US20100276379A1

US20100276379A1 - Collapsible clothes hanger structure

Info

Publication number: US20100276379A1
Application number: US12/834,197
Authority: US
Inventors: Yen-Tang Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-06
Filing date: 2010-07-12
Publication date: 2010-11-04

Abstract

A collapsible clothes hanger structure includes a frame including a pair of supporting legs and a rail. A rail is secured between the supporting legs. A tent is provided on the frame and the tent covers a portion of the rail. A transmission unit includes a transmission gear meshing with a transmission belt. The transmission gear and the transmission belt are disposed in the rail. Multiple hanging units are movably disposed in the rail in sequence. A motor is connected to and drives the transmission unit in the rail to control the hanging units to slide along the rail. A control unit is coupled with a light sensor, a water drop sensor, and a timer. The control unit collects signals from any of the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer to control the motor and the hanging unit. By the structure, the collapsible clothes hanger is automatically expanded or retracted according to light and rain or the pre-set time.

Description

This is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/951,566, filed on Dec. 6, 2007, currently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
A conventional automatic clothes hanger comprises a main body having a platform extending outwardly for a motor and a control circuit to be secured and connected thereon. The platform is provided with a support frame and accessories. The support frame is provided with a micro switch and a sensor at the two respective ends to detect the weather and to control the clothes hanger to extend or to collapse.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Another conventional automatic clothes hanger comprises a basic frame, a swivel frame, an adjusting frame and a fixture, and is incorporated with a sensor to extend or to collapse the clothes hanger. The swivel frame is linked to activate simultaneously to assist the clothes hanger to extend or to collapse.
The above-mentioned clothes hangers comprise a sensor to detect the weather, however, they are not provided with proper definitions about the weather so that they can not work as expected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collapsible clothes hanger structure to react when the real-time weather has changed, which comprises:

- a frame comprising a pair of supporting legs and a rail, the rail being secured between the supporting legs, a tent being provided on the frame, the tent covering a portion of the rail;
- a transmission unit comprising a transmission gear meshing with a transmission belt, the transmission gear and the transmission belt being disposed in the rail;
- a hanging unit disposed in the rail;
- a motor connected to and driving the transmission unit in the rail to control the hanging unit to slide along the rail; and
- a control unit coupled with a light sensor, a water drop sensor, and a timer, the control unit collecting signals from any of the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer to control the motor and the hanging unit.

