Smart Hanger Device For Individuals With ADHD

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present Nonprovisional Patent Application is a continuation-in-part (“CIP”) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/983,588 (filed Dec. 17, 2024), the priority of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety pursuant to Title 35 of the U.S. Code, Section 120.

FIELD

The present subject matter is directed, in general to an article of manufacture beneficial to an individual with ADHD, and more particularly to a smart hanger device designed, adapted and configured for encouraging an individual with ADHD to pick up, organize, and hang clothing.

BACKGROUND

Hanger devices are known. For instance, US 2012/0326887 to Inoko discloses a digital signage system—appearing to be a hanger for clothing—but designed, adapted, and configured to not only measure depth of interest of customers but also perform sales promotion to customers.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,527 to Lam discloses a garment hanger adapted and configured to provide visual and/or audio information to end users. The hangers are electrically capable of energizing certain output devices to produce a variety of visual, sound, and motion effects. An electronic control circuit, which may be responsive to hanger mounted switches, controls the output devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,489 to Myers, Jr., is directed to an animated garment hanger which, more particularly is directed to a garment hook for children, which is so designed, adapted, and constructed as to create an interest, or incentive, to motivate children to hang their clothes upon it.

US 2017/0112315 to Shin et al. discloses a hanger attached to a sensor, beacon, and clothing product information system. Accordingly, a clothes hanger comprises a hanger body; and a beacon-signal transmitter attached to the body for transmitting a beacon signal to a wireless device. When the wireless device comes within an effective communication range of a beacon signal from the beacon-signal transmitter, the beacon-signal transmitter transmits the beacon signal including a beacon identity (associated with the beacon-signal transmitter) to the wireless device.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,730 to Russo discloses a smart hanger system in which the system provides a set of plastic spindles or thumb wheels permanently attached to a hanger. The spindles are designed to record, for a particular garment, the last cleaned date, the number of times worn, and the last worn date. A user sets the “Last Cleaned” date when a garment or apparel is first placed on the smart hanger. The user updates the dates on the “Times Worn” and the “Last Worn” record indicators each time the garment or apparel is worn. Each of the thumb wheels is locked by friction or by a spring-loaded bar adapted to engage teeth on a thumb wheel, to prevent accidental rotation.

US 2018/0289189 to Lazzi et al. disclose a clothes hanger recharger device including one or more power transmitter elements adapted to transfer power from a first power source to a second power source located on a textile article configured to be hung on the hanger. The one or more power transmitter element(s) wirelessly transmit power to a receiver located on the textile article.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,470 to Monjo discloses sound-emitting circuitry having a message stored on a programmable computer chip mounted to a garment hanger. The sound-emitting circuitry comprises an electronic circuit which includes a sound synthesizer, sound-producing means, and a power supply to power emission of pre-stored messages from pre-programmed synthesizer chips.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,373 to Barnett discloses a device -configured as an animated hanger for clothes- is constructed so that when articles of clothing are placed on a hanger or hook (which are components of the device), a change in a comical face or yet another attention-getting feature, e.g., a sound or a light results, which may serve to encourage hanging up the articles of clothing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,891 to Gingher discloses a clothes hanger which is partially illuminated.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,337,536 to Mitchell discloses a hanger including a shoulder sleeve frame supporting a garment, a hook connected to the sleeve frame to hang from a predetermined location, a light-emitting device mounted on an upper portion of the sleeve frame, and a motion sensor adapted to communicating with and enable the light-emitting device when external motion occurs.

For individuals with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), the above-noted prior art is ineffective. ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both children and adults, is characterized by symptoms including difficulty in paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Individuals with ADHD typically have problems organizing their things, especially certain items that must be used daily such as clothes. As a result, many individuals with ADHD have a high degree of disorganization, causing such problems as missed deadlines and misplaced items. Clothes are often quite difficult for individuals with ADHD to manage. Many individuals with ADHD pile up clothes after wearing them, making it difficult to find the clothes when desired.

It would therefore be desirable for there to be a smart hanger device designed, adapted and configured for encouraging an individual with ADHD to pick up, organize, and hang clothing.

