US3162314A

US3162314A - Hanger bar assembly

Info

Publication number: US3162314A
Application number: US271084A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel P Belsinger
Original assignee: BELSINGER Inc
Current assignee: BELSINGER Inc
Priority date: 1963-04-08
Filing date: 1963-04-08
Publication date: 1964-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-22

Description

Dec. 22, 1964 S. P. BELSINGER HANGER BAR ASSEMBLY Filed April 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Samuel R Belsmger ATTORNE Y8 Dec. 22, 1964 s. P. BELSINGER 3,162,314

HANGER BAR ASSEMBLY Filed April 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi w Q ll 241 241 INVENTOR. Samuel R Belsinger ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,162,314 Pa en d D .2., 18

3,162,314 HANGER BAR ASSEMBLY Samuel P. Belsinger, Atlanta, Ga., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Belsinger, Inc, Atlanta, Ga, a corporation of Georgia Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,084 8 Claims. (Ci. 211-124) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 862,134, filed December 28, 1959, now U.S. Patent No. 3,084,804, granted on April 9, 1963.

This invention relates to hanger bars and is more particularly concerned with a hanger bar assembly suitable for installation on a wardrobe type container or closure member.

In the past many and various types of hanger bars employed with wardrobe boxes and the like to support articles of clothing in an upright position within the closure have been suggested. Generally speaking, the hanger bars of the prior art have either employed mechanisms, such as nuts and bolts, for securing a hook retaining element against the hangers on a hanger bar or have relied upon the flat lower surface of the top closure of the container to retain the hangers in place on the bar.

Briefly, the present invention includes a hanger bar assembly comprising a hanger bar having hook members at its end portions and clamping members intermediate its end portions. Cooperating with the bar for retaining the hooks of garment hangers and being yieldably received between the clamping elements is a rectangular hook retaining member which is substantially the same length and width as the hanger bar and is biased downwardly by being retained by the clamping members. The clamping elements protrude upwardly and inwardly over the upper surface of the hanger bar and the hook retaining element, in such a manner that the portion of the clamping elements, adjacent the hanger bar form cooperating portions which retain the retaining member. In the hanger bar assembly of the present invention, the bar portion itself is spaced by the hook members a predetermined distance below the surface of the top closure of the box, while the retaining member occupies only a space adjacent the upper surface of the bar portion itself. Thus, there is space above the retaining member, which is suitable for receiving flanges of the top flaps of the box, as illustrated in my US. Patent 2,974,779. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, either the clamping elements or the hook retaining member, is sufficiently resilient and flexible that the retaining member may be moved into and out of engagement with the hanger hooks on the hanger bar, the retaining member being in its biased condition when positioned properly for retaining the hooks of the hangers. The hanger bar assembly also includes an auxiliary hook element on the hook members, whereby a plurality of plies of the upper edge of a fibre board box may be engaged simultaneously by the hook member and the auxiliary hooks.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hanger bar assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efficient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanger bar assembly which may be easily and quickly assembled into a locking position so as to retain the hooks of the hangers in place on the bar on the hanger bar assembly, the hanger bar assembly being easily disassembled so that the hooks of the hangers may be disengaged from the bar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanger bar assembly which may be manufactured in the usual machine shop, employing simple dies and welding equipment.

Another object of the present; invention is to provide a hanger bar assembly which will positively clamp the hooks of the hangers in place so as to restrain the swinging movement and so as to prevent the hangers from being inadvertently dislodged from the hanger bar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanger bar assembly which may be manufactured ens tirely from sheet metal material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanger bar assembly which is particularly adapted for receiving both hangers which have linear hook portions and hangers which have circular hook portions.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a wardrobe type fibre board container to which is attached a hanger bar assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, the bar of the hanger bar assembly receiving the linear hook portions of the hooks of the hangers thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1. H

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modified form of the present invention, wherein the hanger bar receives the circular hooks of the hangers thereon.

FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the hanger bar assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of hanger bar assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the hanger bar assembly shown in FIG. 5 and showing the retaining member as it is being installed on the hanger bar.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6, the hanger bar being shown receiving the linear portion of the hook of a hanger.

