Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02697638 2010-03-24
DOOR ATTACHMENT
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application
Serial No.
12/614,787, which was filed on November 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to door attachments, and more
specifically, to
an over-the-door attachment that is adjustable to any width door.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Over-the-door hangers have been used for a number of years. The basic
structure of such a hanger generally includes a metal or molded plastic piece
that can
be hung over the top of a door and extends down the face of the door,
terminating in a
hook used to support the item being hung. The advantage of these hangers is
that
items such as wreaths, hangers, and the like can be hung without permanently
attaching anything to the door. This is especially useful for hanging a
seasonal item,
such as a wreath, which is only hung on the door for a relatively short period
of time
during the year.
[0004] Figure 13 is a prior art over-door hook having a fixed width W that is
designed
to fit most doors. However, given the variation in door widths, the over-door
hook
shown in Fig. 13 is generally loose on the door top and is therefore not
secure. Further,
because this over-door hook is not tight, it tends to move thereby damaging
the door.
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To create a tight fit for the over-door hooks, users have added material
between the
door and one of the leg portions 110, and 120 to minimize the excess space
between
the over-door hook and the door. Further, some manufacturers have created an
acute
angle between legs 110 and 120 to try to squeeze the door between the legs of
the
over-door hook thereby minimizing the potential for movement. However, none of
these
prior art over-door hooks provide an over-door hook attachment adaptable to
any width
door.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, an over-door hanger is
configured to contact a top of a door and opposing faces of the door. When the
door is
in its closed position, only a horizontally extending element is arranged
between the
door top and a doorjamb. The over-door hanger has at least one slideably
mounted
vertical member configured to adjust a mounting width of the over-door hanger
so that
the over-door hanger is snugly affixed to the door.
[0006] Briefly stated, the invention is directed to a door attachment
configured for
mounting over a top of a door, the door having opposed first and second faces.
The
door attachment includes a horizontal support configured to at least partially
rest on the
top of the door, a first substantially vertical member extending from the
horizontal
support configured to contact the first face of the door, and a second
substantially
vertical member extending from the first horizontal support. The second
substantially
vertical member has a first surface configured to contact the second face of
the door.
The second substantially vertical member includes a mounting mechanism
configured
to slideably receive the horizontal support, the mounting mechanism extending
in a
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longitudinal direction of the horizontal support away from the second face of
the door
and a locking mechanism configured to releaseably secure the horizontal
support
against movement in at least one direction relative to the mounting mechanism.
[0007] Other objects and features of the present invention will become
apparent from
the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed
solely for
purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention, for which
reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further
understood that
the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise
indicated,
they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and
procedures
described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the drawings:
[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an over-door attachment in accordance
with
the invention;
[0010] Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the over-door attachment of
Fig. 1;
[0011] Figure 3 is a side view of the over-door attachment of Figs. 1 and 2;
[0012] Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of a locking mechanism along line
4-4 of
Fig. 1;
[0013] Figure 5A is a perspective view of an over-door attachment according to
a
second embodiment of the invention;
[0014] Figure 5B is a perspective view of an over-door attachment according to
a
third embodiment of the invention;
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[0015] Figure 6 is a perspective exploded view of the over-door attachment
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of the over-door attachment of
Fig. 6 when
assembled;
[0017] Figure 8 is a side view of an over-door attachment according to a fifth
embodiment of the invention;
[0018] Figure 9 is a hook attachment used with the inventive over-door
attachment;
[0019] Figure 10 is a shelf attachment used with the inventive over-door
attachment;
[0020] Figure 11 is a hanger attachment used with the inventive over-door
attachment;
[0021] Figure 12 is a side view of an over-door attachment in accordance with
a sixth
embodiment of the invention; and
[0022] Figure 13 is an over-door hook according to the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Disclosed is an over-door attachment that is adjustable to fit snugly
on a door.
In a preferred embodiment, a first L-shaped door component and a second
vertically
oriented component are operatively arranged with each other to bound
therebetween a
variable width compartment, such as a door. The second vertically oriented
component
is configured for retaining therein the first L-shaped component. A locking
mechanism
is provided to prevent motion of the L-shaped component when the lock
mechanism is
engaged.
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[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, an over-door attachment 10 in accordance with the
invention includes a horizontal support, namely a first L-shaped component 12
and a
second vertically oriented door component 14. The two components 12, 14 are
arranged for use on a door 16. The over-door attachment 10 is configured so
that width
20 is variable to match a door width 20A. The L-shaped component 12 is
laterally
moveable along line 26. Lateral motion of L-shaped member 12 in the directions
shown
by double-headed arrow 26 varies the space 18 bounded by L-shaped member 12
and
the second vertically oriented door component 14.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, the L-shaped component 12 includes a first portion
34
having a sawtooth formed therein. The L-shaped component 12 is configured to
mate
with the vertically oriented component 14 through a slot 24. Slot 24 has
sidewalls 22
spaced apart from one another so that the width of slot 24 is only slightly
larger than the
width of L-shaped component 12. A resilient tab 30 is provided on component
14. Tab
30 includes a sawtooth configured to mate with the sawtooth 34 of L-shaped
component
12 as shown in Fig. 4. When the sawtooth of tab 30 mates with the sawtooth 34
of the
L-shaped component 12, the L- shaped component 12 is prevented from moving
longitudinally in at least one direction in slot 24. In one embodiment of the
invention,
the vertical component 14 includes a component mount 42. As discussed in more
detail
below, the component mount 42 is configured to securely mount components to
the
door 16.
