Apparel accessory holder

Abstract

An apparel accessory holder is described. An elongated panel is suspended by a hook includes a rod engaging mechanism such as a fixed or swiveling hook for suspending the panel from a standard support rod already in place, such as an in-closet rod. One side or both sides of the panel contains includes a series of hook and loop locking pads accessory holders for securing heavy and bulky items such as handbags, while the opposite side contains a series of gentle magnetic locking pads for delicate, and/or amorphous items such as scarves. The hook connection permits swiveling the panel left and right or up and down 360° rod engaging mechanism facilitates easy placement of the accessory holder on the closet rod with removal and replacement facilitated. Written indicia guide the user to recommended storage procedures; and making one side softer to the touch provides an additional sensory direction to the user. The holder provides added convenience for apparel accessory storage and retrieval within the home, and for a variety of merchandise displays.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparel accessory holder, comprising:
 (a) an elongated panel, said panel being substantially greater in length than in width, said panel having a top and bottom, said panel having a first side and a second side, said panel having a rotational axis centrally disposed along the length of said panel from said top to said bottom; 
 (b) said panel having a first plurality of accessory connectors affixed to said first side of said panel, and a second plurality of accessory connectors affixed to said second side of said panel; 
 each of said accessory connectors including a first end and a second end, each of said accessory connectors including a third side and a fourth side, said third side of each of said accessory connectors juxtaposed to a respective surface portion of said first side or said second side of said panel, a portion of each of said accessory connectors irremovably secured to said panel; 
 (c) first and second cooperatively engaging means irremovably secured on said fourth side in near proximity to said first end and said second end respectively, said first and second cooperatively engaging means functioning so as to detachably secure said first end to said second end of a respective accessory connector to thereby form a loop of said respective accessory connector so as to suspend an accessory therefrom, the remaining surface portion of said fourth side, other than in the location of said first end and said second end whereat said first and second cooperatively engaging means are disposed, consisting of a substantially smooth surface; and 
 (d) a rigid hook being rotatably connected to said top of said panel, said rigid hook including a shaft portion, said rigid hook's rotatable connection having means for permitting said panel to be swiveled from left to right about said rotational axis, said means for permitting the swiveling of said panel including a first member secured to the panel along an axis perpendicular to said rotational axis, said first member including a centrally positioned aperture centered at the point where said rotational axis intersects said first member, said shaft portion rotatably secured within said aperture whereby said panel may be positioned at any angular increment about said rotational axis including 90°, 180°, 270° and 360°. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second cooperatively engaging means of said first plurality of accessory connectors affixed to said first side of said panel are hook and loop locking pads. 
     
     
       3. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second cooperatively engaging means of said second plurality of accessory connectors affixed to said second side of said panel are magnetic locking pads. 
     
     
       4. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 3  wherein each of said magnetic locking pads contains a first magnet and matching second magnet, said first magnet containing a centrally positioned cavity for accepting a centrally positioned nub protrusion on said second magnet, said cavity and said nub cooperating to further secure said magnetic locking pad in closed position when said magnets are brought into close proximity. 
     
     
       5. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 1  wherein said panel is fabricated in a flexible material. 
     
     
       6. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 5  wherein said flexible material is cloth. 
     
     
       7. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 1  where in said first side and said second side of said panel have written indicia guiding a user to recommended areas for placement of items on said panel. 
     
     
       8. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising said second side of said panel being fabricated in a softer material than said first side so as to provide a user with a sensory feel acting as a guide to recommended placement of items on said panel. 
     
     
       9. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 1  wherein said first member is a rigid tube affixed within matching left and right side positioned tubular sections at said top of said panel having a space therebetween, said rigid tube having said centrally positioned aperture through which said shaft portion of said hook is rotatably secured, so that when said rigid hook is secured to said support rod a user may swivel said top of said panel 360° in a plane parallel to said support rod, said space between said left and said right side positioned tubular sections securing said rigid tube further permitting a user to lift said panel up or down 360° in relation to said support rod. 
     
     
       10. An apparel accessory holder, comprising:
 (a) an elongated panel, said panel being substantially greater in length than in width, said panel having a top and bottom, said panel having a first side and a second side; 
 said panel having a plurality of heavy weight accessory connections affixed a spaced distance apart along a substantially central axis of said first side of said panel, and a plurality of light weight connectors affixed a spaced distance apart along a substantially central axis of said second side of said panel; 
 each of said heavy weight and light weight accessory connectors including a first end and a second end, each of said accessory connectors including a third side and a fourth side, said third side of each of said accessory connectors juxtaposed to a respective surface portion of said first side or said second side of said panel, a portion of each of said accessory connectors irremovably secured to said panel; 
 (c) first and second cooperatively engaging means irremovably secured on said fourth side in near proximity to said first end and said second end respectively, said first and second cooperatively engaging means functioning so as to detachably secure said first end to said second end of a respective accessory connector to thereby form a loop of said respective accessory connector so as to suspend an accessory therefrom, the remaining surface portion of said fourth side, other than in the location of said first end and said second end whereat said first and second cooperatively engaging means are disposed, consisting of a substantially smooth surface; and 
 (d) a rigid hook being rotatably connected to a rigid tube disposed at said top of said panel, said rigid hook further including a shaft portion, said rigid tube comprising a left and right side positioned tubular section and a centrally positioned aperture, said rigid hook's rotatable connection formed by rotatably securing said shaft portion of said hook through said centrally positioned aperture, so that when said rigid hook is secured to said support rod a user may swivel said top of said panel 360° in a plane parallel to said support rod, said space between said left and said right side positioned tubular sections securing said rigid tube further permitting a user to lift said panel up or down 360° in relation to said support rod. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 10  wherein said first and second cooperatively engaging means of said heavy weight accessory connectors on said first side are hook and loop locking pads. 
     
