US3184273A

US3184273A - Shelf bag stabilizer

Info

Publication number: US3184273A
Application number: US253420A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald S Blough
Original assignee: UNIVERSAL PRODUCING CO
Current assignee: UNIVERSAL PRODUCING CO
Priority date: 1963-01-23
Filing date: 1963-01-23
Publication date: 1965-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-18

Description

May 18 1965 R. s. BLOUGH 3,184,273

SHELF BAG STABILIZER /NVE/Vrol? ,Qa/VAL@ 5. Bmw/f May 18, 1965 R. s. BLoUGH 3,184,273

SHELF BAG STABILIZER Filed Jan. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVE/VTOR ,Qa/VAL@ 5. BL @06H Arrows/91 United States Patent O Iowa Filed Jan. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 253,420 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-6) The present invention relates to storage bags and more particularly to a suspension or hanger type bag provided with storage shelves for shoes and the like and wherein a stabilizer arm is provided to maintain a level position of the shelves.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved shelf bag and stabilizer arm for holding the shelf bag in a substantially level position.

Another object of the invention is .to provide means for increasing the stability of a shelf vbag suspended from a supporting member.

A further object of the invention is to provide, for a shelf bag having aL wire frame suspended from a support, a stabilizer arm which is readily connected to the wire frame and adjustably connected to the support for holding the wire trame in a level position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, for a shelf bag suspended from a support, a stabilizer arm which minimizes the tilting and rotational movement of the shelf bag.

. An additional object o-f the invention is to provide a rugged shelf bag stabilizer arm having a minimum number of parts and which is relatively simple and economical in construction and reliable and efficient in use.

The exact nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent from the consideration of the following specification relating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a shelf bag in assembled relation with the stabilizer arm of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stabilizer arm of FIG. l in assembled relation with a shelf bag having its cover removed to illustrate the wire frame structure and the support rod therefor;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the stabilizer arm shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the top of the shelf bag with parts broken away to show the connection between the shelf bag and the stabilizer arm; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified connection between the wire frame structure of the shelf bag and the stabilizer arm.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. l a shelf bag assembly suspended from a horizontal rod 11, such as the clothes hanging rod of a clothes closet. The shelf bag assembly 10 comprises a rectangular shaped wire frame 12 having a central cross member 13 and end cross members 14 and 16. Positioned over the wire frame 12 is a cover or bag 17 of an elongated rectangular shape and having side walls 18 formed from transparent plastic material which are reinforced at the corners with ribbons of reinforced fabric material 19. The bag 17 is opened and closed by means of a longitudinally extending zipper 21 which operates to open and close one of the side walls 1S,

The top Iof the bag 17 is covered with a quilted fabric 22 which extends over the upper end of the zipper 21 to form a protective flap 23. A pair of hooks Z4 project upwardly through the top 22 and around the rod 11 to support the shelf bag assembly 10 -on the support rod 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the hooks 24 are pivotally connected to the central cross member 13 of the wire frame 12. This connection permits the wire frame 12 Hee and cover or bag 17 supported thereon to tilt and rotate in a horizontal plane.

A shelf assembly, indicated generally by the numeral 2S, is positioned within the bag 17 and is adapted to support articles 26, suoli as shoes, in separate horizontal planes. The shelf assembly 25 comprises a .plurality of flat shelves 27 interconnected by means o-f cords 28 eX- tending through the corner sections of each shelf. The top section of each cord is connected to a corner of the wire frame 12 by means of a snap hook 29 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Each corner of the wire frame 12 is provided with a downwardly extended recess 30 for receiving the hooks 29 to maintain the hooks at the respective corners of the wire frame. As shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal or vertical location of the respective shelves 27 is determined by the position of supporting knots 31 in each of the cords 28. The knots 31 are below the respective corners of the shelves 27 and may tbe moved to vary the vertical position of the shelves.

A stabilizer arm 32 is connected to the mid-section 14a of the front cross member 14 of the wire frame 12 and to the rod 11 to hold the shelves 27 in a horizontal position. As shown in FIG. 3, the arm 32 has a V-shape and is a reverse bent metal strap member 33 having

legs

34 and 36 which define outwardly convex

free vend sections

37 and 33. In order to increase the bending strength of the

legs

34 and 36, each leg is formed with a longitudinally extended

valley

34a and 36a thus providing the legs with a curved transverse cross section. The

end sections

37 and 33 are oppositely curved and terminate in

tab portions

42 and 43 having axially aligned holes 44 for receiving a clamping bolt 46. A second clamping bolt 47 projects through axially aligned holes 48 adjacent the opposite sides of the

curved sections

37 and 38. The opposite end or apex 39 is U-shaped and forms a pocket 41 and functions as a hinge connection for the

legs

34 and 36. The portion of the

legs

34 and 36 adjacent the apex end 39 are bent or nipped toward each other to form a pair of oppositely curved and opposing transverse ribs and 41111 which restrict the opening into the pocket 41.