[0026] Figure 3 shows the over-door attachment 10 in operation. As shown, the
first
L-shaped component 12 is placed over the door 16 such that the vertically
oriented
component 14 is against a first face of the door 16. The L-shaped component 12
is
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then moved toward a second face of door 16 as shown by arrow 26 in the
direction to
the left in Fig. 3. When the door attachment 10 is snugly affixed to door 16,
L-shaped
component 12 is secured against further movement by tab 30. To release the L-
shaped
component 12 for lateral motion, tab 30 is moved in a direction of arrow 30'.
In one
embodiment of the invention, a tab 38 extends from over-door attachment 10.
The tab
38 is configured for hanging bags and the like such as a duffle bag 40, shown
in
phantom. As shown, a duffle bag strap 40' is placed over a top of the tab 38.
[0027] Figure 4 is a partial cross section showing the tab 30 mating with the
sawtooth 34 of the L-shaped component 12. As shown, the sawtooth 34 is
preferably
angled so that the L-shaped component 12 can be in a direction T without
releasing tab
30. Tab 30 is then released to move the L-shaped component 12 away from
vertical
component 14, in a direction opposite direction T.
[0028] Figure 5A is a second embodiment of the over-door attachment 10. As
shown, the L-shaped component 12' has a longitudinally extending slot 44. The
vertically extending component 14 includes a threaded rod 46 that extends
through slot
44 to cross member 52. A wing nut 48 or the like is tightened on threaded rod
46 to
hold the L-shaped component 12' in place. This embodiment provides a
continuously
adjustable space 18', in contrast to the stepwise adjustable space 18 shown in
Fig. 1.
As would be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the
vertical component
14 can alternatively include a through hole on its top surface 50 and a
threaded portion
in cross member 52 corresponding to the through hole on the top surface 50. A
threaded screw can then be inserted through a hole on surface 50 and tightened
so that
the top surface 50 is pressed against the L-shaped component 12' to prevent
movement
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of the L-shaped component 12' once the appropriate space 18' corresponding to
the
door width 20A is met.
[0029] Figure 5B depicts a variation of the locking mechanism shown in Fig.
5A. In
Fig. 5B, the L-shaped component 12 does not have a slot. A setscrew 80 is
threaded
into top surface 50 of the vertical component 14. Setscrew 80 is tightened so
that it is
pressed against the L-shaped component 12 to prevent movement of the L-shaped
component 12 once the appropriate space 18 corresponding to the door width 20A
is
met.
[0030] Figure 6 depicts a second locking mechanism that includes a post 56
mounted on tab 30' and a plurality of evenly spaced holes 54 on L-shaped
component
12". While tab 30 is shown including only a single post 56, it should be noted
that a
plurality of posts 56 may be used, spaced apart from one another by a distance
equal to
the spacing between holes 54. Further, holes 54 may be through holes or blind
holes.
It should be noted that holes 54 and posts 56, while shown having matching
circular
cross sections, holes 54 and posts 56 can have any shape as long as they have
matching cross section.
[0031] Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a tab 30' with post 56 and a
through hole
54. Figure 7 also shows a blind hole 58. A wedge shaped protrusion 75 extends
from a
surface of L-shaped member 12. Preferably, at least one of slot 24 and wedge
shaped
protrusion 75 is sufficiently resilient so that the wedge shaped protrusion 75
travels
through slot 24 in only one direction. In this manner, the L-shaped member 12
cannot
be disengaged from the second vertically oriented door component 14 once it is
engaged as shown in Figure 7.
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[0032] In an alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 8, a C-clamp 60 locks the L-
shaped component in place to vertically extending component 14. While the C-
clamp
60 is depicted schematically, it should be noted that in one embodiment, a
threaded
hole in a top surface 50 of vertically extending component 14 has a screw
threaded
therein to frictionally lock L-shaped component 12 in place. In other words,
the channel
24 forms the C-clamp 60.
[0033] Figure 9 is an example of a component that is received in component
mount
42 shown in Fig. 2. Figure 9 depicts a hook having a circular body 62
configured to
mate with the component mount 42. Alternatively, the component that is
received in
component mount 42 can be a hanger holder, a shelf, a basket, or any other
desired
component.
[0034] Figure 10 depicts a shelf 64 that is formed as a portion of vertically
extending
component 14". As shown, there is a slot 24 configured to mate with L-shaped
component 12, as discussed above. The vertically extending component 14"
includes
at least one of the locking mechanisms discussed above. In an alternative
embodiment
(not shown), the shelf 64 includes a mating component similar to mating
component 62
configured to mate with component mount 42 of the vertically extending
component 14.
[0035] Figure 11 depicts a hanger holder including hanger separators 66 and a
hook
67. The vertically extending member 14"' includes a slot 24 configured to mate
with L-
shaped component 12. It should be noted that any of the locking mechanisms
discussed above could be used with the assembly shown in Fig 11.
[0036] As shown in Fig. 12, an over-door attachment 100 in accordance with an
alternative embodiment invention that includes a first component 120 and two
vertically
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oriented door components 14. The three components 120, 14 are arranged for use
on
the door 16. The over-door attachment 100 is configured so that both
vertically oriented
door components 14 are laterally moveable to match the door width 20A.
[0037] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental
novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof,
it will be
understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form
and
details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by
those skilled in
the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is
expressly
intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps, which
perform
substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the
same
results, are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be
recognized that
structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in
connection
with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in
any
other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general
matter of
design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated
by the scope
of the claims appended hereto.
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