US2142830A - Collapsible support for garment hangers - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1939. E. R. WENDELL 2,142,830

COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR GARMENT HANGERS Filed March 5, 1958 [NI EN TOR.

ELMEZ, EA wENDELL A TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR GARMENT HANGERS Elmer R. Wendell, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor of one-half to Jens Juul, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application March 3, 1938, Serial No. 193,680

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible supports'for clothes hangers.

The primary'object of my invention is to provide a collapsible device which may be mounted upon the inner side of a close or clothes press door and which, in an extend d position, will allow garment hangers of the usual kind to be readily placed thereon and which may then be collapsed or swung upwardly to support the garments and their hangers in a relatively compact condition so that they will occupy the very minimum of space. The device is thus of great utility where space is at a premium and in locations which do not permit the use of the usual hanger rods or hooks.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is suitable for mounting on the face of the usual paneled door and which will be secured thereto only at the thick upper rail or cross member of the door, the device then depending down over the panel of the door and carrying at its lower end adjustable bumper and supporting means arranged to engage the door panel and support the device against the panel without marring the same. The bumper means, being adjustable, permit the device to be readily mounted on a door of any thickness and having the panels recessed from the door face to any ordinary distance.

Another object is to provide a device of this character embodying a bracket bar for securing to the door rail as described and having attached to its lower end a swingable hanger bar provided with recesses along its length to accommodate and support the garment hangers and having at its free enda latch member arranged to automatically lock the hanger bar in a substantially vertical position but having also a handle by which the latch may be readily released so that the hanger bar may be swung downwardly to a horizontal position where it is supported by a stop lug turned from a bracket secured to the bracket bar.

A further object is to provide a device as described in a simple, inexpensive and practical form and in which the entire assembly is particularly suited to the purposes in view with all necessary adjustments provided.

With the foregoing and other more detailed objects in view the invention resides in the novel assembly and arrangement now to be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device as mounted on a door, the hanger arm being in its extended position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section along the line 2-2 in Figure l and showing the hanger bar in closed or collapsed position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my device alone.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross section along the line 44 in Figure 2.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawing, I provide an elongated flat mounting bracket or bracket bar as indicated at 5 and which is provided at its extended upper end with several apertures 6 through which screws 1 may be driven to secure the bar to the upper rail or frame member A of the door B. The door B has the usual panels C which stand inwardly from the face of the door frame or rails some distance as clearly shown in Figure 2 and, with the bracket bar 5 mounted in a vertical position on the door rail, it will be evident that the bar will depend down alongside the upper door panel C and stand spaced some distance therefrom as indicated at 8.

In order then to provide a bearing for the lower end of the bracket bar 5 against the door panel C, I provide an L-shaped bracket 9 which has one web I mounted flat against the outer face of the bar at its lower end and which is secured thereon by "means of the upper and lower pairs II and I! of screws. The upper screws II are passed through the bar 5 from its inner side (nearest the door B) and are tapped into the bracket 9, while the lower screws l2 are similarly mountedbut are considerably longer, have the rounded heads l3 and are provided with lock nuts H. These screws l2 thus extend inwardly of the bracket bar 5 some distance and they may be adjusted in the amount of this extension so that their heads l3 will contact the face of the door panel C and bear against this panel when the bracket bar stands parallel therewith. This arrangement is clearly shown in Figure 2. To prevent marring the door panel the heads of the screws I! may be rubber or felt covered, if so desired.

The bracket 9 being thus mounted, the web 15 thereof stands outwardly at right angles to the outerface of the bracket bar 5 and an elongated, narrow hanger arm [6 is pivotally mounted at one end by a rivet I! to the upper portion of this bracket web i5. The hanger arm I 6 may thus swing in a vertical plane from a horizontal position upwardly edgewise toward the upper end of the bracket bar. A stop lug l8 turned at right angles from the lower outer edge of the bracket web I5 is arranged to lie in the path of the hanger arm l6 and engage the same (Figure 1) to limit the downward movement to the point that the arm will extend outward in a horizontal plane at its lowest position.

