Versatile hanger retainer apparatus and methods of use

Abstract

A portable retainer apparatus, and more specifically to a portable retainer apparatus adapted to retain a hanger when applied to and/or over a number of different surfaces is provided. Furthermore, the disclosure may further relate to a method for retaining a hanger with the apparatus in order to accord a user the benefit of hanging an apparel article outside or inside of a shower in order to dewrinkle such an article. The subject portable retainer apparatus exhibits the ability to carry such a retainer device and then place, on demand, such a device over a shower rod, shower door, shower door cover, shower wall, and the like, with a proper configuration to dispose of the subject apparel article at a selected distance near or away from a shower curtain or door when in use to maximize the benefits of heated shower moisture and steam for the above-noted purpose.

Claims

1. A portable hanging apparatus for supporting a clothes hanger in spaced relation to a room feature, said apparatus comprising: a portable unitary piece including a major hook portion having first and second faces disposed in opposed parallel relation, an interior portion, a first end spaced a distance from a second end, the interior portion having a surface, and an exterior portion having a surface, and wherein said major hook portion is present with a curved ovular configuration; the major hook portion defining elements of a protruding portion comprising an exterior surface, the protruding portion extending a defined distance from the exterior portion of the major hook portion, an edge of the exterior surface aligning along a tangent of the interior portion of the major hook portion, a second edge of the exterior surface aligning along a tangent of the exterior portion of the major hook portion; the major hook portion defining elements of a first indentation extending a defined distance within the protruding portion, the first indentation extending along an axis parallel with the exterior portion aligning along a tangent of the interior portion of the major hook portion; the apparatus defining elements of a minor hook portion comprising a first extension portion, a second extension portion, a curved end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the first extension portion and the second extension portion positioned in a perpendicular relationship therewith, the first extension portion terminating at the second end of the major hook portion; and the minor hook portion defining elements of a second indentation adapted to receive a hanging portion of a hanger, the second indentation protruding from a side surface of the minor hook portion and extending a defined distance within the minor hook portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the major hook portion affixable around at least a portion of a shower rod.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the first indentation affixable around at least a portion of a glass shower door frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the first indentation terminating at a rounded end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the second indentation terminating at a rounded end.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the curved end of the minor hook portion inwardly extending toward the interior surface of the major hook portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the first end inwardly extending toward the interior surface of the major hook portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the second end outwardly extending away from the interior surface of the major hook portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the distance from the first end of the major hook portion to the second end of the major hook portion being 1.5 inches.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the second indentation continuous along a portion of the first extension portion and a portion of the second extension portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, the second indentation further comprising a recessed portion positioned within at least one of the first extension portion and the second extension portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, at least a portion of the first and second faces comprising sharp edges.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, at least a portion of the first and second faces comprising rounded edges.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a polymer.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a metal.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wooden material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The novel features believed characteristic of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in any claims that are filed now and/or later. The disclosed subject matter itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a hanger retainer apparatus in accordance with embodiments.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a hanger retainer apparatus in accordance with embodiments.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a front view of a hanger retainer apparatus in accordance with embodiments.

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a top view of a hanger retainer apparatus in accordance with embodiments.

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a bottom view of a hanger retainer apparatus in accordance with embodiments.

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a method for retaining a standard hanger with an apparel article in accordance with embodiments.

(8) FIG. 7 depicts a method for retaining a topless hanger with an apparel article in accordance with embodiments.

(9) FIG. 8 depicts a method for hanging an apparel article from a shower curtain rod utilizing an embodiment of the disclosed device.

(10) FIG. 9 depicts a method for hanging a hanger (and thus apparel article) from a door (or wall) utilizing an embodiment of the disclosed device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(11) Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numbers are used throughout the different FIGURES to designate the same components.

(12) It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

(13) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising or includes and/or including when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(14) FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a hanger retainer apparatus 2 in accordance with embodiments. The apparatus 2 may be capable of supporting a clothes hanger in spaced relation to a room feature. In embodiments, the room features may comprise shower rods and glass shower door frames and shower walls. The apparatus 2 may comprise a portable unitary piece including a major hook portion 10. The major hook portion 10 may have first and second faces 4,6 disposed in opposed parallel relation (the second face 6 at least partially shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5). The major hook portion 10 may have an interior portion 8 that may define an interior thereof. The major hook portion 10 may further comprise a first end 12 spaced from a second end 14, and an exterior portion 18. In embodiments, the major hook portion 10 may be positioned in a curved ovular configuration. The curved ovular configuration may aid in positioning the apparatus 2 around a portion of a shower rod.

(15) The major hook portion 10 may define elements of a protruding portion 20. The protruding portion 20 may comprise an exterior surface 22 as shown in FIG. 5. The protruding portion may extend a defined distance from the exterior portion 18 of the major hook portion 10. In embodiments, an edge of the exterior surface 22 may align along a tangent of the interior portion 8 of the major hook portion 10. In embodiments, a second edge of the exterior surface 22 may align along a tangent of the exterior portion 18 of the major hook portion 10.

(16) The major hook portion 10 may define elements of a first indentation 24. The first indentation 24 may extend a defined distance within the protruding portion 20. In embodiments, the first indentation 24 may extend along an axis parallel with the portion of the exterior surface 22 aligning along a tangent of the interior portion 8 of the major hook portion 10.

(17) The apparatus 2 may define elements of a minor hook portion 26 comprising a first extension portion 28, a second extension portion 30, a curved end 32, an interior surface 34, and an exterior surface 36. The first extension portion 28 and the second extension portion 30 may be positioned in a perpendicular relationship therewith. The first extension portion 28 may terminate at the second end 14 of the major hook portion 10 and may be defined between the second end 14 of the major hook portion 10 and the second extension portion 30.

