Clip-Type Hook Fastening Device

This invention relates primarily to supplementary fastening devices for securing the hook of a garment hanger or other hook including device or similarly curved member including device to a generally linear member such as a clothesline, cable, rod or the like to which the hook is attached by being hooked to the linear member. It also relates to such devices when used for fastening two generally linear members together. It further relates to devices for fastening an object to a generally linear member comprised of the combination of a hook and a hook fastening device. In addition, it relates to methods for fastening a hook to a linear member, for fastening two linear members together and for fastening an object to a linear member. Finally, it relates to a combination of elements for hingedly connecting the members of a clip-type device together.

The background art appears to have only distant relevance to this invention. In fact, there does not appear to be any prior art involving supplementary fastening devices for an ordinary type of garment hanger hook or other hooked device which is already attached to a clothesline or other linear member by being hooked to the linear member in the normal manner. Attempts have been made to solve this problem through devices which attach to the clothesline and then, in turn, suspend the hanger hook from the device itself. Examples of devices in this category are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,092,121; 2,915,274 and 3,184,204. There have also been devices which replace or modify the garment hanger hook in order to more positively fasten the garment hanger to the clothesline, of which the following U.S. Pat. Nos. are examples: 1,690,614; 3,048,311 and 3,240,462. There have been devices which, with some modification, might be adapted to fasten a hook to a linear member as, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 265,171; 825,332; 1,274,280 and 2,360,164.

There has long been a need for a fastening device which could fasten a garment hanger or other hook including device to a clothesline or other generally linear member. In the case of garment hangers, they are commonly used for holding various items of clothing while they dry after being washed. When suspended from a clothesline, garment hangers are often blown by the wind along the clothesline. When the clothesline has appreciable sag, all of the suspended garment hangers will usually bunch together at the center or lowest position on the clothesline and thereby retard the drying. In gusty winds, suspended garment hangers are often blown off the clothesline.

Some of the previous attempts to resolve these problems have involved modifications to, or replacement of, the hook of the garment hanger. In some cases this has resulted in a device which could be suspended from a clothesline but which could not be satisfactorily suspended from a larger diameter support. Nearly always, such devices resulted in higher product cost. Other attempts have involved devices which attach to the clothesline and then, in turn, suspend the garment hanger hook from the device itself. These devices appear to be costly and/or ineffectual at retaining the hook in suspension under adverse conditions.

To alleviate problems such as the foregoing, this invention provides a supplementary fastening device for securing the hook of a garment hanger or other hook including device to a clothesline or other linear member after the hook has been hooked to the linear member in the normal manner. This is accomplished by means of a substantially lever-type clip with two jaws, one or both of which are slotted to accomodate the hook within the slot, and which conjointly operate to constrain the hook and the linear member in their hooked-together position. This clip can be configured so that it will fasten two generally linear members together. The clip can also be combined with a hook to form a device for generally fastening an object to a linear member. One species of the clip incorporates a novel means for hingedly connecting the members of a clip-type device together.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a supplementary fastening device for fastening the hook of a garment hanger or other hook or similarly curved member including device to a clothesline or other generally linear member to which the hook is attached by being hooked to the linear member.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a fastening device, for securing a hook or curved member to a generally linear member, which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use, which will tend to prevent a hook, which is hooked to a linear member, from being unintentionally unhooked from the linear member, and/or which will tend to prevent a hook, which is hooked to a linear member, from being displaced along the direction of the linear member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fastening device for fastening two generally linear members together in a generally crossing relationship.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device, comprised of the combination of a hook and a clip-type fastening device, for generally fastening an object to a linear member.

A still further object of this invention is to provide methods for fastening a hook to a linear member, for fastening an object to a linear member or for fastening two generally linear members together.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for hingedly connecting the members of a clip-type device together.

