Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
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HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXT'fJRE
By Floyd A. Bearer
BACKGROUND OF THE INVEN'IION
Field of the Inyention:
This invention relates to a combination of a hanger rod and
lighting fixture and more particularly to such apparatus with
provision for: (1) enabling easy movement of th.e hangers along the
hanger rod; (2) preventing the surface of the hanger rod from being
scratched or damaged by movement of the hangers along the rode (3)
preventing hangers from slipping off the hanger rod when the Yiange~~
rod is tilted; and (4) for providing light from at least the end
portions of the hanger rod, and from a slit extending along the
length of the underside of the hanger rod.
Related Art:
U.S. Patent No. 3,384,224 entitled "Anti-Friction Support Sar"
to Falek describes teflvn beads positioned around the circumference
of a covering aluminum or steel pipe to permit a hook member of a
clothes hanger to slide easily and silently along the pipe.
U. S . Patent No. 3 , 685, X62 entitled "Hang Rail Construction and
Bracket Therefor" to Varon et al. discloses a plastic strip member,
having low friction for metal, and is engaged =Gn a channel of the
hang rail to enable hangers to slide without scratching ,the surface
of the hang rail.
U.S. Patent No. 2,827,555 entitled "Illuminated Clothes Closet
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FI~CTURE
Floyd A. Bearer
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
Fixture" to Wooley describes an illuminated clothes closet fixture
including a light source and a garment-supporting or garment-hanger
supporting rail located below the light source.
U.S. Patent No. 5,421,059 entitled "Traverse Support Rod" to
Leffers, Jr. discloses a light element mounted within a decorative
cap of an elongated member, such as a hanger o~r traverse rod.
There remains the need in hanger rail apparatus to provide a
simple and inexpensive means to prevent the hanger rod from being
scratched with movement of hangers along the hanger rail,
preventing the hangers from falling from tree hanger rod with
tilting of the hanger rod from being parallel to the floor, and to
provide adequate lighting in the vicinity of the hanger rail from
a light source located within the hanger rail.
SUMrsARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to the combination of a
hanger rod and a lighting fixture mounting within the hanger rail
and comprising a rod, which may be anodized or covered with a wood
veneer, having a hanger rail mounted in a groove on top of the rod
for preventing the surface of the rod from being scratched or
scored by clothes hangers as they are moved along the rod. A
fluorescent bulb, or alternatively an incandescent bulb(s), is
housed inside the rod for lighting the end of the hanger assembly
as well as areas between the ends, if desired. Hanger stops
affixed at desired Locations along the hanger rail enable the
hangers to be separated from one another and also to enable the
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTURE
Floyd A. Bearer
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
hanger assembly to be positioned at an angle with respect to
horizontal and prevent clothes hangers from falling off the hanger
rod.
While the preferred embodiment of 'the invention is to utilize
the hanger rod and lighting fixture in combination, it is readily
apparent that these two features of the invention are also capable
of being used alone, depending on which of the characteristic
features of the invention is desired for a particular application.
An obj ect o f the invention is to provide a hanger rod enabl ing
the easy movement of hangers along the hanger rod by reducing the
frictional drag between the hangers and the surface of the hanger
rod and to reduce or eliminate scratching of the surface of the
hanger with movement of the hangers along the hanger rod.
A feature of the invention is a hanger rail extending along
all, or selected portions, of the longitudinal axis of the hanger '
rod and upon which the hanger necks are supported separate from the
surface of the hanger rod. An associated feature of the invention ,
is that movement of the hangers along the hanger rail reduces or
eliminates scratching of the surface of the hanger rod with
movement of the hangers along the hanger rod.
An advantage of the invention is that movement of the hangers
along the hanger rod, and particularly with heavy clothing hung
thereon, is facilitated.
Another object of the invention is to prevent slippage of the
hangers along the hanger rod, thereby enabling the hanger rod to be
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTURE
Floyd A. Bearer
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
tilted with respect to the floor surface.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of movable
hanger stops which are attached at desirable positions along the
hanger rail by a screw-type mechanism thereby restricting movement
of the hangers along the hanger rod.
Another advantage of the invention is that movement of the
hangers along the hanger rod may be restricted as desired.
And still another object of the invention is the provision of
simply operated means to separate hangers hanging from the hanger
rod.
And still another feature of the invention is the provision of
movable hanger stops which are attached at desirable positions
along the hanger rail by a screw-type mechanism, thereby enabling
the hangers to be separated from one another.
And still another advantage of the invention is that hangers
may be separately positioned along the hanger rod.
And yet another object of the present invention is to provide
light emanating from the hanger rod.
And yet another feature of the invention is the inclusion of
a light source within the hanger rod, whereby light emanates from
each end of the hanger rod, when desired, arid along the entire
length thereof.
Arid yet another advantage of the invention is that areas
around the ends and the bottom of the hanger rod may be illuminated
by a light source located within the hanger rod.