Preferably, the rail comprises contact points at respective ends to control activation of the motor when in touch with the hanging unit, the contact points being electrically connected to the control unit.
Preferably, the light sensor is a photosensitive resistance whose back surface faces the light source and an opaque board is connected on the back surface.
Preferably, the control unit further comprises a manual control key to control the motor.
Preferably, the timer is electrically connected with a time display panel.
Preferably, the control unit comprises a remote controller.
Preferably, the motor and the control unit are electrically connected to a battery.
Preferably, the battery is electrically connected to a solar energy board.
Preferably, the solar energy board comprises a receiving unit to collect signals from the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer, the signals then being transmitted to the control unit to activate the motor accordingly.
Preferably, the hanging unit comprises an active hanger and a number of driven hangers, the active hanger being secured to the transmission belt, the driven hangers having holes for the transmission belt to insert and to extend there through, the active hanger and the driven hangers having slots for pulling straps to insert and to extend there through, a block being provided at a center portion of each the slot, each of the pulling straps having a securing end and a terminal end, the securing end and the terminal end being larger in size than each the slot.
Preferably, the hanging unit includes a hole for a cloth hanger to be hooked therein and the clothes hanger includes two arms extending from a hook and a transverse rod is connected between the two arms. The arms include bosses and two support links. A clip is mounted to each of the arms and includes a notch which is located corresponding to the bosses, a clip end and a press end. Besides, the transverse rod and the support links each include an anti-slip portion.
Preferably, the hanging unit comprises an active hanger and a number of driven hangers, each of the active hanger and the driven hangers comprising a shaft, the shaft having a center portion meshing with a connecting section and two exposed ends, a pair of rollers being provided on the two exposed ends of the shaft, the rollers having recesses meshing with a pair of rail straps in the rail, the active hanger and the driven hangers having slots for pulling straps to insert and to extend there through.
Preferably, the two support links each have a first transverse rod and a second transverse rod. The first transverse rod is located remote from the tent and includes three fixing holes on each end thereof. The second transverse rod has two engaging members on two ends respectively.
Preferably, two positioning ropes are connected between the first and second transverse rods. The positioning ropes are flexible and include two ends, one of the two ends is fixed to the fixing hole by S-type tie and the other end extends through a sleeve and a collar is mounted to the sleeve. A cap is inserted into the collar and the collar is engaged with the engaging member.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which may be adjusted to control the clothes hanger automatically or manually.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated when the light has changed.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated when rain drop is detected.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated by the timer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which is activated manually.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which can be controlled remotely.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a solar energy board that enables to transfer light into energy to save electric power, corresponding to the concept of environmental protection.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a hanging unit that does not require any fastener, which is easy to install and to work precisely.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a tent to protect the clothes from getting wet by rain or humid.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, which provides a locating rope between the supporting legs and the tent so as to secure clothes on the hangers.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, wherein the clothes are securely connected to the hangers by the cooperation of the hangers and the clips, and the clothes are not blown away by strong wind.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible clothes hanger structure, wherein the positioning ropes are conveniently and quickly fixed to the first and second transverse rods and are not blown away by strong wind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preset invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention, partially sectioned;

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a control unit of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the present invention showing a water drop sensor, a control unit and a solar energy board;

FIG. 6 is an exposed view of a hanging unit of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing that the hanging unit is secured in a rail;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an operation of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the present invention in a collapsed status;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the hanging unit in a collapsed status;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a solar energy board facing another direction;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view to show the first transverse rod;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view to show the second transverse rod;

FIG. 14 shows that the positioning ropes are fixed to the fixing holes;

FIG. 15 shows the connection between the positioning rope, the sleeve, the collar and the cap;

