US20040070318A1

US20040070318A1 - Folding hanger closet

Info

Publication number: US20040070318A1
Application number: US10/270,218
Authority: US
Inventors: Moti Shai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-15
Filing date: 2002-10-15
Publication date: 2004-04-15
Also published as: US20050073223A1

Abstract

A system and method for providing horizontally folding decorative hanger closet for enabling a user practical, efficient and very convenient way of storing hangable clothing in a very compact and over 70% space saving 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, by pooling the front door away from the steady frame while unfolding internal folding bar, that supports the hangers, to its full horizontal position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to clothing storage, specifically to new and improved system, which enables a user to store hangable clothing in a very compact and efficient method for space saving purposes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Compact and efficient hangable clothing storage always was in big demand in household and public facilities. Such storages usually require large space that was taken in place of leaving, working or passing through areas.

Thereafter, inventors created several types of space saving storages for hangable units, like: clothing, unframed pictures, architectural drawings and many more, to address this problem in a most practical and efficient way. U.S. patent to John Thomas Batts (1922) describes a portable clothing suitcase that designed especially for traveling purposes, its big, heavy, expensive to manufacture and not a space saver. U.S. patent to John W. R. Johnson (1887) describes a foldable device, to hang clothing, build-in in a drawer; however the device is usable only when the drawer is open which means that it designed for temporary usage, the access to clothing is very inconvenient, impractical and it doesn't save any space when it is used.

Somewhat space saving closet was proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 676,594 to Fritz Vogel (1901) describing a two doors clothing closet that provides a user an access to the hanged clothing when both door are opened, however it suffers from a number of disadvantages:

(a) Only 15% of space saving which means that this closet takes a lot of floor space relatively to the clothing that it can store.

(b) The device includes many movable parts, which makes it expensive to manufacture.

(c) Many moving parts that require some kind of maintenance after certain period of time.

(d) Must be pre-assembled by professional.

(e) Requires significantly large clear space surrounding the wardrobe in order to open both doors.

(f) User must open both doors to access clothing hanged deep inside in the wardrobe, and even then it is inconvenient to reach cloth located deep inside the closet.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

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

(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 indoor and out-door usage of the clothing storage;

(d) to provide easy and inexpensive manufacture of the storage unit;

(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;

(g) no maintenance required.

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 hangable clothing storage in compact and space saving manner in household and public facilities, packaged in one decorative unit. 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 for enabling a user practical, efficient, and economical way of storing hangable clothing in a very compact manner for space saving purposes.