     
       12. The apparel accessory holder according to  claim 10  wherein said first and second cooperatively engaging means of said light weight accessory connectors are magnetic locking pads. 
     
     
       13. A method for storing both heavy and light weight apparel accessory items, comprising the steps of:
 (a) creating an elongated panel having a first side and a second side, and a top and a bottom, said panel having a rotational axis centrally disposed along the length of said panel from said top to said bottom; 
 (b) connecting a multi-positional hook having a shaft portion and a first member, said first member secured to said top of said panel, said first member including a centrally positioned aperture centered at the point where said rotational axis intersects said first member, said shaft portion rotatably secured within said aperture whereby said panel may be positioned at any angular increment about said rotational axis including 90°, 180°, 270° and 360°; 
 (c) affixing a plurality of heavy weight accessory connectors a spaced distance apart on said first side of said panel, and affixing a plurality of light weight accessory connectors a spaced distance apart on said second side of said panel; 
 each of said heavy weight and light weight accessory connectors including a first end and a second end, each of said accessory connectors including a third side and a fourth side, said third side of each of said accessory connectors juxtaposed to a respective surface portion of said first side or said second side of said panel, a portion of each of said accessory connectors irremovably secured to said panel; 
 (d) irremovably securing first and second cooperatively engaging means on said fourth side in near proximity to said first end and said second end respectively, said first and second cooperatively engaging means functioning so as to detachably secure said first end to said second end of a respective accessory connector to thereby form a loop of said respective accessory connector so as to suspend an accessory therefrom, the remaining surface portion of said fourth side, other than in the location of said first end and said second end whereat said first and second cooperatively engaging means are disposed, consisting of a substantially smooth surface; and 
 (e) securing said hook to a support rod; and 
 (f) fastening at least one of said heavy weight apparel accessory items to a respective at least one of said heavy weight accessory connectors on said first side of said panel, and fastening at least one of said light weight apparel accessory items to a respective at least one of said light weight accessory connectors on said second side of said panel. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13  wherein said panel is fabricated in a flexible material. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 13  wherein said first and second cooperatively engaging means of said heavy weight accessory connectors are hook and loop locking pads. 
     
     
       16. The method according the to  claim 13  wherein said first and second cooperatively engaging means of said light weight accessory connectors are magnetic locking pads. 
     
     
       17. An apparel accessory holder, adapted for suspension from an in-place support rod, the holder comprising:
 (a) an elongated panel, said panel being substantially greater in length than in width, said panel having a top and bottom, said panel having a first side and a second side, said panel having a rotational axis centrally disposed along the length of said panel from said top to said bottom;   (b) said panel having at least a first grouping of accessory connectors affixed to said first side of said panel;   (c) said panel having at least a second grouping of accessory connectors affixed to said second side of said panel;   each of said accessory connectors in said first grouping and said second grouping including a first end and a second end, each of said accessory connectors including a third side and a fourth side, said third side of each of said accessory connectors juxtaposed to a respective surface portion of said first side or said second side of said panel, a portion of each of said accessory connectors irremovably secured to said panel;   (d) first and second cooperatively engaging elements irremovably secured on said fourth side in near proximity to said first end and said second end respectively, said first and second cooperatively engaging elements functioning so as to detachably secure said first end to said second end of a respective accessory connector to thereby form a loop of said respective accessory connector so as to suspend an accessory therefrom;   (e) a tubular section affixed at the top of said panel; and   (f) a support rod engaging mechanism connected to said tubular section, said rod engaging mechanism including first and second segments, said first and second segments cooperating to define an opening, said tubular section and said connected, support rod engaging mechanism cooperatively connected to each other so as to permit the rotation of said panel, clockwise or counterclockwise, an angular amount up to at least 90° about said rotational axis.   
     
     
       18. The apparel accessory holder according to claim 17 wherein said rod engaging mechanism is a hook member configured to include said first and second segments. 
     
     
       19. The apparel accessory holder according to claim 17 wherein at least some of said first and second cooperatively engaging elements of either said first or second grouping of accessory connectors are hook and loop locking pads. 
     
     
       20. The apparel accessory holder according to claim 17 wherein at least some of said first and second cooperatively engaging elements of either said first or second grouping of accessory connectors are magnetic locking pads. 
     
     
       21. The apparel accessory holder according to claim 20 wherein each of said magnetic locking pads contains a first magnet and matching second magnet, said first magnet containing a centrally positioned cavity for accepting a centrally positioned nub protrusion on said second magnet, said cavity and said nub cooperating to further secure said magnetic locking pad in closed position when said magnets are brought into close proximity. 
     
     
       22. The apparel accessory holder according to claim 17, further comprising said second side of said panel being fabricated in a softer material than said first side so as to provide a user with a sensory feel acting as a guide to recommended placement of items on said panel. 
     
     
       23. The apparel accessory holder according to claim 17 wherein said rod engaging mechanism is a hook member rotatably connected to said top of said panel, said hook member configured to include said first and second segments. 
     
     
       24. The apparel accessory holder according to claim 17 wherein the remaining surface portion of said fourth side of at least some of said accessory connectors, other than in the location of said first end and said second end whereat said first and second cooperatively engaging elements are disposed, is a smooth surface.