US20030080163A1

US20030080163A1 - Low profile hanger

Info

Publication number: US20030080163A1
Application number: US10/001,547
Authority: US
Inventors: Margaret Katz
Original assignee: MSK ENTERPRISES LLC
Current assignee: MSK ENTERPRISES LLC
Priority date: 2001-10-31
Filing date: 2001-10-31
Publication date: 2003-05-01

Abstract

The present invention comprises a low profile hanger for supporting personal items. The low profile hanger includes a single member forming a first planar section. The first planar section is configured with an attachment structure to connect the hanger to a surface. Connected to the first planar section is a second planar section wherein the second planar section is attached to the first planar section by a first curved section. A third planar section is attached to the second planar section by a second curved section. To facilitate the low profile nature of the hanger, the second and third planar sections are offset from the first planar section.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to compact, low profile hangers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

We, as humans, have created a cluttered society. It appears to be in our nature to collect as many things as possible in our lives and as much as possible, to take these things with us wherever we go. Consequently, a challenge many of us face from day to day, is finding a space to store the things we pack around or acquire during our daily routines.

Often, a counter, seat or even the floor is where we end up placing our items. Thus, we normally set our items is the same area other people travel through or intend to seat themselves. Consequently, our belongings are often in jeopardy of being stolen, crushed or otherwise damaged by the other people. This is especially true in restaurants where patrons and waiters rush about the establishment trampling purses or other belonging placed upon the floor.

Many hanging devices have been invented throughout the years. However, the hangers in existence today are too obtrusive to be employed in our ever-increasing space conscious world. Current hanger designs inefficiently occupy too much space in areas such as school lockers, offices or public areas such as restaurants or restroom facilities.

There does not exist a hanger that can be connected unobtrusively to a structure, for example a locker or the underside of a table or desk, without impeding the use of the structure or the hanger itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a low profile hanger for supporting personal items. The low profile hanger includes a single member forming a first planar section. The first planar section is configured with an attachment structure to engage the hanger to a surface. Connected to the first planar section is a second planar section wherein the second planar section is attached to the first planar section by a first curved section. A third planar section is attached to the second planar section by a second curved section. To facilitate the low profile nature of the hanger, the second and third planar sections are offset from the first planar section.

In accordance with further aspects of the invention, wherein the surface is at least one of a locker or an undersurface of a desk, counter or table.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, wherein, the attachment structure is at least one of a screw, nail, pin, clip, magnet, adhesive, or sliding coupler.

In accordance with still further aspects of the invention, wherein the hanger is constructed from a metal, ceramic, plastic, or any combination or alloy thereof.

As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention provides a simple and efficient device for unobtrusively hanging personal items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. [0011]
FIG. 1 is a top view of a low profile hanger; [0012]
FIG. 2 is a side view of the hanger illustrated in FIG. 1; and, [0013]
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the hanger illustrated in FIG. 1.[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a low profile hanger for use in a variety of applications. By way of overview and with reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a single member, [0015] low profile hanger 20 having a first planar section 22 that is off-set from a second and a third planar members, 26 and 30 respectfully. Located between the planar members are a first and second curved sections 24 and 28. The relationship between the planar section, 22, 26 and 28, and the curved sections, 24 and 28 is such that an overall low hanger profile is achieved. The hanger's low profile allows this hanger 20 to be employed not only in traditional hanger locations, for example, on a wall, but also in space critical, non-traditional hanger locations such as the underside of tables, in lockers or on the side of a computer monitor. Consequently, a variety of low profile hanger 20 arrangements and fastening structure are disclosed herein, and described in more particularity below.
The [0016] hanger 20 is constructed from a single, continuous member arranged to form the various planar and curved sections. In general, the member is a substantially rectangular shaped structure. However, any other geometric shape for the members is considered within the scope of this invention, for example, round or partially rounded. The desired cross-sectional shape of the member is substantially based upon the application in which the hanger 20 is employed.
First [0017] planar section 22 is configured to provide the support base and attachment structure for the hanger 20. The first planar section 22 includes an attachment structure 32. As depicted most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, the attachment structure 32 includes a plurality of bores designed to receive a variety of fasteners, for example, screws, nails or pins. However, any other commonly known fastening device is considered within the scope of this invention, for example, clips, adhesives, magnets, cements, sliding couplers, or combinations thereof.
The [0018] hanger 20 derives its unique compact nature and low profile from its overall geometry that is best illustrated in FIG. 2. The hanger 20 incorporates an offset 34 that puts a top plane 36 of the hanger 20 at an angle to an attachment plane 38 of the first planar section 22. The degree of offset 34 is entirely variable and is not to be considered limiting to invention. Thus, the degree of offset 34 can vary from the top plane 36 and the attachment plane being substantially perpendicular through being substantially parallel (not shown).
It is also to be appreciated that the respective curvature and arc lengths of the first and second curved sections, [0019] 24 and 28, are variable and independent from one another. More specifically, the curved sections 24 and 28 can be varied to place the planar members 22, 26 and 30 at any angle relative to one another. The planar members, 22, 26, and 30 can all be parallel to each other or they can each be at any angle relative to one another. Additionally, it is contemplated that the planar members are sized to fit the application for which they will be used.
The [0020] hanger 20 is preferably constructed from aluminum. However, any material choice is considered within the scope of this invention, for example, other metals, ceramics, plastic or plastic-like materials, combinations or alloys thereof. It will be appreciated that the instant invention shall not be limited by the material choice.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. [0021]

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A single member low profile hanger, comprising:

a first planar section having an attachment structure, the first planar section being configured to attach to a surface;

a second planar section, the second planar section being attached to the first planar section by a first curved section; and,

a third planar section, the third planar section being attached to the second planar section by a second curved section,

wherein the second and third planar sections are offset from the first planar section.

2. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the attachment structure is at least one of a screw, nail, pin, clip, magnet, adhesive, sliding coupler or combinations thereof.

3. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger material is at least one of a metal, ceramic, plastic, combination or alloy thereof.

4. The hanger of claim 3, wherein the metal is aluminum.

5. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the surface is the underside of at least one of a table or desk.

6. A low profile hanger, comprising:

a first planar section;

a means for attaching the for attaching the first planar section to a surface,

7. The hanger of claim 6, wherein the means for attaching is at least one of a screw, nail, pin, clip, magnet, adhesive, sliding coupler or combinations thereof.

8. The hanger of claim 6, wherein the hanger material is at least one of a metal, ceramic, plastic, combination or alloy thereof.

9. The hanger of claim 8, wherein the metal is aluminum.

10. The hanger of claim 6, wherein the surface is the underside of at least one of a table or desk.