US3197095A

US3197095A - Hanger toggle mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3197095A
Application number: US271022A
Authority: US
Inventors: Swanson Osear Alfred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-04-05
Filing date: 1963-04-05
Publication date: 1965-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-27

Description

July 27, 1965 o. A. SWANSON 3,197,095

HANGER TOGGLE MECHANISM Filed April 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTOR. OscarA. Swanson July 27, 1965 o. A. SWANSON HANGER TOGGLE MECHANISM- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1963 Fig.8 Fig.9

INVENTOR. Osca r'A. Swanson United States Patent $37,995 TUGGLE MEHANISM Gscar Alwed Swanson, 556 Almar Ava, Pacific Palisades, Qalif. Filed Apr. 5, 1%3, er. No. 271,fi22 7 Claims. (ill. 223-96) This invention relates to toggle type mechanisms adapted to construction and mounting in a manner such that the component parts thereof are integral and actually all the supporting structure of an improved garment hanger of the clamping type.

A general object of my invention, as disclosed herein, is to provide a garment hanger with integral toggle type mechanism, incorporating means for biasing operating parts of the hanger to positions to which last operated and wherein spring means are integral with the structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a garment hanger readily operable without removal from the hanger clothes rod. Hand grips are provided on the clamp members by which the hanger is operated.

An additional object of my invention, as disclosed herein, to provide a rugged and simple mechanism dependable in operation, and which is made of relatively few parts and may be manufactured at low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a garment hanger toggle mechanism which embodies a form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the disclosed garment hanger toggle mechanism, wherein the mechanism is shown in a position holding the clamping members closed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the disclosed invention wherein the mechanism is shown in a position holding the clamp members open;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view depicting certain operating characteristics and movements of the spring link shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a modification of FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, depicting certain operating characteristics and movements of a modified toggle link and related structure;

FIG. 6 is a further modification of FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, depicting certain operating characteristics and movements of a modified toggle spring link and related structure;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a further modification of FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, depicting a modified structure.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a further modification of FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, and wherein it is in a position holding the clamp members closed;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a further modification of FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, and wherein it is in a position holding the clamp members open;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the modification of FIGS. l-4 inclusive, shown in FIGS. 7-9 inclusive, depicting certain operating characteristics and movements of the toggle mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of an additional modification of FIGS. 71() inclusive, wherein a compression coiled toggle spring link is used.

In use, the illustrated garment hanger toggle mechanism is manually operated by hand grasping of clamp members, hand grips and pulling firom clamped to open position. To clamp on the garment, the clamp members are pushed at the hand grips.

Having reference to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, wherein one form of the invention is shown for illustrative purposes, the pair of

clamp members

20 and 21 are made of plastic or wood or other similar material. The clamp members have openings which are adapted for rigid fastening of the end portions of two

rods

22 and 23 which support said clamp members.

The

rods

22 and 23 are hingedly connected to each other at two horizontally aligned portions to form a hinge 24 about which

clamp members

20 and 21 are swingable between clamping and open positions. The

rods

22 and 23 have formed

central portions

25 and 26 respectively which at their midpoints are horizontally parallel to each other in front elevational View as shown in FIG. 1, and lie in a vertical plane in the side elevational view as shown in FIG. 2. Spring toggle link 27 has opposite end portions rotatably connected to

rods

22 and 23 at the midpoints of their formed

central portions

25 and 26 respectively, providing a fixed axis at rod 22 connection and a movable axis at its connection to rod 23.

Rod 22 has a central portion 25 of which the mid-point provides a fixed axis of rotation for link 27 to swing through angle indicated by letter D in FIG. 4. Rod 22, at hinge portion 24, provides a fixed axis of rotation for rod 23 to swing through the angle indicated by letter C shown in FIG. 4.

Rod 23 has a central portion 26 of which the mid-point provides a rotatable and movable axis for link 27, said axis movable through angle E indicated in FIG. 4.

The

rods

22 and 23, their

central portions

25 and 26 respectively, and the spring link 27 are arranged and adapted to each other to form a toggle mechanism. Link 27 is made of resilient material and is a toggle spring biasing the

rods

22 and 23 and attached clamp members to a clamping position or an open position when the mechanism is operated. Link 27 is stressed and exerts sufiicient force in the clamped position to securely hold garments. Link 27 deflects a maximum amount at toggle on center position, indicated by letter C shown in FIG. 4.

The upper end portion 28 of spring link 27 is of hook shape in order that the hanger may be supported from a clothes rod.

In FIG. 5, the toggle mechanism is modified with the use of a link 29. The rod 23 is made of resilient material and its central portion 26 acts as a spring biasing the

rods

22 and 23 and attached clamp members to either a clamped or open position when the hanger is actuated. Central portion 26 of rod 23 is held stressed in the clamped position by link 29 and held unstressed by said link in the open position.

In FIG. 6, the toggle mechanism is further modified by the use of a coiled tension spring 35 which is adapted to function in the same manner as spring link 27.