(18) The minor hook portion 26 may further define elements of a second indentation 38 adapted to receive a portion of a hanger. The second indentation may protrude from a side surface of the minor hook portion 26 and may extend a defined distance within the minor hook portion 26. In embodiments, the second indentation 38 may be continuous along a portion of the first extension portion 28 and a portion of the second extension portion 30. In embodiments, second indentation 38 may terminate at a rounded end.

(19) FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a hanger retainer apparatus 2 in accordance with embodiments. The first indentation 24 may be shown terminating within the protruding portion 20 at a rounded end. In embodiments, the first indentation 24 may be wide enough to allow for a glass shower door frame to be slid within the first indentation 24. When the apparatus 2 is affixed to at least a portion of a glass shower door frame, hook-ended hangers may be hung on the interior portion 8 (FIG. 1) of the major hook portion 10 and ball-ended hangers may be hung within the second indentation 38 (FIG. 1) of the minor hook portion 26.

(20) In embodiments, the distance between the first end and the second end of the major hook portion 10 may be wide enough to allow a shower rod to fit through that distance. Once the distance is cleared, the major hook portion may be affixable around at least a portion of the shower rod, allowing the apparatus 2 to hang from the shower rod. This positioning may allow for hook-ended hangers to be hung on the interior portion 8 of major hook portion 10 and ball-ended hangers to be hung within the second indentation 38 of the minor hook portion 26. In embodiments, the distance between the first end and the second end of the major hook portion 10 may be 1.5 inches.

(21) Whether the apparatus 2 is affixed to at least a portion of a shower rod or to at least a portion of a glass shower door frame, a ball-top hanger may be positioned within the second indentation 38 of the minor hook portion 26. In order to allow for the ball end to be more secure within the second indentation 38, the second indentation may further comprise a recessed portion that may be positioned within at least one of the first extension portion 28 and the second extension portion 30. The recessed portion may resemble that of a bowled-out area in which the ball end may comfortably fit. Depending on the orientation of the apparatus 2, the recessed portion may be positioned on at least one of the exterior surface 36 of the minor hook portion 26 and the interior surface 34 of the minor hook portion 26.

(22) In embodiments, the curved end 32 of the minor hook portion 26 may inwardly extend toward the interior surface 8 of the major hook portion 10.

(23) In embodiments, the first end 12 of the major hook portion 10 may inwardly extend toward the interior surface 8 of the major hook portion 10. In embodiments, the second end 14 of the major hook portion 10 may outwardly extend away from the interior surface 8 of the major hook portion 10.

(24) Elements of the apparatus 2 may be defined between the first and second faces 4,6, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

(25) FIG. 6 displays a method for retaining a hanger. The method may utilize any aforementioned configurations of apparatus 102. Method 100 may comprise providing 110 a hanger retainer apparatus 102. A shower door element 112 may then be inserted into the first indentation 124. Method 100 may further include positioning a ball-top portion 114 of a ball-top hanger 116 adjacent at least one of a major hook portion 110 and a second indentation 138. When a hanger with a garment is hung from the apparatus 102 within a room with a shower, the steam from the shower may decrease the amount of or eliminate wrinkles that may exist on the garment.

(26) In embodiments, at least a portion of the first and second faces 104, 106 may comprise sharp edges. In embodiments, at least a portion of the first and second faces 104, 106 may comprise rounded edges.

(27) In embodiments, apparatus 102 may comprise a polymer. In embodiments, apparatus 102 may be completely comprised of a polymer, including, without limitation, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, and the like).

(28) In embodiments, apparatus 102 may comprise a metal. In embodiments, apparatus 2 may be completely comprised of a metal (such as brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and the like, without limitation). Additionally, such an apparatus 102 may be comprised of a wooden material (including, without limitation, bamboo, cedar, cherry, walnut, mahogany, and the like).

(29) FIG. 7 displays another possible embodiment method for retaining a hanger. The method may utilize any aforementioned configurations of apparatus 2. Method 200 may comprise providing a hanger retainer apparatus 202. A shower rod element 212 may then be surrounded at least partially by the major hook portion 224 thereof. Method 200 may further include positioning a standard hanger curved top 214 of a standard hanger 216 adjacent at least one of said major hook portion 224 and a second indentation 238. FIG. 8 thus shows the above method 200 through the retention of a garment 240 from the hanger retainer apparatus 224 within a room with a shower 242. In such a manner, the steam 244 from the shower 242 may decrease the amount of or eliminate wrinkles that may exist on the garment 240. FIG. 9 further shows the above method 200 through the retention of a hanger 252 from the hanger retainer apparatus 224 around the top of a door 254 (or it may also represent a properly configured wall). In such a manner, a garment (not illustrated) may be retained thereon the hanger 252 and subjected to steam (244 in FIG. 8, for instance) within the room in which the door 254 (or wall) is present.

(30) As above, in embodiments, at least a portion of the first and second faces 204,206 may comprise sharp edges, and at least a portion of the first and second faces 204,206 may comprise rounded edges. As well, in embodiments, apparatus 202 may comprise a polymer (partially or completely); such a polymer may include, without limitation, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, and the like. In embodiments, additionally, apparatus 202 may comprise a metal, such as brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and the like, without limitation. Furthermore, as above, such an apparatus 202 may be comprised of a wooden material (including, without limitation, bamboo, cedar, cherry, walnut, mahogany, and the like).

(31) Although specific embodiment of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.