Universal telescoping soffit hanger

Abstract

A telescoping hanger for supporting an item, such as a plant, decoration, bird feeder or the like, beneath a soffit has first and second opposed ends and a plurality of holes spaced therealong. A safety pin is used to engage the holes to fix the telescoping member at a desired length so that the first and second ends remain mounted to the soffit. One or both of the hanger ends includes a hook for enhanced secure engagement with the soffit. The hook may include a flat portion to allow for limited longitudinal adjustment of the telescoping hanger relative to the soffit while remaining engaged therewith. A clip also engages the holes, and is used to support the item on the hanger. The clip has opposed finger engaging portions, a ring portion operatively connected to the finger engaging portions for biasing the ends of the finger engaging portions into the holes. The clip ends may be angled to enhance engagement with the holes.

1 . A device for supporting an item beneath a soffit comprising: 
 a telescoping member having first and second opposed ends and attachment means therealong;    means for fixing said telescoping member at a desired length so that said first and second ends remain mounted to said soffit; and,    a clip for engaging said attachment means and from which said item may be carried.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of holes spaced along said telescoping member.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said fixing means comprises a locking is member for engaging said attachment means.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said fixing means comprises a safety pin for engaging said holes.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said safety pin comprises one of a cotter pin and said clip.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said clip comprises opposed finger engaging portions, a ring portion operatively connected to said finger engaging portions for biasing the ends of said finger engaging portions into engagement with said attachment means.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said ends are angled to enhance said engagement with said attachment means.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second ends of said telescoping member includes hook means for enhanced secure engagement with said soffit.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said hook means includes a flat portion to allow for limited longitudinal adjustment of the telescoping member relative to said soffit while remaining engaged therewith.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said telescoping member comprises a first soffit tube, a second hollow soffit tube adapted to slidingly receive said first soffit tube therewithin, wherein each of said first and second soffit tubes has a plurality of diametrically opposed holes spaced along for receiving said clip.