, and returned to the hinge. The unique shape of the wall mounting plate enables it to be instantly mounted between the top of the 1″×4″ wood shelve support and the back of the shelve, resting on top of the 1″×4″ wood shelve support by simply pulling the shelve forward, inserting the plate and pushing the shelve back into place.  
         [0015]     With the wire top shelve system, slide the top of the plate between the back of the shelve and the wall after attaching the spacer to the back of the wall plate. If the wire shelve is flush mounted, simply slide the friction pad down the garment arm and drop the arm down through the top of the wire shelve and push flush against the back wall.  
         [0016]     In the unlikely event that the wood top shelve is secured to the 1″×4″ wood shelve support, simply reverse the garment arm and slide the wall plate upward on the face of the 1″×4″ wood shelve support to the bottom of the secured wood shelve and install the wall plate with two screws.  
         [0017]     An alternative wall bracket of garment hanger includes a biasing or attachment device integrated into flange that is positioned between the shelve and the shelve support.  
         [0018]     Yet another alternative wall bracket of garment hanger includes a wall plate with a back surface having a portion thereof with adhesive characteristics, such as adhesive double-side strips or any suitable commercially adhesive product, such as glue or resin.  
         [0019]     In an alternative embodiment of the single arm garment hanger, the single garment arm is not removable from the bracket/hinge and is pivotally mounted to the bracket/hinge by conventional means such as a pin or the like.  
         [0020]     An accessory for the present rod invention is generally cylindrical and T-shaped. The accessory provides a means for attaching a garment hanger thereto and provides a means for sliding the accessory along a rod to avoid shelve structural obstacles, such a vertical supports, without removing the accessory from the rod.  
         [0021]     For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 1B  is a rear view of one embodiment of the wall plate of the present invention of  FIG. 1A  showing the garment arm assembly opening with a portion of the hinge partially hidden;  
         [0024]      FIG. 1C  is a pictorial view of the present invention of  FIG. 1  adapted for use with a closet shelve;  
         [0025]      FIG. 1D  is a pictorial of an alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a hinge with a pin hole configuration;  
         [0026]      FIG. 1E  is a pictorial view of the garment arm being positioned from resting position B to loading position A;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 1F-1H  are pictorial views of an assembly method of a garment hanger as depicted in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0028]     FIGS.  2 A-E are pictorial views of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating an inverted wall plate assembly;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 2F-2H  are pictorial views of an assembly method of a garment hanger as depicted in  FIG. 2B ;  
         [0030]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are pictorial views of the present invention of  FIG. 1A  adapted for wire shelve installation;  
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a side and a partial section view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention having two garment arms;  
         [0032]     FIGS.  5 A-E are pictorial views of an accessory for use with the present invention of  FIG. 4A  in conjunction with a wire shelve;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a pictorial view of a biasing or attachment mounting device for the present invention; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a pictorial view of an adhesive mounting device for the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]     An exemplary garment hanger  1  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1A . Garment hanger  1  includes garment arm  4  with pivot pin  5  and wall bracket  24  having hinge  7 . The loose fit of pin  5  within hinge  7  allows garment arm  4  to pivot to a user&#39;s desired angular position as well as slide forward and back along opening  8   a  to facilitate assembly and disassembly of garment hanger  1 , as well as locking arm  4  in loading position A (discussed in detail below).  
         [0036]     Now turning to  FIG. 1A , garment arm  4  is generally an elongated member including flat backside  2  and front side  3 . The flat backside  2  is generally a smooth contour and free of discontinuities such as notches, sharp edges, protrusions, projections, extensions, tabs, indentations, slots, slits, cut-outs, nicks, burrs, recesses, hooks, voids, cavities, and other non-linear surface characteristics. The flat, smooth backside  2  condition minimizes snagging of and damage to the hanging clothing. The front side includes a plurality of hanger receivers  3 A preferably wave-like configured notches capable of receiving single or multiple clothes hangers. Notches  3 A have an advantage over holes because the hanger hooks can easily be added to or removed from garment arm  4  without having to fish the hook through a hole. Though notches are the preferred hanger receivers, other configurations, such as holes, are also acceptable receivers. Garment arm  4  includes a top end  4 A and a bottom end  4 B. Pinhole  4 C is drilled into top end  4 A and sized to receive pin  5 . Pin  5  is retained in pinhole  4 C by conventional attachment means such as, but not limited to, interference or pressed fit, adhesive, and screw/nut. Bottom end  4 B of garment arm  4  has an extension  4 D beyond the last notch  3 A that serves as a locking mechanism, locking the hangers to garment arm  4  so the hangers cannot fall off, even when being lifted.  
