AU2008101001B4

AU2008101001B4 - Clothes Hanger Storage Device

Info

Publication number: AU2008101001B4
Application number: AU2008101001A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Roy Webb
Original assignee: HANJAC Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HANJAC Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-10
Filing date: 2008-10-10
Publication date: 2009-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-10
Also published as: AU2008101001A4

Description

P100/009 Regulation 3.2B AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT invention Title: CLOTHES HANGER STORAGE DEVICE The invention is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: Our Reference: 086006 - 2 CLOTHES HANGER STORAGE DEVICE The present invention relates to storage devices for specific items and, more particularly for the storage of 5 clothes hangers within wardrobes and other storage locations. BACKGROUND A well-known frustration of clothes hangers is their 10 propensity when not in use to tangle, so that extracting a single hanger from a bundle of hangers is at least annoyingly difficult. Another disadvantage of clothes hangers when not in actual use, is that they take up valuable space in a wardrobe, or if required in a laundry 15 for example, form an unsightly tangle for which a suitable place is difficult to find. It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages. 20 Notes 1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of". 25 2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any 3 information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 5 Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a clothes hanger storage device; said device comprising in a first part at least one elongate vertical support member and a plurality of transverse hanger carrying members; vertical spacing between said transverse carrying 10 members arranged to allow a plurality of clothes hangers to depend from each successive said carrying member; said first part further including a hook element by which said first part may be suspended for use; said device further comprising in a second part a support bracket for suspension of said first 15 part; said support bracket adapted for affixing to a vertical surface or underside of a horizontal surface. Preferably, said at least one elongate vertical support member comprises two parallel spaced apart elongate vertical support members; said support members interconnected at their 20 respective upper ends by a transverse element; said plurality of transverse hanger carrying members extending between said two elongate vertical members to form a ladder-like structure.

4 Preferably, said at least one elongate vertical support member is a single elongate vertical member; said transverse hanger carrying members extending outwardly at intervals along the length of said single vertical member; each of said transverse 5 hanger carrying members provided with an upturned portion at outer ends of said carrying members. Preferably, said bracket includes a support structure for engagement with said hook element. Preferably, said hook element is at least 25mm in width so as 10 to prevent unwanted rotation when said hook element is engaged with a supporting clothes rail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 15 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a clothes hanger storage device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 showing a number of clothes hangers supported on the device, 20 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bracket for use with the device of Figures 1 and 2, -5 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device of Figures 1 and 2 when supported by the bracket of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a clothes hanger storage device according to 5 the invention, Figure 5A shows an alternative suspension arrangement for the embodiment of Figure 5, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device of Figures 1 and 2 when supported by another embodiment of a 10 bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figures 1 and 2, in a first 15 preferred embodiment of the invention, a clothes hanger storage device 10 is formed as a ladder-like structure, comprising parallel, elongate, vertical support members or rails 12 and 14, and a number of transverse hanger carrying members or rungs 16. In this instance the example of Figure 20 1 includes 4 rungs but it will be understood that the device may be arranged in various lengths, widths and numbers of rungs without departing from the principles of the invention. Rails 12 and 14 are linked by a transverse element 18 25 at their upper ends, to which is attached a hook 20. Hook 20 is preferably at least 25mm wide so as to prevent unwanted rotation of the device when suspended from a rail. In one preferred form, the device may be provided with two spaced apart hooks. The spacing between rungs 16 is such that clothes 5 hangers 22 may be suspended between them as can be seen in Figure 2. The spacing between the uppermost rung and the transverse element 18 is sufficient for a hook 24 of a clothes hanger 22 to pass through. Although Figure 2 shows clothes hangers supported from the upper three rungs only, 10 it will be understood that the lowermost rung also may support a number of clothes hangers. Hook 20 is arranged so that the clothes hanger storage device 10 may be hung from a clothes rail (not shown) in a wardrobe for example. Alternatively, the device 10 may 15 include a hanger bracket 30 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Bracket 30 comprises a back plate 32 and hanger structure 34. When the bracket 30 is attached to a vertical surface (that is oriented as shown in Figures 3 and 4), structure 34 extends from the back plate far enough to accommodate 20 clothes hangers 22 placed on device 10. Bracket 30 may be attached by screws to any suitable vertical surface, for example in a cupboard, or to a laundry wall. Figure 6 shows an alternative bracket which may be secured under a shelf or the underside of any other 25 suitable horizontal structure, for support of the device 10..

