Patent application title:

Hanger security apparatus

Publication number:

-

Publication date:
Application number:

15/946,707

Filed date:

2018-04-05

βœ… Patent granted

Patent number:

US 10,244,865 B1

Grant date:

2019-04-02

PCT filing:

-

PCT publication:

-

Examiner:

Jennifer E. Novosad

Agent:

Changi Wu | Changi Wu Law Office

Adjusted expiration:

2038-04-05

Smart Summary: A hanger security apparatus is designed to protect hangers on a rod from unauthorized access. It has a case with openings that allow the hanger's hook to move in and out while keeping it secure. A door on the case can be locked, making the hook accessible only when the door is open. The apparatus also includes stoppers to prevent the hanger from moving up or around the rod. This invention helps keep garments safe in public areas where they might otherwise be at risk of theft. πŸš€ TL;DR

Abstract:

A hanger security apparatus for securing an access to a hook of a hanger on a rod, comprises a case; at least one bottom opening formed on the case; wherein the hook of the hanger can be moved in and out of the case through the at least one bottom opening; two side-openings formed on the case, wherein the rod is passed through the two side-openings; at least one door attached with the case, wherein the hook of the hanger can be accessed when the at least one door is in an open position, wherein the hook of the hanger is not accessible when the at least one door is in a closed position; at least one lock on the at least one door; a first stopper on the at least one door, wherein the first stopper is configured to be above the hook of the hanger to prevent an up movement of the hook when the at least one door is in the closed position; and a second stopper, wherein the third stopper is configured to limit the hanger from moving axially around the rod.

Inventors:

Assignee:

Applicant:

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Classification:

A47B61/003 »  CPC main

Wardrobes Details of garment-holders

A47F3/002 »  CPC further

Show cases or show cabinets Devices for protection against sunlight or theft

A47F5/0861 »  CPC further

Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices; Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor Anti-theft means therefor

A47G25/1464 »  CPC further

Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders; Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers; Handling hangers, e.g. stacking, dispensing Storage or transport receptacles or racks for empty hangers

E05B37/0072 »  CPC further

Permutation or combination locks ; Puzzle locks Sign-, picture- or letter-based permutations

E05B51/00 »  CPC further

Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by other non-mechanical means

E05B65/52 »  CPC further

Locks or fastenings for special use Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like

E05B69/006 »  CPC further

Devices for locking clothing; Lockable clothing holders or hangers Lockable hangers or hanger racks

A47F3/00 IPC

Show cases or show cabinets

A47F5/08 IPC

Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices

A47B61/00 IPC

Wardrobes

A47G25/14 IPC

Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers

E05B37/00 IPC

Permutation or combination locks ; Puzzle locks

E05B69/00 IPC

Locking devices for clothing, sticks, umbrellas, or cycles

E05B69/00 IPC

Devices for locking clothing; Lockable clothing holders or hangers

Description

BACKGROUND

Hangers are used to hang garments or other objects on a rod. If the rod is in a closet that has a locking mechanism, the access to the hangers is limited to the person with the key or password to open the lock of the closet. However, in an open area, such as a delivery area in an apartment for laundry concierge service's deliver of clean cloth, the deliver area will be accessible to people who can enter the apartment. Under such circumstances, there will need a person, such as doorman, to watch the clothes and allow only the garment owner to take his/her own garments. If there is no doorman on duty, the delivered garments will be at a stake of being stolen or mistaken.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This Brief Summary is included so as to introduce, in an abbreviated form, various topics to be elaborated upon below in the Detailed Description. This Brief Summary is not intended to identify key or essential aspects of the claimed invention. This Brief Summary is similarly not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claims. The current invention overcomes the aforementioned issues of untended garments or other objects on a hanger and provides a hanger security apparatus that prevent unauthorized access to a hanger and remove a hanger from a rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the present invention in a closed position and a partial view showing portion of parts inside the embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of one of the embodiments of the present invention in a closed position shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the hanger security apparatus 10 for securing an access to a hook 40 of a hanger 42 on a rod 44, comprising a case 20; at least one bottom opening 30 formed on the case 20; wherein the hook 40 of the hanger 42 can be moved in and out of the case 20 through the at least one bottom opening 30; two side-openings 50 formed on the case 20, wherein the rod 44 is passed through the two side-openings 50; at least one door 60 attached with the case 20, wherein the hook 40 of the hanger 42 can be accessed when the at least one door 60 is in an open position, wherein the hook 40 of the hanger 42 is not accessible when the at least one door 60 is in a closed position; and at least one lock 70 on the at least one door 60. Referring now to FIG. 1, in one of the embodiments, it may have a top panel 56, back panel 54, and two side panels 52. In one of the embodiments, the at least one door 60 can be attached to the case 20 by a hinge, joint or similar connection parts 62. Also referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the at least one door 60 can be opened and swung in a left-right, or horizontal, direction in accordance with the hinge, joint or similar connection parts 62. Also referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the hanger security apparatus 10 comprises a second stopper 82, wherein the second stopper 82 is configured to limit the hanger 42 from moving axially around the rod 44.

