Apparatus and method for mounting a hanger wire on a basket and a hanger wire formed thereby

Abstract

A method of attaching a hanger wire to a basket includes passing a portion of a hanger wire through a mounting opening of a basket and forming a first bend in a portion of the hanger wire to form a first generally horizontal portion. A second bend is formed in the hanger wire spaced from the first bend to form a first generally vertical portion depending from the first generally horizontal portion. A third bend is formed in another portion of the wire below the second bend to form a second generally horizontal portion depending from the first generally vertical portion wherein the length of the second generally horizontal portion is greater than the dimension of the mounting opening.

1 . A method of attaching a hanger wire to a basket, the basket having an annular flange at its upper peripheral edge, the upper annular flange having a mounting opening, said method comprising: 
 passing a portion of a hanger wire through a mounting opening of a basket, the mounting opening having a dimension;    forming a first bend in a portion of the hanger wire to form a first generally horizontal portion;    forming a second bend in a portion of the hanger wire spaced from the first bend to form a first generally vertical portion depending from the first generally horizontal portion; and    forming a third bend in a portion of the wire spaced below the second bend to form a second generally horizontal portion depending from the first generally vertical portion wherein the length of the second generally horizontal portion is greater than the dimension of the mounting opening.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first generally horizontal portion has a length greater than the dimension of the mounting opening.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first generally vertical portion is sized to impart sufficient flexibility in the hanger wire to allow said first generally horizontal portion to pass through the mounting opening wherein the basket is mounted to the hanger wire between the first and second generally horizontal portions.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising forming a fourth bend in the lower portion spaced from the third bend wherein said fourth bend forms a second generally vertical portion depending from the second generally horizontal portion to thereby stiffen the second generally horizontal portion.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising spacing the fourth bend from the third bend wherein the length of the second generally horizontal portion is greater than the length of the first generally horizontal portion.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising forming a fifth bend in the lower portion spaced below the fourth bend to form a third generally horizontal portion spaced from said second generally horizontal portion.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising spacing the fifth bend from a distal end of the hanger wire wherein the length of the third generally horizontal portion is greater than said second generally horizontal portion.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising forming the bends such that they lie generally in a common plane.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising twisting a lower portion of the wire that is extended through the basket flange.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said twisting includes forming at least one 360-degree loop in the wire.  
   
   
       11 . A method of attaching a hanger wire to a basket, the basket having an annular flange at its upper peripheral edge, the upper annular flange having a mounting opening, said method comprising 
 passing a lower portion of the hanger wire through the mounting opening of the basket;    providing a pair of opposing surfaces with each opposing surface having a profile;    positioning the basket adjacent the opposing surfaces;    positioning a portion of the hanger wire between the opposing surfaces;    moving at least one the opposing surfaces toward the other of the opposing surfaces; and    forming at least one bend in the hanger wire with the profiles of the opposing surfaces.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said forming includes forming at least two bends in the hanger wire.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said moving includes moving both said opposing surfaces.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising providing at least one actuator, and said moving includes moving said at least one opposing surface with said actuator.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising providing a trigger, said trigger actuating said actuator when the lower portion is positioned between said opposing surfaces.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said trigger detects when the lower portion is positioned between the opposing surfaces.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said moving includes moving said opposing surfaces substantially simultaneously.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 providing as rotatable member;    extending the wire through the rotatable member; and    rotating the rotatable member to thereby impart a twist into the wire.    
   
   
       19 . A basket hanger wire bending apparatus for bending a hanger wire of a basket to mount the basket to the wire, said apparatus comprising: 
 a pair of opposing surfaces, each of said surfaces having a profile, at least one of said surfaces being movable with respect to the other of said surfaces;    means for moving said at least one of said opposing surfaces toward the other of said opposing surfaces;    a guide surface for guiding the wire between said opposing surfaces; and    a control for actuating said means when a portion of the hanger wire is positioned between said opposing surfaces.    
   
   
       20 . The basket hanger wire bending apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said means for moving comprises means for moving both of said opposing surfaces.  
   
   
       21 . The basket hanger wire bending apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said means for moving comprises a pair of actuators.  
   
   
       22 . The basket hanger wire bending apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said actuators comprise linear actuators.  
   
   
       23 . The basket hanger wire apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said means comprises a cylinder.  
   
   
       24 . The basket hanger wire apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said cylinder comprises a double acting cylinder.  
   
   
       25 . The basket hanger wire apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein said cylinder comprises a pneumatic cylinder.  
   
   
       26 . The basket hanger wire apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising a trigger, said trigger actuating said means for moving.  
   
   
       27 . The basket hanger wire apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said trigger comprises a lever, said trigger actuating said control when the hanger wire presses against said lever.  
   
   
       28 . A hanging basket hanger wire comprising: 
 an upper wire portion; and    a lower wire portion, said lower wire portion connected with said upper wire portion, said lower portion including a first generally horizontal portion, a first generally vertical portion depending from said first generally horizontal portion, a second generally horizontal portion depending from said first generally vertical portion, wherein said first generally vertical portion, said first generally horizontal portion, and said second generally horizontal portion all generally lie in a common plane.    
   
   
       29 . The hanging basket hanger wire according to  claim 28 , wherein said first generally horizontal portion, said first generally vertical portion, and said second generally horizontal portion generally lie in a common plane with said upper wire portion.  
   
   
       30 . The hanging basket hanger wire according to  claim 28 , further comprising a second generally vertical portion, said second generally vertical portion depending from said second generally horizontal portion.  
   
   
       31 . The hanging basket hanger wire according to  claim 30 , further comprising a third generally horizontal portion, said third generally horizontal portion depending from said second generally vertical portion.  
   
   
       32 . The hanging basket hanger wire according to  claim 31 , wherein said second generally horizontal portion has a greater length than the length of the first generally horizontally portion.  
   
   
       33 . The hanging basket hanger wire according to  claim 32 , wherein said third generally horizontal portion has a length greater than the length of said first generally horizontal portion and the length of said second generally horizontal portion.  
   
   
       34 . The hanging basket hanger according to  claim 28 , further comprising a lowermost portion of said wire having a twist formed therein spaced from said second generally horizontal portion.  
   
   
       35 . The hanging basket hanger wire according to  claim 34 , wherein said twist comprises at least one 360-degree loop.