CLOTHES-HANGING DEVICE

Abstract

A clothes-hanging device includes a fixed seat having pivot and support pins, and a support rod connected pivotally to the fixed seat and having an elongate pivot hole receiving the pivot pin. The support rod is pivotable about the pivot pin to move to a used state in which the support rod projects from the fixed seat in a cantilever fashion, or to a non-used state in which the support rod is hung downwardly from the fixed seat, or is folded upwardly to extend over the fixed seat. When the support rod is in the used state, the support pin abuts against and presses a top side of a first end of the support rod, and a pull member is fixed to the fixed seat, and is connected releasably to a second end of the support rod.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a clothes-hanging device, more particularly to a clothes-hanging device that can be stored easily and that maintains the spacing of clothes hang thereon.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional clothes-hanging device 1 is shown to comprise two spaced-apart supporting rods 11 fixed to a wall 21, and a cross bar 12 disposed between the supporting rods 11 for hanging clothes. In use, the clothes 22 are first placed on respective hangers 23, after which the hangers 23 are hung on the cross bar 12.

Although the conventional clothes-hanging device 1 can achieve its intended purpose, it has the following drawbacks:

1. Since the cross bar 12 is very long and is not retractable, it is difficult to remove the cross bar 12 from the supporting rods 11 for storage. Further, since the supporting rods 11 are fixed to the wall 21, it is also difficult to remove them from the wall 21 for storage.

2. Since the cross bar 12 is not provided with positioning means to position the respective hangers 23, when there is a strong wind, the clothes 22 are likely to move either close to each other so that the clothes 22 do not easily dry, or away from each other so that hanging space is wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a clothes-hanging device that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to this invention, a clothes-hanging device comprises a fixed seat, a support rod, and a pull member. The fixed seat is adapted to be fixed on a support, and has a pivot pin and a support pin that is disposed above the pivot pin. The support rod is connected pivotally to the fixed seat, and has opposite first and second ends, an elongate pivot hole formed in the first end and receiving the pivot pin, and a plurality of hanging holes spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of the support rod. The support rod is pivotable about the pivot pin to move to a used state in which the support rod projects from the fixed seat in a cantilever fashion, or to a non-used state in which the support rod is hung downwardly from or is folded upwardly to extend over the fixed seat. The pivot hole is elongated along the longitudinal direction, and has first and second edges that are opposed in the longitudinal direction. The pull member is fixed to the fixed seat, and is connected releasably to the second end of the support rod when the support rod is in the used state. When the support rod is in the used state, the support pin abuts against and presses a top side of the first end of the support rod. The first edge of the pivot hole has a smaller distance from the support pin than the second edge. The second edge contacts the pivot pin. When the first edge moves to the pivot pin, the first end of the support rod is released from the support pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional clothes-hanging device;

FIG. 2 illustrates the conventional clothes-hanging device in a state of use;

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a clothes-hanging device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a used state;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a connection between a fixed seat and a support rod;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional front view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a connection between the support rod and an extension rod;

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the preferred embodiment in the used state;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating how the support rod may be pivoted upwardly or downwardly relative to the fixed seat;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating how the support rod is hung downwardly from the fixed seat; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating how the support rod is folded upwardly to extend over the fixed seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 9, a clothes-hanging device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a fixed seat 4, a support rod 5, a pull member 54, and an extension rod 55.

The fixed seat 4 includes a pivot pin 42, a support pin 43 disposed above the pivot pin 42, a hanging pin 44 disposed above the support pin 43, a vertical base plate 412 adapted to be fixed on a support, such as a wall 31, two spaced-apart vertical flange plates 411 projecting outwardly from the vertical base plate 412, a plurality of main fixing elements 413 to fix the base plate 412 to the wall 31, and two spaced-apart L-shaped reinforcing brackets 45. The pivot pin 42, the support pin 43, and the hanging pin 44 extend through the vertical flange plates 411. The support pin 43 is nearer to the base plate 412 than the pivot pin 42. The hanging pin 44 is disposed in proximity to top ends of the vertical flange plates 411. Each of the L-shaped reinforcing brackets 45 has a longitudinal section 451 fixed to a respective one of the vertical flange plates 411, and a transverse section 452 pressed against and fixed to the base plate 412. The fixed seat 4 further includes two first fixing elements 46 each screwing the longitudinal section 451 to the respective vertical flange plate 411, and two second fixing elements 47 each screwing the transverse section 452 to the base plate 412.

The support rod 5, in this embodiment, is hollow, and has first and second ends 51, 51′ opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction of the support rod 5, two elongate pivot holes 52 aligned with each other and formed respectively in the first end 51 at front and rear sides of the support rod 5, a plurality of pairs of aligning hanging holes 53 formed respectively in the front and rear sides of the support rod 5 and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the support rod 51, and a positioning hole 553 formed in the front side of the support rod 5 in proximity to the second end 51′ thereof. Inner ends of the first fixing elements 46 abut respectively against the front and rear sides of the support rod 5. Each of the pivot holes 52 is elongated along the longitudinal direction, and has first and second edges 521, 521′ that are opposed in the longitudinal direction. The pivot pin 42 extends through the pivot holes 52.

