Hanger with arms that interlock via three dimensional action

Abstract

A unitary attachment mechanism has two opposed arms extending from a resilient hinge. Each opposed arm has a hook at its distal end, and the hooks curve in opposite directions from each other. In an embodiment, at least the hook ends of the arms are biased towards each other in the Z direction to provide for them to be engaged in an interwoven crisscross fashion upon compression of the arms towards each other in the X direction and release. Devices of the present inventions are particularly suitable for hanging ornaments but have many other uses.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to devices for hanging or attachment of one item to another, and more particularly to hangers having opposed arms with terminal hook members that can be engaged and disengaged via three dimensional action for connecting a portion of at least two items to each other. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] There are many different types of wire and plastic hangers and other attachment mechanisms. For example, some attachment mechanisms are used for suspending decorative ornaments from limbs of Christmas trees. Numerous disadvantages have been encountered in using the prior decorative ornament hangers. Many of the conventional ornament hangers utilize one hook for engaging a loop on the decorative ornament and another hook at the opposite end of the hanger for engaging the limb or branch from which the ornament is to be suspended. Because the hooks do not form closed loops, ornaments frequently fall and break when accidentally bum...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]FIG. 6 is an illustration of a side perspective view of a device of the present invention. Note that, starting from the hinge and moving towards the tips, the arms have a slight bow shape in the Z direction (in addition to bowing away from each other in the X direction) with one tip / hook being biased towards the other. This facilitates interlocking of the hooks when the arms are compressed towards each other sufficiently in the X direction, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, and then the arms released to move apart in the X direction.

Problems solved by technology

Numerous disadvantages have been encountered in using the prior decorative ornament hangers.

Because the hooks do not form closed loops, ornaments frequently fall and break when accidentally bumped or brushed.

In either case, fragile and breakable ornaments are frequently damaged or ruined whenever they fall to the floor.

Another disadvantage encountered with many metal wire hangers is that they have sharp edges, and break if bent too many times.

If the channel has high friction, it will be difficult to open and close the device, and if it has low friction, the device will too easily release.

Further, to achieve optimal and consistent performance characteristics, there can be little tolerance for error in manufacture of the rib and rib channel.

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