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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the technical field of organization and storage systems. More particularly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate generally to organization and storage systems for clothing. More particularly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate generally to clothing organization and storage systems which allow for multiple items of clothing to be stored in a relatively compact area, enabling more efficient storage in limited spaces. Furthermore, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate generally to organization and storage systems for clothing which allowing the multiple items of clothing to be easily sorted and displayed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Closets and wardrobes intended for storing clothing are often limited in the amount of available space. Large collections of clothing may fill such a clothing storage spaces to such an extent that easily searching through the collection becomes difficult. It is desirable to make the most efficient use of limited closet space by increasing the number of clothing items which may be stored in a given volume. Several inventions have attempted to increase the usefulness of limited closet space.
The broad concept of a device which hangs multiple garments is known. Some of these devices are related to storage and organization while others relate to displaying or transporting multiple garments. Some devices allow for several standard garment hangers to be suspended from a singular base which is capable of being independently suspended. Other devices have sets of integrated hanger appendages which may accommodate multiple items of clothing. A number of these devises allow for several clothes hangers to be chained together and suspended from a primary hanger. Additional devices consist of single-bodied hangers with multiple means of attaching items of clothing to the hanger such that several clothing items may be suspended from one hanger. Lastly, some devices consist of racks which are suspended from a closet bar which may store folded garments.
Devices which allow for several standard hangers to be suspended from a singular base, which is then independently suspended, allow for multiple items of clothing to be stored in a limited space but have other problems which arise from this design. Sorting through the items of clothing stored may be difficult because to view underlying clothing the standard hangers must be removed or shifted to the side risking upset of the hanging clothing. These devices also require standard hangers to directly suspend the items of clothing and are susceptible to any failures in these standard hangers. Additionally, some versions of these devices suspend standard hangers from cord or string which is more susceptible to breakage than metal or wood.
Devices which have sets of integrated hanger appendages may accommodate multiple items of clothing; however, known version of this design are problematic. Some of these devices have hanger appendages which interfere with each other when loaded with clothing. Others may become unbalanced while being loaded with clothing. Additionally, some hanger appendages are not well suited for suspending clothing and may require clips to fix the clothing in place.
Devises which allow for several clothes hangers to be chained together and suspended from a primary hanger enable the efficient storage of clothing, but may be ungainly is actual use. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the failure of one hanger may cause the entire device to fail. Devices consisting of hanger chains are also not easy to move around since movement may disrupt the chain.
Devices which consist of single-bodied hangers with multiple means of attaching items of clothing to the hanger do allow for several clothing items to be suspended from one hanger; however, they are often limited in the number of items capable of being stored. Some of these devices may easily store different items of clothing on one hanger, such as a shirt and a pair of pants together on one hanger, but have difficulty in storing multiple items of the same type of clothing, such as several shirts. Some of these devices extend the dimensions of the single hanger to enable more items of clothing to be stored but this method sacrifices closet space to do so. Other versions allow for several items of clothing to be clipped together on one hanger, but these versions make searching through the items of clothing difficult.
Devices which consist of racks which are suspended from a closet bar which may store folded garments enable a large number of garments to be stored, but requires those garments to be folded while stored. Folded garments are susceptible to creasing while freely hanging garments are less likely to become creased. Additionally, stacks of folded garments are not clearly displayed and searching through a stack of folded clothing will likely upset the quality of folded garments.
The embodiments of the present invention are Clothing Storage Apparatuses comprising a body, with a means to hang from a standard closet bar, and a hanger array depending from the body and comprising one or more hanger members, each of which being capable of supporting an item of clothing. The hanger members attach to the body by a vertical hinge, thereby enabling the hanger member to be adjusted in a substantially 180-degree arc. The adjustability of the hanger members permits items of clothing to be easily loaded onto the apparatus, allows a user of the apparatus to proficiently search through a collection of clothing and also enables the items of clothing to be stored in a substantially flat volume. A Clothing Storage Apparatus allows for multiple items of clothing to be stored in a space normally used by one item of clothing.
In other preferred embodiments of Clothing Storage Apparatuses, the body further comprises an upside-down L-shaped structure comprising an upper horizontal arm and a lower vertical arm. The horizontal arm and the vertical arm are connected at a substantially perpendicular angle and reinforced by a cross-bar.
In other preferred embodiments of Clothing Storage Apparatuses, the means of hanging from a standard closet bar comprises two parallel hooks which fasten around the closet bar.