The support rod 5 is pivotable about the pivot pin 42 to move to a used state or a non-used state. In the used state, as shown in FIG. 3, the support rod 5 projects from the fixed seat 4 in a cantilever fashion, the support pin 43 abuts against and presses a top side of the first end 51 of the support rod 5, and the first edges 521 of the pivot holes 52 have a smaller distance from the support pin 43 than the second edges 521′ of the pivot holes 52. The second edges 521′ of the pivot holes 52 contact the pivot pin 42 at this time. In the non-used state, the support rod 5 is either hung downwardly from the fixed seat 4, as shown in FIG. 8, or is folded upwardly to extend over the fixed seat, as shown in FIG. 9.

The support rod 5 further has a projecting block 512 projecting upwardly from the second end 51′ thereof and having an engaging hole 513, a stop piece 514 projecting from an inner surface thereof proximate to the second end 51′, a longitudinal hanging plate 515 projecting downwardly from a bottom side thereof and having a plurality of hanging holes 516 that are spaced apart along the length of the hanging plate 515, and a retaining plate 510 extending upwardly from a top side thereof between the projecting block 512 and the fixed seat 4 and having a hooking element 519.

The pull member 54, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, includes a rope 545, a length adjustment unit 541, and a connecting ring 542. The rope 545 has a first end 5451 looped around and fixed to the hanging pin 44 through a first binder 546, and a second end 5452 opposite to the first end 5451. The length adjustment unit 541 is connected to the second end 5452 of the rope 545, and includes a threaded sleeve 5411, and a threaded rod 5412 connected adjustably and threadedly to the threaded sleeve 5411 and having one end formed with a loop 548. The second end 5452 of the rope 545 is disposed inside and is fixed to the threaded sleeve 5411 through a second binder 547. The connecting ring 542 is connected between the loop 548 of the threaded rod 5412 and the engaging hole 513, and is connected detachably to the engaging hole 513 through an openable part 5421 thereof. Since the construction of the connecting ring 542 is known in the art, a detailed description of the same is dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.

The extension rod 55, in this embodiment, is formed as an extension tube, and is connected telescopically to and is extendable from the second end 51′ of the support rod 5. A plurality of pairs of aligning hanging holes 552 are formed respectively in front and rear sides of the extension rod 55, and are spaced apart from each other along the length of the extension rod 55. The extension rod 55 has inner and outer ends, a longitudinal slide groove 560 extending between the inner and outer ends, a detent piece 554 disposed within the slide groove 560 proximate to the inner end, and a resilient protrusion 556 to engage releasably the positioning hole 553 in the support rod 5 so as to prevent movement of the extension rod 55 relative to the support rod 5. The stop piece 514 extends slidably into the slide groove 560, and is engageable with the detent piece 554 when the inner end of the extension rod 55 is moved to the second end 51′ of the support rod 5 upon outward extension of the extension rod 55 from the support rod 5 so as to prevent the extension rod 55 from sliding out of the support rod 5.

The extension rod 55 further has a cover 555 at the outer end thereof. The cover 555, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, has a transverse plate 557 covering one end of the extension rod 55, a tongue plate 558 extending outwardly from the transverse plate 557, and a hanging hole 559 formed in the tongue plate 558.

With reference to FIG. 3, to use the clothes-hanging device of the present invention, the first end 51 of the support rod 5 is first pushed toward the base plate 412 until the second edges 521′ of the pivot holes 52 abut against the pivot pin 42 and the top side of the first end 51 abuts against the support pin 43, after which the connecting ring 542 is engaged to the engaging hole 513. At this time, hangers 33 with clothing 32 can be hung to the hanging holes 53 and 516. If necessary, the extension rod 55 may be pulled out of the support rod 5 to accommodate more hangers 33 for hanging clothing 32 by pressing inwardly the resilient protrusion 556 so as to disengage the same from the positioning hole 553 and then pulling the cover 555 away from the fixed seat 4 to a desired length. More hangers 33 may be hung to the hanging holes 552 and 559.

Further, a total length of the pull member 54 may be adjusted by rotating the threaded rod 5412 relative to the threaded sleeve 5411 to thereby adjust an inclination of the support rod 5.

With reference to FIG. 7, to store the clothes-hanging device of the present invention, the hangers 33 (see FIG. 3) are first removed from the respective hanging holes 53, 516, 552, 559, after which the cover 555 is pushed toward the fixed seat 4 so as to extend slidably the extension rod 55 into the support rod 5 until the resilient protrusion 556 engages the positioning hole 553, thereby retaining the extension rod 55 in the support rod 5. The connecting ring 542 is then detached from the engaging hole 513, and the support rod 5 is pulled away from the fixed seat 4, so that the top side of the first end 51 thereof is moved away from the support pin 43 to no longer abut against the same, and the first edges 521 of the pivot holes 52 abut against the pivot pin 42, thereby permitting the support rod 5 to pivot either in an upward direction (B) or a downward direction (A).