Other objects and advantages and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the detailed description hereinafter presented, taken in conjunction with the drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the clip-type fastening device having a slot shaped opening in one jaw and surface on the other jaw which contacts the garment hanger hook in one location, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1, fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the primary member having the jaw with the slot shaped opening, being part of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the fastening device having a slot shaped opening in one jaw and surface on the other jaw which contacts the garment hanger hook in two locations, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the fastening device wherein the jaw with the slot shaped opening and the other jaw each have surface which contacts the garment hanger hook in one location, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a fastening device, similar to the device shown in FIG. 1, having guide and blocking structure.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the fastening device having blocking structure located outboard of the linear member position and a confining region on a jaw contacting the garment hanger hook, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the primary member having the jaw with the blocking structure and confining region, being part of the device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 11--11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the primary member having the jaw which normally contacts the linear member, being part of the device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 13--13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 14--14 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 15--15 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 16--16 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the fastening device made of two sections of wire connected through a spring-pivot arrangement, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary plan view of the pivot end of the primary member having a part which acts as a pivot, being part of the device shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary side elevational view of that portion of the device shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the fastening device made of a single piece of sheet metal, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the fastening device having a slot in each jaw and an enclosing aperture to receive the linear member.

FIG. 24 is a view representing either of the devices shown in FIG. 23 or 25 when rotated 90 degrees about their vertical axes.

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the fastening device having a slot in each jaw and an "L" shaped internal surface in one jaw, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the fastening device having inclined ramp surfaces on the interior of the jaws, shown fastening a garment hanger hook to a clothesline.

FIG. 27 is a view of the device shown in FIG. 26 when rotated 90 degrees about its vertical axis, shown without the garment hanger hook or clothesline.

FIG. 28 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 28--28 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a view of the section at the plane indicated by the line 29--29 of FIG. 26.

This invention is primarily a device in the form of a jawed openable clip for fastening the hook of a garment hanger or other hook including device to a clothesline or other generally linear member to which the hook is attached by being hooked to the linear member.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show one embodiment of this clip-type fastening device performing its fastening function of fastening a garment hanger hook, 1, to a clothesline, 2. This fastening device is comprised of two primary members, 3 and 4, which are connected together so as to allow generally hinged-type angular relative movement between the primary members. In this case, the primary members, 3 and 4, are hinged together to provide for this relative movement. There are two jaws, 6 and 7, one jaw being combined with each primary member, 3 and 4, respectively, and a force producing member, which is a spring, 5, which functions to urge the two jaws, 6 and 7, toward a closed position. In this case, the spring, 5, is a coil spring of the same general type as is found on the common spring clothespin, with a tangential extension, 19, at each end, each such extension being further bent, 20, at its end in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the spring, and it therefore also serves as the hinge pivot. Each primary member, 3 and 4, is provided with an extending structure, 8 and 9, respectively, which provides handles which can be gripped in the hand and squeezed together to open the jaws, 6 and 7, in the same manner as manipulating a common spring clothespin. One of the jaws, 7, has a generally slot shaped opening, 12, which is of sufficient width and which extends a sufficient distance into the jaw to accomodate the hook, 1, of the garment hanger within this slot shaped opening, 12, as shown. This jaw, 7, together with its generally slot shaped opening, 12, is oriented substantially and primarily in a radial direction in the fastening device. This means that the jaw and its opening extends primarily or largely in a radial direction with respect to a circle centered on an axis which passes through or coincides with the axis of the hinge pivot, 5. The significance of such radial orientation of the jaw and its slotted opening is that this jaw can accomodate the hook, 1, within its slot, 12, in a direction which extends from the end of the jaw toward the hinge pivot, 5, and thus this jaw will not exert a direct clamping force on the hook in the circumferential or closing direction of the fastening device (The circumferential direction is the direction of the circumference of said defined circle at the location of the jaw and such direction is substantially perpendicular to the radial direction). By virtue of its radial orientation and slotted opening, this jaw, 7, is adapted so that it normally contacts the linear member, 2, having surfaces, 17, one on each side of the slotted opening, 12, which contact the undersurface of the clothesline or other linear member, 2, where it passes transversely through the jaw region of the fastening device. These surfaces, 17, on this jaw, 7, are oriented in the jaw so that the clamping direction of this jaw, 7, on the undersurface of the linear member, 2, is substantially or primarily circumferential (or tangential) with respect to said defined circle with the result that the clothesline or other linear member, 2, can be pressed or clamped against the inner surface of the hook, 1, of the garment hanger, by the direct closing force of the jaws as shown. In this case, these surfaces, 17, are located in a depression, at 17, as shown in FIG. 2, into which the clothesline fits so that the clothesline will be retained at a specified distance from the hinge pivot, at 5. The other jaw, 6, has surface, 18, which contacts the outer surface of the hook, 1, of the garment hanger and applies a clamping pressure thereon in a direction which is generally in opposition to the clamping direction of the slotted jaw, 7, against the undersurface of the linear member, 2, with the result that the hook, 1, and the linear member, 2, are clamped together between the jaws, 6 and 7. In this embodiment, this jaw, 6, has surface, 18, which contacts the outer surface of the hook, 1, in generally one location, at 18, as shown in FIG. 2. This location, at 18, is generally about the same distance away from the location, at 5, where the primary members, 3 and 4, are connected together as is the location, at 17, where the other jaw contacts the clothesline. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lower primary member, 4, showing more clearly the generally slot shaped opening, 12, and the surfaces, 17, located in the depression, at 17, which accomodates the clothesline. This generally slot shaped opening, 12, is of sufficient length in this embodiment to accomodate the hook, 1, of the garment hanger at two locations, 26 and 27, where it passes through the slot as shown in FIG. 2, one location, 26, being outboard and the other location, 27, being inboard of the position occupied by the clothesline, 2.

