US1131722A - Garment-supporting fixture. - Google Patents

Description

P. W. MEYER.

GARMENT SUPPORTING FIXTURE.

. .APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

HHHHHHHHWIIHHHIII" Z y W2 2 rninrnn 'sraarns nannw i W. MEYER, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, .ll.$SIGNOR TO THE OSHKOSH TRWTK COMPANY, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, A COIRAORATION F WISCQNSIN.

- Y GARTEENT-SUPPORTING FIXTURE.

' Be it known that I, FRANK W. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oshkosh, in the county of lVinnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Supporting Fixtures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters. of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to "improvements in garment supporting fixtures and more par-' ticularly to devices of the character described of the extensible or telescoping type and applicable for use in connection with wardrobe trunks or other compartments suitable for the storage or hanging of garments.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for supporting garments, or the hangers upon which the garments are suspended and further, a

. device capable of permitting said hangers to be withdrawn from the trunk or compartment, to a position permitting convenient access to the garments supported thereby.

Further objects of my invention will be apparent as I proceed with a detailed description of a device embodying the features of my invention, the same being fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichx Figure 1 is a view in top plan View ofthe garment supporting fixture with hinged top removed and showing the slidable arms in extended position. Fig. 2'is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, of one of the supporting members in side elevation. Fig.

is a view in longitudinal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 4, showing construction of the members and of thelocking or catch member. Fig. 4: is a view in cross section taken in line 4-4,of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detailed view in elevation of a supporting member and arm showing a modified con struction' of the rib of said arm.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the garment fixture therein illustrated is'shown as fixed or secured within the upper portion of the garment containing section or compartment of awardrobe open or hinged top or upper wall. partment or section is formed by the walls of the trunk comprising a vertical rear wall Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 16, 1914-.

remaining portion swung back, thereby permitting outward trunk having an The com- Patented Mar. 13, 13315. Serial No. $61,954:.

9, side walls 10, 10, and the movable or hinged'top wall 11; the latter. being conwhen the trunk is in open position. The compartment is shown in open position, the of the trunk 8 being movement or extension of the movable supporting members of the fixture so that. access may be had to the garments supported thereon, in the manner usual with garment fixtures of the extensible type. The supporting fixture comprises in general, two slotted -or grooved tubular sup porting members 12, 12, supported in fixed positions upon opposite sides of the compartment and arranged adjacent to and in parallel relation with 10,10, and likewise in each other. bers'extend from the rear wall 9 to the forward margin of the side walls 10, 10, the tubular members being open at their forward ends. Within the tubular members 12, 12 are mounted slidable rods or extensible arms 13, 13, adapted to be moved outwardly or inwardly through the open ends of the tubular members.

The tubular supporting members are rigidly connected together and the compartment or trunk by means of supporting brackets constructed and arranged as follows: At the rear of the compartment is provided a transverse bar 11 extending by preference-entirely across the rear wall 9, the ends thereof being bent to form arms 14*, 14, extending at right angles to the main portion of the bar. Said bar,.with its bent end portions, ,engages the rear and side walls and is fixed thereto by means of a suitable number of screws 15. This bar supports the rear ends of the tubular members 12, 12, which are connected thereto, preferably by the provision of apertures in said her, into which extend the ends of said tubular members, a connection being made between the members by upsetting the ends of the tubular members or in any other suitable or well known manner. Obviously sin 'gle or disconnected brackets might be employed to support the rear. ends of the tubular members, but the use of the bar as described is more desirable in that it forms a connection between the tubular members parallel relation with the opposite sidewalls to the walls of Lia;