         [0037]      FIG. 1E  illustrates the operation of garment hanger  1 . To initially load hanging garments onto garment hanger  1 , the empty garment arm  4  is raised upward from resting position B to loading position A, which is substantially perpendicular to wall  32  ( FIG. 1C ). Clothes are hung in each of the first few notches  3 A starting at the top of garment arm  4 A. The garment arm  4  is lowered to the resting position B. The weight of the clothes will press garment arm  4  against the hangers and clothes locking them in place. Therefore, if something brushed up against clothes, they would stay in place and not be knocked up and off the notch  3 A. Arm  4  is raised again once again and the remaining notches  3 A are filled with clothes on hangers. Extension  4 D presses against the last few hangers making the hangers less susceptible to being knocked off garment arm  4  if brushed up against.  
         [0038]     Referring again to  FIG. 1A , notches  3 A each include a wall portion  3 B, such as an outer edge. Notch  3 A is sized to allow a hook portion of a conventional clothing hanger to move through each notch  3 A so as to allow the conventional hanger to be received and hung or suspended on the respective wall portion  3 B. Notch  3 A may vary in size, may all have the same size, or may be some combination of similar and different sizes. Each wall portion  3 B may be configured to support the conventional hanger while garment hanger  1  is in the loading position A and the resting position B, and while moving between the relative positions. For example, wall portion  3 B may define respective hook portion  3 C that define corresponding mouth  3 D that opens to notch  3 A. Mouth  3 D may be sized for receiving the hook portion of a conventional hanger, and notch  3 A may have the same or different sized mouths within the same garment hanger  1 . In the preferred embodiment of notch  3 A, a part of each wall portion  3 B adjacent to the respective mouth  3 C may form an inclined angle with respect to a horizontal axis of arm  4  to resist sliding movement of the conventional hanger along wall portion  3   b  and out through the corresponding mouth  3 D. Arm extension  4 D and notch  3 A configurations, as describe above, individually or in combination eliminates the need for a pronounced internally curved hook at the end of notch or channel within the notch to secure the hook portion of a conventional hanger within the notch.  
         [0039]     Wall bracket  24  includes hinge  7  connected orthogonally to a wall plate  6  ( FIG. 1A ). Hinge  7  includes two parallel plates  26  ( FIG. 1B ). In the exemplary hinge  7 , each plate  26  includes U channel  8 , which has an opening  8 A on one side of plate  26  juxtaposition to wall plate  6  to receive pin  5  during assembly of garment arm  4  (discussed in detail below). Once assembled, pin  5  can freely slide forward and backward, and pivot within U channel  8  of hinge  7  (discussed in detail below) allowing the garment arm  4  to be rotated over 180 degrees. U channel  8  can be of sufficient depth or length and width to operate garment arm  4 .  
         [0040]     Now referring to  FIG. 1B , each plate  26  may further include flanges  25  that are orthogonal to the U channel  8 . Flanges  25  mate with front face  27  of wall plate  6  and are joined together by conventional means such as rivet, bolt/nut, weld, solder, braze, adhesive, and the like. Wall plate  6  can include an opening  29  of sufficient size to receive bottom end  4 B of garment arm  4  with pin  5  attached thereto.  
         [0041]     Now turning to  FIGS. 1F-1H , garment arm  4  can be assembled to hinge  7  by sliding bottom end  4 B of garment arm  4  from the rear face  31  of wall plate  6  through opening  29  and extended until pin  5  of garment arm  4  engages end  33  of U channel  8  of hinge  7  of wall bracket  24 . At that point, garment arm  4  can freely pivot to any angular position desired by the user.  
         [0042]     Garment arm  4  can be locked in a substantially horizontal position to facilitate easier hanging and removal of hung closet. Garment arm  4  is rotated substantially orthogonal with bracket plate  24  and aligned with opening  29  in the wall plate  6 . Top end  4 C of garment arm  4  is sufficiently inserted into opening  29  such that an edge of garment arm  4  contacts top edge  29 A ( FIG. 1B ) of opening  29  to stabilize and hold garment arm  4  in a substantially horizontal position.  
         [0043]     In an alternative wall bracket of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1D , U channel  8  is substituted by a hole  35  in each plate  26 . Instead, garment arm  4  without pin  5  is disposed between the two plates  26  of hinge  7 . Holes  4 C of garment arm  4  and holes  35  of plates  26  are aligned. Pin  5  is inserted through holes  4 C and holes  35  to secure garment arm  4  to hinge  7 . Therefore, opening  29  of wall plate  6  can be eliminated.  