To use this fastening device, which may be made of a variety of materials including wood and molded plastics, the garment hanger hook, 1, is first suspended from the clothesline, 2, in the normal manner. Then the extending structures, 8 and 9, of the fastening device are squeezed to open the jaws, 6 and 7, and the device is moved so that the hook, 1, of the grament hanger enters into the generally slot shaped opening, 12, and the clothesline, 2, is positioned on the surfaces, 17, in the depression in the jaw. Then the fastening device is released in a fastening position which tends to clamp the clothesline and the garment hanger hook together between the jaws, 6 and 7, as shown in FIG. 2.

The jaws of the fastening device can be modified to change the location where they contact the outer surface of the hook of the garment hanger or other hook including device. FIG. 4 shows a modification in which the jaw, 21, which does not have the slot shaped opening, contacts the hook, 1, in two separated locations, 23 and 24, one location, 23, being inboard and the other location, 24, being outboard of the location, 25, where the jaw which has the slot shaped opening, 22, contacts the linear member, 2. This arrangement adds some stability to the fastening device in its fastening position and it also provides a means tending to restrain the fastening device from shifting position so as to slip off the end, 30, of the hanger hook, 1, when the hook has a section near its end which is straightened out or has less curvature than the curved upper portion of the hook as in the example of FIG. 4. This restraining action occurs because, as the fastening device moves closer to the end, 30, of the hook, that part of the jaw, which is at the outboard location, 24, where the jaw, 21, contacts the hook, 1, is caused to ride up on the straightened portion of the hook and this tends to cause the jaws of the fastening device to open wider against the force of the spring, 5. The reaction to this jaw-opening action is a force which tends to urge the jaws of the fastening device in a direction away from the end, 30, of the hook. Thus this straightened out or reduced curvature section of the hook, 1, near its end, 30, acts as a retaining element which tends to retain the fastening device in its fastening position. Some hanger hooks, instead of having a straightened out section near the end of the hook, have a bent-over end, 31, as, for example, the hanger hook, 48, of FIG. 8. This bent-over end, 31, also forms a retaining element which tends to retain the fastening device in its fastening position.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the fastening device in which the jaw, 32, which does not have the slot shaped opening, contacts the outer surface of the garment hanger hook, 1, in one location, 34, which is generally outboard of the location, 36, where the other jaw, 33, which has the slot shaped opening, contacts the clothesline, 2, and in which the jaw, 33, which has the slot shaped opening, contacts the outer surface of the hook, 1, at one location, 35, which is generally inboard of the location, 36, of contact with the linear member, 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the location of contact, 35, of the jaw, 33, which has the slot shaped opening, with the hook, 1, may be at that end of the slot shaped opening which is closest to the location, at 5, where the primary members are connected together. This arrangement produces results which are very similar to those described with reference to the device shown in FIG. 4.

