Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/734,041, filed on Dec. 6, 2012. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to hanging devices and, more particularly, to a hanger clip assembly having a clip unit and an elastic cord unit configured to define a versatile, easy-to-use portable hanging device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0004]    Resilient clips, commonly referred to as spring clips, are available in various configurations for use in hanging articles from a support structure. For example, articles of clothing are releasably secured by such spring clips to a clothes line or support rod for air drying. Exemplary spring clips are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,878,276, 5,075,935 and 5,402,558. 
         [0005]    In view of increased consumer demand for inexpensive, yet versatile convenience items, a need exists to develop an improved spring clip for use as a portable hanging device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features and advantages. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a hanger clip assembly for use in securing an article to an existing structure is disclosed. The hanger clip assembly is fabricated to include a clip unit and an elastic cord unit assembled to define a versatile, easy-to-use portable hanging device. The clip unit and the cord unit are made independent and can be assembled together to provide a two-piece portable hanging device. Once assembled, the cord unit defines a closed loop that extends from the clip unit and which can be used to releasably secure the portable hanging device to any existing structure. The existing structure can include, without limitation and for exemplary purposes only, a tree branch, a deck rail, a door handle, a piece of furniture and the like. 
         [0008]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of explanation only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Additional benefits and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from reading the following detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of a selected embodiment and not all possible implementation, and the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hanger clip assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure and generally including a clip unit and a cord unit; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial view of the hanger clip assembly of  FIG. 1  illustrating the clip unit in greater detail; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the clip unit; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the clip unit; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the clip unit shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view of the cord unit; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an environmental view illustrating use of a pair of hanger clip assemblies for suspending an article of clothing from a railing. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0019]    The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
         [0020]    Referring primarily to  FIG. 1 , a hanger clip assembly  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure is shown to generally include a clip unit  12  and a cord unit  14 . In its most basic application, clip unit  12  is configured and arranged to permit an “article” to be releasably clamped. As will be detailed, clip unit  12  is operable in either of a clamped mode or a released mode for permitting such an article to be releasably clamped. In addition, cord unit  14  is attached to clip unit  12  and is configured and arranged to define a closed loop  16 . Closed loop  16  is adapted to permit cord unit  14  to be releasably attached to a “support” structure. In accordance with one exemplary environmental use of the present invention,  FIG. 7  illustrates a pair of hanger clip assemblies  10  that have clip units  12  releasably clamped to an article of clothing  18  and have cord units  14  releasably attached to a support structure shown as a deck rail  20 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that clothing  18  is only intended to be an example of an article that can be releasably clamped by clip unit  12  and that deck rail  20  is only intended to be an example of a support structure to which cord unit  14  can be releasably attached. 
         [0021]    With particular reference now to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , an exemplary construction for clip unit  12  will be described in greater detail. Clip unit  12  may include a clamp assembly  30  and a biasing member  32 . Clamp assembly  30  can include a pair of facing and complementary clamp members  34  and  36  that are interconnected via a bridge member  38 . In particular, clamp members  34  and  36  are connected to bridge member  38  by a pair of living hinges  40  and  42 . Biasing member  32  is generally C-shaped spring bracket  46  that is configured and arranged to be mounted over bridge member  38  and between clamp members  34 ,  36  to normally bias clamp end portions  34 A,  36 A of clamp members  34 ,  36  toward an engaged position. When clamp members  34 ,  36  are located in the engaged position shown, due to the biasing applied thereto by spring bracket  46 , clip unit  12  is defined to be functioning in a closed or “clamped” mode. In this mode, handle end portions  34 B,  36 B of clamp members  34 ,  36  are biased by biasing member  32  to a position displaced from each other. An inward force applied to handle portions  34 B,  36 B by the user functions to overcome the biasing force applied by spring bracket  46  and cause the clamp members  34 ,  36  to move to an open or released position whereat clamp end portions  34 A,  36 A are displace. With clamp members  34 ,  36  in the released position, clip unit  12  is defined to be functioning in an open or “released” mode. 
         [0022]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 2 through 5  of the drawings, the enlarged handle portions  34 B,  36 B of clamp members  34 ,  36  are generally loop-shaped and include an opening  50 , 52 . Openings  50 ,  52  are dimensioned to enable a user&#39;s fingers to be comfortably received therein. Finger pads  54 ,  56  are provided between the terminal ends of handle portions  34 B,  36 B and openings  50 ,  52  to provide the user with a frictional gripping surface to facilitate opening of clip unit  12  for moving it from its closed position into its released position. Finger pads  54 ,  56  can be adhesive attached to outer surfaces of clamp members  34 ,  36  or can be mounted via an attachment pin  57  mounted in a throughbore. 
         [0023]    Gripper pads  58 ,  60  are provided between the facing surfaces of clamp end portions  34 A,  36 A of clamp members  34 ,  36  and provide ridges or other indentations/projections that are adapted to engage and hold an article (i.e., a garment) therebetween under the biasing force applied thereto by spring bracket  46 . Intermediate portions  34 C,  36 C of clamp members  34 ,  36  include a planar recess configured to be engaged by resilient legs  60 ,  62  of spring bracket  46 . Legs  60 ,  62  are interconnected by a transverse flange  64  which is dimensioned to extend over and engage bridge member  38  of clip  30 . The upper ends of intermediate portions  34 C,  36 C are joined at opposite ends of bridge member  38  via living hinges  40 ,  42 . In addition, a cylindrical housing  70  defining an arcuate recess  71 , which is suitably configured to receive a first end portion  72  of cord unit  14 , is formed at or attached to the underside surface of bridge member  38 . 
         [0024]    First end portion  72  of cord unit  14  is separated from closed loop  16  via a closure member, such as a bracket  74 , that is subsequently enclosed with a shrink wrap logo cover  76 . Bracket  74  is positioned to maintain engagement of first end portion  72  within arcuate recess  71  of housing  70  and inhibit unintended disassembly of cord unit  14  from clip unit  12 . The length of closed loop  16  is selected to permit resilient cord material  78  to be used to releasably attach cord unit  14  to any available support structure.  FIG. 7  illustrates an arrangement where closed loop  16  surrounds deck rail  20  with clip units  12  passing therethrough to releasably fasten article  18  thereto. The specific length of loop  16  can be varied to provide portable hanging devices  10  of variable sizes for use in different places, environments and applications. Additionally, it is possible to expand the cord length. As illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 6 , the cord is discontinuous and includes fasteners at each end. The fasteners enable the ends to slide on the respective attached cord enabling length adjustment of the cord unit. 
         [0025]    During assembly of hanger clip assembly  10 , clip unit  12  is initially assembled by installing U-shaped spring bracket  46  on bridge member  38  such that its resilient legs  60 ,  62  exert a biasing force on clamp members  34 ,  36  to establish the normally closed position. Next, end portion  72  of closed loop  16  is disposed within recess  70  and bracket  745  is secured thereon to prevent removal of cord unit  14  from clip unit  12 . Cover  76  is installed over bracket  74  to provide an aesthetic appearance. 
         [0026]    As noted, portable hanger clip assembly  10  is well suited for use in suspending an article from any support structure. One anticipated use is to suspend wet clothes from a support structure (i.e., chair, rail, tree, balcony, curtain rod, door handle, etc. to facilitate air drying. 
         [0027]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Technology Category: 6