In order to connect the stabilizer arm 32 with the front cross wire 14 of the wire frame 12, the fabric top 22 of the bag 17, as shown in FIG. 4, is provided with a hole 43 adjacent the mid portion 14a of the end cross wire 14. The peripheral edge of .the top 22 dening the hole 49 is reinforced 'by a ribbon S1 which extends around the edge and is fastened to the top 22 by means of thread `stitches 52.

The curved apex section 39 of the stabilizer arm 32 projects through the opening 49 and the

legs

34 and 36 extend around a diametrical sector of the mid-portion 14a of the front cross wire 14 of the wire frame 12. The pocket 41 between the

legs

34 and 36 of the curved apex section 39 firmly engages the portion 14a of the wire 14 thereby connecting the Wire frame 12 with the arm 32. The wire 14 is held in the pocket 41 by the

transverse ribs

40 and 40a which function as stops to prevent the wire from moving up between the

legs

34 and 36.

Referring to FIG. 2, the

legs

34 and 36 project upwardly toward ,the rod 11 and are of a length to position the outwardly convex

curved sections

34 and 36 on opposite `sides |of the portion 11a of the rod 11 between the hooks 24. The

legs

34 and 36 of the stabilizer arm 32 form a link which has a length correlated to the dimensions of the wire frame 12 so that in the assembled position the wire frame 12 is held in a substantial horizontal plane. The stabilizer arm 32 is frictionally secured to the rod 11 by turning down the

bolts

46 and 47 to clamp the oppositely

curved sections

34 and 36 on the rod 11.

In use the shelf bag assembly 1t) is normally supported 3 from the` horizontal rod 11 byplaeing the hook members 24 about the rod 11. In this position the shelf bag assembly hangs vertically below the rod 11 and pivots about the horizontal axis. With the clamping bolts y46,

and 47 removed from theV stabilizer'arm 32, one of the

legs

34 and 36 thereof is moved tlinough the hole 49m the top 22 of the bag 17 and placed under the front end cross Wire member y14. The outwardly convex

curved sections

37 and 38 are then positioned around the portion 11a of the rod 11 which extends between the hooks 24'.;

After the angular positionof the stabilizer arm 32 has been ascertained to position the top wire frame12 in a substantially horizontal plane, the clamping bolts 46' and 47 are inserted through the

holes

48 and 49 and turn down to frictionally clamp the

legs

34 and 36 to the rod 11tir The shelf assemblyV within the bag 17 is now ready to ybe loaded with articles. to place the articles'near the center of each shelf in order to balance the shelf assemblyZS as the stabilizer arm 32 Y prevents the tilting of the shelf assembly when it is Vnot uniformly loaded. Y

It is not necessary, therefore, l

The modified shelf vbag and stabilizer arm, shown in Y FIG. 5, comprises a rectangular-shaped top wire frame53 having a transverse center VWire* 54 vand transverse end Wires 56. and 57. The frame 53 is pivotally supported by a pair of upwardly extended hook members 58 and 59 which engage a horizontal support rod 61. [The lower ends of thev hook members 58 andr59 Vare pivotallyconnected torspace'd portions 62 and 63 of the centerwire 54. A shelf assembly 64, which is similar in construction to the shelf ,assembly 25 shown in FIG. 1, is connected to the corners of the t-op wire frame 53 and hangs below the wire frame 53 forming vertically spaced shelves. Y

In order to limit the pivotal movement of the wire frame 53 and increase the stability of the shelf assembly 64, a reverse bent stabilizer arm k66 extends around the end wire 56y and is clamped to theV Vsupportrod 61 form-Y ing a substantially rigid link between the wire-frame 53A and the support rod 61. The arm 66 isidentical to the Y stabilizer arm 32. shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. increase the transverse stability of the shelf bag, the midportion 67 of the-` end wire 56 -is offset or upwardly bent to form a recess for the curved apex section 68 kof the V-shaped stabilizer armA 66.. The recess formedby the offset 67 cooperates with the arm 66 to inhibit the rota tional movement of the wire frame 53 and shelf assembly 64 about a vertical axis. The upper end 69 of the arm 66 is clamped about the rod 61 by a pair ofV bolts 71 andY VIn order to 72 which extend through the legs lof the V-shaped arm 66 on opposite sides of the rod 61. The arm 66 forms a substantially rigid connection with the rod 61 thereby providing a rigid link which grips the mid-portion 67 of the Yend wire 56 to prevent the tilting `of the top wire frame 53 and shelf assembly 64 about a horizontal axis. While there have 'been'showm described, and pointed out the fundamental novel features 'of the invention, it isV to be understood that various omission-s, substitutions, changes in form, and details of the apparatus illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing 'Y as indicated by the scope of the following (c) apairofspaced hook'means pivotally connected to said center section of the wire frame, said hook means extending over gsaid support to connect the iframe with the support,