12, assuring themaintenance of the proper spacing, and parallel relation of said men1- bers; Furthermore, the provisions of the continuous connecting. and supporting bar adds a considerable degreeof rigidity andstability to the fixture as a whole, and also renders the assembled device a complete unit or combination of connected elements. The

use of a bar 14: extending entirely across the rear wall and connected to the rear and side walls of the trunk is particularly advantageous in connection with the so called open top trunks, in that the bar serves to strengthen or reinforce the end of the trunk adjacent to the hinged top. In this manner the bar gives added strength throughout that portion of the trunk that must be ne'c essarily weakened to some degree by reason of the particular construction employed, and thereby acts to resist the crushing or distorting of the walls of the trunk by ex cessive pressure or violent shocks, as well as elimmating the liabihty of damage to the garment supporting, fixture by breakage or tending arms 162 16 curving upwardly to a slight degree and engaging the under surfaces of the tubular supporting members 12,

ends of each of the brackets 16, and engages 12, the endsof said arms having a concave seat in which rests the ends of said tubular members. A screw 17 extends through the the adjacent portion of each tubular member,

3 thus securing'the forward end of each of-said porting members 12,

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members rigidly to each bracket. The combination of the bar 14 attached to the rear and side walls,'the brackets 16 attached at the margins of the side walls and the sup- 12,rigidly connected at their ends to said bar and brackets, forms in effect a strengthening member extending around three sides of the compartment, thus adding materially to the strength of the trunk.

In referring in detail to the construction of the tubular supporting members 12, 12, the sliding arm members 13, 13, and their component parts, but one of the same will be described since both sets of members are identical in construction and operation.

.Each tubular supporting member 12 is provided along its'uppermost portion or surface,w1th' a longitudinally disposed slot 18, which opens upwardly and extends from the margin of the opening at the forward end of said tubular memberand terminates a short distance from the rear end of the same. Each extensible or slidable arm 13, herein before mentioned is slidably mounted within a corresponding tubular supporting member and is provided upon its uppersurface with a longitudinally extendingarib or projection 19, said rib extending from the forward end of the arm and terminating at a point a short distance from its rear end, said rib being preferably Tof a length substantially equal to that of the slot 18. This rib is adapted to engage and slide in the slot 18 of the tubularsupporting member and within said slot and tohave its upper or outer face flush with or slightly above the level of the edges or the top surfaces of movement of the sliding arms the follows so formed or dimensioned as to fit snugly the'tubular member adjacent to the margins ing construction is employed. At or near the inner end of the arm13, and upon its lower surface is provided a slot 21, opening downwardly and rearwardly as shown in Fig. 3. Within this slot is mounted a looking dog or catch 22, the same being pivoted upon a pin 23 extending transversely of and located near greater length or body portion of the dog is located forwardly of its pivoting point, and is adapted to be partially rotated or to swing through a limited distance in a vertical plane. In the lower or under surface of the tubular supporting memberis provided a comparatively, short slot 2 1, (Fig. 3) the same bein located adjacentto'the forward end of said member and immediately t9 the rear of the forward bracket 16. This 'slot is also located in alinement with the slot 21 of the sliding arm, so that when said arm 13 is drawn outwardly so that the slots register one with the other, the forward portion of the dog is free to drop downwardly into the slot'24 of the tubular supporting member, whereupon its forward margin with another beveled surface 22, which 00- the rear end of the slot. The

1'1? comes in contact with the forward end of the said slot, thus preventing further moveoperative except into locking position,

grantee acts with the adjacent surface of the slot 21, thus acting asa stop'surface. It is ob- "vious that the dog 22 is contained entirely within the slot 21 when the sliding arm is in all positions except thereof passes' over porting member,

that in which the slot 21 the slot 24 of the supand hencefthe dog is inwhen said arm 20 is ex tended or drawn outwardly to its'ext'reme length.

The operation of the dog is entirely automatic in that it drops by gravity into locking position during the forward movement of the arm and is operative position its inclined bottom edge or margin with the inner end of the slot 24 as the arm is moved inwardly. When in locking position the lower portion of the dog extends slightly below the slot 24 so that'to remove the arm entirely from the tubular her, it is easily, accessible to the fingers for e Pu p of .mwi g t same pw rdly whereupon the arm may be drawn forwardly. and from the tubular member.

