Method and means for supporting clothes hangers

• US 5,284,260 A
• Filed: 11/23/1992
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald J. Caligiuri Sr
• Original Assignee: Gerald J. Caligiuri Sr
• Inventors: Caligiuri, Gerald J. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US07/980,480
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 211/86, 211/96, 211/102, 211/105.5, 211/174, 211/168, 248/354.1, 248/161
• US Class Current: 211/107
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/1425 Uprights secured to ceiling and floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/24 Clothes racks A47G25/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 25/06 Clothes hooks; Clothes racks; Garment-supporting stands with swingable or extending arms with lockable hooks E05B69/02

Abstract

A support for clothes hangers includes an upper tube section telescopically received in the upper end of a lower tube section. A support arm is slidably fitted over the upper tube section and extends perpendicularly with respect thereto. Below the support arm is a locking pin which extends through a diametric bore in the upper tube section. Below the pin is a spring which is compressed between upper and lower stop washers. The lower stop washer engages the upper end of the lower tube section. The upper end of the upper tube section and the lower end of the lower tube section may be compressed together against the bias of the spring so as to fit between the ceiling and floor of a room.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting clothes hangers comprising:

first and second tube sections each having first and second opposite ends, at least said second tube section having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough;

said first tube section being telescopically received within said second tube section for longitudinal telescoping movement therein from a retracted position wherein said first tube section protrudes a first distance from said first end of said second tube section to a plurality of extended positions wherein said first tube protrudes from said first end of said second tube a plurality of distances respectively, each of which is greater than said first distance;

said first tube section having a plurality of radially extending bores therein, said plurality of bores being axially spaced from one another along the length of said first tube section;

first stop means surrounding said first tube section and engaging said first end of said second tube section;

second stop means comprising pin means fitted within one of said bores in said first tube section;

an elongated axially compressible coil spring surrounding said first tube section between said first and second stop means whereby said spring means is axially confined between said first and second stop means for yieldably holding said first tube section in one of said plurality of extended positions and said first tube section is yieldably movable toward said retracted position against the bias of said compressible spring means;

a support member comprising a sleeve slidable on said first tube section, and a support arm connected to said sleeve and extending perpendicularly to said first tube section.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pin means is positioned between said sleeve of said support member and said coil spring.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first end of said first tube section is within said second tube section and said second end of said first tube section includes first pad means for engaging a ceiling of a room and said second end of said second tube section includes second pad means for engaging a floor of said room.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pin means extends radially outwardly from said first tube section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said spring is in compression when said first tube section is in said one of said plurality of positions whereby said spring means exerts an axial yieldable force on said pin means to hold said pin means within said bore of said first tube section and to hold said pin against rotation within said bore.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a socket means, said support arm having a first end fitted within said socket means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and further comprising securing means retentively holding said first end of said support arm within said socket means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said securing means comprising at least one crimp in said socket means for retentively engaging said first end of said support arm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first stop means comprises a first washer slidably mounted over said first tube section and abutting against said first end of said second tube section.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second stop means further comprises a second washer slidably mounted on said first tube section between said pin means and said coil spring.

11. A method for supporting clothes hangers in a room having a ceiling and a floor spaced apart a first distance, said method comprising:

taking first and second tube sections each having upper and lower ends;

slipping a sleeve of a support member over said lower end of said first tube section, said support member having a support arm attached to said sleeve and extending perpendicularly to said first tube section;

inserting a pin through a diametric hole in said first tube section;

placing an elongated coil in surrounding relation over said lower end of said first tube section below said pin;

placing a first stop washer over said lower end of said first tube section below said coil spring;

inserting said lower end of said first tube section into said upper end of said second tube section whereby said first stop washer will engage said upper end of said second tube section and said spring will be embraced between said pin and said first stop washer to limit downward telescoping movement of said first tube section into said second tube section, whereby said upper end of said first tube section and said lower end of said second tube section are spaced apart a second distance greater than said first distance between said ceiling and said floor;

forcing said first tube section further down into said second tube section against the bias of said spring until said upper end of said first tube section and said lower end of said second tube section are spaced apart a third distance less than said first distance;

permitting said spring to expand said first and second tube sections apart until said upper end of said first tube section and said lower end of said second tube section are pressed against said ceiling and floor respectively.