FIG. 16 shows that the collar is engaged with the engaging member, and

FIG. 17 shows that the connection between the hanger and the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame 1, a transmission unit 2, a hanging unit 3, a motor 4, a control unit 5, a battery 6 and a solar energy board 7.
The frame 1 comprises a pair of supporting legs 11 and a rail 12. The rail 12 is secured between the supporting legs 11. A tent 13 is provided on the frame 1 and covers a portion of the rail 12 to protect clothes from being wet by rain or dew. In addition, the two supporting legs 11 respectively have a first transverse rod 14 and a second transverse rod 15. The first transverse rod 14 is located close to the tent 13 and the second transverse rod 15 is located remote from the tent 13. Referring to FIGS. 12 to 16, there are three fixing holes 141 in each of two ends of the first transverse rod 14, and two engaging members 151 are respectively connected to two ends of the second transverse rod 15. Two positioning ropes 16 are connected between the first and second transverse rods 14, 15, and each positioning rope 16 is a flexible rope and includes two ends. One of the two ends is fixed to the fixing hole 141 by S-type tie and the other end extends through a sleeve 17 and a toothed ring 171 is located in the sleeve 17 so as to secure the positioning rope 16. A collar 18 is securely mounted to the sleeve 17. A cap 19 is inserted into the collar 18 so as to hide the sleeve 17. The collar 18 is eventually forced to be engaged within the engaging member 151 to fix the positioning rope 16.
The transmission unit 2 comprises a transmission gear 21 meshing with a transmission belt 22. Both the transmission gear 21 and the transmission belt 22 are disposed in the rail 12 of the frame 1. By changing the direction of the transmission gear 21, the transmission belt 22 changes its moving direction.
The hanging unit 3, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, comprises an active hanger 3A and a number of driven hangers 3B which are mounted in the rail 12 in sequence. The active hanger 3A located at the outmost end is secured to the transmission belt 22, while the driven hangers 3B are secured by extending the transmission belt 22 through a hole 31B of each driven hanger 3B. The active hanger 3A and the driven hangers 3B have hanging holes 31A and 32B for a clothes hanger 8 to hang thereon. The active hanger 3A and the driven hangers 3B further have slots 32A and 33B for pulling straps 31 to extend through. Blocks 321A and 331B are provided at the center portions of the slots 32A and 33B. Every two adjacent hangers (including the active hanger 3A and the driven hangers 3B) are connected by an independent pulling strap 31 which comprises a securing end 311 and a terminal end 312. Both the securing end 311 and the terminal end 312 are larger in size than the slots 32A ad 33B. The securing end 311 is secured to the block 321A, and the terminal end 312 is able to engage with the block 331B or disengage from the block 331B.
The motor 4 is connected to the transmission gear 21 of the transmission unit 2 and outputs a power to link the hanging unit 3 to slide along with the transmission belt 22 through the transmission gear 21, as shown in FIG. 1.
The control unit 5, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, comprises a power switch 51, an automatic control key 52, a manual control key 53, a light sensor 54, a water drop sensor 55, and a timer 56 which is electrically connected with a time display panel 561. Any of the light sensor 54, the water drop sensor 55, and the timer 56 can trigger the motor 4 to activate the transmission belt 22 through the transmission gear 21 to slide the hanging unit 3 to stay within the tent 13 or to extend outwardly. The automatic control key 52 controls the light sensor 54, the water drop sensor 55, and the timer 56. The light sensor 54, the water drop sensor 55, and the timer 56 may be activated by pressing the manual control key 53 as well to activate the transmission belt 22 to control the hanging unit 3 through activation of the motor 4.
The control unit 5 further comprises a malfunction light A, a charging light B, and a battery weak signal light C, as shown in FIG. 1. When the malfunction light A fleshes, indicating an abnormal operation, the power will be shot down itself. When the charging light B is flashing, it implies the solar energy board is charging. When the battery weak signal light is flashing, it implies either the is solar energy board has not been charging for a period of time or the battery is not working and it requires to be replaced with another one. The control unit 5 further comprises a lighting system (not shown in the drawings) which is activated automatically for 10 minutes.
The motor 4 and the control unit 5 are electrically connected to the battery 6, and the battery 6 is electrically connected to the solar energy board 7 which transforms the light into electric power to be saved in the battery 6.
The rail 12 is provided with a pair of contact points 121 at respective ends thereof. The contact points 121 are electrically connected to the control unit 5. The contact points 121 are designed for the hanging unit 3 to contact so as to control the motor 4.
When the light sensor 54 detects the light is weak, it will transmit a signal to the control unit 5. When the water drop sensor 55 detects water drops, it will transmit a signal to the control unit 5.
The control unit 5 is cooperated with the timer 56 and electrically connected with the time display panel 561 which can be input digits to show the hour and minute for convenience of calculating time.