' As before suggested, the tubular members 12, 12, and slidable rods or arms 13, 13, are adapted to support a plurality ofgar ment hangers '25, the garments being hung or suspended therefrom. The upper or fixture engagingportion of the hanger comprises'a transverse member 25 which extends between the supporting members, the ends being provided with semicircular notches 25", adapted to engage the upper surfaces of the supportlng members, (Fig. 1.) A

When the trunk or compartment is closed the supporting fixture is in contracted position, that is: the extensible or sliding arms 13, 13, are moved inwardly within the supporting members. The hangers are therefore, positioned within the compartment and an age the tubular supporting members. f0 render the garments accessible when the trunk or compartment is open,

. the extensible arms 13, 13, are moved longitudinally forward or outward so that they project beyond the openin of the compartment. The hangers anti garments suspended on the tubular members 12 and rods '13 may therefore, be carried or caused to slide forwardlyfrom the interior of the space between the side walls and on to the extensible arms 13, 13.

The purpose of the longitudinal slots in the upper surfaces of the tubular supporting members and the ribs upon the sliding rods extending upwardly into said slots is now apparent and is of material advantage in the operation of the device and the manipulation of the hangers. The ribs constitute tracks or bearing surfaces upon the sliding rods'which' serve when said rods are forced upwardly into nonsimply by the contact of supporting mein- I in extended positiomto form a continuous,

ers slide along a substantially continuous and level supporting surface, whereas in the absence of the ribs, the hangers would necessarily be moved upwardly or dcwnwardly over an obstruction or shoulder formed by the ends of the tubular supporting members, said obstruction being obviously present by reason of the greater diameter of said supporting members and' sliding rods. The provision of the rib therefore, permits the hangers to be easily moved forwardly and rearwardly without liability of becoming jammed or otherwise hindered in their movement by reason of the presence of the construction before pointed out, as is the case in the ordinary known forms of garment supporting fixtures.

The rib 19 has herein before been described as having its upper surface flush with or slightly above the upper surface of the tubular supporting members. A tubular supporting member is circular in cross section'as already stated. Hence the upper surface of the rib would project slightly above the longitudinal plane of the margins of the longitudinal slot in the tubular supporting member. As a result therefore, the hangers when engaging the tubular support ing members, with the extensible arms in contracted position as when the trunk or compartment is closed, would rest upon the ribs by reason of the fact that a portion of each rib projects above the adjacent edges of the grooved portion of the corresponding tubular supporting member. By reason therefore, of the contact between the garment hangers and the upper surfaces of said ribs, said hangers would tend to be carried outwardly to their extended position. In this manner the ribs act also as a supporting surface for the garment hangers and aid to carry them forwardly with the sliding rods whereas in the absence of the ribs, two operations would be necessary in operating the device, namely, drawing out the rods or arms and then sliding the hang ers and garments outwardly upon the arms.

As a further improvement i the construction hereinbefore set forth, it is found desirable to bevel or slightly incline downwardly, the rear end portion of the rib as shown at 27 in Fig. 5, thus the forward ends of the tubular porting lift the top is closed, I provide a snap supporting members and the rear portions; of the ribs are insubstantially flush relation when the extensible rods are extended so that a smooth bearing'surface is provided at the junction of the supmembers and arms, with the accomplishment of the same'results as in the first mentioned construction. In order to lock the top and'side walls of the trunk when latch device 40 of theuspal construction. (See Fig. 4.) As shown, said latch device comprises a spring pressed bail 41, pivotally mounted on the side wall of the trunk and adapted to be swung into an upright position extend.- ing over and having locking engagement with, a keeper 42,

' ing side flange of the top or lid 11. As this latch. device is of the usual type employed on trunks of this character, the operation of such device is well known and needs nodescription. I

A garment hanger made in accordance with the feature of my invention is exceedingly light and compact instructure in that all of the members are located in the same plane, and hence occupies the minimum amount ofspace within the trunk or com.- partment. Furthermore, the absence of a transverse member connecting the outer ends of the sliding rods permits easier access to garments supported therebyand less annoyance in removing the hangers from, or placing them upon the supporting fixtures.