With reference to FIG. 8, when the fixed seat 4 is installed on the wall 31 at a higher position, the support rod 5 is pivoted in the downward direction (A), so that the support rod 5 is hung downwardly from the fixed seat 4. At this time, the first edges 521 of the pivot holes 52 are hung against the pivot pin 42.

With reference to FIG. 9, when the fixed seat 4 is installed on the wall 31 at a lower position, the support rod 5 is pivoted in the upward direction (B), and the hooking element 519 of the retaining plate 510 is engaged to the hanging pin 44. At this time, the second edges 521′ of the pivot holes 52 are hung against the pivot pin 42.

Other advantages of the clothes-hanging device of the present invention are as follows:

1. When the place for hanging clothing 32 needs to be used for another purpose, the clothes-hanging device of the present invention can be easily stored by pivoting the support rod 5 either upwardly or downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As such, the entire clothes-hanging device can be stored beside the wall 31.

2. The hangers 33 are hung respectively to the hanging holes 53, 552, 516, 559. As such, the distances among the clothing 32 on the hangers 33 can be maintained, even in the presence of a strong wind. Simultaneously, the drying time of the clothing 32 can be shortened.

3. The clothes-hanging device of the present invention is provided with the extension rod 55 that is telescopically connected to the support rod 5 to provide more hanging space.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A clothes-hanging device, comprising: a fixed seat adapted to be fixed on a support and having a pivot pin and a support pin that is disposed above said pivot pin;a support rod connected pivotally to said fixed seat and having opposite first and second ends, an elongate pivot hole formed in said first end and receiving said pivot pin, and a plurality of hanging holes spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of said support rod, said support rod being pivotable about said pivot pin to move to a used state in which said support rod projects from said fixed seat in a cantilever fashion, or to a non-used state in which said support rod is hung downwardly from said fixed seat, or is folded upwardly to extend over said fixed seat, said pivot hole being elongated along said longitudinal direction and having first and second edges that are opposed in said longitudinal direction; anda pull member fixed to said fixed seat and connected releasably to said second end of said support rod when said support rod is in said used state;wherein, when said support rod is in said used state, said support pin abuts against and presses a top side of said first end of said support rod, said first edge of said pivot hole having a smaller distance from said support pin than said second edge, said second edge contacting said pivot pin; andwherein, when said first edge moves to said pivot pin, said first end of said support rod is released from said support pin.

2. The clothes-hanging device of claim 1, wherein said support rod further includes a projecting block projecting upwardly from said second end and having an engaging hole, said fixed seat further including a hanging pin disposed above said support pin, said pull member including a rope connected to said hanging pin and said engaging hole.

3. The clothes-hanging device of claim 2, wherein said fixed seat has a vertical base plate adapted to be fixed to the support, two spaced-apart vertical flange plates projecting from said vertical base plate, and a plurality of main fixing elements to fix said vertical base plate to the support, said pivot pin, said support pin, and said hanging pin extending through said vertical flange plates, said support pin being nearer to said vertical base plate than said pivot pin.

4. The clothes-hanging device of claim 2, wherein said pull member further includes a length adjustment unit connected to said rope to adjust a total length of said pull member, thereby also adjusting an inclination of said support rod.

5. The clothes-hanging device of claim 3, wherein said fixed seat further includes two spaced-apart L-shaped reinforcing brackets each having a longitudinal section fixed to a respective one of said flange plates, and a transverse section pressed against and fixed to said vertical base plate, said fixed seat further including a first fixing element fixing said longitudinal section, and a second fixing element fixing said transverse section.

6. The clothes-hanging device of claim 2, further comprising an extension rod connected telescopically to said support rod and extendable from said second end, and a plurality of hanging holes provided in said extension rod.

7. The clothes-hanging device of claim 6, wherein said extension rod has opposite inner and outer ends, a longitudinal slide groove extending between said inner and outer ends, and a detent piece disposed within said slide groove proximate to said inner end, said support rod further having a stop piece projecting from an inner surface thereof proximate to said second end of said support rod, said stop piece extending slidably into said slide groove and being engageable with said detent piece when said inner end is moved to said second end upon outward extension of said extension rod from said support rod.

8. The clothes-hanging device of claim 7, wherein said extension rod further has a cover at said outer end, said extension rod being formed as an extension tube, said cover having a transverse plate covering one end of said extension tube, a tongue plate extending outwardly from said transverse plate, and a hanging hole formed in said tongue plate.

9. The clothes-hanging device of claim 6, wherein said support rod further has a longitudinal hanging plate projecting downwardly from said support rod and provided with a plurality of spaced-apart hanging holes that are spaced apart along the length of said hanging plate.

10. The clothes-hanging device of claim 2, wherein said support rod further has a retaining plate extending upwardly from a top side thereof between said projecting block and said fixed seat, said retaining plate having a hooking element to engage said hanging pin when said support rod is folded over said fixed seat.