FIGS. 3 and 5 show the positions where the water drop sensor 55, the light sensor 54 and the solar energy board 7 are located. When water drops on the water drop sensor 55, a positive wire 551 and a negative wire 552 will be conducted, and the positive wire 551 and the negative wire 552 are respectively fixed to screws D on the water drop sensor 55. The screws D are used as output ends so as to deliver signals to the control unit 5 to collapse the hanging unit 3. The light sensor 54 is a photosensitive resistance whose back surface faces the light source (sun and moon) and an opaque board E is connected on the back surface. The arrangement can precisely judge and send signals to the control unit 5 when it is in evenings, cloudy days or dense fogs.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the active hanger 3A and the driven hangers 3B comprises a pair of shafts 32. Each shaft 32 has a central portion meshing with a connecting section 33 and two ends exposed outwardly. The exposed ends of the shaft 32 are provided with rollers 34. Each roller 34 has a recess 35. The rail 12 comprises a pair of rail straps 122 therein for engagement of the recesses 35 of the rollers 34 so as to assist the rolling of the active hanger 3A and the driven hangers 3B along the rail 12. The active hanger 3A is secured to the transmission belt 22 and is linked to move along with the transmission belt 22.
The active hanger 3A and the driven hangers 3B do not need any fasteners, such as screws, nuts, C-shaped clips, to be mounted with the rollers 34 to slide along the rail 12. The recesses 35 of the rollers 34 are disposed on the rail straps 122 of the rail 12, allowing the rollers 34 to roll along without detaching from the shafts 32.
Referring to FIG. 17, the clothes hanger 8 is hanged to the holes 31A, 32B and includes two arms 82 extending from a hook 81, and a transverse rod 83 is connected between the two arms 82. The arms 82 include bosses 821 and two support links 84. The transverse rod 83 and the support links 84 have anti-slip portions 831, 841, and the transverse rod 83 has two protrusions 832. The support links 84 can be used to position ties and socks, and the protrusions 832 are used to position female underwear. The anti-slip portions 831, 841 increase the friction between the clothes and the clothes hanger 8 to prevent the clothes from dropping from the clothes hanger 8. A clip 9 is connected to the arm 82 and has a notch 91, a clip end 92 and a press end 93. The clip end 92 has a tooth 921 which is used to secure the clothes. It is noted that the clip 9 secures the clothes on the arms 92. The clip 9 is first moved to a desired position and the boss 821 is engaged with the notch 91 so as to fix the clip 9. The user then presses the press end 93 to allow the clip end 92 to lift. In the meanwhile, the clothes are then clipped between the clip end 92 and the arm 82. When releasing the press end 93, the clip end 92 securely clips the clothes.
To expand the hanging unit 3 of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, when the transmission belt 22 moves outward from the tent 13, the active hanger 3A will be pulled by the transmission belt 22, and the adjacent driven hanger 3B will also be pulled till the pulling strap 31 reaches to its limits. The securing end 311 and the terminal end 312 of the pulling strap 31 engage with the block 321A in the slot 32A and the block 331B in the slot 33B and are stopped thereat. The subsequent driven hangers 3B are also pulled by the same way.
To collapse the hanging unit 3 of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the transmission belt 22 moves towards the tent 13, which links the active hanger 3A to move in the same direction as well till the terminal end 312 disengages from the block 331B of the adjacent driven hanger 3B and forces the driven hanger 3B to move along. One by one all of the driven hangers 3B will be brought to move in the same direction until they are collapsed in the tent 13.
The present invention is designed to operate either in automatic or in manual mode, as shown in FIG. 8. The control unit 5 comprises the automatic control key 52 and the manual control key 53. The manual control key 53 has receiving and sending directions to activate the motor 4 to do the job. The motor 4 will be stopped when the manual control key 53 is released. This allows the user to control and adjust the distance. The automatic control key 52 is activated by the light sensor 54, the water drop sensor 55 and the timer 56 to activate the motor 4.
The present invention further comprises the battery 6 and the solar energy board 7, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, to provide electric power to the control unit 5 and the motor 4. The solar energy board 7 comprises a receiving unit 71 to collect signals from the light sensor 54, the water drop sensor 55 and the timer 56 and then transfer to the control unit 5 which in turn activates the motor 4 accordingly.
To operate the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, the user presses the power switch 51 of the control unit 5, adjusts the timer 56 through the time display panel 561 to set the time, and then presses either the manual control key 53 or the automatic control key 52 to activate the motor 4 which in turn activates the transmission gear 21 and the transmission belt 22 to push the active hanger 3A and the driven hangers 3B outwardly. When the active hanger 3A reaches to one contact point 121 of the rail 12, the motor 4 will be stopped. To collapse the present invention, when the most inward driven hanger 3B is in contact with the other contact point 121 of the rail 12, the motor 4 will be stopped, as shown in FIG. 2.
The direction of the solar energy board 7 may be changed to direct the sun shine, as shown in FIG. 11.
The operation of the present invention can be categorized as follows:
1. timer mode: the time can be preset to extend or to collapse the hangers;
2. manual mode: the manual control key is pressed to extend or to collapse the hangers;
3. automatic mode: the automatic control key is pressed to activate the light sensor, the water drop sensor and the timer to control the hangers.
The present invention may further comprise a remote controller which can activate the control unit (5) remotely.
The control unit 5, the motor 4, the light sensor 54, the water drop sensor 55 and the timer 56 are operated by either wire (cable, network) or wireless (wireless network, Bluetooth, frequency modulation) transmission.