SUMMARY

The present subject matter is directed to a smart hanger device sized, adapted, and configured to encourage a person with ADHD to pick up, organize, and manage articles of clothing.

The smart hanger device comprises: a body comprising: a neck; and a spaced-apart pair of support arms extending outwardly and downwardly away from a spaced-apart pair of associated end portions of the neck. The hanger device includes an assortment of electrical and/or electronic components operatively interconnected by a plurality of electrical circuits. The electrical and/or electronic components are controlled by at least one controller, processor, and/or microprocessor.

The hanger device includes one or more controller, processor, and/or microprocessor operatively connected to the electrical and/or electronic components of the assortment. The hanger device also includes a power source connected to the controller, processor, and/or microprocessor.

The smart hanger device also includes at least one cross member spanning end portions of the support arms spaced from the neck. The body, the support arms, and the at least one cross member collectively define interior voids dimensioned, adapted, and configured to contain the assortment of electrical and/or electronic components including the plurality of electrical circuits.

The assortment of electrical and/or electronic components include at least one sensor adapted and configured to be located on the body for providing a visible and/or audible notification to the person with ADHD when articles of clothing are positioned on the cross member or on a support arm, or are removed from the body a support arm. The sensor is operative when connected to and controlled by a controller, processor, and/or microprocessor connected to a power source.

The smart hanger device also includes one or more alerting devices connected to the at least one controller, processor, and/or microprocessor. The one or more alerting devices are effective for attracting the person with ADHD to the smart hanger device, whereby the smart hanger device is effective in attracting the person with ADHD to the hanger device and in helping the person with ADHD to pick up, organize, and manage articles of clothing on the hanger device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 presents a lateral, perspective view of an embodiment of a smart hanger device adapted and configured for individuals with ADHD, in accordance with the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the smart hanger device embodiment presented in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective backside view of another embodiment of a smart hanger device adapted and configured for individuals with ADHD, in accordance with the present subject matter.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged-scale perspective view of features dotted-line encircled in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 presents a perspective front side lateral view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4A, 4B are enlarged perspective views of features shown in dotted line in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is the red, green, and blue LED wiring diagram for the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2.

FIG. 5A is another wiring diagram associated with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2.

FIG. 5B shows a portion of a wiring diagram for the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3, 4.

FIG. 5C presents a wiring diagram for a charger component of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5D presents a wiring diagram for battery components of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5E are wiring diagrams for alerting devices and sensors of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5F is an increase and/or decrease volume-option wiring diagram for alerting devices.

FIG. 5G is an optocoupler wiring diagram for embodiments of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5H presents an R/G/B (red/green/blue) LED (light-emitting diode) wiring diagram for the two exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Throughout the FIGS. including the detailed description of the present subject matter, similar reference numerals will be used to refer to related components of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present subject matter is directed to a so-called “smart” hanger designed, adapted, configured, and dimensioned to not only attract individuals with ADHD but also encourage the hanger-attracted individuals with ADHD to pick up, organize, and manage their clothing articles.

One illustrated embodiment of the smart hanger 100 (FIGS. 1, 2) of the present subject matter comprises: a triangular-shaped body 120; a suspension hook 130; at least one cross member 140; electronics and wiring (FIGS. 5, 5A, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, and 5G); at least one sensor 150 (or transducer) adapted and configured for detecting the presence of clothing; and at least one audible alarm or alerting device 160 operatively connected to a volume-control device 170 adapted and configured for controlling the volume of the at least one audible alarm or alerting device 160. The alerting device, when triggered by an event, could be configured to cause a microprocessor to generate a tone. The smart hanger 100 has interior voids shaped to contain the electronics and wiring. Moreover, audible alerts may be verbal, from speakers (e.g., music), or digitally generated tones from a microprocessor. The user could select from any number of audible alert alternatives.

The triangular-shaped body 120 comprises: a neck 122 defining opposite end portions 124 and 125, and a spaced-apart pair of oppositely downwardly angled support arms 126 and 127.

Each downwardly angled support arm 126, 127 has a first end portion 128, 129 joined to an associated one of the opposite end portions 124, 125 of the neck 122. (See FIG. 1.) One of the downwardly angled support arms 126 has a second end portion 131 spaced from the neck 122, while the other support arm 127 similarly has a second end portion 132 spaced from the neck 122.