Another modified structure of my garment hanger toggle mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10 inclusive wherein the mechanism parts, including the

clamp members

20 and 22 the rod 22, and the link 29, are essentially the same as those described and these parts are each adapted to function in the manner described- The double torsion spring 32 is hingedly connected to rod 22 at two horizontally aligned portions, wherein the two coiled spring portions 33 of spring 32 together with rod 22 form a hinge about which clamp members 26 and 2.1 are swingable between clamping and open positions. The end portions of the torsion spring 32 are attached to clamp member 21.

In the clamped position, the torsion spring 32 is held stressed by link 29. In the open position, the torsion spring 32 is held unstressed by link 29. When the mechanism is on toggle on center position, central portion 34 of torsion spring 32 is deflected downward a maximum amount, indicated'by the letter G in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 11, the toggle mechanism of that illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 16 inclusive is modified by the use of a coiled compression toggle spring 36 wherein it replaces link 29 and rod 37 replaces torsion spring 32. Toggle spring 36 exerts biasing force to

rods

22 and 37 to hold clamp members 2t) and 21 to the last position actuated, said support rodsand spring adapted to each other to .form a toggle mechanism. 7

In FIGS 1 to 11 inclusive, an additional modification is anticipated wherein the resiliency of all said members of the toggle mechanismis utilized by their being adapted to each other to exert biasing force to hold mechanism to the last position to which it is actuated.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as a garment hanger, I do not wish to be limited specifically to only that use. There are many possible uses for this mechanism, such as: clamp mechanism for holding papers, documents and drawings to a board; hanger mechanism for holding parts to an over-head. conveyor line in a .fac-, tory; hanger for holding documets and various correspondence on a wall. i

From the above description of several typical illustrative forms. of ,the invention, the underlying principles thereof will be readily gathered. it is of course to be understood, however,- that the particular embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are for illustrative purposes only, and that various changes in design, structure and,

arrangement may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention or of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is :7

- 1. A garment hanger toggle mechanism, the combinaportions of the first and second support rods providing a fixed axis at the first support rod connection and a movable axis at its connection to the second support rod, said two fixed axes and the movable axis being disposed relative to one anotherat positions in which they define the vertices of a triangle of variable shape, saidtriangle having the movable axis as its apex and spacedto one side ofthe base in the clamps closed position and the other side in the clamps open position, said triangle base being formed by the two fixed axes, which triangle is swingable about the two fixed axes during operation of the hanger mechanism to positions such that the movable axis crosses a plane extending through the two fixed axes, and so that a plane passing through the fixed and movable axes of the second support rod and a plane passing through the fixed and movable axes of the toggle spring link move through varying relative angles as the clamp members are actuated effecting movement of the mechanism, said angle between the planes becoming zero at a position intermediate the clamps closed and open positions at which position the toggle mechanism is on dead-center, said toggle spring link being mounted stressed and exerting biasing force against the two support rods, whereby the two clamp members are biased to the position last actuated, and said toggle spring link having a hook form on the end portion above its fixed axis of rotation.

2. In a garment hanger toggle mechanism as defined'in claim 1, and wherein said hook form is attached to the first support rod near its mid-point.

3. A garment hanger toggle mechanism, the combination comprising, two clamp members having integral mechanism actuator hand-grips, first and second support and second support rods providing a fixed axis at the first support connection and a movable axis at its connection 4. rods, each of which have ends attached to and supporting said clamp members, said second support rod having integrally formed torsion spring coils as part of its structure, said integrally formed torsion spring coil portions of the second support rod having an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the first support rod at two horizontally aligned portions to provide a hinge with a fixed axis of rotation about which the second support rod and attached clamp member is swingable between closed and open positions, a rigid toggle link having opposite end portions, said rods having central horizontal portions, said opposite end portions rotatably connected to the central horizontal portions of the first and second support rods providing a fixed axis at the first support rod connection and a movable axis at its connection to the second support rod, said two fixed axes and the movable axis being disposed relative to one another at positions in which they define the vertices of a triangle of variable shape, said triangle having movable axis as its apex and spaced to one side of the base in the clamps closed position and the other side in the clanips open position, said triangle base being formed by the two fixedaxes, which triangle is swingable about the two fixed axes during operation of the hanger mechanism to positions such that the movable axis crosses a plane extending through the two fixed axes,

and so that a plane passing through the fixed and movable axes of the rigid toggle link and a plane passing through the fixed and movable axes of the second support rod move through varying relative angles as the clamp members are actuated effecting movement of the mechanism, said movable planes coinciding at a position intermediate the clamps closed and open positions at which position the toggle mechanism is on dead-centenrsaid second support rod integral torsion spring coils being mounted stressed and exerting biasing force against the rigid toggle link and the first support rod, whereby the two clamp members are biased to the position last actuated, and said rigid toggle link having a hook form on the end portion above its fixed axis of rotation.

4. .A garment hanger toggle .mechanism as defined in claim 1 and wherein a coiled tension spring is used as a toggle spring link having opposite end portions rotatably connected to the central horizontal portions of the first to the second support rod, said toggle spring link exerting biasing force to hold the mechanism in the last positionv to which it is actuated.