The jaws of the fastening device may be provided with guide structure, 37, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The purpose of this structure, 37, is to stabilize the movement of the jaws. It accomplishes this by presenting surfaces which are attached to one primary member, 39, and which overlap and lie next to part of the other primary member, 38, to form a guide allowing relative movement of the primary members in opening and closing the jaws, but restricting relative sideways displacement of the jaws.

FIGS. 6 and 7 also show linear member retaining structure, 41, which has been added to the jaw of one of the primary members, 39, of the fastening device just inboard of the position occupied by the clothesline, 2, when the device is in its fastening position. The purpose of this linear member retaining structure is to prevent relative movement of the clothesline, 2, to a position closer to the location, at 5, where the primary members are connected together than its intended position as shown in the drawings. In the configuration shown, this linear member retaining structure, 41, is incorporated in, and part of, the guide structure, 37.

It should be noted that the depression, at 17, as shown in FIG. 2, into which the clothesline fits so that the clothesline will be retained at a specified distance from the hinge pivot, at 5, is also a form of linear member retaining structure.

The fastening device can be provided with linear member retaining structure, 42, located outboard of the position occupied by the clothesline, 2, as shown in the device depicted in FIGS. 8 through 16. This linear member retaining structure functions as a limit stop to prevent movement of the clothesline, 2, away from its intended position in the fastening device, as shown in FIG. 8, in a direction away from the location where the primary members are connected together, at 43. In this embodiment, one of the jaws, 45, has a substantially radially oriented oriented generally slot shaped opening, 51, which accomodates the hook, 48, of the garment hanger within said slot shaped opening. This jaw, 45, and its slot shaped opening, 51, corresponds to the jaw, 7, and its slot shaped opening, 12, of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that this jaw, 45, also has surface which normally contacts the undersurface of the linear member, 2. The linear member retaining structure, 42, is incorporated in the other jaw, 44, which does not necessarily contact the linear member, and this linear member retaining structure, 42, extends across so as to lie next to part of the jaw, 45, which contacts the linear member, 2, and thereby to be properly located to perform its retaining function. The linear member retaining structure in this device also functions as guide structure to restrict relative sideways, displacement of the jaws by virtue of the manner in which it overlaps part of the other jaw. The primary members in this embodiment are discrete and separate elements of the fastening device and these primary members are connected together with a mechanically hinged-type connection which employs a hinge pivot, 43. A coil-type spring, 46, is is installed with its axis located generally along the hinge pivot, 43, and this spring acts upon the primary members through tangential extensions, 47, to urge the jaws, 44 and 45, toward a closed position.

The jaw, 44, which does not necessarily contact the linear member, contacts the outer surface of the hook, 48, of the garment hanger at one location, 49, which is generally outboard of the position occupied by the clothesline, 2, and the jaw, 45, which normally contacts the linear member, 2, contacts the outer surface of the hook, 48, at one location, 50, which is generally inboard of the position occupied by the clothesline, 2. Here the slot shaped opening, 51, in the jaw, 45, which normally contacts the clothesline, 2, may be of sufficient length to accomodate the hook, 48, of the garment hanger at only one location, 52, where the hook, 48, passes through the slot shaped opening, 51, instead of in two locations, 26 and 27, as in the device shown in FIG. 2. When the generally slot shaped opening, 51, is shorter than the length required to accomodate the hook in two locations, it may be desireable that the jaw, 44, which does not necessarily contact the linear member, 2, have a lateral confinement element at the location, 49, where it contacts the hook, 48, of the garment hanger to hold the hook from being displaced sideways out of the jaw. This lateral confinement element, 49, in this jaw, 44, is generally formed as a concavity or opening, 53, in the jaw into which the hook is accomodated and which has generally lateral bounding surfaces situated transversely to the jaw, as shown in cross sectional view in FIG. 10, so that the hook will be held in the jaw and will be constrained from being displaced sideways out of the jaw. Because of its depth, it can be considered that this concavity or opening, 53, constitutes a slot shaped opening in its jaw, 44, thus providing a generally slot shaped opening in each of the two jaws. However, it should be noted that there is a fundamental difference between the slot shaped opening, 53, in the jaw, 44, with the lateral confinement element and the opening, 51, of the other jaw, 45. The slot shaped opening, 51, in the jaw, 45, which normally contacts the linear member, 2, extends into the jaw in a generally radial direction with respect to a circle centered on an axis through the hinge pivot, 43. The opening, 53, in the jaw, 44, with the lateral confinement element, extends into the jaw, 44, in a generally circumferential (or tangential) direction with respect to said circle centered on the axis through the hinge pivot, 43. Thus this jaw, 45, with the lateral confinement element, cannot accomodate the hook, 48, within its slot, 53, in a direction which extends into the jaw toward the hinge pivot, 43, and, as a result, it is forced to bear down on the hook and thereby clamp it to the linear member in opposition to the force exerted on the undersurface of the linear member, 2, by the jaw, 45, having the radially oriented slot shaped opening, 51.

