Patent ID: 8387808

Claim:
A garment hanger management device for storing of a garment hanger having a hook portion, said device comprising: an elongate hanger support rod for supporting at least one garment hanger at its hook portion, said hanger support rod having opposite end portions; an elongate retainer element coupled to said hanger support rod, said retainer element being positionable between at least an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein when in the open configuration said retainer element is spaced from said hanger support rod to permit placement and removal of the hook portion of the garment hanger from said hanger support rod and when in the closed configuration said retainer element is in close proximity to said hanger support rod to inhibit removal of the garment hanger from said hanger support rod; at least one movable mounting member movably mounted on at least one of said opposite end portions of said hanger support rod, said mounting member being coupled to said retainer element and movable therewith; a first biasing member configured to urge a distal end portion of said movable mounting member outwardly away from said hanger support rod in a transverse direction; and a locking tab pivotally coupled to at least one of said opposite end portions of said hanger support rod, said locking tab defining an aperture in which said movable mounting member is disposed, wherein said locking tab is configured to engage said movable mounting member at said aperture when said locking tab is in a first pivotal orientation, said locking tab configured to disengage said movable mounting member when said locking tab is in a second pivotal orientation, and wherein when in said first pivotal orientation, said locking tab substantially prevents said movable mounting member and said retainer element from moving toward the open configuration.