Now referring to FIG. 2, in one of the embodiments, the hanger security apparatus 10 may comprise a third stopper 84 on the at least one door 60, wherein the wherein the third stopper 84 is configured to limit the hanger 42 from moving axially around the rod when the at least one door 60 is in a closed position. Referring FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the third stopper 84 may be configured to have an extension toward the first stopper 80 to prevent rotating of the hanger 42 around the rod 44. The extension of the third stopper 84 is not limited to a straight shape or board shape, and any shapes that can prevent the rotating of the hanger 42 around can work, and is not necessary to touch the first stopper 80. Also referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the top panel 56 in one embodiment (FIG. 1) may be an open-top 34 in another one embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 3A, in one of the embodiments, the hanger security apparatus 10 may further comprises a first stopper 80 on the at least one door 60, wherein the first stopper 80 is configured to be above the hook 40 of the hanger 42 to prevent the up movement of the hook 40 when the at least one door 60 is in the closed position, wherein the second stopper 82 is configured to limit the hanger 42 from moving axially, or rotating, around the rod 44, and wherein the third stopper 84 is configured to limit the hanger 42 from moving axially around the rod 44. Now referring to FIG. 2, when the at least one door 60 is in the open position, the first stopper 80 is moved together with the at least one door 60, the hook 40 with the hanger 42 then can be assessed to be removed from the hook 40. Also referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the lock 70 can be mechanically, electronically, and/or digitally operated, locked or unlocked, by key, password protected keypad, remote-control unit that is controlled by radio and/or wireless network, or a biometric recognition unit that is controlled by finger print recognition or iris recognition, and a combination thereof.

Now referring to FIG. 4, in another one embodiment, the hanger security apparatus 10 may have the at least one door 60 opened and swung in an up-down direction, or vertically, in accordance with the hinge, joint or similar connection parts 62.

Now referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in another one embodiment, the back panel 54 in one embodiment (FIG. 4) may be an open-back 32 (FIG. 5).

In various embodiments, the hanger security apparatus 10 may be made in various materials, such as but not limited to metal, plastic, wooden, glass, stone, paper, or other material suitable for construction of cases, singular or hybrid. The shape of the case may be in any shape, not limited only to square or rectangle. The two side-openings 50 maybe in any shape suitable to the shape of the rod 44.

It is understood that the protective sleeve and its constituent parts described herein is an exemplary indication of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and is given by way of illustration only. In other words, the concept of the present invention may be readily applied to a variety of preferred embodiments, including those disclosed herein. While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A hanger security apparatus for securing an access to a hook of a hanger on a rod attached to a supporting structure, comprising

a case;

at least one bottom opening formed in the case; wherein the hook of the hanger can be moved in and out of the case through the at least one bottom opening;

two side-openings formed in the case, wherein the rod is adapted to be passed through the two side-openings;

at least one door attached with the case, wherein the hook of the hanger can be accessed when the at least one door is in an open position, wherein the hook of the hanger is adapted to not be accessible when the at least one door is in a closed position;

at least one lock on the at least one door;

a first stopper on the at least one door, wherein the first stopper is configured to be above the hook of the hanger to prevent an upward movement of the hook when the at least one door is in the closed position; and

a second stopper, wherein the second stopper is configured to limit the hanger from moving axially around the rod.

2. The hanger security apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third stopper on the at least one door, wherein the third stopper is configured to limit the hanger from moving axially around the rod when the at least one door is in the closed position.

3. The hanger security apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a key to lock and unlock the lock.

4. The hanger security apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a password protected keypad to lock and unlock the lock.

5. The hanger security apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a remote-control unit to lock and unlock the at least one lock.

6. The hanger security apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a biometric recognition unit to lock and unlock the at least one lock.

7. The hanger security apparatus of claim 1,

wherein a top opening is formed in the case.

8. A hanger security apparatus for securing an access to a hook of a hanger on a rod attached to a supporting structure, comprising

a case;

at least one bottom opening formed in the case; wherein the hook of the hanger can be moved in and out of the case through the at least one bottom opening;

two side-openings formed in the case, wherein the rod is adapted to be passed through the two side-openings;

at least one door attached with the case, wherein the at least one door is hinged vertically with the case;

at least one lock on the at least one door; and

a first stopper on the at least one door, wherein the first stopper is configured to be above the hook of the hanger to prevent an upward movement of the hook when the at least one door is in a closed position.

9. The hanger security apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a second stopper, wherein the second stopper is configured to limit the hanger from moving axially around the rod; and

a third stopper on the at least one door, wherein the third stopper is configured to prevent a movement of the hook when the at least one door is in the closed position.

10. The hanger security apparatus of claim 8,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a key to lock and unlock the lock.

11. The hanger security apparatus of claim 8,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a password protected keypad to lock and unlock the lock.

12. The hanger security apparatus of claim 8,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a remote-control unit to lock and unlock the at least one lock.

13. The hanger security apparatus of claim 8,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a biometric recognition unit to lock and unlock the at least one lock.

14. The hanger security apparatus of claim 8,

wherein a top opening is formed in the case.

15. A hanger security apparatus for securing an access to a hook of a hanger on a rod attached to a supporting structure, comprising

a case;

at least one bottom opening formed in the case; wherein the hook of the hanger can be moved in and out of the case through the at least one bottom opening;

two side-openings formed in the case, wherein the rod is adapted to be passed through the two side-openings;

at least one door attached with the case, wherein the at least one door is hinged horizontally with the case;

at least one lock on the at least one door;

a first stopper on the at least one door, wherein the first stopper is configured to be above the hook of the hanger to prevent an upward movement of the hook when the at least one door is in a closed position;

a second stopper, wherein the second stopper is configured to limit the hanger from moving axially around the rod; and

a third stopper on the at least one door, wherein the third stopper is configured to prevent a rotation movement of the hook when the at least one door is in the closed position.

16. The hanger security apparatus of claim 15,

wherein the third stopper comprises an extension toward the first stopper.

17. The hanger security apparatus of claim 15,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a key to lock and unlock the lock.

18. The hanger security apparatus of claim 15,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a password protected keypad to lock and unlock the lock.

19. The hanger security apparatus of claim 15,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a remote-control unit to lock and unlock the at least one lock.

20. The hanger security apparatus of claim 15,

wherein the at least one lock further comprising a biometric recognition unit to lock and unlock the at least one lock.