US20100147788A1

US20100147788A1 - Garland Hanger

Info

Publication number: US20100147788A1
Application number: US12/333,434
Authority: US
Inventors: Jared Hendricks; Erik Bornemeier
Original assignee: TreeKeeper LLC
Current assignee: TreeKeeper LLC
Priority date: 2008-12-12
Filing date: 2008-12-12
Publication date: 2010-06-17

Abstract

A hanger for hanging of garlands and the like around a doorway is described. The hanger can be removably placed within a doorway, where it is secured by pressure and friction, thereby avoiding any damage to the door or door frame. The hanger includes outward extensions that extend outward of the door frame to permit hanging of garlands and the like on either side of the doorway. The hanger may also include one or more central extensions for supporting the garlands or the like centrally above the doorway so that the garland or the like does not hang downward too much, thus keeping the doorway clear. The hanger may use a large number of materials and decorative forms, whereby the garland hanger can also be a part of the decoration around the doorway. The hanger may fit different widths of door frames, including a wide range of door frame widths.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for decorating around a door, and more particularly to an innovative hanger for temporarily hanging decorations such as garlands around a door without causing damage to the door or door frame.
2. Background and Related Art
Existing methods and mechanisms for hanging decorations such as garlands on or around doors exhibit significant problems. Some hangers require screws, nails, or other fasteners to be used to attach the hangers to the door frame. When a decorating season is over, the hangers are typically removed, leaving unsightly holes in the door frame, which can also serve as locations for insects to live and/or cause additional damage. Other methods of hanging rely on adhesives such as tape to secure decorations around the door. Such methods are often unsightly while the decorations are displayed, and may leave an adhesive residue behind that further mars the appearance of the door or door frame after the decorative season.
Some existing decorative hangers rely on an over-the-door system, where a portion of the hanger extends over the top of the door. Such hangers have several problems. For instance, some decorations are difficult to use when attached to the door, as they then move with the door as the door is opened and shut, and can become trapped between the door and frame as the door is shut or are generally in the way of someone trying to pass through the doorway. Additionally, such hangers have a non-negligible thickness which is trapped between the door and the door frame when the door is closed. The space between the door and the door frame is often occupied by weather stripping or other material to prevent air leaks, insect entry, etc. when the door is closed. The presence of the door hanger in this space may make the door difficult to close, may cause the weather stripping to fail to perform as expected, and may even permanently damage the weather stripping, the door, or the door frame. Some doors simply cannot accept such hangers.
Other door-frame mounting devices fail to properly position garlands and the like around the door frame without partially occupying or blocking the doorway for those using the doorway. Still other devices require a mounting that would prevent a door from closing. While such devices work well in doorless doorways, they do not work well on an exterior doorway where the door is typically left in a closed position for safety reasons. Therefore, existing devices for hanging garlands and the like around doors fail to adequately provide a mechanism for hanging garlands and other decorations around a doorway without causing damage to the door or door frame.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Implementation of the invention provides a hanger for hanging of garlands and the like around a doorway. The hanger can be removably placed within a doorway, where it is secured by pressure and friction, thereby avoiding any damage to the door or door frame. The hanger includes outward extensions that extend outward of the door frame to permit hanging of garlands and the like on either side of the doorway. The hanger may also include one or more central extensions for supporting the garlands or the like centrally above the doorway so that the garland or the like does not hang downward too much, thus keeping the doorway clear.
Implementation of the invention may be provided using a large number of materials and decorative forms, whereby the garland hanger can also be a part of the decoration around the doorway. Additionally, implementations of the invention may be provided to fit different widths of door frames, and some implementations may be provided capable of fitting a wide range of door frame widths. The garland hanger is provided with features that prevent slipping of the garland hanger and/or downward rotation of the garland hanger that would negatively impact the look and functionality of the garland hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a conceptualization of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in place in a doorway with the door closed;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a closer perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 from a different angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may take many other forms and shapes, hence the following disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the appended claims.
Embodiments of the invention provide a hanger for hanging of garlands and the like around a doorway. The hanger can be removably placed within a doorway, where it is secured by pressure and friction, thereby avoiding any damage to the door or door frame. The hanger includes outward extensions that extend outward of the door frame to permit hanging of garlands and the like on either side of the doorway. The hanger may also include one or more central extensions for supporting the garlands or the like centrally above the doorway so that the garland or the like does not hang downward too much, thus keeping the doorway clear. While the term “garland hanger” is used herein to refer to embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that a wide range of decorations or other items may be hung from the garland hanger, including garland, Christmas lights, Halloween decorations such as spider webs, decorative banners, floral arrangements and other plant-based hanging decorations, etc.