The suspension hook 130 is attached to the neck 122. The (at least one) cross member 140 is attached between the other end portions 131, 132 of the downwardly angled support arms 126, 127. The (at least one) cross member 140 defines internal voids sized to contain at least a portion of the electronics and wiring (FIGS. 5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H). The electronics and wiring comprise circuitry and at least one microprocessor, processor, or controller (FIG. 5). In embodiments, the electronics and wiring are sized, adapted, and configured to be contained within the internal voids of the triangular-shaped body 120 as well as the (at least one) cross member 140.

Each sensor 150 or transducer (adapted and configured to detect the presence of clothing) could also be adapted and configured to be located on the hanger 100 for providing a visible notification, for example, by including a flashing white-light LED to alert a person with ADHD when articles of clothing are positioned on at least one cross member 140 or are positioned on the support arms 126 and 127 or by including a flashing yellow-light LED to alert a person with ADHD when articles of clothing are removed from the smart hanger 100. Also, at least one sensor 150 or at least one transducer could be operatively controlled by at least one microprocessor, processor, or by one or more digital-signal processor, central-processing unit (“CPU”), microcomputers, or state-of-the-art devices that process signals based on operational instructions (FIG. 5). Moreover, at least one audible alarm or alerting device 160 (FIG. 1) could be operatively connected by at least one microprocessor, processor, or controller (FIG. 5), whereby the smart hanger 100 not only attracts individuals with ADHD to the smart hanger 100 but also encourages those individuals with ADHD and attracted by the hanger 100 to pick up, organize, and manage their articles of clothing.

The volume-control device 170 could include an upper button 173 for increasing the volume of at least one audible alarm or alerting device 160 as well as a lower button 175 for decreasing the volume. Furthermore, in lieu of an audible alarm, a vibrating device could be substituted, whereupon an act of pushing the upper button 173 increases, and an act of pushing the lower button 175 decreases, any preselected vibration of the alerting device 160. The audible alarm could reproduce a tune familiar to an individual with ADHD or could play a helpful message, e.g., “Please hang your clothes here” (or somewhere specified), if the sensors 150 detect no clothing on the smart hanger 100; or the message could be: “Please select your clothes from here (or me) to put on today” if the sensors 150 detect clothing on the smart hanger 100. A plurality of red, green, and blue (R/G/B) LEDs 180 can be arranged in a predetermined fashion along at least one external surface of the smart hanger 100 (FIG. 1) to attract individuals with ADHD to the smart hanger 100.

FIG. 2 presents an exploded view of the present embodiment of the smart hanger device depicted in FIG. 1. The smart hanger device 100 comprises a front housing portion 190 and a back housing portion 193. Suspension hook 130 is removably secured to the back housing portion 193.

FIG. 5, presenting an electrical circuit arrangement within the smart hanger device 100 of the present subject matter, wherein the electrical circuit arrangement, located between the front and back housing portions 190 and 193 (FIG. 2), shows each of the electrical circuits for the three light-sensitive sensors 150 as well as each of the eight red, green, and blue LEDs 180 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 5A, also showing an electrical circuit arrangement in the smart hanger 100 (FIG. 1) between the front and back housing portions 190 and 193 (FIG. 2), presents individual electrical circuit connections for a DF Player component and speakers enclosed within the smart hanger 100.

FIG. 5E, also showing an electrical circuit arrangement in the smart hanger 100 (FIG. 1) between the front and back housing portions 190 and 193 (FIG. 2), presents individual electrical circuit connections for the sensors 150 and the audible alarms or the alerting devices 160 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 5F, also showing an electrical circuit arrangement in the smart hanger 100 (FIG. 1) between the front and back housing portions 190 and 193, presents an increase and/or decrease volume-option circuit diagram for the alerting devices 160 as well as volume-control device 170.