The present creation discloses a horizontally extendable closet that can be attached to the wall, used as stand-alone unit or built-in into a wall, for storing hangable clothing. 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 perspective view of a horizontally Folding Hanger Closet, with a hangers shown in dashed lines. [0026]
FIG. 2 is a sectional side view that shows clearly the folding bar in its fully folded position, when the closet is closed. [0027]
FIG. 3 is a sectional top view of the first embodiment of the invention, where the storage attached to a wall, that shows clearly the folding bar in its fully extended horizontal position supporting hangers, which shown in dashed lines. [0028]
FIG. 4 is a sectional top view of the second embodiment of the invention, where the storage build-in into a wall, that shows clearly special shaped frame to fit into a wall. Dry walls and built-in frame supporting beams are, in a different pattern, to display more vividly the location of the built-in frame relatively to the wall. [0029]
FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of third embodiment of the invention, where the storage is a stand-alone portable unit. [0030]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another variation of third embodiment of the invention, where the frame and the front door are connected with proper flexible material, like: fabric, lather and so on, for clothing protection especially when this stand-alone unit will be used out-door. [0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to an improved system and method for enabling a user to store hangable clothing 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 pooling 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. [0032]
As illustrated in FIGS. [0033] 1-3, in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention the system includes the storage frame 10, for providing shelter for hanged clothing. The frame 10 includes horizontal support straps 12, with a altitudinal through-holes in it, it also includes folding bar 22 joining the frame 10 to the front door 20 through the bar holders 26. 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.
In second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4, the built-in [0034] frame 40, with an altitudinal through-holes 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.
As illustrated in FIGS. [0035] 5-6, in a third embodiment of the invention, stand-alone closet body 50 attached to front door 20 by optional cover 62 including plurality of zippers 60 or the like. The body 50 further includes plurality of support legs 56, plurality of bottom wheels 54 and portability handles 52.
Referring to FIGS. [0036] 1-3, in a method for the use of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention the system enables a user to store hangable clothing in a most efficient and place saving manner. The frame 10, for providing a shelter for hanged clothing, is attached to a wall by using any conventional method through plurality of horizontal support straps 12, which have altitudinal through-holes in every one of them, this forces the frame 10 to be in fixed and in steady position. The depth of the frame 10 will determine the capacity of the storage. The closet can reach its fully horizontally extended form, to provide a user convenient access to the hanged clothing, by pooling the front door 20 away from the attached to a wall frame 10. Folding bar 22 attached to the middle of the internal sides, through allowing-pivotally-movement bar holders 26, of the frame 10 and the front door 20. Folding bar 22 has integrally designed notches 24 for providing hangers support. The closet is fully extended when the folding bar 22 is reached and locked in its horizontal position, at this situation the user can easily and conveniently access any clothing in the closet. Safety chains 14 or the like are connecting the sides of the frame 10 and the front door 20 in order to provide parallel stability of the front door 20 when the closet is in its fully extended form. Front door 20 has a plurality of clip locks 16, located on the side, for decorative look and convenient access by the user, of the front door 20 and the frame 10, to hold tight the front door 20 to the frame 10, when the closet is closed. The front door 20 also has a plurality of wheels 18, connected to the bottom side, so the user can slide horizontally the front door 20 smoothly and easily upon opening the closet especially when the closed is fully loaded with cloth.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, in a method for the user of another embodiment of the invention, the built-in [0037] storage frame 40, which molding around it when it is built-in into a wall. Built-in storage frame 40 has an altitudinal through-holes on each side of it to provide the ability to attach it self to the wall interior support structure, shown in dashed lines. The built-in frame 40 further includes horizontal straps 42 to provide support for folding bar 22. This embodiment doesn't take a floor space at all, complete storage is inside the wall. For better visualization the FIG. illustrates the built-in frame 40 inside the wall displaying the front and back dry walls and the supporting beams on the side in dashed lines.
As illustrated in FIGS. [0038] 5-6, in a method for the user of the third embodiment of the invention, the stand-alone storage body 50 provides a shelter for large amount of hanged clothing. The body 50 further includes plurality of bottom support legs 56, located at the bottom of the body 50, to provide better stability to the storage, and bottom wheels 54, which are located at the bottom of the body 50, to provide convenient portability by leaning the storage backward while holding portability handles 52—the dolly method. Portability handles 52, which are located on the back of the body 50, are folded up when they not in use. This embodiment optionally provides access from the side by using practically flexible cover 62 connected between the body 50 and the front door 20, providing a shelter for the clothing in this stand-alone extra-wide storage. Flexible cover 62 provides plurality of zippers 60 so the side of the storage can be flipped over to provide convenient access to the clothing. This embodiment will be used as a stand-alone unit, indoor as well as out-door providing storage for large amount of clothing.
In accordance with the present invention, the particular embodiments set forth above for the system are capable of providing a space saving, horizontally extendable closet for hangable clothing in a most efficient and compact way. 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. [0039]
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 clothing in a most compact and space saving way. [0040]
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. [0041]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A extending storage device, for hangable external units, with folding bar connecting internally both interior parallel sides of said device, said folding bar is providing support for said external 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 external 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;

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said hangable external units are, primarily but not necessarily, hangable clothing.

3. The device of claim 1 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.

4. The device of claim 1 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.

5. The device of claim 1 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.

6. The device of claim 1 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.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said folding bar further comprising plurality of movable members, pivotally attached to each other to provide enhanced horizontal extendibility of said device, that achieve their full extendibility when all of said bar members are in horizontal position.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said bar members have means for slidably locking one with the other at their ends when said bar members reach their horizontal position.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said bar members have built-in hanger notches, placed apart from each other, providing support for hangers that hold said hangable clothing.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said frame to a wall has 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 1 wherein said means to keep said front door stable and parallel to said frame are plurality of decorative chains or the like.

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 1 wherein said means to keep said front door tightly attached to said frame has plurality of clip locks to lock said front door to said frame when said device is closed.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said clip locks are located on the sides of said frame and said front door to provide easy and convenient access to it by the user.

16. A extending built-in storage device, for hangable external units, with folding bar connecting internally both interior parallel sides of said device, said folding bar is providing support for said external units, said device comprising:

a. a member providing a wall built-in frame of said device;

c. a member providing a folding bar, to support said external units, connecting internally to both said built-in frame and said front door;

d. means for pivotally attaching said folding bar to internal sides of said built-in 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;

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

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

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said a wall built-in frame has plurality of altitudinal through-holes located on the sides of said built-in frame.

18. Stand-alone extending and portable storage device, for hangable external units, with folding bar connecting internally both interior parallel sides of said device, said folding bar is providing support for said external units, said device comprising:

a. a member providing a body of said device to shelter said external units;

b. a member providing front door of said device;

c. a member providing a folding bar, to support said external units, connecting internally to both said body and said front door;

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

e. means providing convenient portability and stability support of said device; and

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said a body of said device to shelter said external units, is a practically flexible cover connecting said body with said front door providing a shelter for large amount of said external units.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein said means for providing convenient portability and stability support of said device, has plurality of back handles, that folded up when they not in use, bottom wheels, providing easy portability, and bottom support legs providing better stability when the storage is in use.