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects, the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 8 denotes generally the hanger bar for receiving the hooks of the hangers 9. The bar 8 is a channel member having a web portion 10 and a pair of spaced

opposed sides

11 and 12 which are essentially parallel to each other and normal to web 16, the

sides

11 and 12 depending from the edges of web 10 and being afiixed integrally to the web 10 so as to form an inverted U-shaped member in cross section.

At each end of the bar 8 are hook members including opposed flaring portions 13 which curve outwardly and then upwardly, the edges 14 of the flaring portion 13 merging with the bottom edge of the

sides

11 and 12, and then diverging from each other as the flaring portions 13 extend upwardly and outwardly. 'Flaring portions 13 of each body member terminate above the web 10, generally merging with an inner bearing plate 15 which is essentially flat and is adapted to act against the side wall 16 of the container or box. The inner bearing plate 15 extends Well above the upper surface of web 10 and is bent outwardly and downwardly to provide abight or bend having a horizontal upper bearing plate 17 and a downwardly extending outer bearing plate 18. The hearing plate 13 terminates in a straightlouter edge 19 lying essentially in the plane of the hanger bar 8. The bearing plate 18 also is provided with vertical parallel side edges 20 which merge with the parallelside edges 21 of upper bearing plate 17; the side edges 21, in turn, merging with the parallel side edges 22 of the inner bearing plate and the side edges 22 merging with the side edges 14 of the flaring portion 13.

According to the presentinvention, an auxiliary hook denoted by numeral 30 is provided for each of the hook members of the hanger bar 8. The auxiliary hook 30 is formed from a flat rectangular piece of sheet metal which is bent into the configuration shown in the drawings. Specifically, the auxiliary hook 30 includes a base 31 which is flat and is spot welded to the upper surface of the end portion of Web 10, midway between the

sides

11 and 12. The outer end of base 31 terminates adjacent the inner bearing plate 15, whence the auxiliary 30 is bent upwardly to provide a shank portion 32 which is disposed inwardly parallel to and essentially contiguous with the inner surface of the bearing plate 15. Thence, the auxiliary book 30 is bent outwardly to provide; an upper bearing plate 33 which extends over the upper bearing plate 17. The upper bearing plate 33 is longer than the width of bearing plate 17 and extends outwardly beyond the outer bearing plate 18, the auxiliary hook 30 being bent downwardly to provide an outer bearing plate '34 which is disposed in spaced relationship to and outwardly parallel to the outer bearing plate. 18. Thus, there is provided, between the outer bearing plate 18 and the outer bearing plate 34, a space for receiving one ora plurality of plies of fibre board.

It will be understood that while I have, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention disclosed an auxiliary hook 30 which is secured by base 31 to the upper surface of web 10, that the auxiliary hook 30 may be secured to the hanger bar or to a hook member thereof, in any suitable way without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the structure thus far described, I have provided a hanger bar 8 formed of an inverted channel member which has, integrally connected thereto, inverted U- shaped hook members, each hook member havingan auxiliary hook 30, the hook assembly thereby provided being adapted to extend over the upper edge portion of a wardrobe type fibre board container such as the container disclosed in my U.S.' Patent No. 3,026,996.

flap portion 38 is bent inwardly, so as to provide an upper flap 39 which extends inwardly, the upper flap 39 being provided w-itha central slot 35, through which the upper bearing plate 33 of the auxiliary hook 230 extends being outwardly adjacent the flap 38.

The hook assembly, therefore, positions the bar 8 in a horizontal position between the side wall 16 and within the upper portion of the container. By such an arrangement, the bar. 8 of my hanger bar assembly is spaced downwardly from the top of the container when the top is closed, thereover. j.

According to the present invention, intermediate the ends orv hook members of the bar 8, there are provided a plurality of preferably evenly spaced, transversely opposed, pairs of clamping elements 40. In the preferred form of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each clamping element 40 is formed from a rectangular sheet of metal which is bent so as to provide by spot welds 43 to one of the sides, such as side 11-or 12.. The central portion of clamping element 40, im- .mediately above base 41, is bent inwardly, at numeral 42, to providea jaw member 44 which converges upwardly above web 10 toward a similar jaw member 44 of an opposed clamping element 40. The upper end of the jaw member 44'is then bent outwardly to provide ahorizontal bearing plate 45 in essentially the same plane with In other words, the bearing plate 17 of the present invention is bent outwardly to provide a horizontal bearing essentially in the same plane with the upper bearing plate 4 I upper bearing plates 17 of the hook members of the hanger bar 8.