The rails 12 and 14, and transverse element 18 of device 10 are preferably fabricated from stainless steel rod of between 4 and 6mm diameter, with the transverse elements 16 of somewhat smaller diameter. Preferably, the 5 rails 12 and 14 and the transverse element 18 comprise one continuous length of stainless steel rod. The hook is preferably formed of a piece of flat stainless steel but may also be formed of a piece of rod. Alternatively, the device could be fabricated from any suitable metal and 10 chrome plated for example, or be made of wood, or the whole device may be injection moulded from a suitable polymer. The spacing between the rails 12 and 14 is preferably approximately 90mm to allow a reasonable number of clothes hangers to be supported between the rails while not 15 intruding excessively into a wardrobe or other storage area. Second Preferred Embodiment With reference now to Figure 5, in this second preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 100 20 includes a single elongate vertical support member or rail 112 from which extends a series of transverse hanger carrying elements 116. In this instance hanger carrying elements 116 extend outwardly from both sides of the rail element 112 and are spaced apart in the same arrangement as 25 described for the first embodiment above.

Hanger carrying elements 116 are provided with an upturned portion 118 at their respective outer ends so as to retain clothes hangers when suspended from the elements 116. In this embodiment, a hook 120 may be formed as an 5 extension of the single rail element 112, which as in the First Preferred Embodiment above, allows the device 100 to be suspended from a clothes rail of a wardrobe for example, or from the bracket 30 shown in Figure 3. In a preferred alternative suspension arrangement, the device of this 10 embodiment may be provided with a short cross bar at the upper end of the vertical rail element with a pair of spaced apart hooks as shown in Figure 5A. The device of this second embodiment may also of course be suspended from either of the two brackets 30 or 15 40 shown in Figures 3 and 6. In Use The device described in the above embodiments provides a compact and convenient way for the control and accessibility of clothes hangers when these are not in use. 20 In a wardrobe, clothes hangers temporarily out of use can take up a significant amount of clothes rail space as well as being a. nuisance when trying to access clothing in the wardrobe. Similarly, in a laundry, a device according to the present invention when suspended from the bracket of 25 Figures 3 or 6, allows convenient and tidy storage of clothes hangers for use.

- 9 The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A clothes hanger storage device; said device comprising in a first part at least one elongate vertical support member and a plurality of transverse hanger carrying 5 members; vertical spacing between said transverse carrying members arranged to allow a plurality of clothes hangers to depend from each successive said carrying member; said first part further including a hook element by which said first part may be suspended 10 for use; said device further comprising in a second part a support bracket for suspension of said first part; said support bracket adapted for affixing to a vertical surface or underside of a horizontal surface.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one 15 elongate vertical support member comprises two parallel spaced apart elongate vertical support members; said support members interconnected at their respective upper ends by a transverse element; said plurality of transverse hanger carrying members extending between 20 said two elongate vertical members to form a ladder like structure.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one elongate vertical support member is a single elongate 11 vertical member; said transverse hanger carrying members extending outwardly at intervals along the length of said single vertical member; each of said transverse hanger carrying members provided with an 5 upturned portion at outer ends of said carrying members.

4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said bracket includes a support structure for engagement with said hook element. 10

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said hook element is at least 25mm in width so as to prevent unwanted rotation when said hook element is engaged with a supporting clothes rail. 15