The type of linear member retaining structure, 42, shown in FIG. 8, generally requires that the jaws, 44 and 45, of the fastening device open through a greater angle than in the devices previously described. The angular opening distance required generally amounts to more than 40 degrees and is needed to provide sufficient jaw opening for convenient installation of the device. To alleviate problems in manipulation of the device which might result from having the extending structure, 54, which forms the handles, 54, rotate through such a large angle, protruding structure, 55, may be added to these handles, 54, to assist in preventing the fingers from sliding in toward the hinge pivot, 43, when opening the jaws.

The design of this device is such that the two primary members can be made of molded plastic. FIG. 9 shows the primary member having the jaw, 44, which has the linear member retaining structure, 42, and FIGS. 10 and 11 show the cross section at two locations on this primary member. The primary member having the jaw, 45, which normally contacts the linear member is shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 shows a section through the jaw on this primary member at a location which includes the slot shaped opening, 51, and FIGS. 14 through 16 depict other cross sections of this primary member.

The fastening device can be made entirely of wire. An example of such construction is shown in FIGS. 17 through 20. Here each primary member is a discrete part of the device and is made of a separate piece of wire. A coil-type spring member formed of the wire of one of the two primary members provides a force which urges the jaws, 56 and 57, toward a closed position. In this example, the spring member is comprised of two spring coils, 58, one coil being formed at each end of the piece of wire of which a first one of the two primary members is made. Each spring coil has a tangential extension, 59, at the end of the coil which transmits the force of the spring member to the second of the two primary members. A part, 60, of that second primary member extends into the coil of the spring member and that part, 60, acts generally as a pivot within the coil for the hinged type angular relative motion between the two primary members. In this case, that pivot-acting part, 60, extends through both coils, 58, of the spring member and another part, 61, of the second primary member hooks to the pivot-acting part, 60, where it emerges from the spring coils. With this arrangement it can be seen that the forces exerted on the second of the two primary members by the tangential extensions, 59, of the spring coils, in addition to urging the jaws, 56 and 57, toward a closed position, also urges the pivot-acting part, 60, toward and against one side of the internal surface of the spring coils, 58, as shown in FIG. 18, and urges the other part, 61, which hooks to the pivot-acting part, 60, in a generally similar direction which will tend to keep the two parts hooked together. With this arrangement, the spring coils, 58, are retained on the pivot-acting part, 60, and the two primary members are hingedly connected together. Details of the pivot end of the primary member which has the pivot-acting part, 60, and the other part, 61, which hooks to the pivot-acting part, 60, are shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.