It is therefore seen that I have provided opposed pairs of clamping elements 40 at spaced distances longitudinally along the hanger bar 8. These clamping elements 40 are provided with transversely spaced upwardly converging, jaw members 44 which extend upwardly from the edges. of web 10 and are spaced apart sufficiently at their upper end to receive, therebetween, a pair of plies 53 which may be in the form of end flanges on the ends of the top flaps 52 of a container.

All of the clamping elements 40 on one side of the axis of web 10 are in alignment, and all of the clamping elements 40 on the opposite side of the center line of web 10 are in alignment, so that the jaw members 44 on one side of'web' 10 are in a common plane which converges toward the common plane of the other jaw members 44. Further, all of'the'bearing plates 45 lie in essentially a horizontal plane spaced from and parallel to the plane of web 10. The transverse space between the bent portions 42 of the clamping elements 40 is approximately equal to the width of the web 10 while the space between the jaw members 44 at their upper ends is approximately equal to the width of two plies 53 of the fibre board container.

In some instances, it may be a transverse space, less than twice the thickness of the fibre board, between the upper ends of the opposed pairs 'of jaw members 44 so that the plies or flanges 53 are deformed slightly as they are received there-between and hence are'held frictionally in place.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will be seen that, in some instances, it may be found desirable to provide opposed clamping elements 140 in place of the clamping elements 40. Otherwise, the hanger bar assembly is identical to the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In more detail, .the clamping elements 140, shown in FIG. 3 are each formed from a rectangular sheet of metal which is bent'so as to provide a flat, rectangular base 141 which is anchored as by spot welding, to one of the sides of hanger bar 108, such as

sides

111 or 112. The upper end of the base 141 is bent inwardly, at numeral 142 to provide, a jaw member 144 which extends inwardly and upwardly with respect to the web of the hanger bar 108,'the jaw member 144 terminating above web110 in the upwardly extending jaw plate 143, the jaw plate 143 disposed essentially vertically and being spaced inwardly from the

sides

111 and 112 of the bar 103. The upper end of jaw plate 143 is, then, plate 145 found desirable to provide (not shown) of the hook members of the hanger bar 108.

It will therefore, be seen that I have provided opposed pairs of clamping elements at spaced distances longitudinally along the hanger bar 168. These clamping elements 140 are provided with jaw members 144 which extend upwardly and inwardly in upwardly converging planes above web 110, the jaw plates 143 being therefore disposed in spaced parallel planes, perpendicular to the plane of web 119. Thus, all of the jaw plates 143 on one side of the axis of Web 110 lie in essentially the same vertical plane, and all of the jaw plates 143 on the opposite side of centerline of web 110 lie in a plane parallel to the aforesaid plane. It will be understood however, that the clamping elements 140 shown in FIG. 3 func tion in a similar manner to the clamping elements 40 in'FIGS. l and 2, as will be explained hereinafter.

According to the present invention a hanger retaining member 60 is formed from a flat, relatively rigid, rectangular sheet of metal, which is bent slightly along its longitudinal axis to provide an apex or common edge 61 which extends throughout the length of the rectangular ber 60 is substantially the length of bar 8 or 10 and includes a pair of diverging flanges 62 and 63, the parallel outer longitudinal edges 64 and 65 which are parallel to common edge 61. The distance between edges 64 and 65 is approximately equal to the width of web or 11% i.e. equal to the widest distance between the clamping

elements

40 or 140.

As seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the retaining member 65) is adapted, when the hangers, such as

hangers

9 or 109 are received over the hanger bar 8 or 108 to be manually urged down between the clamping

elements

40 or 140 so as to lie essentially parallel to and immediately above the

web

10 or 110 so as to clamp there-between, the hooks of the

hangers

9 or 109. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transverse distance from the corner adjacent

bent portion

42 or 142, i.e. the corner defined by one clamping

member

40 or 140 and

web

10 or 110, to the inclined surface of the

opposite jaw member

44 or 144 is slightly less than width of retaining member 60 as defined by the distance between edge 64 and 65. Hence, in installing the retaining member 60 on bar 8 or 108, the edge 64, for example, is placed adjacent the corners defined by all clamping

members

40 or 140, on one side of web 11) or 110. Thereafter, the retaining member 60 is pushed downwardly so that edge 65 slides along the inclined inner surfaces of all

jaw members

44 or 144 adjacent thereto and spring automatically such that the retaining member 69 pivots downwardly about edge 64 and is biased into place on top of the back of

hangers

9 or 109, as the

jaw members

44 or 144 return to their original position.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, it will be seen that in the modified form of my invention as illustrated therein, the hanger bar assembly includes the bar 208 having a web 210 provided with

sides

211 and 212 supported by hook members on the ends of the bar 298, the hooks having inner bearing plates 215, upper bearing plates 217, and outer bearing plates 21%, all constructed in a manner identical to the construction of the hanger bar 8 of the preceding embodiment.

In the present embodiment, there are provided transversely opposed clamping members 2% which are spaced inwardly from the hook members on the ends of bar 208. Each clamping member 24%) includes a fiat, rectangular base 241 which is anchored, for example, by spot welding to one of the sides, such as 211 or 212. The upper end of the base 241 is bent inwardly, at numeral 242 to provide a jaw member 244 which extends, parallel to and spaced from the upper surface of the web 10, to-

ward the axis or centerline of bar 208. Before reaching the center portion or axis of web 218 the jaw member 244- is bent upwardly to provide an upstanding jaw plate 242 which is spaced inwardly from the

sides

211 and 212 of the bar 298 by the jaw member 244. The upper end of the jaw plate 243 is then bent outwardly to provide a horizontal bearing plate 245 essentially in the same plane with the upper bearing plate 217 of the hook members of the hanger bar 288.

The retaining member 266 is a flat, rectangular memher which is slightly shorter than the distance between the hook members of the hanger bar 2G8. The retaining member 260 has ends 262 and 263 and

side edges

264 and 265. The edge portions of the retaining member 260 are provided with opposed pairs of notches 261

intermediate ends

262 and 263, the notches 261 corresponding to the number and position of the clamping elements 240 of the hanger bar 208. The notches 261 are sufliciently deep that the portions of retaining member 260 between the base edges 266 of the opposed pairs of notches, is less than the distance between the jaw plates 243 of the transversely opposed clamping members 240.

It will be understood that the spacing longitudinally of the notches 261 corresponds to the spacing of the clamping members 248, but the notches 261 are offset longitudinally so that they do not register with the clamping members 240 when the retaining member 260 is aligned with the web 210 of the hanger bar 208. When, however, the

retaining member 260 is shifted longitudinally, the notches 261 are shifted in registry with the clamping elements 240 and the retaining member 260 may be urged downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 6. Hence, the construction of retaining member 260 is such that the distance from the notches 261 adjacent end 262 to the end 262 is greater than the distance from their corresponding clamping elements 246 to the hook member at that end of the hanger bar 208. Thus, the end 262 rides upon the upper bearing plate 217 of the hook members of the hanger bar 208 when notches 261 are aligned with their respective clamping elements 248. When the retaining member 260 is urged downwardly, its end 262 flexes, riding upon the upper bearing plate 217 while the remaining portion of the retaining member 260 is urged against upper surface of the lower portion the hangers such as hanger 209 carried by the web 210. Thereafter, the retaining member 266 may be shifted laterally so that the end portion, adjacent the end 262 is moved off of the upper bearing plate 217 and snaps down adjacent the web 210, as the wider portions adjacent the notches 261 move beneath the jaw members 244 of the clamping members 240. In such a position, the end 262 is disposed adjacent the bearing plate 215 at one end of bar 208 while the end 263 is disposed adjacent the bearing plate 215 and the other end, thereby restricting further longitudinal movement of the retaining element 260. In such a position, the hooks of hangers 269 are retained firmly in place between the retaining member 260 and the web 214 of the hanger bar 268.

Since the

edges

61, 62 and 261, 262 are aligned with

sides

11, 12 and 211, 212, respectively and are spaced from the webs 10, 210 by the hooks of the hangers received therebetween, these edges are accessible by pliers or other tools so the retaining

members

60 and 260 may be readily removed.

