US20050073223A1

US20050073223A1 - Molti folding hanger bar

Info

Publication number: US20050073223A1
Application number: US10/975,115
Authority: US
Inventors: Moti Shai
Original assignee: MoTi SHAi
Current assignee: MoTi SHAi
Priority date: 2002-10-15
Filing date: 2004-10-25
Publication date: 2005-04-07
Also published as: US20040070318A1

Abstract

A system and method for providing folding optionally extendable bar which enables a user to hang sheeted objects on in an efficient and compressed manner, it also allows the user fast and convenient access to hanged objects as soon as the bar is fully opened. The present invention can be used in conjunction with a frame to provide a closet to enable a user practical, efficient and very convenient way of storing hangable clothing in a very compact manner. The closet, which can be attached to a wall, used as a stand-alone unit or built-in into a wall, can reach its fully extended form, to provide practical and convenient access to the clothing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/270,218, Filed on 15 Oct. 2002, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folding bar, specifically to a new and improved system, which enables a user to hang sheeted objects on. In an efficient and compressed manner, it also allows the user fast and convenient access to hanged objects as soon as the bar is fully opened.
2. Description of the Related Art
Folding bars for hangable objects always was in big demand in household and public facilities in order to save a storage space. Such bars usually require manual separation of the objects when the bar is open and then it requires packing these objects back before folding the bar.
Thereafter, inventors created several types of folding bars for hangable objects, like: clothing, unframed pictures, architectural drawings and many more, to address this problem in a most practical and efficient way. None of the current inventions describe successfully folding bars with ability to hold heavy hanged objects and which doesn't require manual spreading of the hanged object to pick the wanted one.
Lee in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,323 B1 (2002) describing a multiple variation of folding bars in his storage systems. All of them have the following disadvantage:

- (a) In Lee's invention bar rail requires assembly prior to spreading hanged objects apart when the storage is open.
- (b) Manual motion is required to spread the clothing apart in order to choose a wanted one after the storage is open, and the user required compressing them together before closing the door of the storage. In the current invention clothing or other hangable items are ready and conveniently can be chosen as soon as storage is open.
- (c) Lee's invention prevents from the user to hang heavy clothing like jackets, coats and the like because hanging bar made out of plurality of horizontally folding sections which by design cannot support heavy weight, see FIG. 7e in Lee's invention.
- (d) Slidable bars as they are shown in FIGS. 12, 14, and 15 and telescopic bar in FIG. 13 in Lee's invention also have the disadvantages of inability to support heavy weight clothing as well as hanger's hook can interfere with the sliding motion and it requires the user to spread the objects apart in order to see and to choose the wanted object.

For the reasons mentioned above my inventions is an improvement of Lee's invention because it saves exterior width and interior space which allows to store more clothing, the clothing can be chosen faster because as soon as the door of the storage is opened the clothing already conveniently spread apart and the user can see immediately all the hanged objects. My invention allows to hold heavy object, like jackets, coats and the like, because of the vertical bar design and the lock between bar's sections, bars in Lee's invention are opened in horizontal manner with very small overlap between the sections which can't hold heavy objects.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

- (a) Ability to hold heavy hanged objects because its vertical designs;
- (b) Easy and fast opening because of the pressure of the weight of hanged objects;
- (c) Doesn't require any rail bar assembly;
- (d) Hanged objects already spread apart as soon as the bar is fully unfolded;
- (e) Ability to extend the bar by adding additional sections;

Vertically folding bar in the current invention can be built-into a storage space to provide the following advantages:

- (a) To provide over 70% of space saving, storage unit, to store hangable clothing in a very compact and efficient manner;
- (b) To minimize to only a few inches, and sometimes to eliminate completely, the floor space that this invention will take, its thickness is about the thickness of the wall therefore it can be built-in into the wall so in this case it will not take any floor space at all;
- (c) To provide additional storage in a hall way, walking closet, garage, office, and like
- (d) No maintenance required
- (e) To provide easy and simple installation by only screwing 4 screws to the wall;
- (f) To provide neat and decorative furniture piece that may include mirror or picture on its front side as well;

