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(11) | EP 0 499 461 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Hanger device |
| (57) A hanger device comprises a plastic body plate (1) and a plurality of groups (3)
of hook elements (2) integrally formed on a surface of the body plate (1) and separately
located in their respective regions. Each groups (3) includes a multiplicity of hook
elements (2) arranged in a plurality of parallel rows. The rows of hook elements (2)
in each region are oriented at an angle to the rows of hook elements (2) in an adjacent
region so that the hook elements (2) can engage with loop elements equally well in
substantially all directions. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a hanger device used for hanging curtains to a rail on an interior side of a window opening, hanging a tapestry on a wall, or a like purpose.
[0002] Some typical hanger devices of the type described above are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publications Nos. 57-142986, 60-175190 and 62-164890. A conventional hanger device disclosed in those publications comprises an elongate tape having a multiplicity of either hook elements or loop elements formed either all over or on part of one surface of the tape, the elongate tape being reciprocally movable on a rail secured on an upper edge of a window opening. The tape can be attached to a coacting tape secured to the upper edge of a curtain , by engaging the hook or loop elements of the former tape with the corresponding loop or hook elements of the latter tape, so that the curtain is mounted reciprocally at the window opening.
[0003] Although satisfactory to some extent, the conventional hanger device has the following drawback. It is subject to heavy compound forces exerted in various directions during opening or closing the curtain. Under such heavy stresses, the hanger device is very likely to be detached from the tape secured on the curtain, causing the curtain to fall down. In order to increase the hanging strength, the coacting tapes must be made much wider. However, if the tapes were made wider, naturally they would become more rigid, which would disadvantageously cause great difficulty in opening the curtain and folding the curtain on one side of the window opening in neat and tidy manner.
[0004] With the foregoing difficulties in view, it is therefore an object of the prevent invention to provide a hanger device which is ominidirectional in the sense of being capable of engagement equally well in substantially all directions, and which has a very high engaging strength per unit area.
[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a hanger device comprising a body plate and a plurality of hook elements integrally formed on a surface of the body plate, said hanger device being characterised in that the hook elements are arranged in a plurality of groups, each group being located in separate respective regions, the hook elements of each group being arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows, the rows of hook elements in one of said regions being oriented at an angle to the rows of hook elements in an adjacent one of said regions.
[0006] Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a view also similar to FIG. 2 but shows a still another embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hanger device of FIG 1(A) and its associated parts, to show it in use.
[0016] FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) show a hanger device used for hanging a curtain at a window opening or for a like purpose. The hanger device broadly comprises a rectangular flat body plate 1 made of hard plastic and including a plurality (two in this embodiment) of groups 3a, 3b of hook elements 2 integrally formed on one surface of the body plate 1 and separately located in their respective regions; namely, an upper half region and a lower half region of the rectangular body plate 1. Each of the two groups 3a, 3b includes a multiplicity of hook elements 2 arranged in a plurality of parallel rows. In each row, a plurality of hook elements 2 are lined up at uniform intervals, facing in one direction along the row or with their open ends or free ends oriented in one direction along the row.
[0017] As better shown in FIGS. 1(A), 1(B) and FIG. 2, the rows of hook elements 2 of the first group 3a in the upper half region are arranged in a longitudinal direction of hte body plate 1, while the rows of hook elements 2 of the second group 3b in the lower half region are arranged in a laterral direction for the body plate 1. This means that the rows of the hook elements 2 of the first group 3a are normal to the rows of the second group 3b.
[0018] Furthermore, as diagramatically indicated by arrows in FIG. 2; the hook elements 2 of either group 3a, 3b face in opposite directions on every second row, in other words, they have their open ends oriented in opposite directions on every second row. Alternatively, they may face in opposite directions on every third row. As better shown in FIG. 3, the successive hook elements 2 on each row are in the shape of a series of whitecaps. As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), a pair of side ribs (4, 4) are provided one on each side of each hook element row for reinforcing them.
