Device for holding a transversal rod supported by supporting arms

Abstract

The device serves to detachably hold a traverse rod ( 7 ), which is supported by a least two supporting arms ( 3 ) and which is a provided for suspending hangers, particularly clothes hangers, therefrom. The supporting arms ( 3 ) can be suspendded in differently configured holding devices, e.g. profiled vertical tracks ( 2 ). The hangers are provided for hanging objects, particularly articles of clothing, and can be freely displaced on the transverse rod ( 7 ). Devices of this type are typically used on presentation walls or on fixed or mobile merchandise racks in stores. The supporting arms ( 3 ) are, via their first en ( 31 ), fixed in a detachable or fixed manner in a supporting structure ( 2 ). A connecting means ( 5,6 ) is mounted at the second end ( 30 ) of each supporting arm ( 3 ) in order to receive the transverse rod ( 7 ), said second en projecting into the room, and is provides with a fork-like design while having an opening, which receives the cross-section of the transverse rod ( 7 ) and which partially surrounds the transverse rod ( 7 ) while clamping it. The connecting means ( 5,6 ) is comprised of an adapter ( 5 ), which is to be spaced on the second end ( 30 ) of the supporting arm ( 3 ), and of an insert ( 6 ), which is made of elastic material, is to be placed on the adapter ( 5 ) and which produces the clamping forces.

1 . A device for detachably holding a transverse rod ( 7 ) supported by at least two supporting arms ( 3 , 3 ), in which 
 a) the supporting arms ( 3 , 3 ) are fixed detachably or permanently in a supporting structure ( 1 , 2 ) by way of their first end ( 31 );    b) the transverse rod ( 7 ) is intended for suspending hangers, in particular clothes hangers;    c) the hangers are intended for suspending articles, in particular items of clothing, and can be freely displaced on the transverse rod ( 7 );    d) connection means for receiving the transverse rod ( 7 ) are arranged at the second end ( 30 ) of each supporting arm ( 3 , 3 ), this end projecting into the room, characterized in that    e) the connection means is of fork-shaped design with an opening for receiving the cross section of the transverse rod ( 7 ) and partially encloses the transverse rod ( 7 ) while clamping it.    
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the connection means ( 5 , 6 ) comprises: 
 a) an adaptor ( 5 ) attached to or integrally formed on the second end ( 30 ) of the supporting arm ( 3 , 3 ), for example by welding, machining or non-cutting shaping;    b) an insert ( 6 ) which is to be fitted onto the adaptor ( 5 ), the insert consisting of elastic material, for example polycarbonate, and/or producing elastic clamping forces by being provided with spring elements; in which arrangement    c) the supporting arm ( 3 , 3 ) may, for example, consist of cross-sectionally round, tubular or flat material.    
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the insert ( 6 ) 
 a) has an opening of span (a) which extends over the upper region and, when inserting the transverse rod ( 7 ), first widens and then narrows again, whereby an inserted transverse rod ( 7 ) is supported from below while being clamped; and    b) extends radially over more than half the circumference of the transverse rod ( 7 ).    
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that 
 a) the adaptor ( 5 ) comprises a basic body ( 50 ) and has:    aa) an arcuate cutout ( 51 ) with a through-passage direction (R) situated transversely to the supporting arm ( 3 , 3 ) and axially to the secured transverse rod ( 7 );    ab) an upwardly extending prong ( 54 ) passing one on each side round the cutout ( 51 ); and    ac) a lug ( 52 ) continuing at each of the free, upper ends of the prongs ( 54 ), the lugs being directed toward one another and into the cutout ( 51 ); and    b) the insert ( 6 ) is an element of half-shell shape in principle and has:    ba) two ends ( 60 , 61 ) which project into the room and leave between them the opening with the span (a);    bb) a curved inner face ( 63 ) and a curved outer face ( 64 );    bc) a groove ( 65 ) which extends circularly on the outer face ( 64 ), terminates at a distance in front of the ends ( 60 , 61 ) and is intended for partially receiving the adaptor ( 5 ); and    bd) an aperture ( 62 ) present at each of the terminations of the groove ( 65 ) and intended for the engagement of the lugs ( 52 ).    
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that, 
 a) the lugs ( 52 ) on the adaptor ( 5 ) are arranged in principle at a distance (d) which corresponds to the diameter (d) of the transverse rod ( 7 ); as a result of which    b) in the assembled state, with insert ( 6 ) included, a transverse rod ( 7 ) inserted into the adaptor ( 5 ) comes to lie in a clamped-in manner between the lugs ( 52 ) so as to secure against rotation.    
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that 
 a) a groove ( 53 ) is present at the bottom of the cutout ( 51 ) of the adaptor ( 5 ); and    b) a raised rib ( 66 ) runs in the groove ( 65 ) of the insert ( 6 ) and, when the insert ( 6 ) is fitted on, comes to lie in the groove ( 53 ) in the adaptor ( 5 ).    
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that 
 a) the connection means comprises a pincer element arranged at the second end ( 30 ) of the supporting arm ( 3 , 3 ), the pincer element having at least two mutually opposite jaws which are movable elastically in relation to one another and which leave an opening at the top for the insertion of the transverse rod ( 7 );    b) the pincer element first widens when inserting the transverse rod ( 7 ) and then narrows again; and    c) the elasticity of the pincer element is based on:    ca) the use of elastic material; or    cb) the arrangement of a spring element between the jaws; or    cc) the arrangement of an elastic extension on at least one jaw.    
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that 
 a) the connection means comprises a pincer element arranged at the second end ( 30 ) of the supporting arm ( 3 , 3 ), the pincer element having a fixed jaw and, situated opposite the latter, a spring-mounted jaw with an action on the fixed jaw, an opening for the insertion of the transverse rod ( 7 ) being present between the two jaws;    b) the spring-mounted jaw first moves away from the fixed jaw when inserting the transverse rod ( 7 ), the opening widening as a result, and the spring-mounted jaw finally moves toward the fixed jaw again, thereby narrowing the opening.    
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that 
 a) the connection means comprises a pincer element arranged at the second end ( 30 ) of the supporting arm ( 3 , 3 ), the pincer element having a fixed jaw and, situated opposite the latter, a movable jaw which is able to be fixed in position, an opening for the insertion of the transverse rod ( 7 ) being present between the two jaws;    b) the movable jaw can first move away from the fixed jaw when inserting the transverse rod ( 7 ), and the opening widens as a result;    c) the movable jaw can finally move toward the fixed jaw again, thereby narrowing the opening; and    d) means are provided for fixing the movable jaw in position when it is in the end position.    
   
   
       10 . The device as claimed in one of  claims 7  to  9 , characterized in that, with the transverse rod ( 7 ) inserted, the jaws of the connection means support the transverse rod ( 7 ) radially from below over more than half of its circumference.  
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that 
 a) the supporting structure ( 1 , 2 ) comprises a panel wall ( 1 ) mounted permanently in a building, or a self-supporting stand ( 1 ), having securing means ( 2 ) mounted thereon;    b) the securing means ( 2 ) are formed by profiled horizontal or vertical rails or by plug-in sleeves arranged at specific points;    c) the supporting arms ( 3 , 3 ) are provided at the first end ( 31 ) with a connecting piece ( 4 ) which is intended to be detachably fastened in the securing means ( 2 ).