Door hook

Abstract

A door hook includes a top member, a back member, a front member, a hook and a leg. The back member is attached to the first end of the top member and the front member is attached to the opposite end of the top member. The leg and hook are also attached to the front member. The leg extends below the hook. A resilient foot is attached to the leg such that the resilient foot is below the hook. The front member is configured to flex into a generally convex shape after a downward force acts on the hook and the resilient foot is configured to flex after the downward force is exerted on the hook.

Claims

1. A door hook comprising: a top member having a first end and a second end; a back member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the back member attached to the first end of the top member; a front member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the front member attached to the second end of the top member such that the front member extends below the top member; the front member being resilient; a hook having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hook attached to the front member adjacent the second end of the front member and the second end of the hook being a free end; a leg attached directly to the second end of the front member, the leg extending below the hook; a resilient foot attached to the leg such that the resilient foot is below the hook; and wherein the front member is made of a material and shape that allows the front member to flex into a generally convex shape when a downward force acts on the hook.

2. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the resilient foot is composed of material having a durometer of from 30 to 150 or is an elastomeric material.

3. The door hook of claim 1 further comprising at least one rib attached to the front member.

4. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the back member extends below the top member at an angle of 80 to 85 relative to the top member.

5. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the door hook is composed of at least one polymeric material.

6. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the front member extends at an angle of 85 to 90 relative to the top member.

7. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the leg and the front member are integrally molded as a unitary structure.

8. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the resilient foot is composed of a first material and the front member is composed of a second material that is different from the first material.

9. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the front member linearly extends below the top member.

10. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the top member, back member, front member, hook and leg are integrally molded as a unitary structure.

11. The door hook of claim 1 wherein the leg is also attached to the hook.

12. A door hook comprising: a top member having a first end and a second end; a back member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the back member attached to the first end of the top member; a front member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the front member attached to the second end of the top member such that the front member extends below the top member; the front member being resilient; a hook having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hook attached to the front member adjacent the second end of the front member and the second end of the hook being a free end; a leg attached directly to the second end of the front member, the leg extending below the hook; a resilient foot attached to the leg such that the resilient foot is below the hook; wherein the front member is made of a material and shape that allows the front member to flex into a generally convex shape when a downward force acts on the hook; wherein the resilient foot is comprised of a body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first projection extending from the first side of the body and a second projection extending from the second side of the body, the first and second projections flexing when the downward force acts on the hook.

13. The door hook of claim 12 wherein the body has an opening formed therein that is sized and configured to receive a portion of the leg to attach the resilient foot to the leg.

14. A door hook comprising: a top member having a first end and a second end; a back member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the back member attached to the first end of the top member; a front member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the front member attached to the second end of the top member such that the front member extends below the top member; the front member being resilient; a hook having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hook attached to the front member adjacent the second end of the front member and the second end of the hook being a free end; a leg attached directly to the second end of the front member, the leg extending below the hook; the leg, the hook, the front member, the back member and the top member being integrally molded as a unitary structure composed of plastic; a resilient foot attached to the leg such that the resilient foot is below the hook; and wherein the front member is made of a material and shape that allows the front member to flex into a generally convex shape when a downward force acts on the hook.

15. The door hook of claim 14 further comprising at least one rib attached to the front member.

16. The door hook of claim 14 wherein the resilient foot is composed of a first material and the hook, front member, top member, back member and leg are composed of a second material that is different than the first material.

17. The door hook of claim 16 wherein the first material has a durometer of from 30 to 150 or is an elastomeric material and the second material is a plastic.

18. A door hook comprising: a top member having a first end and a second end; a back member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the back member attached to the first end of the top member; a front member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the front member attached to the second end of the top member such that the front member extends below the top member; the front member being resilient; a hook having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hook attached to the front member adjacent the second end of the front member and the second end of the hook being a free end; a leg attached directly to the second end of the front member, the leg extending below the hook; the leg, the hook, the front member, the back member and the top member being integrally molded as a unitary structure composed of plastic; a resilient foot attached to the leg such that the resilient foot is below the hook; and wherein the front member is made of a material and shape that allows the front member to flex into a generally convex shape when a downward force acts on the hook; and wherein the resilient foot is comprised of a body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first projection extending from the first side of the body and a second projection extending from the second side of the body, the first and second projections flexing when the downward force acts on the hook.

19. The door hook of claim 18 wherein the body has an opening formed herein that is sized and configured to receive a portion of the leg to attach the resilient foot to the leg.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Present preferred embodiments of my door hook are shown in the accompanying drawings and certain present preferred methods of practicing the same are also illustrated therein.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first present preferred embodiment of my door hook.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front view of the first present preferred embodiment of my door hook.

(4) FIG. 3 is a back view of the first present preferred embodiment of my door hook.

(5) FIG. 4 is a right side view of the first present preferred embodiment of my door hook.