[0019] Although the hook elements 2 are divided into the two groups 3a, 3b located in the upper and lower half regions in the preceding embodiment shown in FIGS. 1(A), 1(B), 2 and 3, they may alternatively be divided into four groups separately located in their respective one-fourths regions as shown in FIG. 4; and alternatively they may be divided into any reasonable and practical number of groups located in a corresponding number of regions.
[0020] Furthermore, the two regions may be separated substantially by a diagonal, as shown in FIG. 5. It is to be noted that, in any event, the rows of hook elements 2 in a region are oriented at an angle to the rows of hook elements 2 in an adjacent region. Although shown to be normal to each other; the hook element rows in adjacent regions may, in fact be oriented at any such reasonable angle to each other as ensures that those hook elements can engage with loop elements equally well in substantially all directions.
[0021] A hanger device according to this invention may be made by either injection molding or extrusion molding. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, a thin plastic plate body 1 having a multiplicity of hook elements 2 formed integrally on one surface and a thick plastic base plate 5 may be made separately. Next, another surface of the thin plate body 1 may be adhered to the thick base plate to thus provide the hanger device.
[0022] The hanger device further includes means 6 for attaching the hanger device to glass panes, walls or rollers adapted for rolling engagement with a curtain rail. The attaching means 6 may be a hook-and-eye member comprising an eye portion and a resilient hook portion, both portions being provided on the upper end of the hanger device, the free end of the hook portion being adapted for resilient engagement with the eye portion. FIG. 8 shows that the hanger device is attached to the roller 9 using the hook-and eye member 6. An elongate strip 10 with a multiplicity of loop elements provided on one surface is attached to one surface of a curtain 7, along an upper edge of the curtain 7, ready for attachment to the hanger device. A plurality of hanger devices (only one hanger is shown in FIG. 8) are now attached at suitable intervals to the elongate strip 10 by engaging the hook elements 2 of the hanger devices with the loop elements of the elongate strip 10, so that the curtain 7 is mounted reciprocally on the curtain rail 8.
[0023] Although the hook elements 2 are shown to lie on a single surface of the body plate 1, they may lie on both surface thereof.
[0024] FIG. 7 showns another embodiment wherein, instead of the hook-and-eye member, the attaching means comprise a vacuum cap 6. The vaccum cap 6 is formed integrally on the reverse side of the body plate 1 for attaching the hanger device to a wall, a glass pane and so forth.
[0025] Alternatively, the attaching means 6 may be either a layer of adhesive or a double-surface adhesive tape applied to the reverse surface of the body plate 1.
[0026] With the construction mentioned hereinabove, the hanger device according to the present invention is omnidirectional in the sense of being capable of engagement equally well in all the directions. Furthermore, the hanger device enjoys very high engaging strength per unit area so that it can hang not only a small curtain but also a heavy and bulky tapestry retentively for a prolonged period of time.
[0027] Obviously, the skilled person would realise that various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teaching. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described, and that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above in detail.
1. A hanger device comprising a body plate (1) and a multiplicity of hook elements (2)
integrally formed on a surface of the body plate (1), said hanger device being characterized
in that the hook elements (2) are arranged in a plurality of groups (3a, 3b), each
group being located in a separate respective region, the hook elements (2) of each
group (3a, 3b) being arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows; the rows
of hook elements (2) in one of said regions being oriented at an angle to the rows
of hook elements (2) in an adjacent one of said regions.
2. A hanger device according to claim 1, wherein the hook elements (2) of each group
(3a, 3b) are disposed so that the hook elements of a row face in an opposite direction
to the hook elements of an adjacent row.
3. A hanger device according to claim 1, wherein the hook elements (2) of each group
(3a, 3b) are disposed so that the hook elements (2) of a row face in an opposite direction
to the hook elements (2) of a next-but-one row.
4. A hanger device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a pair of side ribs (4,4) is
provided one on each side of each row of hook elements.
5. A hanger device according to any preceding claim wherein said hanger device further
comprises a base plate (5), said body plate (1) being adhered to said base plate (5).