Flexible apparel hook

Abstract

An apparel hook includes a support member, a hook member extending from the support member, and a hook opening formed between the hook member and a surface of the apparel hook. In operation, the hook member hangs from a rod while the support member provides lateral support to garment hangers. The apparel hook is placed onto and removed from the rod by passing the rod through the hook opening. According to the invention, the hook opening is smaller than the rod's diameter, thereby preventing the rod's passage. However, the hook member, for example, resistively flexes allowing the hook opening to vary in size. Accordingly, by flexing the hook member, the hook opening enlarges, thereby allowing the rod to pass through. Thereafter, the hook member and opening return to their original positions, preventing the rod's passage. Accordingly, once on the rod, the apparel hook cannot be jostled from the rod.

1 . A garment hanging holding device comprising: 
 a support member configured to provide lateral support to at least one garment hanger;    a flexible hook member to be carried directly on a rod, said hook member extending from said support member and comprising a free end; and    a hook opening formed between a first surface of said hook member and a second surface along either said support member, said hook member, or both said support member and said hook member, wherein said hook opening varies in size such that as said hook member is flexed, said first surface resistively moves away from said second surface thereby enlarging said hook opening.    
   
   
       2 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , wherein as said hook member is unflexed, said first surface moves back towards said second surface thereby reducing said hook opening.  
   
   
       3 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , wherein said first surface is along said free end of said hook member.  
   
   
       4 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , wherein said hook member is shaped to overlap either said support member, said hook member, or both said support member and said hook member thereby creating an overlapping region, and wherein said first and second surfaces are along said overlapping region.  
   
   
       5 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , wherein said hook opening extends beyond a plane of said support member.  
   
   
       6 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , wherein when said hook member is not flexed, a distance between said first and second surfaces that forms said hook opening has a first dimension that prevents the rod from passing through said hook opening.  
   
   
       7 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 6 , wherein said hook member is sufficiently flexible such that the distance between said first and second surfaces can be enlarged to a second dimension that allows the rod to pass through said hook opening.  
   
   
       8 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , wherein said support member comprises at least one body opening configured to receive a hook portion of said at least one garment hanger.  
   
   
       9 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , wherein said support member comprises at least one body opening, said garment hanging holding device further comprising either at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire connected to said support member through said at least one body opening, and wherein said at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire is configured to receive a hook portion of said at least one garment hanger.  
   
   
       10 . The garment hanger holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising either at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire that is configured to receive a hook portion of said at least one garment hanger, wherein said at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire is connected to said support member through either a co-molding process, a clamping process, an anchor, or a detachable mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The garment hanging holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension member separate from said support member and connected to either said hook member, said support member, or to said hook member and said support member, said extension member forming a third surface configured to be carried on an extension device.  
   
   
       12 . An apparel hook comprising: 
 a support member configured to provide lateral support to at least one garment hanger;    a hook member to be carried directly on a rail, said hook member extending from said support member and comprising a free end; and    a hook opening formed between a first surface of said hook member and a second surface along either said support member, said hook member, or both said support member and said hook member, wherein upon exerting a force, said first and second surfaces resistively move away from each other thereby enlarging said hook opening and wherein upon removing the exerted force, said first and second surfaces move towards each other thereby decreasing said hook opening.    
   
   
       13 . The apparel hook of  claim 12 , wherein said first surface is along said free end of said hook member.  
   
   
       14 . The apparel hook of  claim 12 , wherein said hook member is shaped to overlap either said support member, said hook member, or both said support member and said hook member thereby creating an overlapping region, and wherein said first and second surfaces are along said overlapping region.  
   
   
       15 . The apparel hook of  claim 12 , wherein when the force is not exerted, a distance between said first and second surfaces that forms said hook opening has a first dimension that prevents the rod from passing through said hook opening, and wherein said first and second surfaces are sufficiently movable through the exerted force such that the distance between said first and second surfaces can be enlarged to a second dimension that allows the rod to pass through said hook opening.  
   
   
       16 . The apparel hook of  claim 12 , wherein said support member comprises at least one body opening configured to receive a hook portion of said at least one garment hanger.  
   
   
       17 . The apparel hook of  claim 12 , wherein said support member comprises at least one body opening, said apparel hook further comprising either at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire connected to said support member through said at least one body opening, and wherein said at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire is configured to receive a hook portion of said at least one garment hanger.  
   
   
       18 . The apparel hook of  claim 12 , further comprising either at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire that is configured to receive a hook portion of said at least one garment hanger, wherein said at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire is connected to said support member through either a co-molding process, a clamping process, an anchor, or a detachable mechanism.  
   
   
       19 . The apparel hook of  claim 12 , further comprising an extension member separate from said support member and connected to either said hook member, said support member, or to said hook member and said support member, said extension member forming a third surface configured to be carried on an extension device.  
   
   
       20 . A method for hanging a garment hanger from a rod, comprising the steps of: 
 suspending the garment hanger from a garment hanging holding device that comprises a hook member and a hook opening formed between a first surface of said hook member and a second surface along said garment hanging holding device, said hook opening having a size smaller than a dimension of the rod thereby preventing the rod from passing through said opening;    pressing said garment hanging holding device against the rod at said hook member;    continuing to press said garment hanging holding device against the rod such that said hook member flexes, thereby causing said first surface to move away from said second surface and thereby enlarging said hook opening and allowing the rod to completely pass through said hook opening, said hook opening thereafter decreasing in size; and    engaging said hook member against the rod such that said garment hanging holding device hangs from the rod.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 pulling said garment hanging holding device against the rod at said hook member; and    continuing to pull said garment hanging holding device against the rod such that said hook member flexes, thereby causing said first surface to move away from said second surface and thereby enlarging said hook opening and allowing the rod to completely pass through said hook opening.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said garment hanging holding device further comprises a support member connected to said hook member, said support member having at least one body opening from which the garment hanger is suspended.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said garment hanging holding device further comprises: 
 a support member connected to said hook member, said support member having at least one body opening; and    either at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire suspending the garment hanger, said at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire being connected to said support member through said at least one body opening.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said garment hanging holding device further comprises: 
 a support member connected to said hook member; and    either at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire suspending the garment hanger, said at least one strap, at least one rope, at least one chain, or at least one wire being connected to said support member through either a co-molding process, a clamping process, an anchor, or a detachable mechanism.