Claims

1. A collapsible clothes hanger structure comprising:

a frame comprising a pair of supporting legs and a rail, the rail being secured between the supporting legs, a tent being provided on the frame, the tent covering a portion of the rail;

a transmission unit comprising a transmission gear meshing with a transmission belt, the transmission gear and the transmission belt being disposed in the rail;

a hanging unit disposed in the rail;

a motor connected to and driving the transmission unit in the rail to control the hanging unit to slide along the rail; and

a control unit coupled with a light sensor, a water drop sensor, and a timer, the control unit collecting signals from any of the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer to control the motor and the hanging unit.

2. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1, wherein the light sensor is a photosensitive resistance and a rear surface faces to a light source, an opaque board is connected to the rear surface.

3. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1, wherein the rail comprises contact points at respective ends to control activation of the motor when in touch with the hanging unit, the contact points are electrically connected to the control unit.

4. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a manual control key to control the motor.

5. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the timer is electrically connected with a time display panel.

6. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the control unit comprises a remote controller.

7. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the motor and the control unit are electrically connected to a battery.

8. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 7,

wherein the battery is electrically connected to a solar energy board.

9. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 8,

wherein the solar energy board comprises a receiving unit to collect signals from the light sensor, the water drop sensor, and the timer, the signals are transmitted to the control unit to activate the motor.

10. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the hanging unit comprises an active hanger and a number of driven hangers, the active hanger is secured to the transmission belt, the driven hangers have holes for the transmission belt to insert and to extend there through, the active hanger and the driven hangers have slots for pulling straps to insert and to extend there through, a block is provided at a center portion of each the slot, each of the pulling straps has a securing end and a terminal end, the securing end and the terminal end are larger in size than each the slot.

11. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the hanging unit includes a hole and a clothes hanger is hooked to the hole, the clothes hanger includes two arms extending from a hook thereof and a transverse rod is connected between the two arms, each of the arms has bosses and a support link, a clip is connected to the arm and has a notch which is located corresponding to one of the bosses, the clip includes a clip end and a press end, the transverse rod and the support links have anti-slip portions, two protrusions extend from the transverse rod.

12. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the hanging unit comprises an active hanger and a number of driven hangers, each of the active hanger and the driven hangers comprises a shaft, the shaft has a center portion meshing with a connecting section and two exposed ends, a pair of rollers are provided on the two exposed ends of the shaft, the rollers have recesses meshing with a pair of rail straps in the rail, the active hanger and the driven hangers have slots for pulling straps to insert and to extend there through.

13. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the two supporting legs respectively have a first transverse rod and a second transverse rod, the first transverse rod is located close to the tent and the second transverse rod is located remote from the tent, the first transverse rod has three fixing holes in each of two ends thereof and two ends of the second transverse rod each have an engaging member.

14. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 13,

wherein two positioning ropes are connected between the first and second transverse rods, the positioning ropes are flexible and include two ends, one of the two ends of the positioning ropes is fixed to the fixing hole by a S-type tie and the other end of the positioning ropes extends through a sleeve, a collar is mounted to the sleeve, a cap is inserted into the collar and the collar is engaged with the engaging member.

15. The collapsible clothes hanger structure, as recited in claim 14,

wherein the sleeve has a toothed ring located therein so as to secure the positioning ropes.