The inverted U-shaped structure of the retaining member 66 permits it to receive thereover, either a circular hook of a hanger, such as hanger 109 illustrated in FIG. 3 or the linear portion of a hook of a hanger, such as hanger 9, of FIG. 2.

Particularly when the

linear hook hangers

9 or 209 are employed, the retaining

members

60 and 260 prevent the garments, carried on these hangers, from swinging about the

hanger bar

8, 108 or 208. This, in turn, prevents the clothing carried on the hangers from rubbing against the sides of the container.

It is now seen that the retaining

members

60 and 260 function to restrain the hooks of

hangers

9, 109 and 209 from any appreciable swinging movement or sliding movement on the hanger bars 8, 108, and 208, as well as to restrain any tendency of the hanger hooks to be inadver tently dislodged from the bars 8, 188 and 2&8. Hence 1r)etaining

members

60 and 260 serve as restraining memers.

It will also be noted that since the retaining members 6% and 264 are substantially the same width and length as the hanger bars 8, 168 and 208, the hook members on the ends of the hanger bars 8, 108 and 288 prevent any appreciable longitudinal movement of the retaining members 60 and 269 While the clamping

elements

40, and 240 prevent any appreciable lateral or transverse move ment of the retaining

members

60 and 260 so as to confine the retaining

members

60 and 260 above the hanger bars 8, 168 and 208.

The auxiliary hooks, such as hook 30, in addition to providing additional support for the hanger bar 8, when the upper bearing plate 33 of the auxiliary hook 30 engages the upper edge of the outer flap portion 38, confines the outer flap portion 38 from outward movement since the outer bearing plate 34 is flat against the outer surface of outer flap portion 38.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention Without departing from the scope thereofas defined by the appending claims.

- I claim:

1.In a hanger bar assembly of the type having a hanger bar adapted to be disposed horizontally fort-receiving over its upper surface hooks of hangers, the combination therewith of a restraining member for extending over said hooks and clamping means rigidly secured on opposite sides of said hanger bar and having portions extending over the upper surface of said hanger bar for receiving and holding said restraining member, said sportions of said clamping means defining above the upper surface of said bar a wholly open area for the free ingress and egress of said restraining member.

2. In a hanger bar assembly of the type having a .hanger bar adapted to be disposed horizontally for receiving over its upper surface hooks of hangers, the combination therewith of a restraining member for extending over said hooks and clamping means rigidly secured on opposite sides of said hanger bar and having portions extending above the upper surface of said hanger bar for receiving and holding said restraining member, said portions of said clamping means defining above the upper surface of said bar .a wholly open area for the free ingress and egress of said restraining member, said hanger bar and said restraining member being essentially the same length, said restraining member having a peaked central portion to accommodate 'both linear and circular portions of said hooks.

3. In a hanger bar assembly of the type having a hanger bar adapted to be disposed horizontally for receiving over its upper surface hooks-of hangers, the combination therewith of a restraining member for extending over said hooks and clamping means mounted on opposite sides of said hanger bar and having portions extending above the upper surface of said hanger bar for receiving and holding said restraining member, said portions of said clamping means defining above the upper surface of said bar a wholly open area for the free ingress and egress of said restraining member, said hanger bar and said restraining member being essentially the same length, said restraining member having a peaked central portion to accommodate both linear and circular portions of said hooks, said hanger bar having an essentially flat rectangular upper surface, said restraining member being essentially rectangular and of substantially the same width as said upper surface of said hanger bar.

4. In a hanger bar assembly of the type having a hanger bar adapted to be disposed horizontally for receiving over its upper surface hooks of hangers, the combination therewith of a restraining member for extending over said hooks and clamping elements mounted on opposite sides of said hanger bar and having portions extending above the upper surface of said hanger bar for receiving and holding said restraining member, said portions of said clamping means defining'above the upper surface of said bar a wholly open area for therfree ingress and egress of said restraining member, said hanger bar and said restraining member being essentially the same length, said restraining member having a peaked central portion to accommodate both linear and circular portions of hooks, said hanger bar being relatively rigid and said clamping elements being relatively flexible, said clamping elements defining restricted width portions slightly more narrow than the width of said restraining member such that said restraining member, temporarily deforms certain of said clamping elements as said restraining member is urged downwardly toward said upper surface of said hanger bar.