(d)` article supporting shelvesl suspended `from said Wire frame,

(e) an ,elongated reverse -bent'arm means having a curved apex and a pair of legs each formedfwith an outwardly convex curved section, said curved apex extending ,through the VYhole in the covering means and about themid-portion of the end section of said wire frame, said curved section of each leg Vextended about a portion kof saidis-upport between said hook means, and Y (f) means connecting the legson opposite sides of the support to clamp the curved section of each leg of -said a-rm means on the support thereby providing a V.rigid arm for holding the wire frame in asubstantially Vhorizontal position,"v with said-legs lying in planes extendedvlaterally Aof and through said lsupport to ,opposite sides of and reversely inclined rela-4 tive tota plane extended diametrically of said support.

V2. In'combination, 'a

' (a) -an elongated cylindrical support,

(b) a shelf baghaving a wire top frame ,including at least one end section formed with an olset midportion anda centerV section, covering means en- -closing .said frame to dene a storage area, and a shelf assembly fastened to said wire top frame and extended within the storage area, said covering means having a hole adjacent the offset mid-portion of said end section of the wire top frame, Y

(c) a pair of spaced hookmeans pivotally connected to said center section of thewire frame, said hook means extendingover said support to connect the frame with the support, l

(d) article supporting shelves suspended from said Wire top 'fr-ame, p y

(e) 1an elongated reversely Vbent arm means having a lcurved apex and a pair of legs, cachleg formed with an outwardly convex curvedfsection which extend-s over said support, said apex extendingabou-t the olfset mid-portion of rsaid end Vsection of the'wire frame, and Y (f) means connecting ,the legs on opposite sides of the support to clampthe curved section of each leg of Isaid arm means on the support thereby providing a rigid arm for holding the Wireframe in a substantially horizontal position, with said legs lying lin planes extended laterally of and through said support to opposite sides of and reversely inclined relative to a plane extended diametrically of said support.

,Y References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,211 12/14 Vaughan 312-5 '1,240,654'V 9/17 Bellodi 24-81.3

1,564,918 12/25 Williams. f 1,615,430 1/27 Woodruff 312-6 2,299,021 10/42 Hoffman 211-34 2,440,192V 4/48 Cowan 312-6 2,639,819 5/53V Marks 312-6 x 2,645,541Y 7/53 Mintz 312-6 2,677,584 5*/54 Schulman 312-5- Y FOREIGN `PATENTS 623,673 5/49 Great Britain. 687,427 4/ 30 France. 1,129,305 Y 9/56 France.

FRANK SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

2. IN COMBINATION, (A) AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL SUPPORT, (B) A SHELF BAG HAVING A WIRE TOP FRAME INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE END SECTION FORMED WITH AN OFFSET MIDPORTION AND A CENTER SECTION, COVERING MEANS ENCLOSING SAID FRAME TO DEFINE A STORAGE AREA, AND A SHELF ASSEMBLY FASTENED TO SAID WIRE TOP FRAME AND EXTENDED WITHIN THE STORAGE AREA, SAID COVERING MEANS HAVING A HOLE ADJACENT THE OFFSET MID-PORTION OF SAID END SECTION OF THE WIRE TOP FRAME, (C) A PAIR OF SPACED HOOK MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CENTER SECTION OF THE WIRE FRAME, SAID HOOK MEANS EXTENDING OVER SAID SUPPORT TO CONNECT THE FRAME WITH THE SUPPORT, (D) ARTICLE SUPPORTING SHELVES SUSPENDED FROM SAID WIRE TOP FRAME, (E) AN ELONGATED REVERSELY BENT ARM MEANS HAVING A CURVED APEX AND A PAIR OF LEGS, EACH LEG FORMED WITH AN OUTWARDLY CONVEX CURVED SECTION WHICH EXTENDS OVER SAID SUPPORT, SAID APEX EXTENDING ABOUT THE OFFSET MID-PORTION OF SAID END SECTION OF THE WIRE FRAME, AND (F) MEANS CONNECTING THE LEGS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SUPPORT TO CLAMP THE CURVED SECTION OF EACH LEG OF SAID ARM MEANS ON THE SUPPORT THEREBY PROVIDING A RIGID ARM FOR HOLDING THE WIRE FRAME IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION, WITH SAID LEG LYING IN PLANES EXTENDED LATERALLY OF SAID THROUGH SAID SUPPORT TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF AND REVERSELY INCLINED RELATIVE TO A PLANE EXTENDED DIAMETRICALLY OF SAID SUPPORT.