Another feature of the fastening device depicted in FIGS. 17 and 18 is that the sections, 62, of the primary members which are located between the pivot location, at 60, and the jaws, 56 and 57, can be squeezed together by hand to open the jaws, 56 and 57. This action is accomplished by having the primary members cross each other at a location, 63, which is inboard of the position occupied by the clothesline or linear member, 2. In this case, the primary member having the jaw, 56, which does not generally contact the linear member, 2, has a structure, 64, which accomplishes this crossing of this primary member at somewhere near a right angle to the other primary member. This structure, 64, also serves as guide structure in that it operates within two additional slots, 65, in the jaw with the generally slot shaped opening, one slot being on each side of the slot shaped opening, and this tends to restrict relative sideways displacement of the jaws, while allowing the jaws, 56 and 57, to open and close. This same structure, 64, also functions as blocking structure located inboard of the position occupied by the linear member, 2, since it extends across so as to lie next to a range of positions occupied by part of the jaw, 57, having the slot shaped opening and thus effectively blocks relative movement of the linear member away from its intended position in the fastening device, at 2, in a direction toward the location where the primary members are connected together, at 60.

Each of the jaws, 56 and 57, of the device shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, is made of a single piece of wire, the wire being continuous throughout each jaw and the ends of the wire being located elsewhere than in the jaw. The jaw, 57, which has the slot shaped opening, is formed by having the wire bent so as to enter the jaw region, at 66, and then continuing generally to the end, at 69, of the jaw, 57, (outboard end of the slot shaped opening) at which point it is bent in a generally reverse direction so as to proceed generally to the closed end, 68, of the slot shaped opening, all while remaining generally on one side of the position occupied by the hook, 48, of the garment hanger. At the closed end, 68, of the slot shaped opening, the wire is bent generally across to the other side of the slot shaped opening, at 68, at which point the wire is then bent in a similar, mirror image, manner on the other side of the position occupied by the garment hanger hook, 48, to complete the jaw. This jaw, 57, contacts the outer surface of the garment hanger hook, 48, at the closed end, 68, of the slot shaped opening. It should be noted that two additional slots, 65, one on each side of the slot shaped opening can be formed in this jaw as depicted and these additional slots can be used for accomodating and confining the guide structure, 64, as previously described. This jaw, 57, which has the generally slot shaped opening, can also be shaped so as to include linear member retaining structure, 69, located outboard of the position occupied by the clothesline or linear member, 2. This linear member retaining structure is usually a portion, 69, of the jaw, 57, which is bent or raised above the level of the surface on that jaw which contacts the linear member, 2. This linear member retaining structure, 69, functions to prevent relative movement of the linear member, 2, away from its intended position in the fastening device in a direction leading away from the location, at 60, where the primary members are connected together.

The jaw, 56, which does not normally contact the clothesline, is formed in a somewhat similar manner to the other jaw by having the wire bent so as to enter the jaw region, at 70, and then to continue generally to a location, at 67, on one side of the end of the jaw while generally remaining on one side of the position occupied by the garment hanger hook, 48. In the process of proceeding from the location, at 70, where the wire enters the jaw region to the end, at 67, of the jaw, the wire is also bent into any auxiliary structure which is incorporated in the jaw. In the device depicted in FIGS. 17 and 18, such auxiliary structure includes the structure, 64, which accomplishes the crossing of the primary members and also serves as the guide and blocking structure as previously described. When the wire reaches the location, at 67, at one side of the end of the jaw, it is bent generally across to the other side of the position occupied by the garment hanger hook, 48, to form the end of the jaw which contacts the outer surface of the garment hanger hook, 48. In forming the end of the jaw, 56, in this manner, the wire may also be bent so as to include a lateral confinement element, at 67, at the end of the jaw as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, to constrain the garment hanger hook from being displaced sideways out of the jaw. After being bent across to form the end of the jaw, 56, the wire is then bent in a similar, mirror image, manner to complete the jaw. In this example, the wire proceeds from the guide structure, 64, to the end, at 67, of the jaw by passing within a short distance from the linear member, 2, on the opposite side of the linear member from the side making contact with the jaw, 57, having the slot shaped opening. By having linear member retaining structure, 69, incorporated in the jaw, 57, having the slot shaped opening and located outboard of the position occupied by the linear member, 2, it is possible to have this jaw, 57, limited in length to that necessary to accomodate the hook, 48, of the garment hanger at only one location, at 68, where the hook passes through the slot shaped opening as depicted in FIGS. 17 and 18, provided that the above mentioned lateral confinement element, at 67, is present in the other jaw, 56.