Further objects and advantages are to provide at least 70% space saving storage unit which can be easily installed and used efficiently and conveniently to store, primarily but not necessarily, hangable clothing. This decorative storage unit, which will be used in household and commercial facilities, is simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture. The storage can be attached to a wall or built-in into a wall, which will not take any floor spacing.
Therefore, the present invention provides efficient, effective and very practical usage of the vertically folding bar for hanged sheeted objects to be used in a storage places. Still farther objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawing and ensuing description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved system and method of folding bar which by its vertical design provide an ability to hold heavy hanged objects which already spread apart as soon as the bar is fully unfolded. The bar can be extended to required length by adding additional vertically folding sections.
The present creation can be used in a face extendable closet that can be attached to the wall, used as stand-alone unit or built-in into a wall, for storing hanged sheeted objects. The closet is fully extended, horizontally, upon opening to provide convenient access to store clothing, and then, upon closing it, it will be horizontally folded back in providing the user over 70% of space saving.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as others, are described in greater detail in the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the folding bar in its closed position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the folding bar in its fully unfolded position.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folding closet with a folding bar in fully open position.
FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the folding closet with a bar in closed position.
FIG. 5 is a sectional top view of the folding bar in fully unfolded position used in the attached to the wall closet.
FIG. 6 is a sectional top view presenting folding bar in the storage build-in into a wall that shows clearly a frame to fit inside the wall. With molding around to caver the Dry wall edge.
FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the extension folding bar in closed position and supporting leg attached to wheel.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the wall closed space with extension folding bar.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the extended addition to the storage space frame which is used when folding bar is extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to an improved system and method which enables a user to hang sheeted objects on in an efficient and compressed manner, it also allows the user fast and convenient access to hanged objects as soon as the bar is fully opened. By its vertical design it allows the user to hang heavy objects. The present invention can be used in conjunction with a frame to provide a storage closet to enable a user to store changeable objects like clothing, blue prints sheets, poster sheets and the like in horizontally extendable closet in a very compact and efficient way for space saving purposes. The closet can be attached to a wall, used as a stand-alone unit or built-in into a wall, in household or public facilities. The closet can be fully extended, to provide easy and convenient access to clothing, by pulling the front door away from the frame, which is in fixed position, and by doing that unfolding internal bar, that holds the hangers, to its horizontal and locked position. The preferred embodiments of the improved system and method are fully and detailed illustrated and described in the following paragraphs.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention the system 100 includes multiple sections 22 folding bar with built-in notches 24 for hangers support. Folding bar support 21 is attached, by pins 23, to folding bar 22 and located at bars the pivot points. Folding bar pivots 26 allows attaching and supporting folding bars 22 through holes 25.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, presenting storage frame 10, for providing shelter for hanged clothing or like. The frame 10 includes horizontal support straps 12, with an altitudinal through-holes in it, it also includes folding bar 22 joining the frame 10 to the front door 20 through the bar pivots 26. Folding bar support 21 is attached to folding bar 22 located at the pivot point. The frame further includes plurality of safety chains 14 or the like connecting the frame 10 and the front door 20 on both their sides.
Folding bar 22 has notches 24 for providing hangers support. Front door 20 includes plurality of clip locks 16 locate on both sides of it, front door 20 further includes plurality of wheels 18 attached to its bottom side.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the built-in frame 40, with an altitudinal through-hole 36 on each side of it, includes folding bar 22, which has notches 24, built-in frame 40 has horizontal support straps 42 to support the folding bar 22, it also has chains 14 or the like connected to the front door 20. Frame 40 is attached with screws to stud 32 while it's touching the back of the dry wall 30. Decorative mirror or panel 38 can be attached as an option to the front door 20. Decorative molding 34 is located around built-in frame 40 to cover dry wall edges and to support front door 20 when the closet is closed, and it increases the depth of the closet as well.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the system 110 provides optional extension to folding bar including pair of folding bar sections 22, supporting leg 44 attached to wheel 46.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, presents system 110 installed in the closet.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the system 120 provides optional frame extension 50, required when the folding bar is extended, includes tracks 52, attached to the interior top side, and trails 54 which are located inside tracks 52 in a slidable manner. Trails 54 are attached to the main frame on the top by screws through holes 56.
In a method for the use of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention the system 100 enables the user to hang sheeted objects a most efficient manner while it's attached to the horizontally extended closet. Notches 24 hold and support the hangers at the predefined space so it will be spread apart when the folding bar is fully opened, so user can easily accessed wanted object, they also keep objects nicely packed when the folding bar is closed.
One of the embodiments can be provided when folding bar is in a built-in closet best shown in FIG. 6. Additional folding sections, best shown in FIG. 7, can be easily added to folding bar to increase the storage space which comes together with extended frame as illustrated in FIG. 9 that include tracks 52 and trails 54 attached to the main frame on the top by crews through holes 56. Extended frame can be slide on top of main frame, using tracks 52 and trails 54, to allow better access to hanged objects. Decorative mirror or panel 38 can be added as an option to closet front door 20, best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In another embodiment the closet cab is high enough to hang dresses or to double folding bars for short clothing.
In accordance with the present invention, the particular embodiments set forth above for the system are capable of providing folding optionally extendable bar which enables a user to hang sheeted objects on in an efficient and compressed manner, it also allows the user fast and convenient access to hanged objects as soon as the bar is fully opened. However, other forms of that system may be utilized with the present invention without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Based on the present disclosure, other constructions and applications are known to one skilled in the art.
In view of the above, it is apparent that the system and method of the preferred embodiments of the present invention enhance practicality and effectiveness of enabling a user to store hangable sheeted objects in a most compact and space saving way.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments identified herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A vertically folding bar for sheeted objects to be hanged on in a very compressed and efficient manner, said device comprising:

