Claims
- 1. A suspension device comprising:
a first member and a second member having a pivot adapted to allow movement of said first member and said second member between a first position and a second position.
- 2. The device of claim 1 further including a bias device coupled with and adapted for biasing said first member and said second member toward said first position.
- 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said first position is an extended position for hanging a garment and said second position is an un-extended position for enabling removal of said garment.
- 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the bias device comprises a tension mechanism coupled between the first member and the second member;
the tension mechanism being configured with a predetermined tension force operable to develop potential energy therein when the members are moved to the second, un-extended position, said potential energy operable to create an upwardly directed torque force; and said upwardly directed torque force predisposing the members to revert to their first, extended position when the force holding the members in the second, un-extended position is less than the upwardly directed torque force.
- 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the tension mechanism comprises at least one resilient wire.
- 6. The device of claim 4, wherein the tension mechanism comprises at least one elastic band.
- 7. The device of claim 4, wherein the tension mechanism comprises at least one spring.
- 8. The device of claim 3, wherein the bias device comprises a tension mechanism with an adjustable tension force configured to develop a user-defined potential energy therein when the members are moved to the second, un-extended, position, said potential energy operable to create an upwardly directed torque force; and
said upwardly directed torque force predisposing the members to revert to their first, extended position when the force holding the members in the second, un-extended, position is less than the user-selected upwardly directed torque force.
- 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first magnet being embedded in the end of the first member proximal the pivot, the north pole facing outward from the end of the first member;
a second magnet being embedded in the end of the second member proximal the pivot, the south pole facing outward from the end of the second member; and the opposing polarities of the magnets coming into proximal contact when the first member and second member are in the extended position.
- 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a securing mechanism between the first member and the second member at the pivot, operable to maintain the position of the first member relative to the second member.
- 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the securing mechanism further comprises a disk;
the disk being inserted between a face of the first member and the face of the second member proximal to the pivot; and said disk having a co-efficient of friction relative to the face of the first member and the face of the second member.
- 12. The device of claim 11, wherein a plurality of spaced bumps are located on both faces of the disk;
a plurality of spaced recesses are located on the face of the first member and the face of the second member, said spaced recesses corresponding to the plurality of spaced bumps being located on each face of the disk; and a flexible fastener being located at the pivot through the first member, the disk and the second member.
- 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first member and second member are each fabricated with recesses along a longitudinal portion of one side thereon;
the recesses being configured such that when a downwardly directed force is applied to the first member relative to the second member, the side of the first member which faces the side of the second member overlap along the recessed portion.
- 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising;
a gearing mechanism coupling the first member and the second member; said gearing mechanism comprising a semi-circular set of gear teeth integral to the end of the first member proximal the pivot; a semi-circular set of gear teeth integral to the end of the second member proximal the pivot; the gear teeth integral to the first member being mated to the gear teeth of the second member; the gearing mechanism operable to cause the second member to rotate toward the first member when a torque is applied to the first member; and a tension mechanism operable to re-extend the first member and second member after being folded or collapsed.
- 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are fabricated from wood.
- 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are fabricated from plastic.
- 17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a retaining clip being integrally molded into the first member proximal the pivot;
a hook having a hook neck and curved portion are molded integral to the second member proximal the pivot; the retaining clip is dimensioned to accept and securely hold the hook neck; and the hook neck is operable to snap into the retaining clip so as to hold the device in the extended position.
- 18. A garment hanger, comprising:
a first member and a second member; a fastener coupling the first member and second member at a pivot; a hook integrally molded to the first member; a plastic spring clip integrally molded to the second member; the plastic spring clip being dimensioned to accept and securely hold the hook neck; the plastic spring clip and hook neck of the hanger operable to hold the first member and the second member in the extended position; and the plastic spring clip operable to release when a torque is applied to the first member or second member.
- 19. The hanger of claim 18, further comprising a tension mechanism operable to predispose the first member and second member to remain in the extended position even when the hook neck is released from the spring clip.
- 20. The hanger of claim 17, further comprising a flange molded integral to the spring clip, operable to reinforce the spring clip.
PRIORITY TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
[0001] This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/464,567, filed on Apr. 22, 2003, entitled “Folding Garment Hanger”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. The Applicant hereby claim the benefits of this earlier pending provisional application under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e).
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60464567 |
Apr 2003 |
US |