From the foregoing, it is clear that linear member retaining structure can be incorporated with either primary member in the jaw region of that primary member. Basically it is merely structure which is so shaped and positioned that, when the fastening device is in its fastening position, it forms a barrier to prevent relative movement of the linear member in at least one direction away from its proper position in the fastening device with respect to its distance from the location where the primary members are effectively connected together. When incorporated with the primary member which has the jaw which normally contacts the linear member, it comprises structure which extends above the level of the surface which contacts the linear member in that jaw to form such a barrier. When incorporated with the other primary member, it comprises structure which extends toward the jaw which normally contacts the linear member a sufficient distance to form such a barrier to block relative movement of the linear member when the fastening device is in its fastening position.

It is not necessary that the fastening device have handles for opening the jaws. The device can be configured so that it can merely be pushed into its fastening position by having at least one jaw provided with ramped entry structure so that the jaws will be spread apart sufficiently by contact with the clothesline, 2, and/or the garment hanger hook, 1, to allow installation as in the example depicted in FIGS. 21 and 22. Here the end, 71 and 72, of each jaw is bent away at an angle to form the ramped entry structure for this purpose. This device would work just about as well if only the end, 72, of the jaw having the generally slot shaped opening was provided with such ramped entry structure. This device is also an example of the entire fastening device, including both primary members, 73 and 74, being made of the same continuous piece of material, in this case, a piece of sheet metal. The primary members, 73 and 74, are connected together by a spring type connection which serves as the force producing member, at 75, comprising a spring, 75, formed of the same piece of material of which the primary members are made. This spring type connection allows for the generally hinged-type angular relative movement between the primary members, 73 and 74, and the spring, 75, provides a force acting on the primary members, 73 and 74, to urge the jaws toward a closed position.

In the fastening device so far presented, only one of the two jaws had a radially oriented slot shaped opening which allowed the jaw to accomodate the hook within the slot in a direction which extended into the jaw toward the hinge pivot. This, as has been noted, caused the other jaw to contact and apply pressure to the outer surface of the hook and it also caused the effective pivot for the two primary members to be positioned off to one side of the hook as is shown in the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-22. In contrast, each of the two jaws can be provided with a substantially radially oriented slot shaped opening which allows each of the two jaws to accomodate the hook within the respective slot in the jaw in a direction which extends into the jaw from the end of the jaw toward the hinge pivot. An example of such a fastening device is shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.

Here the slot shaped openings, 77, are generally at right angles to the normal opening formed between the jaws, 76, when they are opened. FIG. 25 shows a somewhat similar fastening device with modified jaws, 78 and 79, fastening a garment hanger hook, 48, to a clothesline, 2. FIG. 24 serves as a rotated view of the device shown in FIG. 25 in addition to being a rotated view of the device in FIG. 23.

The basic mode of operation of the fastening devices depicted in FIGS. 23 through 25 is shown in FIG. 25. The clothesline or other linear member, 2, is accomodated within the normal opening created between the jaws, 78 and 79, when the jaws are opening, while the hook, 48, of the garment hanger or other hook including device is positioned within the slot shaped openings, 77, above the clothesline, 2, and at approximately right angles to the clothesline. The hook, 48, is thus confined by the clothesline, 2, and the slot shaped openings, 77, while the clothesline, 2, is held in the grip of the jaws, 78 and 79. In these devices, the hinge pivot is generally located above the hook instead of being located off to one side of the hook as in the previously presented devices.

