Closet rod

Claim 2

In a closet rod apparatus or the like comprising an extensible rod having devices at each end for supporting the rod, said rod comprising two telescoping members having relatively thin walls such as sheet metal, one member being inside the other member, the improvement comprising: throughout the length thereof the walls of each member as seen in transverse cross-section comprising left and right straight and vertical side portions spaced from each other a given distance, a top horizontal portion centered between said side portions and at approximately the level of the tops thereof, a bottom horizontal portion centered between said side portions and at approximately the level of the bottoms thereof, the width of said top and bottom horizontal portions being less than said given distance, top externally convex portions connecting the tops of the side portions and the top portion, said convex portions extending above the top portion, bottom externally convex portions connecting the bottoms of the side portions and the bottom portion, said bottom externally convex portions extending below said bottom portion, all of said portions of said one member being in immediate juxtaposition to the corresponding portions of the other member.

Claim 3

In a closet rod apparatus or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion defines an opening extending longitudinally the length of the rod and said devices are separate components from the rod, the improvement comprising: each device having two vertical walls just outside of the vertical portions to thereby restrain the rod against sidewise movement with respect to the device and a bottom horizontal wall below and between the vertical walls with the bottom externally convex portions resting on the bottom horizontal wall, a prong extending from one of said device walls, said rod having a slot in its wall adjacent the end thereof, said prong extending into said slot to restrain the rod from separation from the device.

Claim 4

In a closet rod apparatus or the like as set forth in claim 2, the improvement comprising: each device being a planar plate with a U-shaped embossment extending outwardly from the plane of the plate so that there is a first part of the device in the plane of the plate and a second part of the device outwardly offset from the plane of the plate, said first part of the device completely encircling said second part, said embossment defining a wall joining the first part and the second part about all of the outside of the U and also within the U only at the top part thereof, said embossment defining said vertical and horizontal walls within the lower part of the U, said prong extending from one of the vertical walls toward the other vertical wall, a second prong extending from the other vertical wall toward the one vertical wall, said slot being in a side portion, the other side portion having a corresponding slot to receive the second prong, said rod being releasable from Said device by squeezing said side portions toward each other to remove the prongs from the slots.

Claim 5

In a closet rod apparatus or the like as set forth in claim 3, the improvement comprising: said rod having a third slot in the top portion adjacent the end of the rod, said device having a projection extending out from the plate and within the rod at its end and up through said third slot, said projection being bendable toward the plate whereby by so bending the distal end of the projection the rod is locked onto the device against accidental displacement.

Claim 6

In a closet rod apparatus or the like as set forth in claim 2, the improvement comprising: each device being a planar plate with two vertical side flanges extending at right angles to the plate in juxtaposition to the outside of said side portions and defining said vertical walls, and a bottom flange extending at right angles to the plate in juxtaposition to the outside of said bottom portion and defining said bottom wall, said slot being in said bottom portion, said prong extending from the distal part of the bottom flange.

Claim 7

In a closet rod apparatus or the like comprising an extensible rod having devices at each end for supporting the rod, said rod comprising two telescoping members having top, side and bottom wall portions defining a rod generally rectangular in cross-section, the improvement comprising: each device being a planar plate with a U-shaped embossment extending outwardly from the plane of the plate so that there is a first part of the device in the plane of the plate and a second part of the device outwardly offset from the plane of the plate, said first part of the device completely encircling said second part, said embossment defining a wall joining the first part and the second part about all of the outside of the U and also within the U only at the top part thereof, said embossment defining vertical and horizontal walls within the lower part of the U which vertical and horizontal walls fit about the side and bottom portions respectively, a first prong extending from one of the vertical walls toward the other vertical wall, a second prong extending from the other vertical wall toward the one vertical wall, one side portion having a slot adjacent the end thereof with the first prong extending through said slot, the other side portion having a corresponding slot receiving the second prong, said rod being releasable from said device by squeezing said side portions toward each other to remove the prongs from the slots.

Claim 8

In a closet rod apparatus or the like comprising an extensible rod having devices at each end for supporting the rod, said rod comprising two telescoping members having top, side and bottom wall portions defining a rod generally rectangular in cross-section, the improvement comprising: each device being a planar plate with a U-shaped embossment extending outwardly from the plane of the plate so that there is a first part of the device in the plane of the plate and a second part of the device outwardly offset from the plane of the plate, said first part of the device completely encircling said second part, said embossment defining a wall joining the first part and the second part about all of the outside of the U and also within the U only at the top part thereof, said embossment defining vertical and horizontal walls within the lower part of the U which vertical and horizontal walls fit about the side and bottom portions respectively, a first prong extending from one of the vertical walls toward the other vertical wall, a second prong extending from the other vertical wall toward the one vertical wall, one side portion having a slot adjacent the end thereof with the first prong extending through said slot, the other side portion having a corresponding slot receiving the second prong, said rod being releasable from said device by squeezing said side portions toward each other to remove the prongs from the slots.

Claim 9

In a closet rod apparatus or the like as set forth in claim 6, the improvement comprising: said rod having a third slot in the top portion adjacent the end of the rod, said device having a projection extending out from the plate and within the rod at its end and up through said third slot, said projection being bendable toward the plate whereby by so bending the distal end of the projection the rod is locked onto the device against accidental displacement.