US2239808A - Hanger - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1941.

B. J. Bos-UCK 2,239,808

HANGER Filed July 14, 1939 Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE HANGER Bettie J ustiss Bostick, Jacksonville, Fla. `implication July 14, 1939, Serial No. 284,551

(Cl. E11-86) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a hanger designated primarily for suspending small articles so frequently washed and dried in homes, but it is to be understood that a hanger, in accordance with this invention is for use in any connection for which it may be found applicable, such by way of example for displaying articles of merchandise in mercantile establishments and in store windows.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a readily portable hanger for the purpose referred to capable of being expeditiously attached to a window stool, window sill, table, chair, shelf or other support when the hanger is desired for use.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a hanger including `a plurality of normally positioned spaced upstanding arms capable of being readily shifted in unison from normal upstanding position to an f anchored horizontal position for suspending the articles desired.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a hanger for the purpose set forth including an extending element common to the arms aforesaid, a combined guiding and holding element common to the arms when they are shifted to and disposed in horizontal position for suspending articles, and with the arms having their lower portions disposed upon outwardly directed curves coacting with the guide element for turning the arms, when shifted from upstanding position to the horizontal and for turning the arms, whenshifted from the horizontal to upstanding position.

The inventionl further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a hanger for the purpose set forth which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, foldable and extendible, foldable in a compact manner when not in use and requiring small storage space, conveniently attached to a support when desired for use, expeditiously extended when required, thoroughly efficient lin its use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the foregoing aims and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifioally referred to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. y

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in sec'- tion and side elevation of the hanger showing it attached to a support and further illustrating in full lines the suspension arms in retracted position and in dotted lines such arms in extended or suspended position,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 Figure l,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the anchoring element for the arms whenv the latter are in suspended position.

The hanger inclu-des astandard I., a base 2, a plurality of spaced suspension arms 5 of like form, a combined shifting and coupling element 6 for the arms 5, a combined guiding and holding element 'I for the arms 5 and a coupling structure 8 for the base 2.

The standard I is of the desired length and of squared cross section. The standard I at its lower end is formed withv a reduced terminal portion 9 of circular cross section. At the junction of the portion 9 of the remaining part of the standard I the latter is formed with a'shoulder Ill. The reduced portion 9 of the standard I is arranged within an opening II formed in the base 2 and such portion is secured to the base 2 by the holdfast'means 4. Theshoulder I0 on the standard I Ais seated upon the upper face of the base 2. The opening II is arranged in the base 2 between its transverse median and outer side surface thereof. The base 2 may be of any desired width and breadth, but it has a flat lower surface. Each arm 5 is formed of any suitable material, and it is of rod-like form and preferably of circular cross section. Each arm 5 includes a straight upper portion I2, an outwardly directed curved intermediate portion I3 The upper and an annular lower portion I4. end of the portion I2 is of globular form, as indicated at I5. The number of the arms 5 may be as desired, but by way of example the number of the arms shown is five.- The arms are arranged in equidistant spaced relation -and each is formed of what may be termed an upper or outer stretch and alower or inner stretch. upper stretch is normally disposed at an outward inclination throughout with respect to standard I. The lower stretch normally extends downward and-outward with respect to an upper stretch and standard I.

The combined shifting and coupling element 6 consists of a substantially semi-circular plate or coupling portion I6 formed in proximity to its curved edge with a semi-circular row of spaced The' openings I1 corresponding in number to the number of the arms 5. The openings I1 are arranged in equidistant spaced relation and have rounded edges I8. The inner side of the annular portion I4 of an arm 5 extends through an opening I1 and the outer side of the annular portion I4 of the arm is arranged against the curved edge I9 of the plate I6, whereby the arms are connected to the plate I6. The annular portions I4. of the arms 5 extend above and depend below the plate I6. The element 6 is slidably mounted on the standard I and for such purpose the plate I6 centrally of its straight edge 26 is formed with a square opening 2| and integral with the lower face of the plate I6 and flush with the edges of the openings 2| is a depending square sleeve or part 22 which slidably couples element 6 to the standard I. The plate or cou.-

pling portion I6 is disposed at right angles tothe sleeve 22 and the standard I. The manner of connecting the arms 5 to the: plate. I6 radially disposes said arms with respect to the opening 2 I.

When the arms 5 are in retracted position the portion|3 of each arm extends towards the post or the standard I toa point in proximity thereto and the portionsv I2 of the arms 5 extend Vat an outward inclination lfrom their lower to their upper ends with respect tothe standard I.

The element 1 includes a semi-circular plate 23 which is secured upon the top of the standard I by the holdfast means '24. The plate 23 is disposed at right angles to the standard I. The securing means 24 is intersected by the horizontal median of the plate 23. The latter extendsforwardly from the front of the standard I and laterally with respect to each side of the standard I. The straight edge 25 of the plate 23 is ush with the rear edge of the standard. The plate 23 in proximity to its curved edge 26 is formed with a semi-circular row of equidistant oval-shaped slots 21 which are radially disposed With respect to the standard I. The portions I2 of the arms 5 extend upwardly through the slots 21 and the said. slots are so disposed as to maintain the portions I2 of the arms 5 in spaced relation with respect to the standard i.