         [0044]     Now referring to  FIG. 1A , Wall plate  6  is bent 90 degrees at bend  6 A toward wall  32  to rest section  6 B on top of the 1″×4″ wood shelve support ( FIG. 1C ). Then wall plate  6  is bent 90 degrees at bend  6 C in the opposite direction to rest section  6 D flat against wall  32  ( FIG. 1C ). Then wall plate  6  is bent 90 degrees at bend  6 D in the same direction to make C shaped channel  9  for the wood shelve to slide into as it is pushed back towards wall  32 , thereby securing wall plate  6  between the 1″×4″ wood shelve support, wall  32 , and the wooden shelve ( FIG. 1C ). C shaped channel  9  includes flat section  6 B,  6 D, and  6 F, which are oriented substantially orthogonal to adjacent matching flat sections. Wall plate  6  can be slid between wall  32  and the back of some wire shelve systems that are not flush mounted against the wall ( FIG. 3A ).  
         [0045]     An alternative embodiment  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B , and  2 C show wall plate  6  in the inverted position in the event that the wood shelve is secured to the 1″×4″ wood shelve support. If garment arm  4  is assembled to wall bracket  24  as discussed above, then remove garment arm  4  from wall bracket  24 , flip garment arm  4  over, reassemble garment arm  4  into wall bracket  24  though opening  29  ( FIG. 2F ), and slide garment arm  4  until pin  5  contacts end  33  of U channel  8  of hinge  7  ( FIG. 2G ) and rotate arm  4  downward to resting position B ( FIG. 2H ). Now the wall plate  6  can slide up the 1″×4″ wood shelve support flat to the bottom of the secured wood shelve where wall plate  6  can be installed to the 1″×4″ wood shelve support with two wood screws  11  installed through to two pre-drilled holes  11 A in wall plate  6  when the wood shelve is secured to the 1″×4″ wood shelve support ( FIGS. 2A-2C ).  
         [0046]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2   d  and  2 E, this inverted position is also used to install garment hanger  10  in the attic, cellar, mud room or anywhere additional storage is needed for off season or other clothing by simply installing the mounting plate  12  to the wall with two conventional screws (not shown) through mounting holes  13  and then securing wall bracket  24  to the mounting plate  12  using pre-drilled holes  12 A. Mounting plate  12  is approximately the same width as wall plate  6  and takes the place of the 1″×4″ so garment hanger  10  can be installed in the attic, cellar, mud room or anywhere additional storage is required.  
         [0047]     Now referring to  FIG. 3A  that illustrates an exemplary method of installing garment hanger  1  ( FIG. 1A ) to wire shelve system  28 . Typically, space  30  is formed between wall  32  and the back  34  of the wire shelve  36  by a bracket  38 . Mounting plate  12  is attached to wall plate  6 . Then wall plate  6  is positioned between wall  32  and back  34  of wire shelve  36  allowing wall plate  6  to rest on top  40  of wire shelve  36  and spacer  12  to rest against wall  32 .  
         [0048]     In the event that wire shelve  36  is mounted flush against wall  32  and space  30  is not formed, friction pad  14  is attached to face  6 A of wall plate  6 , garment arm  4  is positioned above wire self  36 , and garment arm  4  is lowered down between slot  42  of wire shelve  36  allowing friction pad  14  to rest on top of the wire shelve  36  and, if desired, push snug against wall  32 .  
         [0049]     An alternative wall bracket  124  of garment hanger  100 , illustrated  FIG. 6 , includes wall plate  106  includes a back surface  131 , a flange  106 B orthogonally connected to the back surface  131 , and a biasing or attachment device  106 F integrated into flange  106 B. One flange  106 B embodiment includes a biasing device  106 F disposed along the surface of flange  106 B, whereby the biasing device  106 F imposes a force on to a shelve (not shown) and a support structure (not shown) when flange  106 B is disposed therebetween. The preferred embodiment of the biasing includes outwardly extending projections  106 F from flange  106 B. The projections may be “V” shaped notches cut-out of flange  106  and pointing toward back surface  131 . The projections may also be extended upward. This mounting configuration eliminates channel  9  of plate  6  and the need to move the shelve away from the wall. The flange  106 B can be inserted between a shelve support (e.g., 1″×4″ wood board) and the shelve bottom surface whether the shelve is secured or not. In the situation that the shelve is not secured, the weight of typical items stored on top of the shelve will provide sufficient downward force for the projections  106 F to hold the flange  106 B in place. Another embodiment of flange  106 B includes an attachment device where the projections  106 F can act as teeth to bite into the shelve support instantly installing garment hanger  100 .  
