Hanger technology

Abstract

A clamping hanger for slidably coupling a shower curtain to a hanging rod. The hanger comprises a sliding connector portion adapted for slidable coupling to and along a rod. The sliding connector portion is a loop with a predetermined body width, and a predetermined body length. The body forms a central cylindrical region, having a longitudinal axis, and the rod is operatively disposed in the cylindrical region. A clamping connector portion is unitarily constructed with the sliding connector portion, and adapted for engaging a sheet. The clamping connector has first and second mating portions between which a portion of the sheet is disposed in operation. The clamping connector portion extends radially away, a predetermined distance from the sliding connector portion. The first and second mating portions have a mating face. The mating faces of the mating portions have at least two mating elements having predetermined complementary geometries. The mating elements of each mating face are disposed a different distance from the sliding connector portion axis. The clamp also has a screw for moving the first and second mating portions toward each other for grasping the portion of the sheet. The screw is disposed through apertures in the first and second mating portions of the clamping connector portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hanger, comprising: 
 a. a sliding connector portion adapted for slidable coupling to a rod;    b. a clamping connector portion, connected to the sliding connector portion, and adapted for engaging a sheet, the clamping connector having at least first and second mating portions between which a portion of the sheet is disposed in operation; and    c. a fastener for moving the first and second mating portions toward each other for grasping the portion of the sheet.    
     
     
         2 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding connector portion is a loop with a predetermined body width, a predetermined body length, and the body forming a central cylindrical region, having a longitudinal axis, and the rod being operatively disposed in the cylindrical region.  
     
     
         3 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the loop has a curvilinear configuration.  
     
     
         4 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the clamping connector portion has a predetermined length and extends radially away, a predetermined distance from the sliding connector portion.  
     
     
         5 . The hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second mating portions has a mating face which is adapted for mating with the mating face of the other mating portion.  
     
     
         6 . The hanger of  claim 5 , wherein the mating face of the first mating portion has at least one mating element having a predetermined geometry and the mating face of the second mating portion has at least one mating element having a predetermined geometry which is complementary to the predetermined geometry of the mating element of the mating face of the first mating portion.  
     
     
         7 . The hanger of  claim 6 , wherein the mating element geometry of the first mating portion is female type and the mating element geometry of the second mating portion is male type, and the mating elements mate when operatively arranged.  
     
     
         8 . The hanger of  claim 7 , wherein the male and female geometries have a curvilinear configuration.  
     
     
         9 . The hanger of  claim 6 , wherein the each mating portion has at least two mating elements, each mating element of each mating portion being disposed a different distance from the sliding connector portion axis.  
     
     
         10 . The hanger of  claim 9 , wherein one mating element of each mating portion is disposed immediately adjacent to the cylindrical region of the sliding connector portion.  
     
     
         11 . The hanger of  claim 9 , wherein one mating element of each mating portion is disposed adjacent to a distal end of the mating portion.  
     
     
         12 . The hanger of  claim 9 , wherein each mating portion has four mating elements, one mating element being disposed immediately adjacent to the cylindrical region of the sliding connector portion, and second, third and fourth mating elements being disposed at progressively greater distances from the cylindrical region central axis, the fourth mating element being disposed adjacent a distal end of the mating portion.  
     
     
         13 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the mating faces form at least one gap region between each other when operatively disposed.  
     
     
         14 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a screw which engages the first and second mating portion.  
     
     
         15 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein first and second portions further have apertures, disposed a predetermined distance from the axis through which the fastener is operatively disposed.  
     
     
         16 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding connector portion and the clamping connector portion are formed of a unitary piece of material constructed of flexible plastic, and wherein the first mating portion is connected to a first end of the sliding connector portion and the second mating portion is connected to a second end of the sliding connector portion.  
     
     
         17 . The hanger of  claim 16 , wherein the unitary piece of material is formed by injecting molding.  
     
     
         18 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding connector portion comprises a first member connected to the clamping connector portion and a separate, second member connected to the clamping connector portion.  
     
     
         19 . A clamping hanger, comprising: 
 a. a sliding connector portion adapted for slidable coupling to and along a rod, the sliding connector portion being a loop with a predetermined body width, a predetermined body length, and the body forming a central cylindrical region, having a longitudinal axis, and the rod being operatively disposed in the cylindrical region;    b. a clamping connector portion, connected to the sliding connector portion, and adapted for engaging a sheet, the clamping connector having at least first and second mating portions between which a portion of the sheet is disposed in operation, the clamping connector portion having a predetermined length and extending radially away, a predetermined distance from the sliding connector portion, the first and second mating portions having a mating face which is adapted for mating with the mating face of the other mating portion, the mating face of the first mating portion having at least two mating elements having predetermined geometries and the mating face of the second mating portion having at least two mating elements having predetermined geometries which are complementary to the predetermined geometries of the mating elements of the mating face of the first mating portion, the at least two mating elements of each mating face being disposed a different distance from the sliding connector portion axis, and one mating element of each mating portion being disposed immediately adjacent to the cylindrical region of the sliding connector portion; and    c. a fastener for moving the first and second mating portions toward each other for grasping the portion of the sheet.    
     
     
         20 . A clamping hanger for coupling a sheet of material to a rod, comprising: 
 a. a sliding connector portion adapted for slidable coupling to and along a rod, the sliding connector portion being a loop with a predetermined body width, a predetermined body length, and the body forming a central cylindrical region, having a longitudinal axis, and the rod being operatively disposed in the cylindrical region;    b. a clamping connector portion, unitarily constructed with the sliding connector portion, and adapted for engaging a sheet, the clamping connector having at least first and second mating portions between which a portion of the sheet is disposed in operation, the clamping connector portion having a predetermined length and extending radially away, a predetermined distance from the sliding connector portion, the first and second mating portions having a mating face which is adapted for mating with the mating face of the other mating portion, the mating face of the first mating portion having at least two mating elements having predetermined geometries and the mating face of the second mating portion having at least two mating elements having predetermined geometries which are complementary to the predetermined geometries of the mating elements of the mating face of the first mating portion, the at least two mating elements of each mating face being disposed a different distance from the sliding connector portion axis; and    c. a screw for moving the first and second mating portions toward each other for grasping the portion of the sheet, the screw being disposed through apertures in the first and second mating portions of the clamping connector portion.