Basket Hanger

Abstract

A basket hanger a method of forming a hook for the basket hanger and a method of attaching the basket hanger to a basket. The basket hanger having a hook with a plurality of steel wires strands attached at a proximal end to the hook, the steel wire strands having a substantially straight downwardly extending portion terminated at a distal end in a clip with an upwardly extending leg, the upwardly extending leg canted to one side and having a dogleg. The steel wire strands may be spring steel.

1 . A basket hanger, comprising:
 a hook;   a plurality of steel wire strands attached at a proximal end to the hook, each of the strands having a substantially straight downwardly extending portion terminating at a distal end in a clip, the clip comprising an approximate 180 degree upward bend forming an upwardly extending leg, an end portion of the upwardly extending leg bent outwardly at an angle θ forming a short dogleg, the upwardly extending leg canted at an angle α to one side of the substantially straight downwardly extending portion   wherein the angle θ is about 5 degrees to 90 degrees and wherein the angle α is about 1 degree to about 90 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The basket hanger of  claim 1  wherein the dogleg is offset further to the canted side from the substantially straight downwardly extending portion at an angle β wherein the angle β is about 5 degrees to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The basket hanger of  claim 2  wherein the angle α is less than the value of angle β. 
     
     
         4 . The basket hanger of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of steel wire strands are spring steel. 
     
     
         5 . The basket hanger of  claim 2  wherein the angle θ is approximately forty degrees, wherein the angle α is approximately ten degrees, wherein the angle β is approximately forty degrees and wherein the approximate 180 degree bend has a radius of approximately 3/16 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The basket hanger of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of steel wire strands are spring steel. 
     
     
         7 . The basket hanger of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of steel wire strands are spring steel. 
     
     
         8 . The basket hanger of  claim 1  wherein the hook comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis, the tubular member having a length, a first end and a second end, the proximal ends of the plurality of steel wire strands extending into the tubular member a distance of approximately ¾ of the length, the tubular member having a longitudinal crimp between the first and second ends, the longitudinal crimp securing the proximal end of the strands within a portion of the length of the tubular member, the tubular member having a transverse crimp proximate the second end, the transverse crimp further securing the proximal ends of the wires within a portion of the length of the tubular member, the tubular member being bent between said first and second ends into a hook shape. 
     
     
         9 . The basket hanger of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of steel wire strands are spring steel. 
     
     
         10 . The basket hanger of  claim 9  further comprising a second transverse crimp proximate the second end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a hook for a plant hanger, comprising:
 inserting a plurality of steel wire strands into a tubular member, the tubular member having a longitudinal axis, a length, a first end and a second end, the plurality of steel wires extending into the tubular member a distance of approximately ¾ of the length;   simultaneously crimping the tubular member in a longitudinal direction between the first and second ends, crimping the tubular member in a transverse direction proximate the second end, and bending the tubular member between said first and second ends into a hook shape.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the steel wire strands comprise spring steel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the tubular member is aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the tubular member is steel. 
     
     
         15 . A method of securing a hanger to a basket, the hanger comprising a hook and a plurality of steel wire strands attached at a proximal end to the hook, the steel wire strands having a substantially straight downwardly extending portion terminating at a distal end in a clip, the clip comprising an approximate 180 degree upward bend forming an upwardly extending leg, an end portion of the upwardly extending leg bent outwardly at angle θforming a short dogleg, the upwardly extending leg canted to one side at an angle α to the substantially straight downwardly extending portion and the dogleg offset further to the canted side at an angle β from the substantially straight downwardly extending portion, wherein the angle θ is about 5 degrees to 90 degrees and wherein the angle α is about 1 degree to about 90 degrees and wherein the angle β is about 5 degrees to 90 degrees; the method comprising:
 (a) orienting the clip of one of the plurality of steel wire strands toward a center of the basket and inserting the upwardly extending leg portion of the clip through a hole in a flange of the basket; 
 (b) pulling the upwardly extending leg portion extending through the hole in the flange of the basket toward a side away from the canted side and away from the center of the basket until the dogleg is on a back side of the downwardly extending substantially straight portion of the strand; 
 (c) releasing the upwardly extending leg portion such that the dogleg partially wraps around said downwardly extending substantially straight portion of the strand; 
 d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for each of the plurality of strands. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the angle θ is approximate forty degrees, wherein the angle α is approximately ten degrees, wherein the angle β is approximately forty degrees and wherein the 180 degree bend has a radius of approximately 3/16 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the hook comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis, the tubular member having a length, a first end and a second end, the proximal ends of the plurality of steel wire strands extending into the tubular member a distance of approximately ¾ of the length, the tubular member having a longitudinal crimp between the first and second ends, the longitudinal crimp securing the proximal end of the strands within a portion of the length of the tubular member, the tubular member having a transverse crimp proximate the second end, the transverse crimp further securing the proximal ends of the wires within a portion of the length of the tubular member, the tubular member being bent between said first and second ends into a hook shape. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of steel wire strands are spring steel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of steel wire strands are spring steel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of steel wire strands are spring steel.