The red, green, and blue LEDs 180 presented in FIGS. 1 and 2 could each be characterized as 5-millimeter (“mm”) round LEDs. FIG. 2 also presents (contained between the front and back housing portions 190, 193 of the smart hanger 100) a metal-case photoresistor 204, a pair of electronic buzzers 205, an Arduino Nano 3.0 controller 206, a pair of rectangular lithium batteries 207, a common USB type “C” connector 208, a power switch 211, and the upper and lower buttons 173, 175 (presented in FIG. 1). FIG. 2 also depicts a plurality of self-tapping screws 209 and 210. Also, while FIG. 5D presents an electrical wiring diagram for the batteries 207, FIG. 5C presents a separate electrical wiring diagram for a charger module for the batteries 207 depicted in FIG. 2.

Also contained between the front and back housing portions 190, 193 of the smart hanger 100 are the sensors 150 (previously described) and a plurality of transducers 260 positioned on the smart hanger 100 (as exemplified in FIG. 2). The operation of the sensors 150 and transducers 260 is controlled by at least one processor 250, which is positioned between the front and back housing portions 190, 193 (FIG. 2) of the smart hanger 100 (FIG. 1). The processor 250 could be implemented by one or more microprocessors, digital-signal processors, central-processing units, microcomputers, or state-of-the-art devices that process signals based on operational instructions. The sensors 150 contained between the front and back housing portions 190, 193 of the smart hanger 100 could be optical sensors, capacitive sensors, or any suitable sensor known to a person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”). The sensors 150 may sense the weight of an article of clothing hung on the smart hanger 100 or may sense other aspects of an article of clothing hung on hanger 100, e.g., blocking a line of sight between signal-emitting and signal-receiving sensors.

Transducers adapted and configured for the present subject matter include both visual and aural transducers. Visual transducers included are the plurality of transducers 260 positioned on the smart hanger 100 (as described above). A pair of aural or audible transducers 262 (FIG. 2) are positioned between the front and back housing portions 190, 193 of the smart hanger 100 closely adjacent to each of a pair of space-apart openings 264 through front housing portion 190.

Another embodiment (or version) of a smart hanger device of the present subject matter includes the smart hanger 300 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which a back housing portion 393 is shown in FIG. 3 and a front housing portion 390 is shown in FIG. 4. This embodiment of the smart hanger 300 includes a suspension hook 330; a plurality of intermediate cross members 340, wherein each intermediate cross member 340 is equidistant-spaced a predetermined distance from a neighboring intermediate crossmember 340, including and up to a lowermost cross member 341.

This embodiment of the smart hanger 300 of the present subject matter further includes electronics and wiring (FIGS. 5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, and 5H); a plurality of sensors 350 (or transducers) adapted and configured for detecting the presence of clothing; and at least one audible alarm or alerting device 360 (FIG. 4A) operatively connected to a volume-control device 370 (FIG. 4) adapted and configured for controlling the volume of the (at least one) audible alarm or alerting device 360. This embodiment of the smart hanger device 300 similarly has interior voids designed, shaped, dimensioned, and configured to accommodate the electronics and wiring.

The volume-control device 370 could include an upper button 373 (FIG. 4B) for increasing the volume of the (at least one) audible alarm or alerting device 360 and a lower button 375 for decreasing the volume. Also, in lieu of an audible alarm, a vibrating device could be substituted, whereupon an act of pushing the upper button 373 increases, and an act of pushing the lower button 375 decreases, any preselected vibration of the alerting device 360. The audible alarm could reproduce a tune familiar to an individual with ADHD or could play a helpful message, e.g., “Please hang your clothes here” (or somewhere specified), if the sensors 350 detect no clothing on the smart hanger 300; or the message could be: “Please select your clothes from here (or me) to put on today” if the sensors 350 detect clothing on the smart hanger 300. A plurality of red, green, and blue (R/G/B) LEDs 380 can be arranged in a predetermined fashion along at least one external surface of the smart hanger 300 (FIG. 4) to attract individuals with ADHD to the smart hanger 300.

This embodiment of the smart hanger 300 includes triangular-shaped body portion 320 which comprises a neck 322 to which the suspension hook 330 is removably attached. The neck 322 defines opposite end portions 324 and 325 (FIG. 4). The triangular-shaped body portion 320 further includes a spaced-apart pair of oppositely downwardly angled support arms 326 and 327.