I claim as my invention:

mounted on the depend- 1. In a garment supporting i fixture, the i combination of a supporting member pro-.

vided with an upwardly opening longitudinal slot, and an arm in slidable connection with said supportingmember and provided upwardly extending ribadapted to project into said slot, thoupper surface of said rib being substantially flush with the adjacent upper surface of said supporting member.

2. In agarment supporting fixture, the combination. of a tubular supporting member provided with an upwardly opening longitudinal slot, a rod slidably mounted in said tubular supporting member and provided with a longitudinally extending rib adapted to project into said slot, the u per surfaces ofsaid supporting member-an rib being substantially flush.

'8. In a garment supporting fixture, they combination of a plurality of tubular supporting members, each an upwardly opening longitudinal slot, a rod slidably mounted'in eachof said supporting members and each rod'bein'gprovided with a longitudinally extending rib adapted to project into the slot ofits supporting member, the upper surfaces of said supporting members and ribs being substantially flush, and means for supportlng said being provided with member s, spaced .ber provided with an upwardly opening end thereof, saidarm surface of said tubular members in fixed and parallel relation. g

Li a garment supporting fixture, the combination of a plurality of supporting members, spaced apart and arranged in parallel relation, each of said supporting members being provided with an upwardly openinglongitudinal slot, a'rod slidably mounted .in each. I here and adaptedto be extended from one end thereof, each of said rods being pro vided with a longitudinal rib adapted to project vertically porting member, and a fixed bar extending between and rigidly connecting said supporting members.

5. ln a garment supporting fixture,the combination of two apart and arranged in parallel relation, each "of said supporting members being provided with an upwardly opening longitudinal slot, an arm slidably mounted in each of said-supporting members and adapted to be extendedfrom one end thereof, each arm being provided with a longitudinal rib adapted to project into the said slot of its supporting member, the upper (surfaces porting members being substantially flush, and means for supporting said. tubular members comprising a fixed bar extending between and rigidly connecting said supof said ribs and tubular sup-' f said supporting meminto the slot of its suptubular supporting porting members at one end thereof, and

brackets connected-with the opposite ends of said supporting members.

.6. In a garment supporting fixture, the combination of atubular supporting mel-ms 0t, an arm slidably mounted within said sup porting member and extensible from one being provided with a longitudinal rib adapted to project into said slot, the upper surface of said rib being substantially flush with the upper surface of said supporting member, and means, for limiting the endwise movement of said arm in one direction comprising. a dog pivot-ally mounted on' said armat one end thereof and adapted to engage "the tubular supporting member adjacent the opposite end thereof. b

combination of a supporting member provided with an upwardly opening slot, extending substantially throughout its length, an arm slidably mounted in said supporting member and extensible 1 from the. forward end thereof, said arm being provided with a longitudinally extending rib, adapted to project intosaid slot and slightly above the slotted supporting member,

' -7. In a garment supporting fixture, the

said rib having the surface of its rear por tion substantiallyflush with the upper surface of said supporting member.

8. A garment supporting fixture for a rec trunk, comprising a supporting member adapted to be secured in fixed relation in the Wardrobe compartment of said trunk, and an extensible member having endwise sliding connection With ble member being substantially flush With upper surface of said supporting member,

whereby the upper of said supporting will be continuous or supporting surfaces and extensible members and unbroken, when the said supportingmember; the uppersurface of said eXtensI- I FRANK WV. ME YER.

lVitnesse s z A. H. VVENDLAND, A. E. KAsTEN.

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