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTURE
Floyd A. Searer
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
And yet another feature of the invention is that either
fluorescent or incandecent light bulbs may be inserted in the
hanger rod.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION of THE DRAwINGs
The above objects, features and advantages of the invention
are readily perceived from the following description of the best
mode of carrying out a preferred embodiment of. the invention when
taken in consideration of the following drawings, wherein:
Fig. lA is a perspective view of the combined hanger rod and
lighting fixture with the hanger rail positioned to support hangers
arid a light source mounted within the hanger rod in accordance with
a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 1B is a bottom view of the hanger showing the slit along
the longitudinal axis thereof to allow light to emanate therefrom:
Fig. 2A illustrates a hanger stop mounted to the hanger rail;
Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a hanger
stap; and
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of of the combined hanger rod and
lighting fixture with the hanger rail supporting a hanger and a
hanger stop mounted on the hanger rail to restrict movement of the
hanger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in Fig. 1A, hanger rod and light fixture assembly 10
comprises hanger rod 12 made of wood or metal with an optional
veneer surface 14 and including a rail groove 16 extending along
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTU~2E
Floyd A. searer
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
the longitudinal axis of the upper surface 17 of the hanger rod 12.
Hanger rail 18 is shown fixed in hanger rail groove 16 and extends
above ugper surface 17 so that the hanger necks (shown in Fig. 3)
are separated from the surface 17 of the hanger rod 12. Such a
distance may be, for example, approximately 1/4 inch. Although the
extension of the hanger,rail 18 above the upper surface 17 of
hanger rod 12 is not critical, it must be sufficient so that the
neck support of the hangers that are to be supported on the hanger
rail 18 are free to move along the hanger rail without significant
frictional engagement of the hangers with the hanger rod 12. In
Fig. 1 hanger 20 is shown resting on the upper surface 17 of hanger
rod 12 and spaced from the end 22 of hanger rail 18. Such a
spacing allows the hangers to be positioned and retained at the end
of hanger rod 12 by the engagement of support neck 24 with the
surface 14 of the hanger 2~. This is an alternate use of the
hanger rod 12, that is, without the hanger necks 24 being supported
on the hanger rail 18.
Continuing with Fig. lA, a portion of lamp bulb 26 is shown at
the end portion 28 of hanger rod 12. Lamp bulb 26 may comprise a
series of individual light bulbs or a fluorescent bulb extending
essentially the length of the hanger rod 12 so that light 25 may
project from both ends of the hanger rod 12. If desired, a slit
may be formed along the bottom surface of the longitudinal axis of
hanger rod 12 (as shown in Fig. 1S) to provide illumination along
the entire length of the bottom of the hanger rod 12. It is
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTURE
Floyd A. Searer g
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
understood that the ballast for the fluorescent light may be
located within hanger rod 12 , or may be remotely located outside of
the hanger rod 12 and connected to the fluorescent light by
suitable wiring.
In the case where individual light bulbs are used, one light
bulb may he positioned at, each end of the hanger rod 12 and several
light bulbs may ba positioned in spaced relation along the inside
bottom of the hanger rod 12 and immediately within a bottom slit 27
therein.
In Fig. 2A, hanger stop 30 is shown mounted to hanger rail 18
and fixed in a desired location thereon by a screw-like mechanism,
such as set screw 32. Hanger stop 30 may be made of chromed steel
or plated brass or even plastic. The fastening means may also
comprise a winged screw in lieu of the set screw. It is evident
that individual hanger stops 30 may be positioned in any desired
positions along hanger rail 18 so that groups of individual hangers
20 may be separated as desired. Additionally, it may be desired to
place hanger rod 12 at other than a horizontal relation with
respect to the floor, and in such cases hanger stops 30 afford a
convenient means of preventing individual hangers 20 from slipping
off the hanger rod 12.
Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of hanger stop 30 with slot
34 extending the full length along the bottom of the hanger stop.
Set screw or other easily used fastening means extends within slot
34 to engage hanger rail 18 and fix the hanger stop at a desired
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTURE
Floyd A. Searer
CA 02426947 2003-04-16
location on the hanger rail as described above.
Fig. 3 illustrates the combined hanger rod. and lighting
fixture 10 with the neck 36 of a hanger 20 positioned on top of
hanger rail 18 so that neck 36 is relatively free of contact with
surface 14 of the hanger rod. Obviously, a number of hanger rods
20 may be so positioned ox~ hanger rail 18.
Fig. 3 also illustrates a hanger stop 30 mounted to and fixed
to hanger rail 18 by means of a set screw 32 or other type of screw
fastening means. The purpose of hanger stop 30 is to separate a
hanger rod 20 from other hanger rods (not shown) on hanger rail 18
as well as to prevent hangers 20 from slipping along hanger rail
18, particularly when hanger rod 10 is tilted from the horizontal.
Such a non-horizontal configuration of the combined hanger rod and
lighting fixture may be desired to better display the garments
hanging from individual hanger rods 20 as opposed to having them
located side-by-side with the combined hanger rod and lighting
fixture 10 positioned horizontally.
Notwithstanding the foregoing description, it is apparent that
the invention may be modified to be used without hanger rail 18,
thereby enabling the hanger neck supports 24 to rest on a portion
of the upper surface 17 of hanger rod 12. This modification is
useful when the hanger neck supports have a significantly larger
radius than the radius of hanger rod 12 , thereby preventing binding
of the hanger neck supports 24 with movement along hanger rod 12.
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTU~tE
Floyd A. Searer 8
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Therefore, it is desired that the present invention not be
limited to the embodiments specifically described, but that it
include any and all such modifications and variations that would be
obvious to those skilled in this art. It is my intention that the
scope of the present invention should be determined by any and all
such equivalents of the various terms and structure as recited in
the following annexed claims.
COMBINED HANGER RAIL AND LIGHTING FIXTURE
Floyd A. Searer 9