5. A garment hanger toggle mechanism as defined in claim 3 and wherein a coiled compression spring is used as a toggle spring link having opposite end portions rotatably connected to the central horizontal portions of the first and second support rods providing a fixed axis at the first support rod connection and a movable axis at its connection to the second support, rod, said toggle spring link exerting biasing force to hold the mechanism in the last position to which it is actuated.

' 6. A garment hanger toggle mechanism, the combination comprising, two clamp members having integral mechanism actuator hand-grips, first and second support rods, each of which have ends attached to and supporting said clamp members, said first and second support rods hingedly connected to each other at two horizontally aligned portions to provide a fixed axis of rotation about which the second support rod and attached clamp member is swingable between closed and open positions, a rigid toggle spring link having opposite end portions, said rods having resilient horizontal portions, said opposite end portions rotatably connected to the resilient central horizontal portions of the first andv second support rods providing a fixed axis at the first support rod connection and a movable axis at its connection to the second support rod, said two fixed axes and the movable axis being disposed relative to one another at positions in which they define the vertices of a triangle of variable shape, said triangle having the movable axis as its apex which is spaced to one side of the base in the clamps closed position and the other side in the clamps open position, said triangle base is formed by the two fixed axes, which triangle is swingable about the tWo fixed axes during opera tion of the hanger mechanism to positions such that the movable axis crosses a plane extending through the two fixed axes, and so that a plane passing through the fixed and movable axes of the rigid toggle link and a plane passing through the fixed and movable axes of the second support rod move through varying relative angles as the clamp members are actuated effecting movement of the mechanism, said angle between planes becoming zero at a position intermediate the clam-ps closed and open positions at which position the toggle mechanism is on deadcenter, said rigid toggle link being mounted to stress the central resilient portions of the first and second support rods causing them to exert a tension biasing force Within Reerenees Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 886,642 3/08 Rohde 22396 2,374,689 5/45 Larsen 22396 2,610,775 9/52 Stager 223-96 2,662,675 12/53 \Valker 22396 2,920,801 1/60 Batts 223-96 3 RDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. DAVID J. WILLEAMOWSKY, Examiner.

Claims

1. A GARMENT HANGER TOGGLE MECHANISM, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, TWO CLAMP MEMBERS HAVING INTEGRAL MECHANISM ACTUATOR HAND-GRIPS, FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT RODS, EAHC OF WHICH HAVE ENDS ATTACHED TO AND SUPPORTING SAID CLAMP MEMBERS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT RODS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO EAHC OTHER AT TWO HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED PORTIONS TO PROVIDE A FIXED AXIS OF ROTATION ABOUT WHICH THE SECOND SUPPORT ROD AND ATTACHED CLAMP MEMBER IS SWINGABLE BETWEEN CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS, A STRESSED TOGGLE SPRING LINK HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS, SAID RODS HAVING CENTRAL HORIZONTAL PORTIONS, SAID OPPOSITE END PORTIONS ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO THE CENTRAL HORIZONTAL PORTIONS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT RODS PROVIDING A FIXED AXIS AT THE FIRST SUPPORT ROD CONNECTION AND A MOVABLE AXIS AT ITS CONNECTION TO THE SECOND SUPPORT ROD, SAID TWO FIXED AXES AND THE MOVABLE AXIS BEING DISPOSED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AT POSITIONS IN WHICH THEY DEFINE THE VERTICES OF A TRIANGLE OF VARIABLE SHAPE, SAID TRIANGLE HAVING THE MOVABLE AXIS AS ITS APEX AND SPACED TO ONE SIDE OF THE BASE IN THE CLAMP''S CLOSED POSITION AND THE OTHER SIDE IN THE CLAMP''S OPEN POSITION, SAID TRIANGLE BASE BEING FORMED BY THE TWO FIXED AXES, WHICH TRIANGLE IS SWINGABLE ABOUT THE TWO FIXED AXES DURING OPERATION OF THE HANGER MECHANISM TO POSITIONS SUCH THAT THE MOVABLE AXIS CROSSED A PLANE EXTENDING THROUGH THE TWO FIXED AXES, AND SO THAT A PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE FIXED AND MOVABLE AXES OF THE SECOND SUPPORT ROD AND A PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE FIXED AND MOVABLE AXES OF THE TOGGLE SPRING LINK MOVE THROUGH VARYING RELATIVE ANGLES AS THE CLAMP MEMBERS ARE ACTUATED EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF THE MECHANISM, SAID ANGLE BETWEEN THE PLANES BECOMING ZERO AT A POSITION INTERMEDIATE THE CLAMP''S CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS AT WHICH POSITION THE TOGGLE MECHANISM IS ON DEAD-CENTER, SAID TOGGLE SPRING LINK BEING MOUNTED STRESSED AND EXERTING BIASING FORCE AGAINST THE TWO SUPPORT RODS, WHEREBY THE TWO CLAMP MEMBERS ARE BIASED TO THE POSITION LAST ACTATED, AND SAID TOGGLE SPRING LINK HAVING A HOOK FORM ON THE END PORTION ABOVE ITS FIXED AXIS OF ROTATION.