Title: Garment rack device with a scrolling function

Technical field of invention

The present invention relates to garment storage devices.

Background

For users that tend to have a problem with handling and storing their clothes and garments, garments may be spread on floors or furniture, instead of being put in a wardrobe, usually because of impatience and lack of time at the time of undressing.

In the situation of storing garments in piles, there is an inconvenience in the search of a specific item among them, since it is difficult to get an overview of items which are stacked underneath several other items. During the search for specific items, garments tend to be further spread out and become wrinkly when being moved around.

The prior art comprises solutions for organized garments storage, but yet many users struggle with handling and organizing their garments despite of having storage solutions available, due to the time and effort required for organizing garments. Prior art also comprises solutions providing the easy placing of garments by automation of the organizing process, but without being spread to the wide public, since they are too expensive, due to their complexity. Prior art also comprises cost effective solutions such as simple clothes racks, but not with the effective access of specific items. There is therefore a need for a solution which mitigate the mentioned problems.

Summary

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to above-described problems of prior art devices, by providing a convenient hanging of garments combined with a scrolling function for the garments.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment rack device for hanging garments, with a scrolling function. The scrolling function of the garment rack device may provide the possibility to easily access a specific item in a pile of garments.

The garment rack device comprises of at least one movable horizontal bar, movable between two end point horizontal bars. The movable horizontal bar, and the end point horizontal bars are configured for hanging of garments.

Garments are intended to be hanged and stored, in a convenient manner, in piles on the endpoint horizontal bars when the device is in use. The scrolling function is achieved by the movable horizontal bar which may enable the user to scroll through a pile of garments, by turning over garments between the end point horizontal bar and the movable horizontal bar. The movable horizontal bar may have resting positions adjacent to the end point horizontal bars. Items of garment may be turned over from the pile of one of the end point horizontal bars onto the movable bar until a desired garment is found. Then the movable horizontal bar may be moved over into its other resting position, to provide convenient space for the desired garment to be easily lifted up from the pile on the end point horizontal bar. When the desired garment is removed from the end point horizontal bar, the movable horizontal bar can be moved back towards the end point horizontal bar and the pile of garments on it, for the garments on the movable horizontal bar to be turned over onto its original pile. Like that the pile is back in its original unwrinkled shape, except from the desired garment that has been removed from it.

The present invention may enable a convenient access to a specific item without wrinkling the desired or other garments.

The device may further enable storing of garments on one or more piles during undressing, in a sufficiently convenient manner for not being troublesome and therefore stay in use even by lazy users. This combination of storage and the scrolling function, makes it easy to scroll through the garments in the piles, during searching of specific items, while keeping the garments without wrinkles. These above-mentioned benefits may be achieved with a device which is produced to a low cost, implying the possibility of the present invention being available to the public at a low cost.

The movable horizontal bar is rotationally movable, to enable the convenient movement between the two end point horizontal bars, and to enable the movable horizontal bar to be hold in place at its resting positions adjacent to the two end point horizontal bars, enabling turning over garments between the end point horizontal bars and the movable horizontal bar, without movement of the movable horizontal bar.

In one embodiment the garment rack device is a standalone furniture, and in another embodiment it is mounted onto some other structure. The benefit of the garment rack as a standalone furniture, is more flexibility in where it can be used. The benefit of the garment rack as mounted onto other structure, is that it can easily be mounted inside for example, a wardrobe, with the benefit of keeping the garments on it, out of sight.

In one embodiment the garment rack device is adjustable in distance between the end point horizontal bars, and in another embodiment that distance is fixed. The benefit of an adjustable distance is the flexibility of height and width of the device, making it convenient for a wider range of customers. The benefit of a fixed distance, is the simplicity of design, when mounted onto other structure, for example in a wardrobe.

In different embodiments the garment rack device is foldable. By pressing the end point horizontal bars together, the garment rack device gets into a folded state, wherein the structure bars are substantially parallel. In the unfolded state the structure bars are crossed, forming an X-shaped structure. The benefit of a foldable design is the ability to make the device space saving during for example storage or travel.

Brief description of drawings

Figure 1 shows a garment rack device as a standalone furniture, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a garment rack device in a folded state, according to the embodiment showed in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a garment rack device in an X-shaped foldable type, mounted onto outer structure according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a garment rack device without the foldable and adjustable ability, mounted onto another structure according to one embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope if the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. The orientational terms, such as horizontal, shall be interpreted as when the invention is in use.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, a garment rack device is seen. End point horizontal bars 1 for hanging garments are attached to one X-shaped structure on each side of said end point horizontal bars 1. The X-shaped structures are formed by vertically diagonal structure bars 3, which in their turn, at their lower ends, are attached to lower horizontal bars 4, creating a base of the X- shaped structure, laying towards the ground or floor, when the invention is in use. Preferably, thinner parts 5 are attached to said lower horizontal bars 4, being contact points with the ground or floor. For the X-shaped structure, the vertically diagonal bars 3 are connected at intersection points with fasteners 6. At these intersection points, hand bars 7 are connected to the vertically diagonal bars 3, by said fasteners 6. From the intersection points hand bars 7 are connected to a common movable horizontal bar 2. The movable horizontal bar 2, as well as the end point horizontal bars 1, may have parts 8 attached for improved friction against the garments. The lower horizontal bars 4 may have one or several straps 9 in between them, for regulating the width of the foldable X-shaped structures.

Burdocks, buckle, fasteners or the like may be used to apply and/or retain tension from the straps to the X-shaped structures and so limit their width.

The garment rack device, and in particular the X-shaped structures may be foldable. The garment rack device is illustrated in a folded state in Figure 2.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, which is shown in figure 3, the horizontal end point bars 1 for hanging garments, in combination with the, between them, movable horizontal bar 2, is with its foldable support structure, mounted onto one outer structure 10, such as a wall, closet, piece of furniture, storage device or the like. Wheels 11 may be applied at lower horizontal bars, as contact points between the garment rack device and the ground or floor.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, which is shown in figure 4, horizontal end point bars 1 for hanging garments and a hand bar 7 to which a movable horizontal bar 2, is attached are mounted onto an outer structure 10, which could be a wall, closet, piece of furniture, storage device or the like, either directly or with one or more brackets 12.