         [0050]     Yet another alternative wall bracket  224  of garment hanger  200 , illustrated  FIG. 7 , includes a wall plate  206  having a back surface  208  with a portion thereof having adhesive characteristics, such as adhesive double-side strips  206 G or any suitable commercially adhesive product, such as glue or resin. Further, wall bracket  224  includes hinge  207  with pin hole  208 A sized to receive pin  205 . By reducing the components of the wall bracket down to a wall plate  206  and a hinge  207  by the use of adhesives, the possible locations to install garment hanger  200  increases. Garment hanger  200  is not restricted to the back wall of the closet and the need for a shelve or supporting structure. Garment hanger  200  can now be installed, for example, in the mud room, cellar, attic, or laundry room. Without the reliance of the shelve, garment hanger  200  is more versatile and can be installed at low heights in a closet, door, or bedroom wall for children.  
         [0051]     Now referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , another alternative embodiment  43  of the present invention includes rod component hook  15 , double garment arm rod mounting plate  16 , and two garment arms  4 . Hook  15  is pivotally attached to the rod mounting plate  16  by a conventional swivel mechanism  44 , such as a swivel clothes rod hook on top center. As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , mounting plate  16  includes holes  16 A that align with pin holes  4 C of garment arms  4  when garment arms  4  are positioned back to back and positioned within U channel  46  of mounting plate  16 . The two garment arms  4  are mounted so that the “wave” like hanger receivers (discussed in detail above) face away from each other and the garment arms move pivotably independent of each other. Pins  5  are inserted through holes  16 A in rod mounting plate  16  and pin holes  4 C of garment arms  4  allowing garment arms  4  to pivot freely. The two garment arms  4  in garment hanger  43  are identical to garment arm  4  of garment hanger  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1A  and each possesses all the same features. Pins  5  can be removable or permanently affixed to garment hanger  43 . The arms  4  are shown is resting position in  FIG. 4A . The garments are hung on arms  4  by raising each arm separately up to loading position as shown in  FIG. 1E . Clothes are hung in each of the first few notches  3 A starting at the top of garment arm  4 A. The garment arm  4  is lowered to the resting position B as shown in  FIG. 1E . The weight of the clothes will press garment arm  4  against the hangers and clothes locking them in place. Therefore, if something brushed up against clothes, they would stay in place and not be knocked up and off the notch. Arm  4  is raised again once again and the remaining notches  3 A are filled with clothes on hangers. Extension  4 D presses against the last few hangers making the hangers less susceptible to being knocked off garment arm  4  if brushed up against.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate garment hanger accessory  19  for use with garment hanger  43  (discussed above). Accessory  19  is generally hollow, cylindrical, and T-shaped having a horizontal section  48  and vertical section  20 . The sections can be of any length, width and thickness, or inner and outer diameter but must be sufficient for the intended purpose. For illustration purposes, horizontal section  48  can be approximately 2 inches long with a 1 inch inner diameter (I.D.) bore  50 , and vertical section  20  can be approximately 1 inch. Bore  50  extends the entire length of horizontal section  48 . Also, spiral channel  22  circumscribes the entire length of horizontal section  48  starting on the right side of one end and ending on the left side of the other end. Spiral channel  22  enables accessory  19  to slide down an endless length of closet rod without having to be lifted off the closet rod. The spiral channel  22  can be a clockwise or a counter-clockwise spiral. Bottom end  51  of vertical section  20  includes hole  21  to receive the rod component hook  15  of garment hanger  43 . Bottom end  51  of vertical section  20  can be integral to accessory  19  or can be a plug  52  (as shown is  FIGS. 5A and 5B ) that is inserted into bore  53  formed in vertical section  20 . Bore  53  can be of sufficient depth and thickness to receive plug  52 . Plug  52  can be secured in bore  53  by conventional means including adhesive, threaded male/female members, interference/press fit, and the like.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 5C-5E  illustrates the method to slide the garment hanger accessory  19  down an endless length of closet rod without having to be lifted off the closet rod. When sliding accessory  19  left-to-right (as shown) and accessory  19  reaches an obstacle, such as a vertical shelve support, the user will rotate accessory  19  counter-clockwise and the obstacle will be guided through the spiral channel  22 . The method is reversed when accessory  19  is slide from right-to-left.  
         [0054]     It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details, and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.