Garment Holder with Lock Mechanism

Abstract

The present invention provides a first half and a second half of a garment holder including the first half having a first lock, the first lock including a pin having a winged base to be received in a first hole having a corresponding shape. The pin being rotatable within the first hole between a locked and unlocked position and wherein the first lock resides on the first half and the second half includes the second hole. The pin including a locking member disposed at a distal end of the pin, the locking member for engaging the second hole.

Description

BACKGROUND

Garment holders such as nested balls/spheres are known in the art for holding garments in place during washing and drying cycles using domestic washing machines and dryers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. D524,500 is for a Garment Cage Assembly. Yet these known devices do not have sufficient mechanisms to securely lock a first half of the assembly to a second half of the assembly. The present invention overcomes that shortcoming.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a garment holder comprising a first half and a second half including the first half having a first lock, the first lock including a pin having a winged base. The pin is to be received in a first hole having a corresponding shape to the base. The pin is rotatable within the first hole between a locked and unlocked position.

In an embodiment the first lock resides on the first half and the second half includes the second hole, the pin including a locking member disposed at a distal end of the pin, the locking member for engaging the second hole. The pin may be formed of a barrel having a longitudinal axis and the distal end may pivot outwardly away from the axis to an engaged position and pivot inwardly to a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the pin is traveling through the second hole and in the disengaged position the pin is seated within the second hole so that the winged base extends beyond the second hole.

In an embodiment, the pin in the engaged position the distal end of the locking member rides against a wall forming the second hole. In the engaged position the distal end of the locking member may ride against a wall forming the first hole. A flange may be disposed on the second half and a pair of ramps may protrude from the flange. The winged base may engage the ramps when the pin is rotated approximately 45 degrees, so that in the locked position the winged base rides along the ramps into a position between the ramps.

In an embodiment, the pin may be in an unlocked position when the winged base is adjacent the ramps, prior to rotation of the pin. The attachment of the first half to the second half may form a ball and captured within the ball is a mini-ball upon which a garment may be attached. The first and second halves may be joined at a rim, the rim having tabs engaged by guides in order to secure the first half to the second half.

In a further embodiment a locking member may lock a first half of a garment holder to a second half of the garment holder and the locking member may comprise a pin having a winged base to be received in a hole having a corresponding shape, the pin being rotatable within the hole between a locked and unlocked position. The pin may include a locking member disposed at a distal end of the pin, the locking member for engaging a hole.

The pin may be formed of a barrel having a longitudinal axis and the distal end may pivot outwardly away from the axis to an engaged position and pivot inwardly to a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the pin is traveling through the hole and the disengaged position where the pin is seated within the hole so that the winged base extends beyond the hole.

In an embodiment, in the engaged position the distal end of the locking member may ride against a wall forming the hole. A flange may be disposed on the second half and a pair of ramps protruding from the flange, the winged base engaging the ramps when the pin is rotated approximately 45 degrees, so that in the locked position the winged base rides along the ramps into a position between the ramps. The pin may be in an unlocked position when the winged base is adjacent the ramps, prior to rotation of the pin.

In an embodiment the invention provides a method of locking a first member to a second member comprising the steps of holding the first member adjacent the second member so that a pin is located in proximity to a first hole of the first member and a second hole of a second member. The invention also comprises the steps of inserting the pin through the first hole and inserting the pin through the second hole, so that a distal end of the pin is pivoted between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

In an embodiment the method further comprises rotating the pin approximately 45 degrees between the engaged and disengaged positions. A pair of ramps may be disposed on a flange of the second member, the flange having the second hole and the ramps for engaging a winged base of the pin. Rotating the pin approximately 45 degrees provides the winged base in engagement between the ramps. The method further provides a visual indicator disposed on a rim of the member to indicate the locked condition of the first member to the second member and placing a garment within the members when in the locked condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the garment holder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a further exploded view of the garment holder of the present invention showing inner ball, ejected from the halves of the outer ball;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the garment holder in a closed position holding a garment;

FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of the outer ball of the garment holder of the present invention in an open and unlocked position;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view from above the lock of the outer ball of the garment holder of the present invention in a closed and locked position;

FIG. 4C is an enlarged perspective view from below the lock of the outer ball of garment holder of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the pin-lock mechanism of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts the inner ball 5 nested within the outer ball halves 10a, 10b and a garment such as a brassiere 7 enclosed within the outer ball and surrounding the inner ball 5. “Ball” is used throughout this application, but it is clear that the preferred embodiment is a sphere. However, other shapes and sizes of the present invention may be provided to provide a holder for many types of garments.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the inner ball 5 ejected from the outer ball halves 10a, 10b. The halves 10a, 10b of the ball include a first half 10a having a first rim 11 and the second half 10b having a second rim 12. Locking tabs 21, 22, 23 are depicted on the second half 10b adjacent the rim 12. The tabs 21, 22, 23 are received by the guides 24, 25, 26 on the first half 10a. The second half 10b includes a first alignment number 41 adjacent the rim 12 and the first half 10a includes a second alignment number 43 adjacent the rim 11.

In a preferred embodiment, the first half 10a is secured to the second half 10b when the tabs 21, 22, 23 are aligned with the guides 24, 25, 26 and the first rim 11 is aligned with the second rim 12 and rotated, so that the tabs 21, 22, 23 are locked within the guides 24, 25, 26. Upon locking of the tabs 21, 22, 23 within the guides 24, 25, 26, the first alignment member 41 aligns with the second alignment member 43 providing a visual indication that the first half 10a is locked to the second half 10b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the halves of the ball 10 are locked together so that the first rim 11 is aligned with the second rim 12. In this position, the inner ball 5 is nested within and locked within the outer ball 10.

FIG. 4A depicts the pin-locking member 30 which in a preferred embodiment further secures the first half 10a to the second half 10b. The pin 30 (depicted in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and FIG. 5) includes a handle 31, a barrel 33, a distal end 35 of the latch member, and a proximal end 38 of the latch member, and a winged base 39. In a preferred embodiment, the steps of securing the pin 30 within the lock holes 51, 52 are as follows: a winged base 39 is aligned with the first lock hole 51 of the first half 10a and is inserted therethrough. The alignment of the first rim 11 to the second rim 12 occurs as discussed above. The pin 30 is then pushed downward to insert the winged base 39 through the second hole 52 that has a corresponding shape to the winged base 39. The first hole 51 is disposed on flange 61 and the second hole 52 is disposed on a flange 62 protruding from the second rim 12. As the pin 30 is pushed downward and into the second hole 52, the distal end 35 of the latch member is pressed inward as it rides against the outer portion of the first hole 51 then second hole 52.

As a finger and thumb are used on the handle 31 to push the pin 30 toward the seated position within the holes 51, 52, the distal end of the locking member 35 will expand outward and snap in a mated position with the distal end 35 of the pin 30 expanded outward beyond the edges of the barrel 33. Turning to FIG. 4C, ramps 63a, b, c, d are provided on the bottom portion of the flange 62 and the wings 39 of the pin 30 are engaged upon the ramps 63a, b, c, d so that the wings 39 are elevated away from the flange 62 upon rotation of the pin 30 when the handle 31 is rotated. Once the pin 30 is rotated 90 degrees, the wings 39 are seated between the pair of ramps 63a, 63d and the other pair of ramps 63b, 63c, so that the pin 30 is restricted from rotating (without substantial finger pressure) back to its original mated position.

When it is desired to unlock the first half 10a from the second half 10b of the ball, the pin 30 is grasped with fingers and pressure applied to push downward and rotate back 90 degrees, so that the wings 39 are disposed between the first ramps 63a, 63b and ramps 63c, 63d, respectively. And then the pin may be lifted out of the holes 51, 52 causing the distal end 35 of the latching member to move inward away from the barrel 33, so that the pin 30 may be removed completely from the second hole 52.