The hanger arm l6 has a plurality of apertures l9 spaced along its length and opening by angular/slots 20 out through the upper edge of the arm (in its horizontal position) so that garment hangers of the usual type (not shown) may be readily hung on the arm. When the hangers, and the garments thereon, are thus supported on the hanger arm I6 there will be a strain or stress placed against the lower end of the bracket bar 5 such as to cause it to tend to move inwardly toward the door panel C. It is to prevent this action, and to prevent distortion of the bracket bar, that the screws l2 are used to support the lower end of the bar against the door panel as will be readily evident.

An additional hanger may also be supported in an aperture 2| formed in the bracket web I5 below the pivotal connection of the hanger arm I 6. I

To support the hanger arm IS in its raised or collapsed position I provide a latch or latch bar, 22 pivotally mounted at 23 to the free or outer end of the arm and having one end extended and provided at its lower edge with a notch 24 and with the extremity beveled off as shown at 25. The upper end of the bracket bar 5 then has an ear or lug 26 turned outwardly and horizontally from one corner and located in the path of the latch 22 so that, as the arm I6 is swung upwardly, the beveled end 25 of the latch will ride up over the ear 26 and drop down into a notch 21 cut therein to thus lock the hanger arm in raised position as shown in Figure 2. The latch 22 is spring set by a retractile coil spring 28 stretched between mounting holes 29 and 30 in the latch and the hanger arm l6 at adjacent points so that the latch will normally stand in position to thus engage the ear 26. This movement of the latch 22 under influence of the spring 26 is limited by a small lug ll turned over from the extremity of the hanger arm l6 to engage the latch.

At its frontal end the latch 22 is twisted axially through ninety degrees and bent to provide a handle 32 extended downwardly as shown and.

by simply pressing this handle, the latch may be swung upwardly to release it from the ear 26 and allow the hanger arm l6 to be lowered.

It will be noted that the bracket 8 is so located on the bracket bar 5 that the web I5 is spaced from the adjacent vertical edge of the bar. vAs a result the hanger arm l6 moves in a vertical plane in alignment with the ear 26 and the latch 22 will properly engage this ear.

In use the device is mounted as described upon the inner face of the door B and, with the hanger arm I 6 pulled down, the garment hangers and garments may be readily disposed along the arm.

mounting upon paneled doors, as described. may also be mounted in a flat surface such as a wall by simply replacing the screws II and I2 with screws driven into the wall. The bracket bar I will be used at all times and will serves, in this other mounting, at least, as a template and support for properly mounting the device on the well. Another modification readily suggesting itself is to form the supporting web l5 for the hanger arm l6 by turning out a flange from the bracket bar 5 instead of using a separate bracket. In this case the screws l2 may still be employed for the adjustable bearing and support against the door panel.

It is understood that I may make minor variations in the assembly as herein shown and described in order to best provide a practical device for the purposes intended, so long as such changes lie within the spirit and the scope of the appended claims. 1

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A garment hanger comprising a bracket bar having a slotted ear turned outwardly from one end, a vertically disposed bracket on the opposite end of the bar and having a web turned outwardly from the bracket bar and in the same vertical plane as the said ear, a hanger arm pivotally mounted at one end on the said bracket and adapted to swing adjacent the bracket bar, a stop lug turned from the bracket into the path of the hanger arm to thereby limit swinging movement thereof away from the bracket bar, a latch pivotally mounted on the extended end of the hanger arm and having its face end beveled oil and notched to thereby ride up on and en- 'gage the said ear on the bracket bar as the arm is swung adjacent thereto, and a handle extended from the latch for operating the same to release from the said ear.