The structure 8 includes an upper clamping member 28 and a lower clamping member 29. The member 28 is formed from a single length of spring Wire of the desired gauge bent to provide a U-shaped upper portion 3B, a pair of upstanding spaced parallel arms 3| depending from the sides of the portion 3|! at the open end of the latter and a pair of horizontally disposed latching arms 32 extending upwardly at right i angles to the lower ends of the arms 3| and provided with inturned inner end terminal portions 33. The member 29 consists of a block 34 having a squared portion 35 and a tapered portion 36. The square portion 35 has arranged on its vertical median a row of interposed openings 31 which are selectively engaged by the terminal portions 33. The thickness of the block 34 corresponds to the distance between the arms 32.

The manner in which the clamping structure 8 is employed to attach the hanger to a support 38 will now be referred to. With reference to Figure l, it will be noted that the base 2 is mounted on the support 38 in proximity to the side edge of the latter and that the upper porn tion 3U of the clamping member 28 is mounted on the upper surface of the base 2 and surrounds the sleeve 22. The arms 3| are then positioned against an edge of the support 38 and the arms 32 engage in yan opening 31 in the clamping member 23. Beforethe terminal portions 33 of the arms 32 are engaged in an opening 31, the clamping member 29 is arranged against the lower face of the support 38. The openings 31 permit of the clamping member 29 being employed in connection with supports of different thicknesses.

It will be assumed that the hanger is to be used for suspending articles from the arms 5, but that the hanger is in the full line position shown by Figure 1. rlhe element 6 is shifted upwardly from the full line position shown in Figure 1 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. The upward shifting of the element 6 is had by grasping the sleeve 22 and moving it upwardly on the standard When element 6 is moved upwardly the arms 5 are shifted upwardly in unison in the same direction until the portions I3 pass through the slots 21 and the action of the curved portions I3 of the arms 5 on, the walls of the slots 21 will provide for the turning of the arms 5 from upstanding position to the horizontal, as is indicated by dotted lines in Figure l. The sleeve 22 will have a close sliding fit with the standard I, that is to say it will frictionally engage with the standard. When the arms 5 are disposed in a horizontal position the weight of the articles on said arms will tend to maintain them in such position. The arms 5 are moved to full line position shown in Figure 1 by shifting the sleeve 22 from its dotted line position to its full line position, Figure 1.

The clamping member 2-8 is permanently connected with the base 2, inthev manner as shown in Figure 1 and the clamping member 29 preferaibly will be carried by the member 28. When it is desired the member 29 may be disconnected from the member 28.

Vilhat IV claim is:

l. In a hanger, a base, a standard secured at its lower end tothe base, a flat horizontally disposed combined guide and holder element secured upon the upper end of and disposed at right angles to the standard, said element beingr formed with a row of radially disposed spaced slots, a combined shifting and coupling element having a portion slidably mounted on the standard and a horizontally disposed part extended outwardly 'at right angles to said portion, said part being formed with a row of radially disposed spaced openings corresponding in number and position to said slots, and a normally upstanding set of extendible and retractible suspension arms having annular lower ends extending through said openings and having their upper ends extending through said slots, said lower ends overlapping spaced portions of said part for loosely connecting the arms to said part, said arms permanently positioned in and having inwardly curved parts adjacent said lower ends coacting with said slots for automatically disposing the major portion of said arms from upstanding to horizontal position when the combined shifting and coupling element is disposed inq proximity to said combined guide and holder element. v

2. In a hanger, a base, a standard secured at its lower end to the lbase, a horizontally disposed semi-circular combined guide and holder element secured upon the upper end of the standard and formed with an arcuate row of radially disposed spaced slots, a combined shifting and coupling element having a portion slidably mounted on the standard and a horizontally disposed semi-circular part extended outwardly at right angles to said portion, said part being formed with an arcuate row of radially disposed spaced openings `corresponding in number and position to said slots, and a normally upstanding set of extendible and retractible suspension arms having their lower ends coacting with said openings and overlapping said part for loosely connecting the arms to said part, said arms permanently positioned in and having parts thereof for extending through and coacting with said slots for automatically disposing other parts of said arms from upstanding to horizontal position When the combined shifting and coupling element is disposed in proximity to s aid com# bined guide and holder element, each of said arms including an upper portion inclined to the vertical, an annular lower portion and an intermediate portion curving outwardly from the lower end of the upper portion and merging into the upper end of saidlower portion.

3. In a hanger a base, a standard secured at its lower end to the base, a semi-circular horizontally disposed `combined guide and holder element secured to and extended from the upper end of the standard, said element being formed with an arcuate row of radially disposed spaced oval-shaped slots, a combined shifter and coupler element having a portion slidably mounted on the standard and a semi-circular part extended laterally from said portion, said part being formed with an arcuate row of radially disposed spaced openings, and a set of extendible and retractible suspension arms of like form each consisting of an upper inclined stretch and a lower curved stretch extending outwardly in opposite directions with respect to each other and to the standard, the curved stretches of said arms having annular portions at their lower ends overlapping portions of and extending through the openings in said part for loosely connecting the arms to the latter, said upper stretches of said arms normally arranged in said slots, said curved stretches scoactng with said slots for automatically disposing the upper stretches of said arms in horizontal relation with respect to the standard when the combined shifter and coupler element is shifted on the standard to a point in proximity to the combined guide and holder element.

BETIIE JUSTISS BOS'IICK.

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