The ball first half 10a may then be rotated with respect to the second half 10b and the tabs 21, 22, 23 may be removed from the guide members 24, 25, 26 and the first rim 11 separated from the second rim 12. Other means of securing the first half 10a to the second half 10b are anticipated by the present invention, including snap lock, latches, ramps, straps such as Velcro straps, gear, clamp, hook, lug, nut, rivet, seam and other types of fasteners that may be used to removably secure first half 10a to the second half 10b of the garment holder.

Claims

1. A garment holder comprising: a first half and a second half including the first half having a first lock, the first lock including a pin having a winged base to be received in a first hole having a corresponding shape, the pin being rotatable within the first hole between a locked and unlocked position.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the first lock resides on the first half and the second half includes the second hole, the pin including a locking member disposed at a distal end of the pin, the locking member for engaging the second hole.

3. The holder of claim 1 wherein pin is formed of a barrel having a longitudinal axis and the distal end may pivot outwardly away from the axis to an engaged position and pivot inwardly to a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the pin is traveling through the second hole and in the disengaged position the pin is seated within the second hole so that the winged base extends beyond the second hole.

4. The holder of claim 3 wherein in the engaged position the distal end of the locking member rides against a wall forming the second hole.

5. The holder of claim 3 wherein in the engaged position the distal end of the locking member rides against a wall forming the first hole.

6. The holder of claim 3 further comprising a flange disposed on the second half and a pair of ramps protruding from the flange, the winged base engaging the ramps when the pin is rotated approximately 45 degrees, so that in the locked position the winged base rides along the ramps into a position between the ramps.

7. The holder of claim 3 wherein the pin is in an unlocked position when the winged base is adjacent the ramps, prior to rotation of the pin.

8. The holder of claim 1 wherein the attachment of the first half to the second half forms a ball and captured within the ball is a mini-ball upon which a garment may be attached.

9. The holder of claim 1 wherein the first and second halves are joined at a rim, the rim having tabs engaged by guides in order to secure the first half to the second half.

10. A locking member for locking a first half of a garment holder to a second half of the garment holder, the locking member comprising: a pin having a winged base to be received in a hole having a corresponding shape, the pin being rotatable within the hole between a locked and unlocked position.the pin including a locking member disposed at a distal end of the pin, the locking member for engaging a hole.

11. The locking member of claim 10 wherein the pin is formed of a barrel having a longitudinal axis and the distal end may pivot outwardly away from the axis to an engaged position and pivot inwardly to a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the pin is traveling through the hole and the disengaged position where the pin is seated within the hole so that the winged base extends beyond the hole.

12. The locking member of claim 10 wherein in the engaged position the distal end of the locking member rides against a wall forming the hole.

13. The locking member of claim 10 further comprising a flange disposed on the second half and a pair of ramps protruding from the flange, the winged base engaging the ramps when the pin is rotated approximately 45 degrees, so that in the locked position the winged base rides along the ramps into a position between the ramps.

14. The locking member of claim 10 wherein the pin is in an unlocked position when the winged base is adjacent the ramps, prior to rotation of the pin.

15. A method of locking a first member to a second member comprising the steps of: holding the first member adjacent the second member so that a pin is located in proximity to a first hole of the first member and a second hole of a second member;inserting the pin through the first hole; andinserting the pin through the second hole so that a distal end of the pin is pivoted between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: rotating the pin approximately 45 degrees between the engaged and disengaged positions.

17. The method of claim 15 providing a pair of ramps disposed on a flange of the second member, the flange having the second hole and the ramps for engaging a winged base of the pin.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of rotating the pin approximately 45 degrees so that the winged base is engaged between the ramps.

19. The method of claim 15 providing a visual indicator disposed on a rim of the member to indicate the locked condition of the first member to the second member.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of placing a garment within the members when in the locked condition.