WO2006018321A2

WO2006018321A2 - A coat hanger device for fitting to a chair

Info

Publication number: WO2006018321A2
Application number: PCT/EP2005/009237
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tibor Ernst
Original assignee: Tansone Properties Limited
Priority date: 2004-08-19
Filing date: 2005-08-18
Publication date: 2006-02-23
Also published as: WO2006018321A3

Abstract

A coat hanger device (10) for fitting to the back of a chair comprises a coat hanger rail (12) and a clamp (70) for releasably fixing the rail to the chair back (18). The device may also include a trouser rail (80) removably attached to the clamp (70).

Description

A Coat Hanger Device for Fitting To a Chair

This invention relates to a coat hanger device for fitting to the back of a chair.

Restaurants and other public places often provide coat hangers in a central location away from the immediate vicinity of their owners. Thus coats and jackets left on the hangers are subject to theft. In addition, coats and jackets often contain wallets, mobile phones and other valuable items which can be stolen even if the coat is not. In addition the owner often needs use of these items in the course of his meal or other activity.

Although many people drape their coat or jacket over the back of the chair, the top edge of the chair is in general not suitably shaped for this purpose.

According to the present invention there is provided a coat hanger device for fitting to the back of a chair, the device comprising a coat hanger rail and a fixing means for releasably fixing the rail to the chair back.

Preferably the fixing means is adapted to allow the rail to be adjusted in height relative to the chair back.

Preferably, too, the rail may be secured in the fixing means at different angular positions relative to an axis extending widthwise of the chair.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair having a coat hanger device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the coat hanger device which is fitted to the chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the coat hanger device of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows one way in which a jacket can be placed on a device as shown in Figs . 1 to 4.

Fig. 6 shows another way in which a jacket can be placed on a device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 7 and 7A show a third embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 8 to 10 show further embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1OA is an underneath view of the embodiment of Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a trouser hanger forming part of a yet further embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 13 and 14 are front and rear perspective views respectively of the embodiment incorporating the trouser hanger of Fig. 11.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of coat hanger device 10 according to the invention comprises a coat hanger rail 12 and a clamp 14 for releasably fixing the rail 12 to the top edge 16 of a chair back 18. In use, as shown, the rail 12 extends predominantly widthwise of the chair 20 at the top edge 16 of the chair back 18, i.e. its main extent is across the width of the chair rather than in the forward- rearward direction of the chair, and is slightly displaced to the rear of the top edge 16 of the chair.

The clamp 14, which is shown only schematically in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a generally inverted U-shaped bracket 22, Fig. 3, for locating over and gripping opposite sides of the top edge 16 of the chair back 18. The bracket comprises front and rear gripping plates 22A and 22B respectively, Fig. 4, and a spacer 22C which is inserted between the upper edges of the plates 22A and 22B. The three bracket components 22A-22C are bolted together by bolts (not shown) passing through aligned holes 24. The internal surfaces of the plates 22A and 22B are faced with resilient pads 26 which allow for some variation in the thickness of the top edge 16 of the chair back. Greater variations can be accommodated by using spacers 22C of different widths.

The clamp further includes an upstanding member 28 slidable in a collar 30 integral with the rear plate 22B. The member 28 has a plurality of holes 32 along its length any selected one of which can be aligned with a hole 34 in the collar 30 and the member 28 held in place by a pin (not shown) inserted through the aligned holes 32, 34. This allows height adjustment of the member 28 and, accordingly, of the rail 12 mounted to it.

The rail is generally U-shaped, having opposite limbs 12A and 12B with the limb 12A entering and passing through an opening 36 in the member 28, the opening having an axis extending widthwise of the chair 20. The interior surface of the opening 36 is splined and the limb 12A has a complementary splined surface portion 38 which engages the splined interior of the opening 36. This fixes the rail 12 at a selected angular position relative to opening 36. By withdrawing the limb 12A to disengage the splines 36 and 38, rotating the rail 12, and re-engaging the splines, the rail 12 may be fixed at different angular position relative to an axis extending widthwise of the chair. Instead of splines, the interior of the opening 36 and exterior of the limb 12A may have complementary regular polygonal surfaces to allow selected angular positioning of the rail 12.

Referring to Fig. 5, in use a user's jacket or coat 40 is placed behind the back 18 of the chair 20 on the rail 12, the latter providing a more suitable shape for engaging the shoulder area of the jacket. The user may adjust the height of the rail 12, and/or rotate it relative to the clamp 14, as previously described, so that the jacket 40 hangs properly and does not touch the ground. It will be seen that in Fig. 5 a different kind of chair 20 is illustrated. Where the U-shaped rail 12 is relatively open, Fig. 6, a coat or jacket may be hung on it simply by slinging it over the limb 12B. It will be appreciated that the clamp 14 is shown only schematically in Figs . 5 and 6.