Embodiments of the invention may be provided using a large number of materials and decorative forms, including rod/wrought iron and similar looks, whereby the garland hanger can also be a part of the decoration around the doorway. Additionally, embodiments of the invention may be provided to fit different widths of door frames, and some embodiments may be provided capable of fitting a wide range of door frame widths. The garland hanger is provided with features that prevent slipping of the garland hanger and/or downward rotation of the garland hanger that would negatively impact the look and functionality of the garland hanger. These features of embodiments of the invention will become more clear with reference to the appended Figures, which are incorporated into this description for all they disclose.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention that illustrates some features of the invention. FIG. 1 shows an illustrative garland hanger 10. The garland hanger 10 includes a central support member 12 configured to extend between the sides of a door frame. At each end of the central support member 12 is a frictional member 14 that is configured to exert an outwardly-directed force and to frictionally engage an inwardly-directed surface of the door frame so as to hold the garland hanger 10 in place against the forces of gravity pulling downward on the garland hanger 10 and on any decorations hanging on the garland hanger 10. Therefore, the frictional members 14 are attached to the central support member 12 in such a way as to permit secure frictional engagement between the frictional members 14 and the door jambs. For example, the frictional members 14 may be movable within some range and may be biased or include a compressible or flexible element that permits compression of the frictional members 14 or some component thereof while the garland hanger 10 is placed, whereupon the compression/flexion may be released to hold the garland hanger 10 in place. Alternatively, the garland hanger 10 may be placed in a desired location and an adjustment mechanism actuated to expand the distance between outer surfaces of the respective frictional members 14 until the garland hanger 10 is secured in place.
The frictional mechanism for securing the garland hanger 10 is advantageous in that it causes no damage to the door or door frame/jambs, and can easily be removed and reused at will. No holes are ever made in the door, the door jambs, or any surrounding structure.
The garland hanger 10 also includes structures to facilitate hanging of garland or other decorations around the door frame. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes two lateral extension members 16 that extend from the central support member 12 so as to extend beyond the inner edges of the door frame/jambs. The lateral extension members 16 also extend forward from the central support member 12 so as not to be co-linear with the central support member 12. This configuration permits the lateral extension members 16 to be used to support garland or other decorations on either side of the doorway.
The lateral extension members 16 may also serve an additional purpose: they may prevent unwanted rotation about the axis of the central support member 12 or the axis of the frictional members 14. For example, when the garland hanger 10 is placed in a doorway, the lateral support members 16 may be placed so as to be immediately adjacent to or touching the face of the door jambs. Then, when a downward force is applied to the lateral extension members 16 (such as by gravity or some other force pulling downward on any hung decorations), the force would tend to rotate the garland hanger 10 downward about the axis of the line between the frictional members 14 (and, if co-linear, the central support member 12). However, as the garland hanger 10 starts to rotate downward, the lateral extension members 16 engage the edges of the door jambs, thereby preventing the rotation (or any further rotation beyond a certain point).
The illustrated garland hanger 10 also includes a central decorative support 18. This central decorative support 18 is optional in some embodiments, and other embodiments may include multiple spaced-apart central decorative supports 18, depending on the desired appearance of the garland hanger 10 and/or the desired decoration-supporting characteristics of the garland hanger 10. If present, the central decorative support 18 provides an additional supporting location for supporting garlands or other decorations, such as for decorations that extend up along one side of the doorway to the lateral extension member 16 on that side, over the top of the doorway via the central decorative support(s) 18 to the opposite lateral extension member 16 and down the opposite side of the doorway. The central decorative support 18 may take any of a varied number of shapes, and in some configurations may serve as a handle for carrying the garland hanger 10.
FIG. 2 illustrates a garland hanger 10 similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 placed within a doorway having a door 20 and adjacent door jambs 22. As may be seen from FIG. 2, the garland hanger 10 may be placed near the top of the doorway, with the lateral extension members 16 and the central decorative support(s) 18, if any, protruding forward past the jambs 22. As may be appreciated from this view, decorations may be hung around the sides and top of the doorway without impeding the flow of traffic through the doorway.
As discussed above, while the garland hanger 10 functionally supports garlands or other decorations around a doorway, the garland hanger 10 itself may be decorative. Therefore, the garland hanger 10 may be manufactured from decorative rod iron, wrought iron, or other solid or hollow materials having any desired decorative appearance while still providing the functionality discussed herein. As may be appreciated, versions of the garland hanger 10 may be manufactured to support varying loads, and may therefore be manufactured of varying strengths of materials. Versions of the garland hanger 10 designed to support heavier loads of decorations may be manufactured from stronger materials than versions designed only to support lighter loads. Additionally, some versions of the garland hanger 10 may have portions of higher strength (such as the central support member 12 and frictional members 14) and portions of lower strength (such as the lateral extension members 16 and the central decorative support(s) 18). Many decorative garlands or other decorations are relatively light and therefore do not exert much force on the garland hanger 10. Garland hangers 10 for such decorations can be partially or entirely constructed from light-weight tubular materials, including tubular steel, tubular aluminum, and even tubular plastics. Some such materials, including plastics, may be manufactured to resemble decorative iron.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate one such embodiment of the garland hanger 10. This embodiment may be manufactured from several pieces of bar iron bent in the form illustrated and connected at the midpoint of the garland hanger 10, which corresponds to the central decorative support 18. As may be seen from FIG. 3, this embodiment of the garland hanger 10 is aesthetically pleasing and itself may serve as a decorative element for the doorway.