2. A garment hanger comprising a bracket bar having a slotted ear turned outwardly from one end, a vertically disposed bracket on the opposite end of the bar and having a web turned outwardly from the bracket bar and in the same vertical plane as the said ear, a hanger arm pivotally mounted at one end on the said bracket and adapted to swing adjacent the bracket bar, a stop lug turned from the bracket into the path of the hanger arm to thereby limit swinging movement thereof away from the bracket bar, a latch pivotally mounted on the extended end of the hanger arm and having its face end beveled oif and notched to thereby ride up on and engage the said ear on the bracket bar as the arm is swung adjacent thereto, and a handle extended from the latch for operating the same to release from the said ear, screws mounting the bracket on the bracket bar, and the screws being ad- .iustable to project from the face of the bracket bar oppositely to the said bracket.

3. A garment hanger comprising a bracket bar having a slotted ear turned outwardly from one end. a vertically disposed bracket on the opposite end of the bar and having'a web turned outwardly from the bracket bar and in the same vertical plane as the said ear, a hanger arm pivotally mounted at one end on the said bracket and adapted to swing adjacent the bracket bar, a latch pivotally mounted on the extended end of the hanger arm and having its face end beveled oil. and notched to thereby ride up on and engage the said ear on the bracket bar as the arm is swung adjacent thereto, and a handle extended from the latch for operating the same to release from the said ear.

4. A garment hanger comprising a bracket bar having a slotted ear turned outwardly from one end, a vertically disposed bracket 0n the opposite end of the bar and having a web turned outwardly from the bracket bar and in the same vertical plane as the said ear, a hanger arm pivotally mounted at one end on the said bracket and adapted to swing adjacent the bracket bar, and a latch pivotally mounted on the extended end of the hanger arm and having its face end beveled off and notched to thereby ride up on and engage the said ear on the bracket bar as the arm is swung adjacent thereto.

5. A garment hanger comprising a bracket bar having mounting means at one end, and a locking member adjacent that end, a hanger arm adjustably mounted at the opposite end of the bracket bar, a spring set latch member mounted at the free end of the hanger arm and adapted to releasably engage the said locking member to thereby retain the hanger arm in adjusted position, a stop member on the bracket bar for retaining the hanger arm in a further adjusted position, and bearing screws adjustably mounted on the bracket bar adjacent the end at which the hanger arm is mounted.

6. A garment hanger comprising a bracket bar having mounting means at one end and a locking member adjacent this end, a bracket at the opposite end of the bracket bar, a hanger arm pivotally mounted at one end to the said bracket to thereby swing toward or away from the bracket bar on line with the said locking member thereon, and a spring pressed latch member mounted at the free end of the hanger bar to releasably engage the locking means as the hanger arm is swung toward the bracketbar.

7. A garment hanger comprising a bracket bar having mounting means at one end and a locking member adjacent this end, a bracket at the opposite end of the bracket bar, a hanger arm pivotally mounted at one end to the said bracket to thereby swing toward or away from the bracket bar in line with the said locking member thereon, a spring pressed latch member mounted at the free end of the hanger bar to releasably engage the locking means as the hanger arm is swung toward the bracket bar, and the said latch member being of such length that the hanger arm will stand spaced from the bracket bar at that end.

8. A garment hanger for mounting on a door having a frame rail and a panel set inwardly relative to the face of the frame rail, comprising a bracket bar adapted to be secured at one end to the i ace of the frame rail and supported in spaced relation to the panel, a bracket on the opposite end of the bracket bar, a hanger arm adjustably supported on the bracket, cooperating locking means on the bracket bar and hanger arm for releasably locking the latter in one adjusted position, stop means on the bracket and disposed to engage and limit the movement of the hanger arm away from its locked position, and screws mounting the said bracket on the. bracket bar and adjustably extended from the bracket bar on the side adjacent the door to thereby engage the door panel and support the assembly agains'tthe panel.

9. A garment hanger for mounting on a door having a frame rail and a panel set inwardly relative to the frame rail, comprising a bracket bar adapted to be secured at one end to the face of the frame rail and extended over the panel in spaced relation outwardly thereof, a bracket on the free end of the bracket bar, a clothes hanger arm adjustably supported on the bracket, and screws mounting the said bracket on the bracket bar, the said screws extending inwardly toward the door panel and being adjustable to contact the paneland support the free end of the bracket bar against the panel.

ELMER R. WENDELL.

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