In the embodiment of coat hanger device shown in Figs. 7 and 7A, the clamp 14' in this case comprises an elongated, curved plate-like bracket 42 having a vertical slot 44. The bracket 42 may be tightened against the back 18 of a chair 20 by a handle 46 having a screw-threaded shank 48, the shank 48 passing through the slot 44 and entering a screw-threaded opening (not shown) in the back of the chair. By adjusting the position of the shank 48 in the slot 44 one can adjust the height of the rail 12. In the embodiment of Fig. 8 the device is formed as whole as a one-piece moulding and comprises a conventional coat hanger having opposite rails 12A, 12B extending from a central hook 56 and an integral resilient clamp 14" . The clamp 14" comprises a downwardly extending front limb 5OA and a rear tongue 5OB which initially extends downwardly but then curves upwardly and rearwardly back upon itself to resiliently grip the top edge of a chair between the limb 5OA and tongue 5OB. The hook 56 allows the device to be hung from a conventional coat hanger rail when removed from the chair back.

In the Fig. 9 embodiment the clamp comprises a bracket 58 having an upwardly directed slot 60 for receiving the top edge 16 of the back of a chair. A screw-threaded member 62 passes through one side 58A of the bracket 58 into the slot 60 for bearing against and thereby fastening the bracket 58 to the edge of the chair in the slot. In this embodiment it will be observed that the rail is a closed generally bow-shaped figure, having a straight section 12A passing through, and optionally rotatable in, the bracket 58, and an arcuate section 12b joining the ends of the section 12A.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10 and 1OA, the clamp comprises a bracket 64 having a vertical bottom opening 66 for receiving the top end of a pillar (not shown) forming the back of a chair. A screw-threaded member 68 passes through one side of the bracket 64 into the opening 66 for bearing against and fastening the bracket to the pillar. Height adjustment is effected by sliding the bracket 64 up or down the pillar before fastening it. As in Fig. 9, the rail is a closed figure, having a section 12A passing through, and optionally rotatable in, the bracket 64, and an arcuate section 12b joining the ends of the section 12A. In a further embodiment of the invention, Fig. 11, similar to that of Fig. 9, the clamp comprises a bracket 70 which is resiliently held on the top edge 16 of a chair by a resilient tongue 72 which is biased towards a downwardly extending front portion 74 of the bracket so as to grip the top edge of the chair between the tongue 72 and front portion 74. The surface of the front portion 74, in .common with any other outwardly facing major surface of any of the embodiments of the present invention can be used for the display of advertising or promotional material. In one such case, the material is inserted behind a removable transparent panel (not shown) fitted to the surface. Again the rail is a closed generally bow-shaped figure, having a first arcuate section 12A passing through, and optionally rotatable in, the bracket 70, and a second arcuate section 12B joining the ends of the section

12A, the first arcuate section 12A having a lesser curvature than the second arcuate section 12B.

A still further embodiment of the invention, Figs. 12 to 14, includes a removable trouser rail 80 over which may be hung a pair of trousers 82. In this embodiment, which is primarily intended for use in hotel rooms, the trouser rail 80 is shown attached to a clamp of the kind shown in Fig. 11, but a suitably designed trouser rail can be attached to any of the preceding embodiments.

The trouser rail 80, which is moulded in plastics material, has a pair of parallel guide arms 84, Fig. 12, and a pair of resilient catches 86 extending forwardly from a front plate 88. The trouser rail 80 is attached to the bracket 70 by slidably inserting the arms 84 into corresponding parallel grooves (not shown) in the bracket 70 unti the front plate bears up against the rear of the clamp 70 and the catches 86 engage behind corresponding internal surfaces of the bracket 70. When so attached the trouser rail 80 extends widthwise of the chair, behind and below the coat hanger rail 12 which is supported from the bracket 70 by arms 12c. The trouser rail 80 may be removed from the clamp by disengaging the catches 86 and sliding out the arms 86.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A coat hanger device for fitting to the back of a chair, the device comprising a coat hanger rail and a fixing means for releasably fixing the rail to the chair back.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing means is adapted to allow the rail to be adjusted in height relative to the chair back.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixing means comprises a first part for releasable fixing to the chair back and a second part adjustable in height relative to the first part, the rail being mounted to the second part.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the rail may be secured in the fixing means at different angular positions relative to an axis extending widthwise of the chair.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rail is generally U-shaped having one limb engaging the fixing means .

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rail is a closed generally bow-shaped figure.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fixing means comprises a bracket for locating over and gripping opposite sides of a top edge of the chair back.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bracket resiliently grips the top edge of the chair back.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing means comprises a bracket which may be tightened against the back of the chair by a handle having a screw- threaded shank, the shank passing through the bracket and entering a screw-threaded opening in the back of the chair.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bracket includes a substantially vertical slot and the shank passes through the slot to allow height adjustment of the rail.

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing means comprises a slot for receiving the top edge of a chair and a screw-threaded member passing through one side of the fixing means into the slot for fastening the fixing means to said edge.

12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing means comprises an opening for receiving the top end of a pillar forming the back of the chair and a screw- threaded member passing through one side of the fixing means into the opening for fastening the fixing means to said pillar.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further including a trouser rail attached to the fixing means.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the trouser rail is removably attached to the fixing means.