Each downwardly angled support arm 326 and 327 has a first end portion 328 and 329 joined to an associated one of the opposite end portions 324, 325 of the neck 322. (See FIG. 4.) One of the downwardly angled support arms 326 defines a second end portion 331 spaced from the neck 322, while the other support arm 327 also defines a second end portion 332 spaced from the neck 322. The uppermost (or top) cross member 340 defines opposite end portions either formed integrally with or attached to the second end portions 331, 332 of the downwardly angled support arms 326, 327. The uppermost (or top) cross member 340 defines internal voids sized to contain some of the electronics and wiring (see FIGS. 5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, and 5H). The electronics and the wiring comprise electrical circuitry and at least one microprocessor, processor, or controller. In embodiments, the electronics and wiring are designed, manufactured, sized, adapted, and configured to be contained within the internal voids of the smart hanger 300.

Each sensor 350 or transducer (adapted and configured to detect the presence of clothing) could further be adapted and configured to be located on the hanger 300 for providing a visible notification, for example, by including a flashing white-light LED to alert a person with ADHD when articles of clothing are positioned on at least one cross member 340 or are positioned on the support arms 326 and 327 or by including a flashing yellow-light LED to alert a person with ADHD when articles of clothing are removed from the smart hanger 300. Also, at least one sensor 350 or at least one transducer could be operatively controlled by at least one microprocessor, processor, or by one or more digital-signal processor, central-processing unit (“CPU”), microcomputers, or state-of-the-art devices that process signals based on operational instructions (FIG. 5). Moreover, at least one audible alarm or alerting device 360 (FIG. 1) could be operatively connected by at least one microprocessor, processor, or controller (FIG. 5), whereby the smart hanger 300 not only attracts individuals with ADHD to the smart hanger 300 but also encourages those individuals with ADHD and attracted by the hanger 300 to pick up, organize, and manage their articles of clothing.

Also contained between the front and back housing portions 390, 393 of the smart hanger 300 are the sensors 350 (previously described) and a plurality of transducers 460 positioned on the smart hanger 300 (as exemplified in FIG. 3). The operation of the sensors 350 and transducers 460 is controlled by at least one processor 250 (FIG. 2), which is positioned between the front and back housing portions 390, 393 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the smart hanger 300. The processor 250 could be implemented by one or more microprocessors, digital-signal processors, central-processing units, microcomputers, or state-of-the-art devices that process signals based on operational instructions. The sensors 350 contained between the front and back housing portions 390, 393 of the smart hanger 300 could be optical sensors, capacitive sensors, or any suitable sensor known to a person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”). The sensors 350 may sense the weight of an article of clothing hung on the smart hanger 300 or may sense other aspects of an article of clothing hung on hanger 300, e.g., blocking a line of sight between signal-emitting and signal-receiving sensors.

Transducers adapted and configured for the present subject matter include both visual and aural transducers. Visual transducers included are the plurality of transducers 460 positioned on the smart hanger 300 (as described above). A spaced-apart pair of aural or audible transducers 462 (FIG. 4) are positioned between the front and back housing portions 390, 393 (FIGS. 3, 4) of this embodiment of the smart hanger 300 of the present subject matter closely adjacent to each one of a pair of space-apart openings 364 formed through a portion of the front housing portion 390.

In this embodiment of the smart hanger 300, the spaced-apart pair of aural or audible transducers 462 (FIG. 4) are formed through the uppermost cross member 340 and the plurality of red, green, and blue LEDs 380 are arranged in a predetermined fashion along the bottom cross member 341 of the smart hanger 300 (FIG. 4) to attract individuals with ADHD to the smart hanger. A common USB type “C” connector 408 and a common power switch 411 are detailed in FIG. 3A.

Described in detail in this patent specification and illustrated by its FIGS is a smart hanger device for individuals with ADHD. While the present subject matter is described with reference to exemplary embodiments, the present subject matter is not limited to the embodiments shown and described. On the contrary, alternatives, changes, and/or modifications shall become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) after this patent specification and its FIGS are reviewed. Therefore, alternatives, changes, and/or modifications shall be treated as forming a part of the present subject matter insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.