FIG. 4 provides a close-up perspective view of the outer portion of the garland hanger 10, from the opposite side of the view of FIG. 3. This Figure illustrates additional features of some embodiments of the garland hanger 10. Specifically, the frictional member 14 of this embodiment incorporates several features that enhance certain versions of the garland hanger 10. As may be seen from FIG. 4, the frictional member 14 includes a bracket 24 that is attached to the central support member 12 of the garland hanger 10 at a bracket support hole 26 (such as using a screw, bolt, nesting tabbed extension, etc.). In some embodiments, the bracket 24 is attached to the central support member at two or more bracket support holes 26 or using some other securing means, including a sliding frictional connection. The plurality of bracket support holes 26 provide substantial adjustability to the garland hanger 10 so that the garland hanger 10 can be adjusted to fit a wide variety of door frame widths. Although not specifically illustrated in FIG. 4, bracket support holes 26 may be provided for each end of the garland hanger 10, and the brackets 24 may be moved independently for maximum adjustability.
The brackets 24 include a pair of thumb screws 28 connected to friction pads 30 that engage the jambs of the doorway. The thumb screws 28 provide further adjustability of the garland hanger 10 and also serve to ensure proper outward force on the friction pads 30 to frictionally secure placement of the garland hanger. Additionally, as this version of the garland hanger 10 is secured at a pair of locations on each side (i.e. the two friction pads 30), the garland hanger 10 is secured against unwanted rotation of the garland hanger out of the desired position in the doorway.
As may be appreciated from FIGS. 3 and 4, the garland- or other decoration-supporting features of the garland hanger 10 may be provided in part by decorative elements of the garland hanger 10. Specifically, the illustrated garland hanger 10 includes curled portions of the decorative bar iron at the ends of the lateral extension members 16 and at the central decorative support 18. These features are not only functional but enhance the decorative features of the garland hanger 10 itself.
Although use of the garland hanger 10 should become largely apparent from the above description, a description of use of the garland hanger 10 is provided below. If the garland hanger 10 is adjustable to fit different size doorways, the garland hanger is first adjusted to an approximate size. If the garland hanger 10 is a type that is compressed to fit in the doorway, the proper size is typically one where the distance between the outer surfaces of the frictional members 14 is slightly larger than the doorway's jamb-to-jamb space. If the garland hanger 10 is a type that includes thumb screws 28 or another sizing mechanism that can be adjusted with the garland hanger 10 in place, the proper size is typically one where the distance between the outer surfaces of the frictional members 14 is slightly smaller than the doorway's jamb-to-jamb space. Once the garland hanger 10 is adjusted to fit the doorway, the garland hanger 10 is placed in the doorway.
To place a compressible-type garland hanger 10, one of the frictional members 14 is placed against one jamb of the doorway, with the adjoining lateral extension member 16 at a height approximating the desired final height. The compressible element(s) of the garland hanger 10 and/or frictional member 14 on that side is then compressed by pushing on the garland hanger 10 in the direction of the door jamb already in contact with the garland hanger 10. Meanwhile, the user positions the garland hanger 10 so the other frictional member 14 is adjacent the other door jamb. As the compressible element(s) is/are compressed, the user is able to position the second frictional member 14 at a proper location on the other door jamb, such as by sliding the frictional member 14 into the doorway between the jambs and/or sliding the frictional member upward (or downward) from a position where the garland hanger 10 is at an angle to a position where the garland hanger 10 is substantially horizontal. The final placement may be made by placing force on the garland hanger 10 (and thereby compressing one or more compressible elements) alternatively to one side of the doorway or the other, and moving slightly (or as necessary) the frictional member 14 opposite from the direction of the user-applied force.
To place a post-placement adjustable-type garland hanger 10, the user positions the garland hanger 10 substantially horizontally at the desired height within the doorway (e.g. between the jambs). The user then actuates the thumb screws 28 or other sizing/adjusting elements, possibly one at a time, until enough friction is applied by the friction pads 30 or other portion of the frictional members 14 to hold the garland hanger 10 in place. Before the full frictional force is applied via the adjustment mechanism such as the thumb screws 28, the user can often fine tune the placement of the garland hanger 10. Thereafter, the full frictional force can be applied, such as by fully tightening the thumb screws.
Once the garland hanger 10 is fully and securely in place, the user can decorate around the door by hanging garland or other decorations on the garland hanger 10. The decorations and garland hanger 10 can be removed at the end of a decorative season using a process essentially the reverse of that described above (although unless the garland hanger 10 is to be used for a doorway of a different size, it likely need not be resized prior to storage until needed again).
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A garland hanger to be used for hanging garlands and other similar decorations around a doorway without damaging or marring a door of the doorway, a surrounding doorway frame, jambs of the doorway, or a portion of a building around the doorway, the garland hanger comprising:

a central support member;

a pair of lateral extension members connected to the central support member and configured to extend beyond the jambs of the doorway; and

frictional members connected to the central support members in such a way as to permit an outwardly-directed force to be applied to the jambs by the frictional members, whereby a frictional surface of the frictional members holds the garland hanger in the doorway without damaging the door or the jambs.

2. A garland hanger as recited in claim 1, further comprising a central decorative support attached to the central support member and configured to centrally support the garland or other similar decorations above the doorway.

3. A garland hanger as recited in claim 1, further comprising a central decorative support integrally formed with the central support member and configured to centrally support the garland or other similar decorations above the doorway.

4. A garland hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the frictional members comprise a compressible element that can be compressed to fit the garland hanger in the doorway.

5. A garland hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the frictional members comprise an adjustment mechanism whereby the garland hanger can be adjusted to fit different widths of doorways.

6. A garland hanger as recited in claim 5, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded member whereby turning of the threaded member adjusts the spacing between the outer surfaces of the frictional members.

7. A garland hanger as recited in claim 5, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of longitudinal locations on the central support member to which one of the frictional members may be attached to fit differently sized doorways.

8. A garland hanger as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of longitudinal locations are provided on both ends of the central support member.

9. A garland hanger as recited in claim 8, wherein each frictional member comprises a bracket that is attached to the longitudinal location and wherein the bracket comprises a pair of thumb screws having frictional pads attached thereto.

10. A garland hanger as recited in claim 7, wherein each frictional member comprises a bracket that is attached to the longitudinal location and wherein the bracket comprises a pair of thumb screws having frictional pads attached thereto.

11. A garland hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the central support member and the lateral extension members are manufactured from a decorative material.

12. A garland hanger as recited in claim 11, wherein the decorative material is a material selected from the group consisting of:

rod iron;

wrought iron;

tubular aluminum;

tubular steel;

tubular plastic; and

solid plastic.

13. A garland hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the lateral extension members are configured to prevent unwanted downward rotation of the garland hanger.

14. A garland hanger to be used for hanging garlands and other similar decorations around a doorway without damaging or marring a door of the doorway, a surrounding doorway frame, jambs of the doorway, or a portion of a building around the doorway, the garland hanger comprising:

a central support member;

a pair of lateral extension members connected to the central support member and configured to extend beyond the jambs of the doorway to support a garland or other decoration along sides of the doorway;

a central decorative support member located along the central support member so as to be supportive of the garland or other similar decorations above the doorway when the garland hanger is located within the doorway; and

15. A garland hanger as recited in claim 14, wherein a portion of the central support member is substantially co-linear with a doorway-contacting portion of the frictional members.

16. A garland hanger as recited in claim 14, wherein no portion of the central support member is substantially co-linear with a doorway-contacting portion of the frictional members.

17. A garland hanger as recited in claim 14, wherein each frictional member comprises a bracket that is attached to the central support member at one of a plurality of longitudinal locations to provide large-scale adjustability to the garland hanger and wherein the bracket comprises a pair of adjustable elements to provide small-scale adjustability to the garland hanger, and wherein the adjustable elements have frictional pads attached thereto.

18. A garland hanger to be used for hanging garlands and other similar decorations around a doorway without damaging or marring a door of the doorway, a surrounding doorway frame, jambs of the doorway, or a portion of a building around the doorway, the garland hanger comprising:

a central support member;

a pair of lateral extension members connected to the central support member and configured to extend beyond the jambs of the doorway;

a pair of brackets attached to the central support member at one of a plurality of longitudinal locations to provide large-scale adjustability to the garland hanger, wherein each bracket comprises a pair of adjustable elements to provide small-scale adjustability to the garland hanger, and wherein the adjustable elements have frictional pads attached thereto.

19. A garland hanger as recited in claim 18, wherein the central support member and the lateral extension members are manufactured from a decorative material.

20. A garland hanger as recited in claim 19, wherein the decorative material is a material selected from the group consisting of:

a solid decorative material; and

a hollow decorative material.