BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of hanging devices and, more specifically, to hanging devices for use with a vertical member.
Hanging devices for use with a vertical member have long been used to hang objects. Some of these hanging devices avoid the use of clamps, adhesives or fasteners Some hanging devices use only friction to maintain their position on the vertical member with the weight of the hanging object. However, these hanging devices often succumb to the force of gravity or another outside force, causing the hanging device to move downward along the vertical member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a need to address the ability of the hanging device to resist the tendency to gradually move downward along the vertical member over time.
Various embodiments of the present invention can address some of the deficiencies of the art. Examples of the present invention may be used in a wide variety of applications.
Various embodiments of the invention provide a hanging device for use with a vertical member. According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the hanging device has a support with an engaging portion frictionally coupled to the vertical member and an arresting component configured to frictionally engage an outer surface of the vertical member and a bottom surface of the support.
According to one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the hanging device includes a support having a helically-shaped engaging portion configured to be coupled to the vertical member and an arresting component configured to be frictionally coupled to the vertical member and a bottom surface of the support.
Various embodiments of the invention provide a system for hanging. According to another illustrative embodiment of the invention, the system for hanging includes a vertical member; a support frictionally coupled to the vertical member; and an arresting component in contact with both the support and the vertical member, having a frictional force substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vertical member at the interface between the arresting component and the support and a frictional force substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertical member at the interface between the arresting component and the vertical member.
Various embodiments of the invention provide a method for mounting a hanging device for use on a vertical member. According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the method for mounting includes locating an arresting component configured to frictionally engage the vertical member on the vertical member. A support having an engaging portion configured to frictionally couple to the vertical member is located on the vertical member such that a bottom surface of the support frictionally engages the arresting component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vertical member-mounted hanging device according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an arresting component according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the arresting component according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a triangular cross-section of the arresting component according to another illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a vertical member-mounted hanging device in a mounting position according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vertical member-mounted hanging device in an engaged position according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a front view of a vertical member-mounted hanging device according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a side view of a vertical member-mounted hanging device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of a vertical member-mounted hanging device according to a further illustrative embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 12 is a side view of a vertical member-mounted hanging device according to the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
According to various embodiments of the invention, devices and methods are provided for a vertical member-mounted hanging device.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a vertical member-mounted hanging device 100 is shown having a support 110 and an arresting component 150. The vertical member 160, shown as a pole, has a longitudinal axis 162 and a perimeter 164. The vertical member may optionally have a non-circular cross-section.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, in an illustrative embodiment, support 110 is shown having an engaging portion 120, a bottom surface 130, and a hook portion 140. In the illustrative embodiment, support 110 is formed by a single, continuous rod. The rod may be a wire, pipe, or tube. Examples of materials for the rod can include, but are not limited to, stainless steel, steel, aluminum, plastics and other materials of suitable strength for maintaining their shape when the vertical member-mounted hanging device is in use. Note that hanging component 110 need not be formed by a single, continuous rod.
Further referring to FIG. 2, in an illustrative embodiment, engaging portion 120, shown being helically-shaped, has a first axis 122 and is configured to be frictionally coupled to a vertical member. Support 110 extends outward at an angle to first axis 122 of the helical shape. In the illustrative embodiment, engaging portion 120 optionally has a coating 124. Coating 124 may be rubber, neoprene, synthetic plastic rubber, or any other material suitable for frictionally coupling engaging portion 120 to vertical member 160. Coating 124 does not necessarily cover the entire surface area of engaging portion 120. For instance, coating 124 may be limited to the regions of the surface of engaging portion 110 that are most likely to contact vertical member 160. In addition to helping frictionally coupling engaging portion 120 to vertical member 160, coating 124 may help prevent scratching, deformation, or other damage to vertical member 160 from use of vertical member-mounted hanging device 100.
In an illustrative embodiment, hook portion 140 is at a distal end from engaging portion 120. Hook portion 140 may have a coating 142. Coating 142 may be rubber, neoprene, synthetic plastic rubber, or other suitable material The coating may increase friction between hook portion 140 and an object being hung from hook portion 140 to help keep the object in place. The coating may further serve to prevent scratches, deformations, or other damage the object. Similar to coating 124 on engaging portion 120, coating 142 does not necessarily have to cover the entire surface area of hook portion 140.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, an illustrative embodiment of an arresting component 150, shown as a continuous band, is configured to frictionally engage the outer surface of vertical member 160 and to frictionally engage bottom surface 130 of support 110. Arresting component 150 need not be a continuous band. In the illustrative embodiment, arresting component 150 may be configured to frictionally engage the outer surface 160 along the entire perimeter 164 of vertical member 160 or along only part of perimeter 164. Arresting component 150 has a cross-section 152, defined along line a-a. In the illustrative embodiment, cross-section 152a shown as substantially circular in FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 5, alternatively, the cross-section may be triangular 152b, ovular, or any other shape that would create a sufficient frictional interface with vertical member 160. Examples of materials for arresting member 150 can include, but are not limited to, rubber, neoprene, synthetic plastic rubber, and other materials suitable for frictionally engaging the outer surface of vertical member 160 and bottom surface 130 of support 110.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, support 110 of vertical member-mounted device 100 has a mounting position and an engaged position. FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of vertical member-mounted device 100 having support 110 in the mounting position. In the mounting position first axis 122 of the engaging portion is substantially non-parallel with longitudinal axis 162 of vertical member 160. This enables support 110 to mount to vertical member 160. In the mounting position, support 110 can be moved onto or off of vertical member 160. Further, support 110 is moveable along vertical member 160, enabling the user to choose a location along vertical member 160 to engage support 110.
FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of vertical member-mounted device 100 having support 110 in the engaged position. In the engaged position first axis 122 of engaging portion 120 is substantially parallel with longitudinal axis 162 of vertical member 160 Support 110 may be substantially resistant to movement along vertical member 160 without the user bringing support 110 out of the engaged position and toward the mounting position. In the illustrative embodiment, support 110 is engaged on vertical member 160 such that bottom surface 130 of support 110 frictionally engages arresting component 150. Alternatively, support 110 may be engaged in any location along vertical member 160 above arresting component 150. Though, it is preferable for support 110 and arresting component 150 to be frictionally engaged or to be close to being frictionally engaged.
Further referring to FIG. 7, in an illustrative embodiment of vertical member-mounted device 100, arresting component 150 is frictionally engaged about vertical member 160 and in tension. There is an interface between arresting component 150 and vertical member 160. At this interface there is a frictional force substantially parallel to longitudinal axis 162 of vertical member 160 Support 110 is frictionally coupled to vertical member 160 such that arresting component 150 frictionally engages bottom surface 130 of support 110. There is an interface between support 110 and arresting component 150 along at least a portion of bottom surface 130 of support 110. At this interface there is a frictional force substantially transverse to longitudinal axis 162 of vertical member 160. The frictional forces at the interfaces operate to hinder the movement of support 110 relative to vertical member 160. In this manner, arresting device 150 provides additional support for support 110, helping prevent hanging component 110 from succumbing to the force of gravity or another force.
It should be noted, however, that support 110 and arresting component 150 do not need to be initially in contact, according to an implementation of the invention. Support 110 may be initially positioned above, and not in contact with, arresting device 150. Hanging component 110 may succumb to the force of gravity or another outside force. In this case, support 110 could move downward along vertical member 160 and into contact with arresting member 150. Once support 110 contacts arresting component 150, arresting component 150 can provide additional support for support 110, as discussed above.
FIG. 8 presents a side view of an exemplary embodiment of vertical member-mounted hanging device 100. FIG. 9 is another example of a vertical member-mounted hanging device 200 having a hook portion 240 and a slightly differently shaped engaging portion 220, shown by way of example, and having a bottom surface 230 in communication with an arresting component 250.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method of mounting a hanging device on a vertical member is provided. The method includes locating a arresting component on the vertical member. Locating may involve moving the arresting component over a free end of the vertical member. Alternatively, locating may involve pushing the arresting component into engagement with the vertical member with a force substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis or may involve other actions suitable for frictionally coupling the arresting component to the vertical member. Locating may further involve moving the arresting component along the longitudinal axis of the vertical member to the desired position.
The method for mounting further includes locating the support on the vertical member. In one example embodiment, locating the support involves moving the support into the mounting position, in which a first axis of the engaging portion is substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vertical member. Locating may alternatively involve moving the engaging portion, shown having a helical shape, over a free end of the vertical member Alternatively, locating may involve frictionally coupling the engaging portion to the vertical member by rotating the support about vertical member or may involve other actions suitable for frictionally coupling the support to the vertical member. Locating may optionally further involve moving the support along the longitudinal axis of the vertical member until it is at the user's desired position, preferably so that a bottom surface of the support is in contact with the arresting component such that the support and the arresting component are frictionally engaged.
The support may be moved into the engaged position by moving the first axis of the engaging portion so that it is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vertical member. If the support is in the engaged position and is in contact with the arresting component, applying a downward force along the support produces friction between the vertical member and the arresting component.
The location of the vertical member-mounted hanging device may be changed along the vertical member. The support may be disengaged by returning the support to the mounting position. The user can re-locate the arresting device along the vertical member as described above. The user can also re-locate the support and move it into the engaged position as described above.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention, showing by way of example, a vertical member 360 having a non-circular cross-section and a support 310 with a hook portion 340 and an engaging portion 320 that does not extend all the way around the vertical member. The engaging portion 320 has a bottom surface 330 in communication with an arresting component 350. In one implementation, the engaging portion 320 is formed as a band cut from a piece of tubing that may be slightly larger in dimension than the vertical member. FIG. 12 is a side view of the support 310. The support 310 functions similarly to other embodiments described herein.
The illustrative embodiments, implementation and examples herein are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. The present invention has been described by way of example, and modifications and variations of the exemplary embodiments will suggest themselves to skilled artisans in this field without departing from the spirit of the invention. Features and characteristics of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination. The preferred embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way.
Patent Application
20090139944