a. a plurality of built-in notches;

b. a folding bar support located at bars pivot points;

c. a pair of hinges on both ends of said folding bar;

d. a folding bar support located around the pivot point of said folding bar;

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said built-in notches are designed in such a shape so it can support the hangers in opened and closed position and the hanged objects will always stay in vertical position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said built-in notches are designed in a predefined distance so hanged objects will be spread apart as soon as said folding bar will be fully opened.

4. An extending storage device, for hangable units, with a folding bar connecting internally both interior parallel sides of said device, said folding bar is providing support for said hangable units, said device comprising:

a. a member providing the frame of said device;

b. a member providing horizontally-extending decorative front door of said device;

c. a member providing a folding bar, to support said hangable units, connected internally to both said frame and said front door;

d. means for attaching said frame to a wall forcing said frame to be in fixed and steady position;

e. means for pivotally attaching said folding bar to internal sides of said frame and said front door, providing limit of maximum opening of said device when said folding bar is in its fully horizontal and locked position;

f. means to keep said front door stable and parallel to said frame in the fully extended form of said device; and

g. means to keep said front door tightly attached to said body in the fully closed form of frame device;

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said hangable units are, primarily but not necessarily, hangable clothing or other hangable particles like: blue prints sheets or poster sheets.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said frame has a wide molding around it to provide a shelter for said hangable clothing when said device is in its fully closed form.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said horizontally-extending decorative front door has a matching, to said frame, shape with a molding around it, to be attached perfectly to said frame when said device is in its fully closed form.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said horizontally-extending decorative front door further comprising a plurality of wheels connected to the bottom of said front door to enable the user easy and efficient opening of said device, especially when said device is fully loaded with said hangable clothing.

9. The device of claim 4 wherein said horizontally-extending decorative front door has mirror, picture or decorative design, on the front side of it, to provide more practical and decorative look of said device and to take full advantage of said device as a furniture member as well.

10. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for attaching said frame to a wall has a plurality of horizontal support straps.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said horizontal support straps have plurality of altitudinal through-holes in every one of them.

12. The device of claim 4 wherein said means to keep said front door stable and parallel to said frame are plurality of decorative chains or rope.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said chains are attached to the sides of said frame and said front door to keep said front door parallel to said frame when said device is in its full extended form so said chains in their fully stretched horizontal position.

14. The device of claim 4 wherein said frame is a wall built-in frame which has decorative molding around it.

15. An extension folding bar to provide more storage space when it is optionally added to extending storage device, said device comprising:

a. a pair of folding bar sections;

b. a support leg attached to the wheel;

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said extension folding bar is used together with extended frame which is attached to the main frame.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said extended frame has tracks attached to its interior top and trails located inside said tracks in a slidable manner so said extended frame can slide on top of main frame to provide better access to hanged objects.