5. A hanger bar assembly of the type having a straight hanger bar which is adapted to be disposed horizontally in a container for receiving a plurality of hooks of hangers thereon, said hanger bar having a longitudinal axis, the combination therewith of a plurality of clamping elements secured to said hanger bar and extending above said hanger bar-on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said clamping elements which are disposed on one side of said longitudinal axis, converging toward said clamping elements which are disposed on the other side of. said longitudinal axis, and a relatively thin retaining member removably disposed between said clamping elements and above said hanger bar for engaging the upper surface of said hooks of said hangers, said retaining member being engaged by said clamping elements and being biased toward said hanger bar, the transverse distance between the converging portions of said clamping elements on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis being less than the width of said retaining member to retard outward movement of said retaining member awayfrom said hanger bar, said clamping elements having portion protruding above said retaining member for receiving the flaps of the container when said flaps are folded over said hanger bar.

6. A hanger bar assembly of the type having a straight hanger bar which is adaptedto be dis-posed horizontally in a container for receiving a plurality of hooks of hangers thereon, said hanger bar having ahook member on each end and a longitudinal axis, said hook member engaging the upper edges of the sides of said container when said hanger bar assembly is attached to said container, the combination therewith of a plurality of clamping elements secured to said hanger bar and extending above said hanger bar on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said clamping elements which are disposed on 'one side of said longitudinal axis, converging toward said clamping elements which are disposed on the other side of said longitudinal axis, and a relatively thin retaining member removably disposed between said clamping elements and above said hanger bar for engaging the upper surface width of saidretaining member to retard outward movement of said retaining member away from said hanger bar, said clamping elements having portions protruding above said retaining member for receiving the flaps of the container when said flaps are folded over said hanger bar, and auxiliary hooks carried by said hanger bar and disposed outwardly of said hook members for engaging additional plies of said fibre board container.

7. In a hanger bar assembly of the type having a hanger bar for receiving hooks of hangers thereover, and hook members on the endsrof said hanger bar for extending over the upper edges of the sides of fibre board conta-iner, the combination therewith of auxiliary hooks carried by said hanger bar, said auxiliary hooks each including an upper bearing plate extend-ing outwardly of said hook members and an outer bearing plate extending downwardly from the outer end of said upper bearing plate, said upper bearing plate being adapted to engage an edge of an additional ply of said fibre board, said outer bearing plate being adapted to engage the outer surface of said 7 each of said hooks including an inner bearing plate, an

outer bearing plate essentially parallel to said inner bearing plate and 'an upper bearing plate joining the ends of said inner bearing plate and said outer bearing plate, and a flaring portion joining said inner bearing plate to said bar, said flaring portion being arcuate between the web of said bar and said inner bearing plate, a plurality of opposed pairs of clamping elements extending outwardly from said bar, each of said clamping elements including a base fixed to one of said sides, a jaw member extending above said Web, a bearing plate on the end of said jaw member lying in about the plane of the upper 5 bearing plates of said hooks, the jaw members of each opposed pair of clamping members being in spaced upwardly converging condition with respect to each other, and a relatively rigid member removably carried between said opposed pairs of clamping elements for restraining 10 the movement of said hooks of said hangers on said bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Batts 206-7 Batts 211-124 X Suter 2067 X Ginsberg 2067 Graci 211-124 MeCrone 211-124 Belsinger 206-7 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A HANGER BAR ASSEMBLY OF THE TYPE HAVING A HANGER BAR ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED HORIZONTALLY FOR RECEIVING OVER ITS UPPER SURFACE HOOKS OF HANGERS, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A RESTRAINING MEMBER FOR EXTENDING OVER SAID HOOKS AND CLAMPING MEANS RIGIDLY SECURED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HANGER BAR AND HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING OVER THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID HANGER BAR FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING SAID RESTRAINING MEMBER, SAID PORTIONS OF SAID CLAMPING MEANS DEFINING ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BAR A WHOLLY OPEN AREA FOR THE FREE INGRESS AND EGRESS OF SAID RESTRAINING MEMBER.