Patent Application
20090007389
This invention relates generally to a portable apparatus and method for organizing clothing.
Articles of clothing, in particular outerwear such as coats and jackets are often removed when the wearer is indoors. The wearer can either carry the article of clothing or “hang” it up. Often, a sufficient number of suitable hangers are not available where needed. In these cases, wearers may place the clothing on the back of a chair, or on a seat, but sometimes even such makeshift solutions are not available. The problems are compounded when the wearer is a young child, i.e., the clothing may be too small to place over the back of a chair. In addition a caretaker of the child may have several articles of clothing to manage while also managing one or more children.
In addition, properly handling a child's clothing is an important aspect of keeping the child safe and healthy. In some areas, such as restrooms, if a child's clothing were to come in contact with it may become wet or contaminated by dirt, grime, bacteria, and the like because the floor may be very dirty or wet. However, demands on the caretakers time and attention may be such that they can not keep a child's coat stowed in an appropriate matter and free such contamination. Further, a caretaker's attention may not be focused on the article of clothing and the clothing may be forgotten and left where it lies.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a portable apparatus and method for organizing clothing.
It is another object of the present invention to provided a portable clothes organizer that is suitable for young children's clothing.
Therefore in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable clothing organizer that includes a strap having a first end and a second end configurable to form a loop. A clasp is attached to the strap between the first end and the second end, for connecting an article of clothing to the strap. The loop is adapted to be suspended from a support to thereby support the article of clothing in a predetermined, organized manner.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of clasps is attached to the strap between the first end and the second end.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the clasp is movable relative to the first end.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a buckle is carried on the loop for forming the loop.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the buckle includes a first buckle component attached to the strap at the first end.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the buckle includes a second complimentary component for engaging the first buckle component, wherein at least one of the first and second buckle components is movably attached to the strap.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of organizing clothing. A strap is provided having a first end and a second end configurable to form a loop. A clasp is attached to the strap between the first end and the second end, for connecting an article of clothing to the strap. An article of clothing is attached to the clasp. The strap is positioned relative to a support device and forming the loop with the strap such that the support device supports at least a portion of the article of clothing.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the support device is a portion of a person's body.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the support device is a fixture within a building.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the support device is chosen from the group consisting of the following: furniture, vehicles, doors, a clothing hook, a person, stroller, and a combination thereof.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the effective length of the strap is adjusted by changing the relative position of buckle components attached to the strap.
The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:
Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,
A side release buckle 30 is attached to the strap and includes a receiving end 34 and an engaging end 36 that are dimensioned to be releasably connected together. The engaging end 36 can be connected to and released from receiving end 34 by manipulation of side prongs 38 of engaging end 36. Receiving end 34 of buckle 30 is attached to strap 22 at first end 24. Engaging end 36 of buckle 30 is adjustably attached to strap 22 between first end 24 and second end 26 such that it can be positioned along strap 22 at various distances from receiving end 34. In this manner, the effective length of clothing organizer 10 can be adjusted. It should be appreciated that both the receiving end 34 and the engaging end 36 of the buckle 30 can adjustably or fixedly attached to the strap 22.
When the receiving end 34 and the engaging end 36 of the side release buckle 30 are connected together, the strap 22 forms a loop as shown in
It should be appreciated that strap 22 can be formed of a solid material, such as leather or a polymer, or a linked metallic material. It should also be appreciated that strap 22 can include at least one of the following: natural materials, fibrous materials, leather, polymeric fibers, solid polymeric components, and a combination thereof. In one embodiment, strap 22 includes a material configured to grip, i.e. reduce slippage, when organizer 10 is supported by an object.
In the illustrated embodiment, two clasps 52 are slidably attached to the strap 22 between the receiving end 34 and the engaging end 36 of the buckle 30. Each of clasps 52 include a base 54 that is configured to fit around strap 22 and a fastener 56 that is movable between an open first position and a closed second position. When in the open position, fastener 56 is configured to receive an article of clothing, and when in the closed position fastener 56 is configured to retain the article of clothing as can be seen in
Referring now to the operation of the clothing organizer 10 generally, the effective length of strap 22 is adjusted, the buckle 30 is engaged to form a loop around a suitable support object 62, such as a chair, and at least one of the clasps 52 is attached to an article of clothing 64. In this manner, the article of clothing 64 is supported by clothing organizer 10. Alternatively, strap 22 can be formed into a loop prior to positioning strap 22 around support object 62 and then placed on support object 62. Support object 62 can be a chair as shown in the illustrated embodiment, part of a person's body, such as and arm or leg; a movable device, such as a stroller; a fixture such as a clothing hook; or the like.
More specifically, the present invention provides a method for organizing clothing using clothing organizer 10 as described below. Strap 22 is manipulated and buckle 30 is engaged to form the loop. Clasp 52 is moved to the open position to receive a portion of clothing 64 such as the hanging loop commonly found in the neck region of coats and jackets. When clothing 64 is positioned within clasp 52, clasp 52 is moved to the closed position to attach the clothing 64 to the organizer 10. The organizer 10 and the clothing 64 are positioned such that the organizer 10 supports the article of clothing 64.
Clothing organizer 10 provides for a place to hang up clothing 64 where no previous accommodations for clothing exists. Organizer 10 provides for securing clothing in a manner that is more sanitary that other wise available. By attaching clothing organizer 10 to a stroller, a child's caretaker can ensure that a child's article of clothing 64 is not overlooked, dropped, forgotten, misplaced or otherwise lost.
The foregoing has described a clothing organizer 10 having at least one clasp 52 for supporting items such as clothing from objects or people. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.
