US2757804A - Extendable closet rod - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1956 D. SADWIN 2,757,804

EXTENDABLE CLOSET ROD Filed June 29, 195; 2 Shets-Sheet 1 mmvron W Ll?! DANIEL SADWIN Pi 5 E- Aug. 7, 1956 D. SADWIN 2,757,804

' EXTENDABLE CLOSET ROD Filed June 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zzvwszvroa DANIEL 5ADWIN United States Patent EXTENDABLE CLOSET ROD Daniel Sadwin, Woonsocket, R. I.

Application June 29, 1953-, Serial No. 364,829

4 Claims. (Cl. 211-94) This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in clothes hanger assembles particularly adapted for use in closets and the like.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a clothes hanger assembly which can readily be installed on the underside of a closet shelf or the like for slidably supporting a plurality of clothes hangers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger assembly for supporting clothes or the like which will occupy but a small space in a closet and by means of which clothes may be packed closely together.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger assembly which is very compact, strong, durable and easy to operate.

It is further proposed, according to a modification of the invention, to provide a clothes hanger assembly which is extensible to fit various sizes of closets andthe like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an extensible clothes hanger assembly designed to ofier the maximum rigidity regardless of the degree to which the assembly may have been extended, thus always afiording a strong, solid, non-sagging and non-rattling support for clothes hangers.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger assembly which is simple in construction and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a closet shelf with a clothes hanger assembly embodying one form of the invention installed thereon and showing a clothes hanger in position.

Fig. 2 is anenlarged perspective view of the improved support for the clothes hanger brackets shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane ofthe line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the form. of hanger bracket shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of support for the clothes hanger brackets.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner slidable section of the support of Fig; 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one end of the outer fixed section of the support of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the end closure for the fixed section of the support of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of another modified form of support for the clothes hanger brackets, the parts being shown in extended position.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the support of Fig. 9 showing the parts in non-extended position.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 11--11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a support for the clothes hanger brackets embodyilng still another modification of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of hanger bracket.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, inclusive, showing the first form of the invention, the clothes hanger assembly herein shown comprises a supporting member, an elongated box-like body 9 of sheet metal or other suitable material having a base or inner wall 10, side Walls 11 and an outer wall 12', the base or inner wall extending laterally of the side walls to provide flanges 13 therealong. The flanges are provided with spaced openingsv 14 for receiving fastening members such as screws 15 for fastening the box-like body to a shelf 16 supported in a closet 17 or the like". The box-like body is closed at both ends 18 and 19. The outer wall 12 is formed with a central slot 20 extending the length thereof forming trackways 21, 21 on both sides of the slot. Adjacent one end of the box-like body, the outer wall 12 is formed with opposed cutouts 22, communicating with the slot 20 providing an enlarged opening at this point to permit the installation of a slid'able hanger bracket 23.

A hanger bracket 23' is shown in detail in Fig. 4 and includes a cylindrical body portion 24 from which extends a metal shank 25 having a hook 26 on its outer end. The cylindrical body portion 24 supports two opposed pintles 27 which are disposed eccentrically of the axis of the cylindrical body portion and mounted on the pintles are two rollers 28. The overall distance between the outer ends of the pintles 27 is such that the cylindrical body 24 and rollers 28 may be inserted through the enlarged opening formed by the cutouts 22, 22 and slot 20 in order to mount the rollers 28 on the trackways 21, 21, with the cylindrical body 24 protruding through the slot 20" and its' hooked shank. 25 extending outside of the outer wall 12 for releasably supporting an ordinary coat hanger 29 or the like. The cylindrical body portion 24 and the rollers 28 may be made of'plastic, metal or any other suitable material.

From the above it will be seen that a plurality of hanger brackets 23' may be slidably supported on the box-like body. The particular size or length of the boxlike body of course is subject to variation and will control the number of hanger brackets which may be supported thereby.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the supporting member of the assembly is extensible and includes an elongated tubular outer box-like section 30 and' an elongated tubular inner boxlike section 31' telescopically and slidably arranged in the outer section. The outer section 30 comprises a base or inner wall 32, side walls 33 and an outer wall 34 having an elongated slot 35 extending from end to end thereof, forming trackways 36 along the outer wall. Spaced openings 37 are formed in the inner wall 32 for receiving fastening members for fasteningthe outer section 30 to theshelf 16 or the like.

The inner section 31 is similarly constructed with a base or inner wall 38, side walls 39 and an outer wall 40- having an elongated slot 41 extending from end to end-thereof anddisposed in alignment with the slot 35 of the outer section, and thereby formingtrackways 42 along: the outer wall 40.

The outer wall 34 ofthe' outer section 30adjacent both ends. thereof is formed" with opposed cutouts 43" communicating withthe slot 35 therein-to permit the-insertion of a hanger bracket 23 therethrough for movement along the trackways of the outer and inner sections, similarly to the movement along the trackways 21, 21 of the form of Fig. l. The inner wall 38 of the inner section 31 is provided with spaced elongated openings 44 adapted to be moved into register with the openings 37 in the inner wall 32 of section 30 for fastening the assembly to its support.

The end of the outer section 30 adjacent the cutouts 43 is closed by a closure member 47 of sheet metal including a rectangularly-shaped end and side walls 49 and bendable sections 50 forming an outer wall. This construction permits the side and outer walls of the closure member to frictionally and yieldingly engage the walls of the outer section for holding the closure member in position. At the same time, the outer wall 50 closes the outlets 43 to prevent accidental withdrawal of the hanger bracket 23 therethrough. The hanger bracket 23 may be readily mounted and demounted by lifting the bendable sections 50 of the bottom wall and passing it through the cutout portions 22.