(6) FIG. 5 is a left side view of the first present preferred embodiment hung on a door shown in dotted line with a wreath on the hook causing the front member of the door hook to flex forming a convex shape.

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first present preferred embodiment holding a wreath as shown in FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is a top view of a first present preferred resilient foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) A first present preferred embodiment 1 of my door hook is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. The door hook 1 includes a top member 3 that has a rear end attached to a back member 5. The front end of the top member 3 is attached to a front member 7. The front member 7 is attached to the front end of the top member 3 such that the front member 7 extends linearly below the top member 3. The front member 7 preferably extends below the top member 3 at an angle of between 85 and 90 relative to the top member 3. The back member 5 extends below the top member 3 at an angle of between 80 and 85 relative to the top member 3. A hook 9 is attached to the front member 7 at the bottom end of the front member 7. A leg 8 is also attached to the bottom end of the front member 7. The leg 8 extends below the hook 9. In a preferred embodiment, the leg is 1.25 inches. However, the length could be somewhat shorter or longer.

(10) Preferably, the leg 8 also includes a brace 19 that is attached between the leg and the hook 9. I have found that the brace increases the bending distance and reduced the contact area with the door. In one embodiment with the brace, the peak of the curve defined by the flexed front member was 0.78 inches when a wreath was hung on the door hook. Without the brace, the peak was 0.72 inches from the door and a greater portion of the wreath hook was in contact with the door. Without the brace, 0.8 inches of the top portion of the door hook were in contact with the door. With the brace, 0.76 inches of the top of the door hook were in contact with the door.

(11) A resilient foot 11 is attached to the leg 8 at a position below at least a portion of the hook 9. As may be best appreciated from FIG. 7, the resilient foot 11 includes a body that defines an opening 17. A first projection 13 extends from one side of the body and a second projection 15 extends from the other side of the body of the resilient foot 11. The opening 17 is sized and configured to receive a portion of the leg 8 for attaching the resilient foot 11 to the leg 8. The leg 8 may also include small protrusions or bumps (not shown) to help keep the leg 8 retained within the opening 17 of the resilient foot 11. One may provide a second resilient foot 31 on the back member 5 as shown in dotted line in FIG. 4.

(12) The resilient foot 11 is preferably composed of a material that is soft relative to wood or other door materials so the resilient foot 11 does not scratch or otherwise mar the door when an object is placed on the hook 9 of the door hook 1 or the door is moved. The material of the resilient foot 11 also preferably has a high static coefficient of friction. For instance, the resilient foot 11 can be composed of an elastomeric material or soft material having a durometer of from 30 to 150. Preferably, the resilient foot is composed of soft vinyl, soft rubber, sanoprene or other soft material.

(13) The front member 7 may include one or more ribs 18. Each rib 18 can provide additional strength to the front member. Preferably, the one or more ribs 18 are integral with the front member.

(14) The top member 3, back member 5, front member 7, hook 9 and leg 8 may be integrally molded as a unitary structure composed of a polymeric material such as plastic. For instance, the top member 3, back member 5, front member 7, leg 8 and hook 9 may be injection molded as a unitary structure. The top member 3, back member 5, front member 7, hook 9 and leg 8 are preferably be composed of polycarbonate or ABS.

(15) It should be appreciated that the hook 9 of the door hook is sized and configured to hold objects. Preferably, the hook 9 is sized and configured to hold decorations such as wreaths, holiday dolls, figurines, or signs.

(16) The door hook 1 is sized and configured so that when the hook 9 is holding an object 21, the front member 7 flexes into a convex shape, as may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The convex shape of the door front member 7 causes a significant portion of the weight of the object 21 to provide a holding force that acts on the resilient foot 11. The projections 13 and 15 of the resilient foot 11 are configured to bend after the object is placed on the hook 9 so that resilient foot 11 presses against a door 22 on which the door hook 1 is hung.

(17) It should be appreciated that the downward force provided by the weight of the wreath 21 is at least partially transferred as a holding force that acts against the resilient foot 11. The holding force causes the resilient foot 11 to significantly press against the door from which the door hook 1 is hung. Because the point of contact with the door is below the hook, the foot reduces or prevents the door hook 1 from laterally moving or swinging when the door is opened or closed. Of course, the friction property of the resilient foot 11 also helps reduce or stop the front member 7 from swinging or otherwise move laterally from movement of the door.

(18) I have compared the door hook shown in the drawings to conventional door hooks when a wreath is hung on both hooks. I found that a greater lateral force acting on the wreath was required to move the wreath hung on the door hook here disclosed than is required to move the wreath on a conventional door hook such as the hook disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,297. Additionally, the leg decreases the area of contact between the door and the door hook. Consequently, if the door hook is moved, far less damage, if any, can occur than occurs with a conventional door hook rubbing repeatedly against the door surface.

(19) While certain present preferred embodiments of my door hook and certain embodiments of methods of practicing the same have been shown and described, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.