In the device shown in FIG. 23, the jaws, 76, when closed, form a generally and at least partially enclosing aperture, 80, to receive and hold the clothesline. In the modified jaws of the device shown in FIG. 25, one jaw, 78, has its internal surface generally in the shape of an "L" which contacts the clothesline, 2, at the side, 81, and at the end, 82, of the internal part of that jaw. This design allows the clothesline, 2, to be held by the side, 81, of the jaw while the end, 82, of the jaw holds the clothesline from being displaced endwise out of the jaw. The other jaw, 79, has surface, 83, which contacts the clothesline, 2, at the side, at 83, of the jaw and thus the two jaws, 78 and 79, act together to clamp the clothesline between the internal side surfaces, 81 and 83, of the jaws. This creates friction which tends to prevent the fastening device from sliding along the clothesline. The jaw, 79, which does not have the "L" shaped internal surface may carry its contacting surface, 83, on a projection, 84, which fits into the other jaw, 78, when the jaws are completely closed. This allows the contacting surfaces, 81 and 83, to come closer together in closing and thereby to be able to clamp thinner clotheslines than would be possible without such a projection. The spring, 85, and general mode of construction on the devices depicted in FIGS. 23 through 25 is similar to that found on the common spring clothespin.

A fastening device, in which there is a generally slot shaped opening in each jaw and in which both jaws normally contact the linear member, can be made to forcefully clamp the clothesline, 2, to the garment hanger hook, 48, as demonstrated by the device shown in FIGS. 26 through 29. In addition, each of the jaws, 87 and 88, have surfaces, 86, on the interior of the jaw, one such surface on each side of the slot shaped opening, which form inclined ramps which contact the clothesline, 2, as the jaws close and force it in an upward direction generally toward the hinge pivot, 90, and against the hook, 48, which, in turn, is restrained from further upward movement by its contact with the end of the slot, 89, in each jaw. In addition, each of the jaws, 87 and 88, have an inclined ramp, 86, on the interior of the jaw which contact the clothesline, 2, as the jaws close and force it in an upward direction generally toward the hinge pivot, 90, and against the hook, 48, which, in turn, is restrained from further upward movement by its contact with the end of the slot, 89, in each jaw.

These inclined ramps, 86, are generally at such an angle with respect to the relative direction of movement of the jaws in opening and closing that a clothesline or other linear member being contacted by these ramps receives a cam-like force tending to move it further in the direction toward the interior region of the fastening device. This device would also work generally in this manner if only one of the jaws had such inclined ramp surfaces and the other jaw was so shaped that it would merely exert a sideways force on the clothesline as the jaws close and thereby cause the clothesline to ride up on the inclined ramp surfaces on the jaw having such surfaces. This device, with either one or both of the jaws having such inclined ramp surfaces, would be effective in fastening and clamping two generally linear members together in a generally crossing relationship with one of the linear members lying in the slots in the jaws, as would be the case if the hanger hook, 48, in FIG. 26 was straightened out, and the other linear member being close to the position occupied by the clothesline, 2, in FIG. 26.

When the device is used for fastening a hook to a linear member, these inclined ramps generally provide for the accomodation of a larger range of different sizes of hanger hooks and clothesline diameters than would be the case if the angle of inclination of these surfaces was zero. However, this fastening device would still work for this purpose if this angle of inclination was zero as, for example, if the contacting surfaces, 86, of the jaws, 87 and 88, were parallel to the bottom or outboard surfaces, 91, of the jaws when referring to FIG. 26. Ther reason why it would work if the fastening device was configured in this manner is that the fastening device "rides" on the curved upper surface of the hook where it contacts the hook at the end of the slot shaped openings, 89, and this also creates a cam-like force tending to raise the fastening device up on the hook as the jaws close and thereby forcefully clamp the clothesline, 2, to the garment hanger hook, 48. In fact, there are several possible workable variations along these lines. For example, one jaw, 87, could have the contacting surface, 86, parallel to the bottom or outboard surface, 91, of that jaw and the other jaw, 88, could have nothing more than a contacting surface which contacts the outer surface of the hanger hook in order to make a stable and workable fastening device. And, to carry this one step further, the jaw, 87, having the contacting surface, 86, parallel to the outboard surface of that jaw, could, in addition, have a raised section or tip on the end of that jaw which extends generally further inboard from the contacting surface in order to present a fence or barrier which would be effective to retain the clothesline from slipping off that jaw. Further, it is not necessary that the end of the slot shaped opening, 89, be raised to the level depicted in FIG. 27. The end of this slot shaped opening could be approximately at the level of the bottom or outboard surface, 91, of the jaws and the device would still function to fasten a hook to a linear member.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.