Turning now to the modified form of supporting member shown in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, this form is also extensible and consists of an outer box-like section 51 having a flat or inner wall 52, and outer wall 53 and stepped side walls 54 forming inner and outer guideways 55 and 56, respectively, the innermost steps of the side walls being secured to the flat inner wall 52 by welding or the like. The inner wall 52 extends laterally of the side walls forming flanges 57 secured to the flanges of the sidewalls. The outer wall 53 is formed with an elongated slot 59 centrally thereof and extending from end to end thereof. Both ends 60 and 61 may be closed by closure members such as the closure members 47 shown in Fig. 8.

Another box-like section 62 is telescopically and slidably disposed within the outer section 51 and consists of a base or inner wall 63, an outer wall 64 and flanged side walls 65 secured at their flanged bases to the inner wall 63 by welding or the like and with the inner wall forming flanges 66, which slide in the inner guideway 55 of the outer section 51. The outer wall 64 is formed with an elongated central slot 67 extending the length thereof, which slot registers with the slot 59 of the outer section 51. The outer wall 64 is adapted to slide in the outer guideway 56 of the outer section.

The outer walls 53 and 64 of the outer and inner sections 51 and 60, respectively, are provided with cutout portions 53' and 64', respectively, communicating with their respective slots 59 and 67 to permit insertions of a hanger bracket 23 when the cutout portions are in alignment.

The stepped portions of the side walls 55 of the outer section 51 and the flanges 66 of the inner section 62 are formed with openings 68 and 69, respectively, adapted to align with openings 70 in the inner wall 52 of the outer section for receiving fastening members to fasten the assembly to its support.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a further modified form of extensible supporting member for the clothes hanger assembly consisting of an outer tubular section 71 having a flat base or inner wall 72, a slightly curved outer wall 73 and curved side walls 74. The inner wall 72 is formed with openings 75 for receiving fastening members for securing the outer section 71 to the shelf 16 of the closet 17 or like support. The outer wall 73 is formed with an elongated central slot 76 extending from end to end thereof, forming trackways 77 on both sides of the slot.

An inner tubular section 78 is telescopically and slidably disposed within the outer section 71. The inner section is constructed similarly to the outer section 71 having a flat base or inner wall 79, a slightly curved outer wall 80 and curved side walls 81, with an elongated central slot 82 in the outer wall 80 extending from end to end thereof, in alignment with the slot 76 of the outer section.

The various forms of supporting members for the clothes hanger assembly shown and described herein might be used with a hanger bracket without rollers. For example, in Fig. 13 a modified form of hanger bracket 86 is shown comprising a flat square body 87 of plastic or other suitable material having grooves 88 in opposed sides. A metal shank 89 extends outwardly of the center of the body 87 and is formed into a hook 90 at its outer end. When using this form of hanger bracket, the body 87 is slid along the trackways formed by the slotted outer walls of the supporting members.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent,

1. In a clothes hanger assembly, an elongated extensible box-like supporting member having an outer boxlike section with stepped side walls and with openings for receiving fastening members, said side walls forming outer and inner guidcways, and an inner box-like section telescopically and slidably mounted in said outer boxlike section and having a flat inner wall movable in the inner guideway with its outer wall movable in the outer guideway, the outer walls of said box-like sections having aligned elongated slots extending the lengths thereof for slidably receiving a hanger bracket.

2. In a clothes hanger assembly, an elongated extensible box-like supporting member having an outer boxlike section with stepped side walls and with openings for receiving fastening members, said side walls forming outer and inner trackways, and an inner box-like section telescopically and slidably mounted in said outer box-like section and having a flat inner wall movable in said inner trackway with its outer wall movable in the outer trackway, the outer walls of said box-like sections having aligned elongated slots extending the lengths thereof and having cutouts communicating with said slots whereby a hanger bracket may be inserted into the supporting member and slid along said outer walls.

3. In a clothes hanger assembly, an elongated extensible box-like supporting member having an outer box-like section with stepped side walls and with openings for receiving fastening members for fastening the section to a support, said side walls forming outer and inner trackways, an inner box-like section telescopically and slidably mounted in said outer boxlike section and having a flat inner wall movable in the inner trackway with its outer wall movable in the outer trackway, the outer walls of said box-like sections having aligned elongated slots extending the lengths thereof for slidably receiving a hanger bracket, and means for holding the inner box-like section in adjusted position.

4. In a clothes hanger assembly, an elongated extensible box-like supporting member having an outer box-like sec tion with stepped side walls and with openings for receiving fastening members for fastening the section to a support, said side walls forming outer and inner trackways, an inner box-like section telescopically and slidably mounted in said outer box-like section and having a flat inner wall movable in the inner trackway with its outer wall movable in the outer trackway, the outer walls of said box-like sections having aligned slots extending from end to end thereof, and having cutouts communicating with said slots whereby a hanger bracket may be inserted into said supporting member and slid along said outer walls, said outer and side walls having spaced openings therealong adapted to be moved into alignment for receiving screws for fastening the assembly to a support.

- (References on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Perry Jan. 8, 1907 Edsall et a1 Feb. 3, 1920 5 Wilson May 4, 1920 Reubel July 14, 1925 Day Nov. 22, 1927 Duthie Nov. 12, 1929 Rapp Sept. 22, 1931 10 6 Toelle Feb. 27, 1934 Viola June 15, 1937 Breuer Sept. 21, 1937 Weckstrom Jan. 25, 1938 Svendsen Jan. 16, 1951 Rosenbaurn July 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Mar. 16, 1935

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