In other preferred embodiments of Clothing Storage Apparatuses, the apparatus further comprise a rear-mounted brace which support the apparatus against a rear wall of a closet. The rear-mounted brace is provided with a means of adjusting its length, so that its length may be conformed to the distance between the rear of the apparatus and the closet wall in such a manner as to hold the apparatus substantially vertical within a closet, thereby preventing the apparatus from becoming unbalanced when loaded with items of clothing.
In other preferred embodiments of Clothing Storage Apparatuses, each hanger array comprises a plurality of hanger members.
In other preferred embodiments of Clothing Storage Apparatuses, the apparatuses further comprise a plurality of hanger arrays depending from the body.
In other preferred embodiments of Clothing Storage Apparatuses, the hanger members further comprise an inner end, an outer end and a middle. The inner end is attached to the body by a vertical hinge and the outer end freely suspended. The middle is peaked such that the center is vertically higher than either the inner end or the outer end.
In the most preferred embodiments, Clothing Storage Apparatuses comprise a body with a means to hang from a standard closet bar, and a plurality of hanger arrays depending from the body. The body comprises an upside-down L-shaped comprising an upper horizontal arm and a lower vertical arm. The horizontal arm and the vertical arm are connected at a substantially perpendicular angle and reinforced by a cross-bar. Two parallel hooks extend from the open end of the upper horizontal arm and enable the apparatus to be fastened to a closet bar. A rear-mounted brace extends from the lower vertical arm and supports the apparatus against a rear wall of a closet. The rear-mounted brace is provided with a means of adjusting its length, so that its length may be conformed to the distance between the rear of the apparatus and the closet wall in such a manner as to hold the apparatus substantially vertical within a closet, thereby preventing the apparatus from becoming unbalanced when loaded with items of clothing. Each hanger array comprises a plurality of hanger members, each of which being capable of supporting an item of clothing. The hanger members comprise an inner end, an outer end and a middle. The inner end is attached to the lower vertical arm by a vertical hinge and the outer end is freely suspended. The middle is peaked such that the center is vertically higher than either the inner end or the outer end. The vertical hinge enables a hanger member to be adjusted in a substantially 180-degree arc. The adjustability of the hanger members permits items of clothing to be easily loaded onto the apparatus, allows a user of the apparatus to proficiently search through a collection of clothing and also enables the items of clothing to be stored in a substantially flat volume. A user of the apparatus may load an item of clothing by sliding it over the exposed out end of a hanger member. Once loaded, the item of clothing on the hanger array may be swung aside in order to load another item of clothing or to examine other items of clothing which may be already mounted on the apparatus. A Clothing Storage Apparatus is a convenient and efficient means for storing multiple items of clothing in limited closet space.
Illustrative and preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
For the purpose of illustration, the present invention is shown in the preferred embodiments of a Clothing Storage Apparatus in isolation and a Clothing Storage Apparatus which is mounted in a closet. Additionally, a Clothing Storage Apparatus is demonstrated storing shirts. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Referring now to the most preferred embodiment of the invention in more detail, in
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The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that it allows for multiple items of clothing to be organized and stored in a space normally reserved for one item of clothing and allows for that clothing to be clearly displayed. The Clothing Storage Apparatus 100 saves closet space by increasing the number of garments that can be stored along a given length of a closet bar. The rear-mounted brace provides stability for the apparatus 100 while it is being loaded with items of clothing. Furthermore, the vertical-hinged hanger members 110 allow for the hanging clothing to be clearly displayed and easily searched through because they can be easily viewed by swinging a vertical-hinged hanger member 110 open. Additionally, the apparatus allows for a set of clothing to be easily removed from a closet for travel.
In broad embodiment, the present invention is a Clothing Storage Apparatus comprising a body which may be suspended from a closet bar and a plurality of hanger arrays, each hanger array comprising a plurality of hanger members which may support an item of clothing. The hanger members are mounted on vertical hinges such that the hanger members may be easily loaded with an item of clothing without interfering with other hanger members. Once the hanger members are loaded with items of clothing, the hanger members may be returned to a position in which the items of clothing hang substantially parallel to a single item of clothing mounted on a standard hanger. A Clothing Storage Apparatus allows for multiple items of clothing to be stored in a volume normally used by one item of clothing and is a convenient and efficient means for storing multiple items of clothing in limited closet space.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120097717 A1 | Apr 2012 | US |