Garment/towel hook

• US 5,558,307 A
• Filed: 08/11/1994
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynk Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lynk Incorporated
• Inventors: Klein, Richard B., Serslev, Chris, Ratia, Ristomatti
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/289,006
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 248/309.1, 248/302, 248/303, 248/304, 248/205.3, 248/205.4, 248/222.1, 248/339, 211/16, 211/105.1, D 6/315, D 6/316, D 6/317, D 6/320, D 6/323, D 6/327, D 6/411, D 6/412, 223/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 248/309.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 25/0607 Clothes hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/12 Grips, hooks, or the like for hanging-up towels

Abstract

A hook for hanging clothing, towels or other articles. The hook includes an enlarged rigid base secured to a wall or other vertical surface. A rigid rod extends from the base to a free end having a reduced diameter. A friction knob is mounted upon this reduced diameter section. The friction knob takes the form of a sheath which surrounds the free end of the rod. A plurality of circumferential ribs extend from the exterior of the sheath at locations spaced along its longitudinal axis. The free ends of the ribs are arranged along the axis such that the ribs, and thus the exterior of the knob, take an ellipsoidal form having a relatively large size. This relatively large size reduces wrinkling and "bulging" in the article hung upon the hook. The knob is formed of a flexible material having a relatively high coefficient of friction. The weight of the article will typically deform the ribs, increasing the surface area of the knob material in contact with the knob, and thus reducing the possibility of the article slipping from the knob. The rod is hollow, with a hole extending through the base. A screw is inserted through the hole to secure the hook to the wall. A cosmetic plug is attached to the free end of the rod to hide the screw. The plug also acts as an enlarged head to maintain the knob upon the rod.

Claims

1. A garment/towel hook, comprising:

a base for abutment against a vertical surface;

a cantilevered rod extending from said base and having a free end;

a knob mounted upon said rod adjacent said free end, said knob including a tubular sheath, having an opening extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of said sheath, said opening slidably received on said free end of said rod, said sheath being integrally formed with a plurality of ribs extending thereabout, and projecting radially outward from the longitudinal axis of said sheath and from a longitudinal axis of said rod, said ribs being spaced along said sheath, said ribs being formed of a resilient material having a relatively high coefficient of friction.

2. The garment/towel hook as in claim 1, wherein said rod includes a mounting portion adjacent to and encompassing said free end, said mounting portion defining an outwardly facing shoulder, and wherein an interior end of said knob abuts against said shoulder.

3. The garment/towel hook as in claim 2, wherein said rod includes a cavity therein opening onto said free end, and further including:

a cap, said cap having a skirt received within said cavity, and a head extending outward from said longitudinal axis a distance greater than said mounting portion, whereby said head forms an abutment resisting removal of said knob.

4. The garment/towel hook as in claim 3, wherein said cavity includes a longitudinally outward facing shoulder adjacent said base, and a through hole opening onto a longitudinally interior end of said rod and said base, whereby a screw extends through said through hole to secure said hook to said surface.

5. The garment/towel hook as in claim 4, wherein said ribs define an ellipsoidal configuration having a minor axis as an axis of revolution and aligned with said longitudinal axis of said rod.

6. The garment/towel hook as in claim 1, wherein said ribs define an ellipsoidal configuration having a minor axis as an axis of revolution and aligned with said longitudinal axis of said rod.